Completed insert set – 2010 Topps When They Were Young (and one of my new favorite cards!!!!!)

A look back at some of your favorite players when they were little kids!  Well – not your favorite players, but at least some Little League photos of some current major league players!

This was an insert exclusive to Series 1 from Topps 2010.

Info about the set:

Set description: “Featuring current photos of Major League Stars as Little League, High School, or College players.”

Or, in the case of Ortiz, as a 4-year old pointing at a camera saying “I will break you A-Rod”!

Set composition: 18 cards, 1:6 hobby odds (series one)

Hall of Famers: None – only current players.

How I put the set together:

4 cards from the hobby box

2 cards from an eBay insert lot

2 cards from a card show

7 cards from trades

3 cards from Sportlots

Thoughts on the set: Cool idea.  Decent player selection – A-Rod, Ortiz, David Wright, Verlander, Yadier Molina and Johnny Damon are the notable players.  But on some level, I kind of like that.  Good design that sort of copies the 1980 Topps set.  I do like that Topps put a current photo down in the lower right-hand corner – what good is the photo of them as a kid if you can’t compare it to the picture from today?

The backs are fairly interesting reading:

• Aaron Poreda went to the same high school as swimmer Matt Biondi.
• A-Rod was the Gatorade National Student Athlete of the Year.  Presumably for his work in chemistry.
• Brian Roberts grew up in Chapel Hill – because his dad was the coach of UNC.
• Clint Sammons and Jeff Francoeur were on the same high school team in Georgia.  I know, I have never heard of Clint Sammons either.
• David Wright played on an AAU team that also included BJ Upton, Mark Reynolds and Ryan Zimmerman.  Wonder who played third?
• Gordon Beckham’s dad was a quarterback for South Carolina.
• Russell Martin lived in Paris as a youngster before moving to Canada, where he went to the same high school Eric Gagne went to.  I wonder how many players from the same Canadian high school were ever teammates in the majors (as they were in 2006).
• Cody Ross has a favorite player – Ken Griffey Jr. – after whom he named his dog

……..

Wait a minute?  He named his dog Griffey!!!!!!!!!!!

He stole my dog’s name!!!  This is definitely a surprise addition as one of my favorite cards ever!

Card that completed my set: #WTWY-RM – Russell Martin

I got this in a Sportlots purchase at the end of November.

Highest book value: #WTWY-AR – Alex Rodriguez

About 4 bucks currently.

Best card (my opinion): #WTWY-CR – Cody Ross

Ortiz was a pretty easy selection before I read the back.  Most of these cards show a) a mediocre player, and b) a picture from little league.  Ortiz is a) a pretty significant player historically, and b) a cool picture of him as a youngster.  It’s like he’s saying – “watch out, dude.  Someday I’m gonna break the curse of the Bambino.  And, yeah, that means I’m bowling over you, A-Rod, you sweater-vest-wearing fellow-steroid-taking d-bag.”

But it doesn’t top the Cody Ross dog-named-Griffey card.

Best Reds card: No Reds in the set.

Completed insert set – 2012 Topps Mound Dominance

I just finished up another of the smaller insert sets from this year’s Topps product – Mound Dominance.

Info about the set:

Set description: “Celebrating the greatest pitching performances of all-time”.  This set basically replaced Classic Walk-offs from series 1.  The cards are designed horizontally with a picture of the pitcher to the left and a green 9-box of the strike zone to the right with the team logo in the center.  The set discusses a dominant individual pitching performance from each of the 15 hurlers.

Set composition: 15 cards, 1:8 hobby odds

Hall of Famers: 9 - Tom Seaver, Sandy Koufax, Jim Palmer, Dennis Eckersley, Bob Gibson, Nolan Ryan, Phil Niekro, Warren Spahn, Bob Feller

Unlike that classic walk-offs set from s1, this set is skewed toward retired players – there are only 4 current players in the set.

How I put the set together:

5 cards from my HTA Jumbo box

10 cards from trades

Thoughts on the set:  Another good idea.  And I give Topps a pretty good grade for player inclusion, too.  Including Armando Galarraga is actually thinking outside the box a bit.  I like the nod to his should-have-been perfect game.  I also like the inclusion of Phil Niekro for his 2-hit shutout at the age of 47.  The design is kind of neat, too, with the strike zone.  And they got a lot of the best pitching performances out there.  Here’s some of the ones I’d have considered adding:

Consecutive scoreless innings

• Orel Hershiser – 1988.  You could even tie this one to a specific game – he pitched 10 scoreless innings in his last outing of the year to break the record (by that last inning) held by this dodger…
• Don Drysdale – 1962.
• Whitey Ford – 1961.  In a 5-game win over the Reds, Ford broke the World Series record for consecutive scoreless innings (29-2/3) held by…
• Babe Ruth – 1918.  The Sultan of Swat actually pitched 29-2/3 through the 1918 World Series.

Strikeouts

• Kerry Wood’s 20-k game should have been included, especially since he was still an option contractually when this set came out.  It’s possibly the most dominant pitching performance ever.
• Clemens and his 2 20-k games.
• Randy Johnson and either of his 19-k games or his perfect game.
• Tom Cheney and his 21 k’s in 16 innings in 1962.

No-hitters

• Hideo Nomo’s no-hitter in Coors Field
• Catfish Hunter’s perfect game where he went 3-4 at the plate
• Harvey Haddix’s 12 perfect innings in 1959 (when he’d eventually lose 1-0 in the 13th)
• Ummm – Don Larsen’s perfect game in the World Series?  This is the biggest oversight in this set.
• Back-to-back no-hitters by Johnny Vander Meer.  The second biggest oversight in this set.
• Fred Toney and Hippo Vaughn pitch a double no-hitter in 1917.

World Series

• Jack Morris 1991.  The third biggest oversight.
• Christy Mathewson 1905.  Three shutouts in the World Series?  Ummm – put him in!
• Mickey Lolich 1968.  Outdueling Bob Gibson to get 3 wins in the series – another great option here.

Other

• A 58-pitch shutout by Red Barrett in 1944

Card that completed my set: #MD-7 – Roy Halladay

I got this card in a recent trade with a reader of my blog, Hans.

Highest book value: #MD-8 – Nolan Ryan

Pitchers tend not to have nearly the “Beckett value” that position players have – but Nolan Ryan is the clear exception.

Best card (my opinion): #MD-10 – Armando Galarraga

As I mentioned above, I’m happy this event got a card here.

My Favorite Reds card: #MD-1 – Tom Seaver

Easy choice as it’s the only one.

Here’s the list of these cards - and the year when the dominance happened.

• Tom Seaver (1978).  No-hitter.
• Justin Verlander (2007).  No-hitter.
• Sandy Koufax (1963).  15 strikeouts in the World Series.
• Jim Palmer (1966).  Shutout in the World Series at the age of 20.
• Dennis Eckersley (1989).  4 pitches to close out the 9th inning of a WS sweep.
• Bob Gibson (1968).  17 K’s in World Series.
• Roy Halladay (2010).  No-hitter in the NLDS – one of 2 in postseason history.
• Nolan Ryan (1981).  His 5th no-no broke the record he shared with Koufax.
• Phil Niekro (1986).  Hurled a shutout at the age of 47.
• Armand Galarraga (2010).  Lost a no-hitter on a bad call by Jim Joyce on the last play of the game.
• Warren Spahn (1960).  15 strikeout no-hitter at the age of 39.
• Bob Feller (1936).  15 K’s at the age of 17.
• Jon Lester (2008).  An inspirational no-hitter after coming back from cancer.
• John Smoltz (1991).  Shutout in Game 7 of the NLDS to send the Braves to the WS.
• Dwight Gooden (1984).  11-K 1-hitter at the age of 19.

Completed insert set – 2012 Topps Classic Walk-Offs

Topps had a pretty cool insert set in series 1 that I recently completed – Classic

History of the Game is an insert set in 2010 series 1 as part of the “Baseball History” line of inserts.

Info about the set:

Set description: “Celebrating the greatest walk-offs of all-time”.  The cards are designed horizontally with three different picture frames of the player in his walk-off homer moment.  Sometimes Topps used the same photo all 3 times (see the Bench) sometimes they use 3 different shots.  The one in the top left is a color photo, while the other two are gray / sepia toned.

Set composition: 15 cards, 1:8 hobby odds

Hall of Famers: 4 - Bill Mazeroski, Carlton Fisk, Johnny Bench, Mickey Mantle

The set is skewed toward current players for what has to be contractual reasons – the 4 players above are all of the retired players in the set.

How I put the set together:

5 cards from my HTA Jumbo box

2 cards from some HTA Jumbo packs (which I bought to do the redemption)

8 cards from trades

Thoughts on the set:  This is a really cool idea.  Like many insert sets Topps does, I love the idea, but am a little nitpicky with the execution.  Having a set focused on some of the bigger walk-off home runs?  Great idea.  Not having Kirk Gibson, Joe Carter or Bobby Thompson in that set?  That’s blowing it for sure.  Like some of these sets, I’ll show you what I would add.  I’m going to make this a little different – as opposed to replacing a few cards, I’d actually double it and make it a 30-card set.  Which means I need to find 15 homers to add!

There have been two home runs to end a World Series.  Only one (Mazeroski) is included in this set – obviously this has to be included.

• Joe Carter – 10/23/93 off Mitch Williams of the Phillies.  Touch ‘em all Joe, you’ll never hit a bigger home run in your life!

There have been four homers that sent a team to the World Series.  Only the one hit by Magglio Ordonez  in 2006 was included – and since that completed a 4-game sweep, while the others were in do-or-die games, I’d have to say it’s the least dramatic.

• Bobby Thomson – 10/3/51 off Ralph Branca of the Dodgers, NL Tiebreaker Game 3.  The shot hear round the world.  There have been articles, books and documentaries written about everything regarding this home run – from the mystery of where the ball ended up to the fact that all 3 New York teams were the only teams in the “playoffs” that year.  The most famous homer in baseball history somehow didn’t make it into a set about walk-off home runs.
• Chris Chambliss – 10/14/76 off Mark Littell of the Royals, ALCS Game 5.  Chambliss couldn’t complete the walk-off since the Yankee fans mobbed the field – he later was escorted out to touch home plate by the umpires.
• Aaron Boone – 10/16/03 off Tim Wakefield of the Red Sox, ALCS Game 7.  Aaron Bleeping Boone!

That’s four I’ve added.  There have also been quite a few very notable World Series walk-off home runs that weren’t series clinchers – I’ve added the ones I’d include below.

• Tommy Henrich – 10/5/49 off Don Newcombe of the Dodgers, World Series Game 1.  The first walk-off homer in World Series history was off Don Newcombe and gave the Yankees the early series lead.
• Eddie Mathews – 10/6/57 off Bob Grim of the Yankees, World Series Game 2.  This isn’t the first walk-off you think of, but it tied the series 2 games apiece in what would be Hank Aaron’s only World Championship.
• Kirk Gibson – 10/15/88 off Dennis Eckersley of the A’s, World Series Game 1.  This is probably a top 5 in the most famous home runs of all time.
• Kirby Puckett – 10/26/91 off Charlie Liebrandt of the Braves, World Series Game 6.  We will see you tomorrow night!
• Chad Curtis – 10/26/99 off off Mike Remlinger of the Braves, World Series Game 3.  This has less to do with the homer and more with how Curtis shunned Jim Gray after the game.  Gray had gone pretty much attacked Pete Rose the game before trying to get him to admit to betting on baseball – it put a big damper on the All-Century Team celebration for anyone watching it.  Regardless of the fact that Rose was guilty as sin, it was inappropriate from Gray and the response from Curtis was awesome.
• David Freese – 10/27/11 off Mark Lowe of the Rangers, World Series Game 6.  We will see you tomorrow night (again).  This probably got left out because of timing issues as the set was in series 1 of the next year.  But they should have got it in there.

That’s 10 total, so I’ve got 4 more to add.  I’d also include the following:

• Gabby Hartnett’s “Homer in the Gloamin’” as darkness descended upon Wrigely Field in a 1938 game against league leading Pittsburgh – basically, if he hadn’t hit the homer, they would have replayed the entire game.  Instead, it vaulted the Cubs into an eventual National League pennant.
• Ozzie Smith’s “go crazy folks, go crazy!” homer – which was only the 14th of his career and the first he’d ever hit from the left side of the plate!
• Robin Ventura’s “walk-off grand slam single” in the 1999 NLCS.
• Ted Williams’ walk-off home run in the 1941 All-Star game.
• Chris Hoiles “ultimate walk-off”, where he hit a walk-off grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the 9th on a 3-2 count with his team down 3 runs.  This is the only time this has ever happened.

Card that completed my set: #CW-7 – Mickey Mantle

I got this card in a recent trade with the Dutch Card Guy.

Highest book value: #CW-7 – Mantle

Best card (my opinion): #CW-1 – Bill Mazeroski

A walk-off World Series game 7 homer – the only homer that rivals Thomson’s as the biggest home run in baseball history.

My Favorite Reds card: #CW-5 – Jay Bruce

Beats out the Bench card.  I’m sure when Bench hit his in the 1973 LCS, it was a big deal.  But the Reds had already been to 2 World Series in the previous 3 seasons; clinching the division for the Reds for the first time in 15 years was a big deal for more recent Reds fans.

Here’s the list of these cards - and the year when the walk-off happened.

• Bill Mazeroski (1960).  Game 7 of the World Series – the only in history.
• Carlton Fisk (1975).  Game 6 of the World Series, in extra innings.  But they didn’t win the series the next night
• Johnny Bench (1973).  Game 1 of the NLCS.
• David Ortiz (2004).  Game 3 of the ALDS, to complete a series sweep.
• Jay Bruce (2010).  To clinch the division for the Reds after 15 years without a postseason berth.
• Mark Teixeira (2009).  Game 2 of the ALDS.
• Mickey Mantle (1964).  Game 3 of the World Series.  This was Mantle’s last World Series, and it broke Babe Ruth’s record for career Series blasts.  He would hit two more in the series, though the Cardinals would prevail.
• Alfonso Soriano (2001).  Game 4 of the ALCS.  Gave the Yanks a 3-1 series lead.
• Rafael Furcal (2004).  Game 2 of the NLDS.
• Jim Thome (2007).  September, well after the White Sox had been eliminated.  But this was Thome’s 500th career home run.  A cool addition if you ask me.  And if you’re reading this blog, I’ll assume you did.
• Magglio Ordonez (2006).  As mentioned above – this one clinched a 4-game sweep to send Detroit to the World Series.
• Scott Podsednik (2005).  Game 2 of the World Series.  He’d had no homers in the 2005 regular season, but Podsednik put the White Sox well on their way to a sweep.
• David Ortiz (2004).  Game 4 of the ALCS.  A much bigger walk-off for Big Papi – this one kept the Red Sox season alive.  They never looked back after it, becoming the only team to come back from a 3-game deficit.
• Derek Jeter (2001).  Game 4 of the World Series.  Mr. November.

Completed insert set – 2010 Topps Tales of the Game (& More Tales)

Topps Tales of the Game is an insert set in 2010 series 1, and they had an update to the set – More Tales of the Game – in the Topps Update product that year.  I’m counting these as one set.

Info about the set:

Set description: “Commemorates baseball apocrypha, such as: Eddie Gaedel, and the Pine Tar incident.”  The set has a red flag in the upper left hand corner saying “Tales of the Game” and the headline of the “tale” is below.

Set composition: 40 cards (25 series 1, 15 update), 1:6 hobby odds

Hall of Famers: 16

Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth (3 cards), Jackie Robinson, Ernie Banks, Bill Mazeroski, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson (2 cards), Carlton Fisk, Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs, Cal Ripken, Eddie Mathews, Mike Schmidt, Andre Dawson, Walter Johnson, Warren Spahn.

How I put the set together:

6 cards from series 1 hobby box

7 cards from update hobby box

1 card from update HTA jumbo pack

7 cards from eBay

9 cards from trades

2 cards from a card show

8 cards from Sportlots

Thoughts on the set:  Topps had 3 sets that really delved into baseball history in 2010.  I liked all 3 of them, but they had some that I thought went in the wrong set.  This is definitely apparent here.  The History of the World Series set didn’t have the original World Series – but the History of the Game did.  I have the checklist down at the bottom, but I think the Amazin’ Mets, Maz’s homer, Ruth’s called shot, Jackie stealing home, Fisk’s homer Reggie’s 3 homers – those all belong in the World Series set.  Ruth’s called shot and Schilling’s bloody sock do have arguments for being in a “Tales” set – so I’d have put them in both.

Now, the things like Jimmy Piersall running backward, the superstitions of Wade Boggs, the flips of “the Wizard”, the Curse of the Bambino, and getting hits for different teams in the same day (Joel Youngblood) – those are good additions.

What did they miss?  I’d have gone with some of these:

• Ken Keltner ending Joe DiMaggio’s streak that would have reached over 70
• Moises Alou peeing on his hands
• Charlie Finley paying the 70′s A’s for “mustache flair”
• Merkle’s Boner
• As they advertised – Eddie Gaedel and George Brett for the Pine Tar (seriously, how do they not get their advertised tales into the set?)
• Rickey Henderson breaks Lou Brock’s record – and Nolan Ryan goes out and throws his 7th no-hitter on the same day
• Johnny Vander Meer’s 2 straight no-hitters
• Hippo Vaughn and Fred Toney battle through 9 innings of double no-hit ball on May 2, 1917
• Ted Kluszewski cutting off the shoulders of his uniform
• Harvey Haddix throwing 12 perfect innings – only to lose the game in the 13th
• Wally Pipp’s headache (which was in the History of the Game set)
• Yankees putting numbers on their backs
• At some point, I believe Milwaukee played a home game in Cleveland due to snow

Like I’ve said, I love just about any type of set celebrates the history of the game – especially one celebrating its idiosyncrasies.  I wish they’d taken out some of the dumber ones (Strasburg, intra-city sweep, Topps dumping 1952 cards) below and added my ideas!

Card that completed my set: #TOG17 – Wade Boggs, “Who You Calling Chicken”

One of 2 cards I got in January from Sportlots

Highest book value: #TOG19 – Cal Ripken, “Cal Clutch”

Best card (my opinion): #TOG15 – Ozzie Smith, “Flips Out”

A great picture of Ozzie “mid-flip”.

My Favorite Reds card: #MTOG2 – Triple Billing

This is the only card associated with the Redlegs in any way.

Here’s the list of these cards - and the year when the “tale” happened.

• TOG1 (1909) Ty Cobb – “Spikes Up” photo
• TOG2 (1919) Babe Ruth {Boston} – “Curse of the Bambino”
• TOG3 (1932) Babe Ruth {New York} – “Called Shot”
• TOG4 (1952) Topps dumps ’52 cards into the river
• TOG5 (1955) Jackie Robinson – steals home in the World Series
• TOG6 (1950′s & 1960′s) Ernie Banks – “Let’s Play Two”
• TOG7 (1960) Bill Mazeroski – Game 7 World Series Walk-off home run
• TOG8 (1961) Roger Maris – Chase for 61
• TOG9 (1963) Mickey Mantle – Home Run off the Yankee Stadium facade
• TOG10 (1963) Jimmy Piersall – Runs backward for his 100th HR
• TOG11 (1969) Amazin’ Mets World Series Championship
• TOG12 (1971) Reggie Jackson – Hits Light Tower in ’71 AS game
• TOG13 (1975) Carlton Fisk – Game 6 World Series HR
• TOG14 (1977) Reggie Jackson – 3 homers in World Series game
• TOG15 (1980′s) Ozzie Smith – Flips Out
• TOG16 (1990) Bo Jackson – runs along the outfield wall*
• TOG17 (1980′s & 1990′s) Wade Boggs – superstitions
• TOG18 (1996) Prince Fielder – batting practice homer at age 12
• TOG19 (2001) Cal Ripken – Clutch
• TOG20 (2001) Derek Jeter – The Flip
• TOG21 (2004) Curt Schilling – Bloody Sock
• TOG22 (2006) Pesky’s Pole
• TOG23 (2000′s) Manny Ramirez – Manny being Manny
• TOG24 (2008) Josh Hamilton – 2008 HR Derby
• TOG25 (2010) David Ortiz – Yankees dig up Ortiz jersey

* – too bad the picture isn’t of him actually running up the wall.  If it was, I’d probably take this as my favorite card in this set.

More Tales:

• MTOG1 (1982) Joel Youngblood – Base hits with different teams on same day
• MTOG2 (1920) Reds & Pirates play only triple header of the 20th century
• MTOG3 (1922) Chicago beat Philadelphia 26-23 {in baseball}
• MTOG4 (1950′s & 1960′s) Eddie Mathews plays for Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves
• MTOG5 (1920) Babe Ruth – hits more home runs than every other team
• MTOG6 (2003) Yankees sweep intra-city series from the Mets
• MTOG7 (1974) Mike Schmidt – “Tape Measure Single” – knocks the single off a speaker on the roof of the Astrodome
• MTOG8 (2002) Coors Field humidor
• MTOG9 (1987 & 2003) Andre Dawson & Alex Rodriguez – last place MVP’s
• MTOG10 (1910′s & 1920′s) Walter Johnson – “Big Train”
• MOTG11 (1940′s, 1950′s & 1960′s) Warren Spahn – All-Star starter in 3 different decades
• MOTG12 (2002) Tie game in the All-Star classic
• MOTG13 (1950) Harry Truman – president throws a right and left-handed first pitch
• MOTG14 (2010) Stephen Strasburg – Rookie Tsunami**
• MOTG15 (2010) Roy Halladay – Doc gets a “road” win in Philadelphia – due to a scheduling conflict – against his old Blue Jays

** – gets my vote as the card they REALLY didn’t need in this set

Completed insert set – 2010 Topps 2020

A few days after we hit the new year for 2012 – so let’s see what Topps thinks their cards will look like in 8 years!  Topps 2020 was a product in the 2010 series 2 product listed as one of the “Just for fun” inserts.

Info about the set:

Set description: “These cards peek into the future and offer a vision of the 2020 Topps Baseball card design.  Twenty current players appear on an innovative 3D design.”  The 20 players are younger stars who you’d expect will be around in 2020.

Set composition: 20 cards, 1:6 hobby odds

Hall of Famers: None – only current players.

How I put the set together:

6 cards from the hobby box

1 card from trades

2 cards from card show purchases

5 cards from eBay

6 cards from Sportlots

Thoughts on the set: I like this set.  I like that they didn’t just go only for the stars – they really stuck to guys who are younger and would conceivably still be around in 2020.  I think Ryan Howard and David Wright are the most veteran players of the group.  The 3D look is cool, and the design is simple but effective – I like that the ground is included, but anything else behind the player is not.  It kind of looks like the “green screen” or “blue screen” they do when filming movies!  I’m surprised they didn’t include Joey Votto or Justin Verlander.

Card that completed my set: #T15 – Pablo Sandoval

One of 5 cards I got in my last Sportlots purchase.

Highest book value: #T8 – Buster Posey

Current Beckett lists it at 8 bucks, while every other card is $2.50 or less.

Best card (my opinion): #T20 – Matt Kemp

Kemp going for a diving catch – this is just a really good, close-up photo.  Ryan Howard’s card has him sizing up the pitcher in his unique pre-pitch stance, and Joe Mauer is in a pretty good play at the plate.

Completed insert set – 2010 Topps History of the World Series

Topps History of the World Series is an insert set in 2010 series 1 as part of the “Baseball History” line of inserts.

Info about the set:

Set description: “Explore the major milestones and events surrounding the Fall Classic such as: First walk-off HR, first WS night game, and first World Series.”  Funny, that’s what the sell sheet said – but they literally never put in any of those.  The cards have red arched borders at the top and bottom, with a picture of the player, and a banner with a description of the event and the date of the series at the bottom, just above the player’s name.

Set composition: 25 cards, 1:6 hobby odds

Hall of Famers: 15

Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth (2 cards), Rogers Hornsby, Mickey Mantle, Mel Ott, Enos Slaughter, Bob Feller, Whitey Ford, Yogi Berra (2 cards), Jim Palmer, Bob Gibson, Brooks Robinson, Dennis Eckersley, Paul Molitor

How I put the set together:

6 cards from the hobby box

5 cards from trades

5 cards from a Card Show

9 cards from Sportlots

Thoughts on the set:  Like the History of Baseball set that was the counterpart to this one from series 1, I love this set.  I think the first one had a better design, but this one isn’t bad.  I love any type of set like this that celebrates history of the game in a targeted way – which this one does.  I was thinking about what they selected, and I tried to think of what I’d include.  Out of the stuff below, bold ones are included

First, I thought of – what are the top 5 home runs in the World Series history.  I came up with 6 instead:

• Both walk-off WS winners – Mazeroski and Joe Carter
• Babe Ruth “called shot”
• Kirk Gibson’s 1988 walk-off winner
• Carlton Fisk’s walk-off home run in 1976
• Jeter’s Mr. November homer

I didn’t include Kirby Puckett’s homer in game 6 of 1991 – because my next groups was the top individual performances I can think of, including one from that series.  I actually thought of 10 big ones:

• Christy Mathewson throwing 3 shutouts
• Jack Morris outdueling John Smoltz and the Braves bullpen for a 1-0, 10 inning win
• Don Larsen’s perfect game in 1956 (though they show Berra, not Larsen)
• Brooks Robinson defensively shutting down the Reds in the 1970 series
• Reggie Jackson hitting 3 home runs in 1977
• Babe Ruth throwing the most consecutive shutout innings
• Whitey Ford passing Ruth’s record
• Bob Gibson’s 17-strikeout game
• The Mets’ game 6 comeback on the 1986 Red Sox
• Old Pete Alexander shutting down Murderer’s Row to clinch the 1926 World Series

Then, there were 3 top individual plays (not counting the HR above) that I thought of:

• Enos Slaughter’s “mad dash”
• Willie Mays over-the-shoulder catch
• Luis Gonzalez series winning single off Mariano Rivera in 2001

Finally, I thought – what are some of the biggest team wins in history. I thought of 6:

• The first series featured Boston over Pittsburgh in 1903
• The Black Sox scandal featuring a Reds victory in 1919
• Murderers’ Row’s sweep in 1927
• The first win by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956
• The 1969 Amazin’ Mets
• The Red Sox ending the curse in 2004

Out of my 25 – they only included 8 – I think most of mine would are much better than what they did include.  I’d also have gone chronologically with the set.  Still, a very cool set either way you look at it.

Card that completed my set: #HWS19 - Boston Breaks the “Curse of the Bambino”

This was one of 3 cards I got in a Sportlots purchase in November.

Highest book value: #HWS6 Mantle - Most career home runs (18) in WS history

Best card (my opinion): #HWS11 – Johnny Podres gives Brooklyn Dodgers 1st WS win

Can’t beat this one.  Though the first World Series in 1903 would be up there – if they’d included it.

Here’s the list of these cards - and the year when the event happened.

• HWS1 Christy Mathewson throws 3 complete game shutouts
• HWS2 Walter Johnson leads Senators to 1st WS victory
• HWS3 Babe Ruth most innings pitched in a WS game
• HWS4 Rogers Hornsby player/Mgr. for Cardinals
• HWS5 Babe Ruth has first 3-HR game in the World Series
• HWS6 Mantle: Most career home runs (18) in WS history
• HWS7 Mel Ott homers in his 1st World Series at bat
• HWS8 Enos Slaughter’s Mad Dash
• HWS9 Bob Feller pick off at second not called
• HWS10 Whitey Ford: Most career wins in WS history
• HWS11 Johnny Podres gives Brooklyn Dodgers 1st WS win
• HWS12 Yogi Berra catches the 1st perfect World Series game
• HWS13 Yogi Berra: Most career hits in WS history
• HWS14 Jim Palmer: youngest pitcher w/shutout game in WS
• HWS15 Bob Gibson sets a record of 17 KO in a WS game
• HWS16 Brooks Robinson electric 1970 WS performance
• HWS17 Dennis Eckersley finished off Game 4 to win WS
• HWS18 Paul Molitor: Highest career BA (.418) in WS history
• HWS19 Boston Breaks the “Curse of the Bambino”
• HWS20 Edgar Renteria’s extra-inning Series-winning hit
• HWS21 Mr. November hits 10th inning blast
• HWS22 A. Gonzalez ends the second-longest game in WS
• HWS23 Cole Hamels earns NLCS and WS MVP honors
• HWS24 Utley ties Reggie Jackson for most HR in single WS
• HWS25 Yankees usher in new stadium with WS championship

Completed insert set – 2010 Topps History of the Game

Topps History of the Game is an insert set in 2010 series 1 as part of the “Baseball History” line of inserts.

Info about the set:

Set description: “Records the history of baseball through photography, spotlighting famous venues, locations, stars and legendary moments”.  There’s a marble border set up like a picture frame surrounding another (brown) border around the pictures – which are both horizontal and vertical.  “History of the Game” wording is set in a box at the top.

Set composition: 25 cards, 1:6 hobby odds

Hall of Famers: 7

Babe Ruth (on 4 cards), Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, Johnny Bench, Frank Robinson, Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken.  There’s also a card honoring the first Hall of Fame class.

How I put the set together:

6 cards from the hobby box

12 cards from trades

2 cards from a card show

5 cards from Sportlots

Thoughts on the set:  This is a cool set.  I love just about any type of set like this that celebrates history of the game.  I’d probably take out most of the player cards – except the Jackie Robinson and the Ruth that honors the first all-star game.  I’d also keep Johnny Bench – since his card really is there to honor the first MLB draft.  Those just go into a different set if you ask me.  I’d take out:

• “Ruth sold to the Yankees” and replace it with a card for the first professional baseball team – the 1869 Red Stockings
• “Gehrig replaces Wally Pipp” and replaced it with a card honoring the creation of the National Anthem
• “Ruth sets HR mark” and replace it with something discussing the American Association and the 1880′s World Series
• “Ruth retires with 714 HR” and replace it with a card honoring the history of the Negro Leagues
• “Maris breaks Ruth HR record” and replace it with a card honoring the “other” leagues noted as Major Leagues by MLB – the Union Association (1884), the Players’ League (1890) and the Federal League (1914-1915)
• The Frank Robinson card was supposed to honor creation of the MLBPA – I’d have stuck with that and talked about the advent of Free Agency.
• “Ryan throws 7th no-hitter” and replace it with a card honoring overseas barnstorming tours – from Spalding’s 1880′s tour to Ruth’s tours to those that happen today.
• “Ripken breaks Gehrig’s record” with the 1994 strike.  Hey – it’s a history card set, not a feel good set.

Card that completed my set: #HOTG9 - Gehrig replaces Wally Pipp

This was one of 4 cards I got in a Sportlots purchase in November – which included the Gehrig card for setting the record and the Ripken card for breaking Gehrig’s record.

Highest book value: #HOTG23 – Ripken breaks Gehrig’s streak

Best card (my opinion): #HOTG5 – First World Series Game Played

A cool picture of the field at the Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds – the home of the American League’s Boston Pilgrims (now Red Sox).  It looks like it’s being mobbed after Boston beat Pittsburgh to win the first Series – 5 games to 3.

My Favorite Reds card: #HOTG12 – First Night Game Played in MLB History

Beats out the Bench card.

Here’s the list of these cards - and the year when the event happened.

• HOTG1 (1839*) Baseball Invented
• HOTG2 (1871) First Professional Baseball Game
• HOTG3 (1876) National League Created
• HOTG4 (1901) A.L. Elevated to Major League Status
• HOTG5 (1903) First World Series Game Played
• HOTG6 (1910) President Taft Attends Opening Day
• HOTG7 (1920) Ruth Sold to the Yankees
• HOGT8 (1921) Baseball hits the Airwaves
• HOTG9 (1923) Gehrig Replaces Wally Pipp
• HOTG10 (1927) Ruth Sets Single Season HR Mark
• HOTG11 (1933) First MLB All-Star Game is Played (Babe Ruth)
• HOTG12 (1935) First Night Game Played in MLB History
• HOTG13 (1935) Ruth Retires with 714 Career Home Runs
• HOTG14 (1936) First Hall of Fame Class
• HOTG15 (1947) Jackie Robinson Plays MLB game
• HOTG16 (1947) First Televised World Series Championship
• HOTG17 (1957) Dodgers and Giants Move to California
• HOTG18 (1961) Maris Breaks Ruth HR Record
• HOTG19 (1965) First MLB Draft (Johnny Bench)
• HOTG20 (1966) NL & AL MVP (Frank Robinson)
• HOTG21 (1973) DH rule created
• HOTG22 (1991) Ryan Throws 7th No-Hitter
• HOTG23 (1995) Ripken Breaks Gehrig’s Streak
• HOTG24 (1997) Interleague Play Introduced
• HOTG25 (2000) 1st MLB game in Japan

* – According to legend.  I was disappointed that this card doesn’t point out the fact that Doubleday clearly didn’t invent the game.

Completed insert set – 2010 Topps Vintage Legends

Vintage Legends was another 2010 Topps insert that I’ve recently completed.  This is actually the largest insert set I’ve completed to date – it’s a 50 card set across 2 series.  25 vintage legends were inserted in 2010 Topps series 2, and 25 more were inserted in Topps Update.

Info about the set:

Set description: “Featuring baseball legends on memorable past Topps designs on which they’ve never appeared.  Look for Babe Ruth on the 1999 design and Lou Gehrig on the 1958 design.”  That’s pretty descriptive – this is an all-retired set, with players on sets they’ve never been on.  It isn’t just guys like Gehrig and Ruth, though, who were never on Topps cards – it’s things like putting Willie McCovey on  1953 Topps (7 years before his first Topps card) and on 1988 Topps (8 years after he had his last Topps card).  See below for what they have on the back of the cards.

Set composition: 50 cards, 1:4 odds

Hall of Famers: 24. The same player is in each series, and Thurman Munson is the only player not in the Hall of Fame out of the player list for this set.

How I put the set together:

18 cards from the 2 hobby boxes (series 2 and update)

2 cards from trades

15 cards from eBay

7 cards from some card shows

8 cards from Sportlots

Thoughts on the set:  I’ve read a lot about people not liking this set.  Well, I disagree.  I think this set is awesome.  In fact, I think it’s almost as good as the 60 years of Topps or Yo Momma cards.  Putting players on a design they’d otherwise never be seen on – I can’t help but love the idea.  On the back of these cards, they also do a comparison of what the players stats from “X” number of years earlier or later would have compared to the year of the design in question.  If you’re into baseball statistics like I am – this is excellent.  How does Cy Young’s 1907 ERA and wins stack up 70 years later – I love it.

There are some inconsistencies, though – that card #10 of Babe Ruth compares his 1919 stats to 1999.  But it’s a 1927 picture!  It doesn’t make you the biggest baseball history buff to know that Ruth’s record 29 homers in 1919 came with the Red Sox (whom he’s not pictured with on that card).

Card that completed my set: #VLC17 – Mike Schmidt (1960)

One of 2 cards I got from a December Sportlots purchase.  The other was that Babe Ruth card mentioned above, which has the same picture as his 1962 Topps (and 2011 Heritage) “Babe hits 60″ card.

Highest book value: #VLC21, VLC29 – Nolan Ryan

Since they didn’t have Mantle in this set, Ryan is the most valuable per the “#1 source”.  Speaking of Mantle, I’m somewhat surprised they didn’t have the Mick in this set.  It seems like a perfect set for him, and Topps clearly has a deal that gives them carte blanche to have him in everything they do.  I’m convinced that someday, you will be able to buy a Topps card of the Mick from every design of every year that ever existed* – and this could have been two more years on the chalkboard.

*- in addition to the fact that he is in ever set as card #7 now, he’s been in a number of other retro-type sets like the 1975 design from Lineage.

Best card (my opinion): #VLC25 – Honus Wagner

Out of all these completed sets I’ve done thus far – this  was the most difficult.  I really like this set, and there a lot of cool pictures of baseball greats on classic Topps designs.  I really like the 1986 Jimmie Foxx.  If that shot had been on 1987 Topps – I’d have taken that card.  I like the ’55 Reggie and the ’56 Cobb.

But, the best shortstop ever – from the early 1900′s – in a dugout shot.  I’ve seen a lot of the pictures in this set elsewhere.  The Bench and Seaver Reds cards are the same shots they use in Lineage for those 2 guys.  The aforementioned Ruth is the same as his 1962 Topps.  But I’ve never seen this card, and they threw it on 1990 Topps!!!  Kudos.

My Favorite Reds card: #VLC18 – Johnny Bench

This is a no-brainer.  This beats out the other Bench card is from 2002 and the Seaver card is from 2007 – I don’t think I’ll be in love with those designs when they happen.

So what years weren’t included?  That would be: ’67, ’74, ’78, ’80, ’83-’85, ’91, ’04-’06, and ’08-’09.  That’s 13 years out of 59 possible (1951 to 2009).  There were two cards from ’57, ’81, ’88 and ’89.

The Last Night of the Topps Million Card Dynasty

The second package I got in the mail last week while I was out of town was the last card of the Topps Million Card Giveaway that was still outstanding.  Apparently, Topps had an issue with not being able to fill 2 cards in particular.  And I had both of them.  So instead of this:

I got this:

Now, this was a good deal compared to the 2nd to last package I got.  For that one, instead of this:

I got this:

A Red Sox dude from 1954.  I’m not going to write a novel about how it was wrong for Topps to do this.  I’ve read plenty of blogs that go through that.  Topps messed up somehow, they should have fixed it by getting all the cards, but instead they gave substitutes.  It’s a little weird on the Pudge cards – you’d think they could have found a bulk lot of those to purchase fairly cheap.  I think this was probably a computer glitch on the Rizzuto.  I’m mostly fine with what I got, especially when I consider that, if I had pulled up a ’54 card  on the site (instead of the Rizzuto), I would have been really happy.  It’s a really nice card, seems in good condition for a 1954 card, and is the oldest in my collection.  It bugs me a little bit that they said they were giving away the unclaimed cards to charity - can that be believed if they clearly weren’t buying all the cards in advance?  But, ultimately, it’s a crappy mistake by Topps, and I’ll just adjust my habits and be sure to send in early for the Diamond Giveaways site.

That said – here’s the rest of the bounty that came in the first TMCG package I got.  Speaking of the Diamond site – I have been much more active with the trading there.  I love that they added new cards (the Diamond Die-Cut) on that site.  I’ll post on that a little later.

Topps Million – Opinions appreciated!

As the Million Card Giveaway rolls up and makes room for the Diamond Version, I’ve got to make some decisions on what to pay for shipping-wise. First off – it would be GRRRRREAT if the person with the Tony Gwynn 83 RC would either accept my trade offer (’61 Phil Rizzuto and a bunch of other late 60’s early 70’s cards – more than a steal for him, but I need the Gwynn) OR, order shipping on the card so I can stop sending requests!

That said, I’m assuming the trade will never get accepted, so I’m trying to decide if I want the Rizzuto card, or if I should accept some of the other trades out there. Here’s where you come in. I’ve pasted the 6 trade offers that aren’t offensive (no I will not trade the Rizzuto for a 1996 Topps player I’ve never heard of). Let me know through comments if you think I should:

1)       Turn down all the offers?

2)      If I should accept one of them, and if so, which one and why?

I’m a Reds fan, so those 3 are all pretty cool cards, and the Harvey Haddix is a bit enticing, too. But it just seems hard to give up a deceased Hall-of-Famer, and a Yankee icon at that, from 1961. That would be a cool card to have. Let me know what you think, and thanks!