I finished off a regular size insert set from 2012 Ginter back in November last year (I have a lot of catching up to do on completed insert sets). I don’t focus too much on Ginter sets – I stopped collecting it after 2012 – but this was “gett-able” back around the holiday season last year.
Info about the set:
Set description: From the sell sheet – “25 cards featuring reproductions of original commissioned sketches showing some of the greatest baseball highlights of the year.” Actually there are only 24 cards. And they should have added “and in history”, because there are certainly some retired players in this set. As the description mentioned, Topps commissioned artist Chris Henderson to do some original sketches.
Set composition: 25 cards, 1:10 odds (2012 Allen & Ginter’s)
Hall of Famers: 14. Tom Seaver, Ryne Sandberg, Brooks Robinson, Frank Thomas, John Smoltz, Nolan Ryan, Mickey Mantle, Cal Ripken, Ozzie Smith, Carlton Fisk, Willie Mays, Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente
How I put the set together:
- 3 cards from my hobby box
- 3 cards from a case break
- 1 card from a retail pack
- 4 cards from a card show
- 4 cards from trades
- 9 card from Sportlots
Card that completed my set: #BH24 – Roberto Clemente
This card honored Clemente’s MVP season of 1966.
Thoughts on the set: Very cool set – and most of the artist’s photographs are great. This is something that Topps does every year for Ginter, and it’s a good thing at that.
Best card (my opinion): #BH21 – Willie Mays
Before Dwight Clark, “The Catch” meant this amazing play. This is easily my favorite rendition in this set. Card #1 of Roger Maris and #3 of Ichiro are other favorites for me as well.
Any other tidbits: It would be great to own some of the originals. At some point, the artist sold them on eBay – here’s an example of the Willie Mays over-the-shoulder catch which would be awesome to own!
Lifetime Topps project 
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