Latest Santo Addition (sort of): 1963 Topps

One of Topps' patented tricks in the 1960s was to feature the wrong player picture on a card front, with the error going uncorrected. While the value of these cards isn't terribly significant (since they were never corrected), it still makes for interesting collecting experiences. This weekend I was rummaging my way through a box of 1960s common cards at a Detroit area card store. Then, I came across this beauty:

I knew at once it was Ron Santo. While Santo's official card was #252 in the '63 set, he was also featured on teammate Don Landrum's card #113. The statistical difference between the two is hard to understate: in 1963, Landrum hit .242 with 1 HR and 10 RBI. Santo, on the other hand, hit .297 with 25 HR, 99 RBI, an All-Star appearance, and was #8 in NL MVP voting.

Fun finds from some old school wax packs

My lovely wife and I had the chance to visit my favorite card shop yesterday. I told her to select some packs from the $.50 pile. For $4, we ended up with about 100 cards. Today, kids are lucky to get a pack of 8 cards for that price, hoping for that hit autograph or relic card. Call me old school, but I would rather pay $.50 a pack and get a couple Darrin Fletchers or Scott Bankheads!

Without further ado, here are some of the highlights. I never collected the Topps Big set when I was younger, so I struck a little gold with some of my favorites, particularly Alan Trammell.


The next packs ended up as duplicates for me...I had neglected to remember that I had already collected the monster 990 card 1991 Score set back in the day. But still, it's good to see a Hall of Famer and future Hall member in my pack.


Those dream team cards from the 91 Score set are terrific, aren't they?

And finally, two additional packs netted two Hall of Famers--Henderson from the 1995 Fleer set and Ryan from the 1991 Ultra set.



Sometimes the best part of collecting is ripping some old wax to see what bargains you might find!

What Gives, Topps? Angst from a Sandberg collector.

I've previously gone on record with my lack of enthusiasm for Topps' pervasive use of variation cards throughout its regular 2009 set. Now, the trend continues with the Topps Updates and Highlights set. Like a good Sandberg fan, I diligently picked up the variation card in the regular season set--it is always a treat to pick up a Sandberg card in the sharp 2009 design.

So Topps, in what is definitely a novel idea, inserts "traded" versions of the same subjects (with some exceptions) in its Update set. And to my surprise, Sandberg is featured again, but this time in a Phillies uni!

Certain readers of this blog know that there are only a few Phillies Sandberg cards in the market, so I was looking forward to picking this one up. But wait, that image looks familiar, doesn't it? You bet it does, courtesy of the 2007 eTopps Cards That Never Were collection.

Come on, Topps. I like the idea, but not the execution. For player collectors, we would like to see what should be a relatively rare card seem truly rare, not an afterthought. Still, an addition to the Sandberg collection, nonetheless.

New Sandberg Addition: 2009 Tristar Obak SP with Josh Vitters

As promised, here is the other half of the Tristar Obak Sandberg additions. Hopefully Vitters will become even half of the player that Ryno was.

New Sandberg Addition: 2009 Tristar Obak

I'll admit that I've never been a fan of the Tristar cards before. I consider them pre-rookie cards, since the players are not featured in MLB uniforms or with the parent MLB clubs. But the new/retro Obak set is an exception because of the terrific players featured, most notably Ryne Sandberg in an OKC 89'ers uni.


However, this is not Sandberg's first card in an 89ers uniform. Those serious collectors probably know of his rare 1981 TCMA card. That one still eludes my collection, so I will enjoy this OKC addition to my collection.

P.S. This is not the only Sandberg card in the Obak set. He is featured with Josh Vitters on an SP card that will be displayed on this blog once it arrives in the mail!

Top Ten Cards of the 1980s: #1 is . . .

While the rookie cards of stars such as Rickey Henderson, Ken Griffey Jr., Roger Clemens, and Mark McGwire were among the ten most valuable of the 1980s, there is one card that stands above the rest in value. I’m also pleased to report that this player epitomizes all that is right with the game of baseball, unlike some of the other PED-influenced stars that have been featured in this list to date. Without further delay, the number one card of the 1980s belongs to none other than Mr. Oriole, Cal Ripken Jr.

This “rookie” card is a bit of an oddity, in that Ripken’s true RC was actually in the regular issue of 1982 Topps. While Ripken shared this card with two teammates (Bob Bonner and Jeff Schneider), he was deemed worthy of his own individual card in the 1982 traded set. Card number 98T remains a Holy Grail of sorts to collectors today, and it should remain that way long into the future.

I hope you have enjoyed the top ten series of posts. I’m considering replicating the same concept for other decades if there is interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

Top Cards of the 1980s: #2, Roger Clemens 1984 Fleer Update

As I previously alluded to, the 1984 Fleer Update set is one of the most valuable sets of the modern era. We already reviewed the Gooden and Puckett rookie cards in the top 10 countdown. At #2 is the most valuable card of the set, Roger Clemens. Clemens' exploits are well known, and the steroid allegations are well documented. Regardless of his Hall of Fame possibilities, this card should continue to hold its value.

The Fleer Update card is Clemens' only 1984 XRC. Topps, Fleer and Donruss all featured RCs of Clemens in their 1985 issues.