YDF, 7.25.14

2008 Topps Yankees Team Set #NYY10

In my opinion, the photo choice for Joba's card from the 2008 Yankees Team Set surely blows the doors off his regular flagship issue.  And that's not to say his regular Topps card isn't good, because it is.  But I just have a thing for this one.  Yet another reason why the Topps Team Sets are occasionally a worthwhile purchase.

MK

YDF, 7.24.14

1990 Topps Batting Leaders #12

These special "Top Active Career Batting Leaders" cards were K-Mart exclusives found in 100-card blister packs of 1990 Topps (one per pack).  K-Mart/Topps did the same thing in 1989, though the cards from that year had red borders.  I guess these things are kinda rare since--depending on the player--some of the cards from this set carry a somewhat bloated asking price on eBay, etc.  However, you can probably find a copy of this Lansford for a buck or cheaper.

MK

YDF, 7.23.14

2006 Upper Deck #228

Aaahhh, the elusive Jose Lima.  I finally found this card at a recent show for a dime.  Though he's not in the appropriate uniform, this is Lima's lone entry into the Mets baseball card catalog (as far as I know) and one of the final cards produced of the late Dominican right-hander.  Normally, I require the card to bear an image of the player in a NYM uniform, but I'll bend the rules for Lima and add this to my All-Time Mets Project collection.

MK

Twelve on the Horizon

I've been sitting on (not literally, mind you) a stack of pretty cool horizontal cards that I picked up from JustCommons.com about a month or so ago.  I've been meaning to scan 'n post a bunch of them, but you know how that goes.

Anyhow, without any further blithering or blathering, here are a dozen cards from that lot that have made the cut--at least for right now--for my Horizontal Heroes frankenset.

Up top, we lead off with a 1993 Score Select Kevin Seitzer which has captured card No. 87 in the frankenset.  I don't recall '93 Select having a ton of horizontal shots, but this one has got to be one of the most interesting in the set.  If not THE most interesting.

2013 Topps Update #US90

I'm trying to be conscious of not admitting too many cards from the current decade, but that's a tough task when you consider how many photographic gems Topps has churned out.  This card gets bonus points for Chase Utley's out-of-character exuberance and also for the fact that Michael Young was a Phillie for a hot second.

1996 Score #108

There are about a zillion great horizontal cards featuring catchers in the throes of action at or around the plate.  If you're not careful, you could probably do an entire frankenset strictly comprised of such cards.  Not that that's a bad thing, but a little variety doesn't hurt.  In the case of this '96 Score McFarlane, it's too good to ignore.

1995 Upper Deck #114

Any time you can find a horizontal card of a pitcher doing something outside his accepted norm, you tend to gravitate towards it.  That's clearly the case with Rob Nen's 1995 Upper Deck issue.

1999 Stadium Club #127

Like so many other neat cards, I believe I first became aware of this one via Nick's Dime Boxes blog.  I immediately made sure to add it onto my 'want' list at Just Commons.  I think this might be one of four or five Brady Anderson cards that currently reside in the HH frankenset.  A strange coincidence, I assure you.  Then again, I don't have anything against Brady.  After all, he happens to be Mrs. K's favorite player of all-time (well, at least the one not named 'Cal').

2001 Fleer Ultra #132

Throwback jerseys on cards are always deserving of bonus points, especially when it comes to truly old-timey ones like the A's boasted back in 2000.  On top of that, Stairs is such a cool player to include in the set.  He looks pretty natural in that wool jersey, does he not?

2008 UD First Edition #213

Remember what I mentioned about catcher cards?  Well, I couldn't resist this one, either.  The hockey-style mask plus the fact that it's John Buck--a former Met--ensures that this one joins the fray.

2010 Topps Update #US-231

I had to find a way to work a 'Gabe' card into the mix, and this one was an easy choice.  Then again, whether the name on the front was Gabe or Marty or Ezekiel, this card would have made the cut because it's such a unique photo choice.  I love how horizontal shots work on the 2010 Topps design.

1995 Score #432

A second card featuring a Phillies celebration?  I must be getting soft in my old age.  No matter the team, a card depicting a dugout welcome will almost always receive a favorable reception.

1994 Pinnacle #523

Dunston is another one of those guys that I really wanted to work into the set, and this '94 Pinnacle card fits the bill nicely.  At first glance you might be tempted to dismiss it as ordinary.  But, take a look at the placement of the baseball and where it's frozen for eternity.  Pretty cool.

1992 Topps #550

A stone-cold, lead pipe lock for inclusion in the HH frankenset.  Along with Doc Gooden's '92 Stadium Club classic, this is one of those cards that will not be budged from its spot for any reason beyond ludicrous bribery.

2006 Upper Deck #566

And we'll finish on a sizzling note with this 2006 masterpiece from 2006 Upper Deck.  I don't know much about Pablo Ozuna, but judging from this action sequence, I like the way he plays the game.  And could that be loopy MLB Tonight analyst Eric Byrnes he's about to engulf?  It truly doesn't get any better than that.

MK

YDF, 7.22.14

1992 Upper Deck #267

For the third year in a row, Gary Carter had a card in both the regular 700-card Upper Deck set and the subsequent 100-card "High Series" release.  In addition to the above Dodgers card from the "low series," The Kid was shown as an Expo in the High Series (card No. 767).  This was Carter's second and final UD card as a Dodger, his first being card No. 758 from the previous year's High Series.

MK

The Three Little Bears

It's crazy to think that there was a time that I didn't give two thoughts to pursuing the 1977 Topps set.  This was before I was a set collector and such.  But, I mean, here I had this box from my Uncle containing hundreds of cards from the late '70s, most of those hailing from the great '77 edition.  Just sitting in a dark corner of my closet.

Well, thankfully I came to my senses, cos I've had a blast putting this thing together little by little.  And the best part about it has been getting help from my friends around the blogging community.

Today's featured threesome of cards comes from Tom at Waiting 'til Next Year.  Of course, this trio was comprised of all Cubbies, but there ain't a thing wrong with that!  Especially when one of them is Rick Monday, who I admire the hell out of for his American flag heroics from back in the day.

And here we have the less-successful but equally homely-looking of the Reuschel brothers.  Hey, I'm no Burt Reynolds myself, but...  Well, never mind that.  Still, you gotta give the guy his due for the Hanson Brothers-style specs.

And finally Jerry Morales, a former Met (for one season at least) in a posed batting stance at good ol' Shea Stadium.  That's one of the things I love most about cards from the '60s and '70s -- a lot of photographs were snapped at the former home of the New York Mets.

Thanks much for the additions, Tom!

MK

Yer Daily Fix, 7.21.14

1993 Pinnacle #87

Whoa, B.J.  I can't tell if he's hurt or if he's yelling out orders for his infield after a bunt or during a relay.  Or maybe he's just auditioning for the Wyld Stallyns.  However, you can tell this is from a game hosted at Toronto's SkyDome, thanks to the TSN media banner in the background.  The Sports Network, or TSN, aired Blue Jays games from 1984 through 2009.  Rogers Sportsnet is now the exclusive TV home of the Jays.

MK