"What If?" x 29

We all know how this movie will end, but in the meantime, Beckett Media's folks had a little "Fun With Photoshop" day and came up with "cards" for a certain free agent shortstop currently invoved in a contract soap opera with the team we all know he'll end up with when all is said and done.
Am I the only one who thinks the Photoshopping makes him appear to have a freakishly large head in most of these other unis?
TOTALLY FAKE BASEBALL CARDS: 29 Derek Jeters you won’t see in 2011 … and one you just might
XFRPVT4U3RE5

 

A game within a game, Part II

Alongside the Topps 60th Anniversary "Greatest Cards of All Time" promotion, Chad Finn of the Boston Globe has decided to come up with his own list.  The rules and regulations for his list are a little different, and I actually prefer his over Topps.  He is posting his list in 5 card increments.  Here is the latest..........

Top 60 Topps: Pack 2

 

You're NOT the "Topps"

Among the cards Topps has put on the short list for their "60 Greatest Cards of All Time" (Voting ends November 30th, by the way), there are several unusual choices.  Here are a few things I can't quite wrap my mind around.......

• 17 out of 100 cards are Mickey Mantle.  Granted, the guy is quite possibly the single biggest name in the history of the hobby, but really?  Approximately 1 out of every 6 cards are the same player? 
• The card featuring Dwight Gooden is a relatively worthless insert and not his true rookie?
• The 2007 addition to the list is a run-of-the-mill Jeter base card? 
• Why is Barry Bonds there, but not A-Rod or Roger Clemens?

This article points out perhaps the biggest anomaly on the list of 100.  Granted, it has serious collectible value and qualifies as more of an error card than anything, but at the same time it represents who could be the biggest bust of the last decade (at least at the moment).  Then again, Josh Hamilton is proof that one can overcome even the longest odds and become a late bloomer as a superstar. 

Best baseball cards of all time include Bo Jackson ... and Alex Gordon?

 

Card companies finally catch up to a man ahead of his time

As Roy Halladay was making history with a no-hitter in Game 1 of this year's Phillies/Reds NLDS, we mentioned that it took 5 years for Don Larsen's perfect game to be given its own card by Topps.  While most sports fans are at least casually familiar with this story thanks to the silver screen, it is interesting to note that it has taken 38 YEARS for a card of any kind to come to fruition, and it's good to see a man whose life ended rather abruptly get his due on cardboard.  Kudos to Panini for taking care of that..........

Football pioneer Ernie Davis has first card made

 

Visit THE House of Cards!! Herschel Walker AUTO USFL Mini Helmet For the sports fan on your holiday shopping list, find great autographed memorabilia @ THE House of Cards! Visit my eBay Store:The House of Cards

A virtual field trip

One man looks inside the Madison Square Garden of card shops.....quite possibly the single most praised AND criticized shop in the world among hobby message boards and forums.  His experience was considerably more pleasant than some have advertised.  Clearly, this ain't your average Main Street shop! 

An LCS trip to Burbank Sports Cards

Uncertainty in the present, optimism for the future

I enjoy taking a look inside the mom and pop, brick and mortar card shops that are still around.  Of particular interest to me are the ones who have weathered the current economic storm.  In some cases, several economic storms (recessions in '82 and '91, post-9/11, etc.).  It's also heartwarming to see that one-to-one connection between owner and customer to the point that the customers have dedicated themselves to keep the place alive in some form. It's even more heartwarming that they remain bullish on the future of the hobby. 

Baseball Card Shop Loses Fans, Edge

 

A game within a game

The current poll and buyback program Topps is conducting to commemorate their 60th Anniversary has inspired Chad Finn of The Boston Globe to come up with his own variation with a slightly different set of rules.  I actually prefer his.  Just wish there were a buyback involved with this one, too. 

Card games

 

I Left My Money In (A) San Francisco (Card Shop)

So, one week removed from their place in history, how hot are the cards featuring the latest round of World Series heroes around the Bay Area?  Fortunately, someone has done the work for me.......

Baseball cards' value depends on who's hot or not

Card Therapy

Good to read stories like this.  What is a hobby for most of us literally helped heal a fellow hobbyist, both mentally and physically, and also helped him find true love.........

Healing Body and Spirit

and Part 1 of the series to set up the story..........

Tragedy to Triumph

Hail Honus!

Admittedly, this one wasn't in very good shape, but a T206 Honus Wagner is a T206 Honus Wagner, and it goes for a great cause.......

Nuns get $220K from Wagner card sale