Favorite Cards of 2013 - Part 1

I started thinking about this series of posts a while back and even had all the cards identified a couple weeks back. But, I have been remiss in actually doing anything with it due to a variety of reasons.  So, instead of one post per card, I am going to break it down into three posts only.

So, in reverse order, here are 12 through 9:

12.  2012 Topps Archive 3D Babe Ruth

I got this card from the mysterious Napkin Doon.  It seems like your typical 3D insert, but what I like about it is that only background moves when you tilt it back and forth.

11. 1971 Topps #709 (Dusty Baker and Don Baylor RC)

In addition to being the rookie card of two stars of the 1970s, it is a high number card, leading it to a book value of $80.  This was the last big ticket card I needed towards completing the 1971 set.

10. 1960 Fleer Ed Barrow

This card of a rather avuncular Ed Barrow is the most unlikely entry on this list.  But, as the architect behind the Yankee dynasty of the first half of the 20th Century, surely he is a noteworthy person?  And before you answer, consider that the Hall of Fame agrees with me.

9. 2013 Topps Archive 72 Mini Lou Gehrig

I got this card from Night Owl.  This card tickles me to no end. Not only is it The Yankee Clipper, one of the best ballplayers ever, but it is done in the fun 1972 Topps design. I am looking forward to building '72 Topps.

So, there are the first four.   Stay tuned for four more tomorrow.

What I am listening to: "Long I Ride" by Robbie Fulks

A Nice Round Number

I first dipped my toe back in the collecting world back in late 2010 when I decided to try and collect the various Paul Blair trading cards. I figured there was about 16 total, spanning his major league career that lasted from 1965 through 1980.  Little did I know.

Two and a half years later, I know better.  I have come to discover all sorts of regional issues, re-issues, and sets focusing on players of the past. My Paul Blair player collection has long since past 16 cards. Indeed, today I crossed into triple digits with two EBay arrivals.

These cards are the 99th and 100th unique cards in my Blair PC.  They are modeled after the 1974 Topps set.  You may recall my recent post about 2003 Topps Fan Favorites, where I complained about how they designed the card backs.  My beef was that they only showed the players career statistics with the team he was featured on the card with.  This 2013 Archive set does the backs a bit better, in my opinion

The back is a exact duplicate of the actual 1974 Blair card, except for the card number (92 in 1974 vs 224 here) and the copyright text at the bottom.  Indeed, even the facsimile autograph on the back is duplicated from 1974.  You can see that it is different that his current day autograph above it.

Well, I have been staring at the screen for 5 minutes. I don't have anything left to say, but I haven't exactly got an ending with that previous paragraph, so I am not sure what to do other than to say that I have a couple other Ebay finds on their way to me that I will be all excited to share next week. Hopefully, I'll have found my muse by then.