Frankenset Page #74

The time has come. After almost a year and 3/4 of frankenset pages being posted at a rate of roughly 1 per week, I've reached the 74th and final page of my 666-card binder.

Given that these pages make up over 10% of my blog's content (74/645 posts), it's hard to imagine not posting one of these every week or so, analyzing and describing each and every card as I go.

The frankenset has become so much more than just a filler post for when I'm out of ideas; it gives me the chance to voice my opinions on cards creatively, and I appreciate each of you for doing the same.

I intend to take the rest of December, give or take, off from posting about frankenset pages before I get right back into things this January. That's right, I have another 74-pager with 666 cards, so I can start everything all over again.

Before then, however, I have 1 more page, 9 more cards to discuss. They're #658-666, and without further adieu, let's do this one last time.

#658 1984 Topps Jerry Augustine

1983 and 1984 Topps, among other sets, have been integral parts of my frankenset, though a little too much so if you ask me. Don't get me wrong, I think both products are fabulous; rather, I'd just take a closer look at my next frankenset before featuring this many cards from 1 release.

If nothing else, my final card from the '84 set happens to feature a dynamic Brewers uniform that the team still wears as an alternate to this day. Even when the designs become repetitive, I can often count on a cool jersey to spice things up.

#659 2015 Topps Jimmy Rollins Becomes Phillies Hits Leader

To be completely honest, I had no idea that Jimmy Rollins passed Mike Schmidt for the Phillies' franchise hits record until I selected this highlights card for my frankenset a few years back.

While Rollins was a fabulous player, I never saw him eclipsing a Hall of Famer and one of the best 3rd basemen of all-time. Nonetheless, Rollins' 2,306 hits still hold while Schmidt is a close 2nd at 2,234.

#660 1993 Topps Alan Trammell

The Modern Era Committee's announcement on Sunday, which I'll get to soon, plus seeing this Alan Trammell card from 1993 Topps, reminded me of the Class of 2018, which Trammell and teammate Jack Morris were apart of.

Recently, Harold Baines and Ted Simmons have been elected to Cooperstown, causing a debate between small vs large hall supporters. Though I'm neutral on the matter, I see the cases that both sides are making. I do, however, fully agree with Trammell's induction.

#661 1987 Topps Lou Whitaker

It's just a shame that his teammate Lou Whitaker hasn't garnered enough votes to join the ranks in Cooperstown. Out of all the players on the ballot this year, I was most hoping that Whitaker and Evans would make the cut.

The fact is, with that being said, Whitaker's stats and defensive capabilities speak for themselves. He has nearly 2,400 hits to his name as well as a career .276 average and 5 All-Star game selections.

I mean, it took Lee Smith many decades before he made it in, so maybe Whitaker will make the cut a few years down the road.

#662 1970 Topps Frank Lucchesi

Manager cards haven't graced many pages of my frankenset, so it's nice to see a vintage one so late in the game, especially from a Flagship set that I like as much as 1970 Topps.

It's hard to see any Phillies card nowadays without immediately thinking of all the moves they've made so far this offseason. First Zack Wheeler and now Didi Gregorius? And I thought Philadelphia was a championship contender last year.

I don't have any problems with the Phillies; hopefully, under new leadership, they'll rise to the top of the NL East where I know they belong.

#663 1988 Topps Ron Blomberg Turn Back the Clock

Turn Back the Clock was an interesting feature in Topps sets towards the end of the 1980s. A subset that paid homage to cards celebrating a momentous "birthday" TBTC featured a wide assortment of players.

Sure, Hall of Famers received spots in the checklist, but so did guys like Rob Blomberg for his 1973 Flagship card. The design, however, leaves room for improvement.

#664 1990 Topps Johnny Bench Turn Back the Clock

Apologies for the 2nd consecutive Turn Back the Clock card, but at least this helps to prove my point. Hall of Famers, alongside semi-stars, were featured in these subsets for several years.

While the first card commemorated the 25th anniversary of Blomberg's '73 Topps card, the one above honors Bench's 1970 Topps card, just the 3rd Flagship card of his career.

#665 1991 Topps

It wouldn't be a true frankenset page without some sort of action photo from 1991 Topps of an obscure 1990s player. In this case, that guy is Pirates catcher Mike LaValliere.

'91 is another set I feel like I've significantly overused across my frankenset pages. I'll definitely use the pointers I gave myself surrounding '83 and '84 for going forward.

#666 2016 Topps J.T. Realmuto

And with that, orange uniform and rookie cup included, the 74-page, 666-card frankenset that's spanned well over a year and a half, comes to an end. J.T. Realmuto, the #1 catcher in the game, wraps up the set with a flashy and modern card from 2016 Topps.

To everyone who's read, commented on, or appreciated these posts at any point between March 2018 and today, thank you for supporting this series.

It's been a blast to write about and analyze, and I can't wait to do it all over again.

Frankenset Page #73

In roughly one week or so from today, my 74-page frankenset series, which has spanned well over 1 1/2 years, will draw to a close with cards #658-666 wrapping it up. After that, I'll likely take a couple weeks off from posting frankenset pages before I begin my new series towards the beginning of January 2020.

As for December, there's a lot of material for me to post in the absence of weekly frankenset pages. Bowman's Best will be released around Christmas time; I have a secret Santa gift heading my way (thanks again to Jon from A Penny Sleeve For Your Thoughts for organizing it).

I'll recap 2019 in card collecting, including my favorite releases of the year, and I have a special sports card package coming in the mail tomorrow (not Baseball!) that I haven't quite decided what I'd like to do with.

So, December should be a pretty exciting month for the blog, but before all the festivities begin, let's get to the second to last frankenset page, featuring cards #649-657.

#649 1976 Topps Traded Dave Roberts

I opted not to include the Traded cards in my quest to complete the '76 Topps set, but that doesn't mean I'm not a huge fan of the news headlines, featuring dates, that make up the checklist.

Guys like Oscar Gamble and Fergie Jenkins instantly come to mind when I think of the '76 Traded checklist, featuring several dozen players. Dave Roberts, card #649 in the base set and #T649 in the traded set, is the final one; this card commemorates his trade from the Astros to the Tigers.

#650 2014 Topps Jacoby Ellsbury

The timing of this card would've been better a week or so ago, but it's not too late to talk about the disastrous and disappointing, to say the least, Jacoby Ellsbury signing made by the New York Yankees.

The $153 million acquisition never eclipsed 2,000 at-bats in his time with New York, and now the Yankees are seeking to recoup some of his money, stating that he had some sort of unauthorized procedure that affected his ability to contribute to the team.

Though his time in New York was marred with injuries and controversy, I'll never forget Ellsbury's monstrous 2011 when he should've taken home AL MVP honors (sorry Verlander).

#651 1994 Fleer Todd Zelle

Fleer's base sets from the early 1990s do very little to impress me. First, there's the 1990 design when someone made the unfathomable decision to feature bright yellow borders across the entire set. Then, there's the bland and forgettable '94 design.

A decade or so later, Fleer made up for these boring designs by introducing some of my favorite finds from the dime boxes, like Tradition, Showcase, and Greats of the Game. I wish I had one of those cards to feature instead of Todd Zelle's '94 base card.

#652 1988 Score Vince Coleman

One of the most underrated players from the 1980s, Vince Coleman stole over 750 bases throughout his 13-year career. He achieved most of his success in St. Louis where he was a 2-time All-Star and stole 100+ bases on 3 separate occasions (1985-1987).

As far as Score is concerned, this '87 highlights card isn't too bad. It features a nice action shot and orange border that could be better, but could also be worse. Overall, the card is very middle of the road.

#653 1991 Topps Anthony Telford

In a couple of years, Topps will be celebrating its 70th anniversary, a monumental milestone in the company's history. Given all the special inserts and parallels that Topps included back in 2011 for their 60th anniversary, I'm eagerly awaiting what's going to be done to celebrate 70 years.

More significant, I presume, will be their 75th anniversary in 2026, but we have a while to wait before that gets underway. Until then, let's get through 2019 without anymore 150th anniversary of professional Baseball tributes.

#654 2015 Topps Alfredo Simon

I apologize for how lackluster this page has proven to be thus far. As the checklist grows, it becomes increasingly challenging to find intriguing cards due to the decreased range of cards numbered in the 600s as opposed to the 100s.

Still, when I created this set a couple of years back, I had a reason for each card, and the one above is no exception. For starters, I love the 2015 Topps design, and this isn't a bad action image whatsoever.

#655 1977 Topps Tony Perez

Finally, something of interest! Without a shadow of a doubt, Tony Perez's 1977 Topps card will rank as my favorite card of the entire page. The photograph is an absolutely perfect pairing for the bold text that accompanies every '77 Flagship card.

Not only is Perez's card the crown jewel of page #73, but it's also one of my favorites of the entire frankenset as well as the '77 Topps set. In some ways, the card is rather simple, but there's so much to appreciate about it.

#656 2016 Topps Randal Grichuk

The rookie cup and classic Cardinals uniform definitely influenced my decision to feature this Randal Grichuk card in the frankenset because, let's be real, the 2016 Topps design does not do it any favors.

There's something about rookie cup cards, particularly those from the 1960s with the much larger trophies, that captivates my attention. The cards are always stunning and less expensive than standard rookie cards. It's a win-win situation in my book.

#657 1992 Sporting News Conlon Collection Chick Hafey

This isn't something that happens too frequently, but 4/9 cards on this page featured St. Louis Cardinals players, something I'll try to avoid when it comes to my subsequent frankenset.

With that being said, if I had to cut one of these cards, my last choice would be the Conlon Collection Chick Hafey. Anything from this set is more than welcome in my frankenset, for the cards are a nice contrast to the traditional color photography.

Frankenset Page #72

I originally foresaw myself completing the 74-page frankenset series by the end of November, but it appears as if the series, which has been around since March of 2018, will continue into the very beginning of December before I wrap it up.

Page #72 is the 3rd to last of 74 unique pages included within this frankenset. Since I've been averaging about one of these a week, the series won't wrap up until the first few days of December.

Encompassing cards #640-648, page 72 spans just 3 decades of Baseball history (the 1970s, 80s, and 2010s). Let's begin the page, starting with another stellar combo card from the 1980s.

#640 1984 Fleer Bench & Yaz

1983 saw the careers of Baseball superstars, including Johnny Bench and Carl Yastrzemski, come to an end. Combining for 32 All-Star game selections and 3 MVP awards, these 2 Hall of Famers were some of the game's brightest stars throughout their respective careers.

Fleer, a company that never shied away from making combo cards, produced one to highlight Bench & Yaz in their 1984 set. If you've seen my past few pages, you know how much I love cards like these.

#641 1988 Donruss Stan Musial

During the late 1980s, Donruss would feature puzzle pieces in each of their packs that would combine to form 1 cohesive puzzle that emulated a card in the set.

That card was always a specialty card of a Hall of Famer, and in the case of the 1988 set, that player was Stan Musial. Other subjects included Roberto Clemente and Hank Aaron.

While I admire the idea of recognizing the game's greats, there must've been a better way for Donruss to do this rather than placing puzzle pieces into packs that didn't have much to do with the actual set.

#642 2015 Topps Alex Wood

Alex Wood hasn't faired too well since the Dodgers-Reds trade that sent him along with Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp to Cincinnati last winter. In his first season with the Reds, the 2017 All-Star posted a 5.80 ERA in just 35 innings pitched.

Currently, the 28-year old is a free agent, and while he's coming off injuries and a poor 2019 season, there are a plethora of teams that could benefit from adding a respectable starter to their rotation.

#643 1988 Donruss Keith Hughes

It's not ideal for there to be 2 cards from the 1988 Donruss set on 1 page, but at least Keith Hughes' uniform is pretty interesting to look at. Otherwise, this card wouldn't have a whole lot to show for itself.

#644 1982 Fleer Rollie Fingers

Fleer has been the MVP of frankenset page #72 thus far. First, we had the '84 combo card of Bench and Yaz. Now, a highlights card commemorating Rollie Fingers' 1981 season.

Even though the photo quality of 1982 Fleer leaves a lot to be desired, this set has delivered some amazing cards for my frankenset, including a Big Red Machine combo card of Driessen, Concepcion, and Foster.

#645 2016 Topps Danny Santana

The major award winners were announced well over a week ago, but I haven't really deemed it necessary to discuss them on the blog. There weren't any huge surprises, though I was pleased to see Rocco Baldelli take home the AL Manager of the Year.

Granted, the Twins faired pretty poorly in the playoffs, but their 100-win season came as a shock to Baseball fans everywhere, including myself, for I didn't even predict they would make the postseason.

#646 1983 Topps Jim Essian

I'm not 100% sure, but the chain-link fence in the background of Jim Essian's 1983 Topps card leads me to believe that this photograph is from Spring Training.

Even without that part of the background, this card still has a whole lot going on. From the pink and yellow borders to the 2 different shades of blue being worn by the Mariners players, it's no wonder why '83 Topps is one of my favorite Flagship sets.

#647 1976 Topps Ramon Hernandez

The above 1976 Topps card of Ramon Hernandez isn't in the best condition which is likely why the card is apart of my frankenset instead of my '76 Topps Flagship binder.

Speaking of that set, I'm down to just 39 cards needed to finish it up. Ideally, I'd track down the remaining cards during COMC's Black Friday sale and have the set completed within the next week or so.

#648 1987 Topps Barry Larkin

Barry Larkin's 1987 Topps card is the first thing that comes to mind whenever I think of the 12-time All-Star. Everything about it, from the wood borders to the Reds' away jersey, is practically engraved in my mind.

I've been collecting Larkin for quite some time now, but for whatever reason, he has yet to even reach silver tier status. Even though he's a Hall of Famer, Larkin doesn't seem to get much love from modern-day card companies. Either that or I never seem to come across any of them.

Frankenset Page #71

It's crazy to think that by the end of this month, my 74-page frankenset series will likely draw to a close. I seem to be averaging one of these pages every week or so, so it stands to reason that the series will officially be wrapped up towards the end of the month.

Today's page is #71 in the series, featuring cards #631-639 that span 5 consecutive decades (the 1970s-2010s).  Let's get started.

#631 1983 Fleer Pride of Venezuela

This combo card may be the first of the page, but I'm already declaring it my favorite just like the Big Red Machine from the previous frankenset post. Both Trillo and Concepcion were entertaining players to watch in the late 70s and early 80s, especially when the former was a member of the Chicago Cubs.

Plus, there's something harmonious about the 2 red uniforms and the basic silver-bordered '83 Fleer design. There's just, to put it simply, a lot to like about this card.

#632 2016 Topps Ramon Cabrera

I could get into my issues regarding the 2016 Topps set yet again on the blog, but I'll refrain from that and instead focus on the fact that Topps did a nice job with this card.

Look, the card isn't groundbreaking or extraordinary, but I always love the way a catcher's action card looks as he prepares to throw the ball in an attempt to prevent a runner from stealing. If nothing else, the mediocre to put it kindly nature of the 2016 Flagship set didn't stain this card.

#633 2006 Topps Josh Barfield

I don't know if Topps was attempting a combination of modern and retro with the 2006 Topps design. All I know is that the color pairing did not work out very well as far as the San Diego Padres' cards are concerned.

Orange and brown may have looked great together back in the 1970s when Topps could make virtually any color combination work, but the same can't be said when a silver foil design is added to the mix.

#634 2013 Topps Drew Smyly

Over the last few years of Topps Flagship, particularly 2019, I've noticed a resurgence in retro uniforms making appearances on base cards. The inclusion of these throwback jerseys is something that I'm quite happy about, for they weren't always as common as they are now.

To be quite honest, I don't recognize the jersey that Drew Smyly is wearing in the card above.

#635 1978 Topps Joe Rudi

Joe Rudi remains one of my favorite members of the Swingin' Oakland A's teams from the early/mid-1970s, but by '78, Rudi was no longer playing in the Bay Area. He joined the California Angels after the 1976 season and remained there until '81 when he played for the Boston Red Sox for a year.

After a down season in Boston, Rudi spent 1982, the final year of his career, back with the Oakland A's. Interestingly enough, he hit a home run in his final MLB at-bat.

#636 1992 The Sporting News Conlon Collection

Don't get me wrong, I'm incredibly fond of the breathtaking 1992 Sporting News Conlon Collection set. However, I don't want the cards to be featured too frequently and, thus, become repetitive.

With that being said, the photography, no matter how many cards I look at, never fails to impress me. The fact that hundreds of Conlon's photographs were compiled into one cohesive set is nothing short of extraordinary.

#637 2010 Topps Prestigious Pinstripe Power

The 2010 Topps set, even as far as this decade's Flagship products are concerned, does very little to impress me. The overly-large font used for team names is about the only thing that sets this design apart from others, and that's not necessarily a positive attribute.

It seems to me that this set is forgotten amongst all the others that have been produced this decade, and in my eyes, Topps should be thankful for that.

#638 2015 Topps Jimmy Rollins

Seriously, all you have to do is look at 2010 Topps next to a card from the 2015 Flagship set to understand what I'm saying. Topps has produced 20 base sets this century and as far as I'm concerned, none of them have come close to rivaling the colorful and vibrant 2015 design.

#639 1987 Topps Gerald Perry

 Last up, a card from 1987 Topps, a set that we haven't seen featured on one of the frankenset pages in a little bit. As a result, I have slightly more positive feelings towards the wood-bordered set, because I haven't seen any of its cards in quite some time.

Frankenset Page #70

Page #70 of my frankenset will definitely rank in the top 5 of all 74 pages when all is said and done, and by the end of this post, you'll understand why.

Representing every decade from the 1970s-2010s (excluding the 2000s), page 74 features cards #622-630. As we inch closer to the end of a series that's spanned over a year and a half, it's nice to have such a dynamic page as we draw to a close.

#622 1992 Sporting News Conlon Collection Rogers Hornsby

Among other things, the upcoming end of this 74-page frankenset series means that I won't have (as many) opportunities to showcase cards from the, at times, breathtaking Sporting News Conlon Collection set.

Hopefully, my 2nd frankenset series will give me the chance to discuss these cards at much greater length. For now, I'll just comment on how amazed I am at how beautifully the photographs were enhanced.

#623 1992 Bowman Ryan Klesko

COMC doesn't give me any information as to what type of parallel from the 1992 Bowman set is featured above. I know that the base cards feature white borders, so I assume it's some sort of gold parallel (it looks far brighter in person).

Ryan Klesko, on the other hand, can best be described as a Topps Archives Fan Favorite type of player. He hit .279 with 1,500+ hits in 16 seasons with the Braves, Padres, and Giants.

#624 2016 Topps Tommy Milone

The appearance of Fenway Park's Green Monster in the background inspired me to include this 2016 Topps card of Tommy Milone in the first place. Despite how iconic the feature is, I don't see the Green Monster make appearances on non-Red Sox cards all too often.

Now, if not for the unnecessary smoke that accompanied every card in the 2016 Topps set, this card would be elevated to a much higher level.

#625 1988 Donruss Ripken Baseball Family

One of the 2 combo cards featured on this page, the Ripken Baseball Family shot takes an otherwise dismal 1988 Donruss set and adds something of interest to it. On the card above, you can see Billy Ripken, Cal Ripken Sr, and, most notably, Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr.

Whether they're featured in original Topps sets, modern-day Heritage, or anything in between, I'm a sucker for combo cards which you'll see more of later on.

#626 1983 Topps Jerry Martin

Neither the 1982 nor the 1983 Kansas City Royals feature another player with the last name of Martin, according to Wikipedia, so it's interesting to see the letter J before "Martin" on the back of his jersey.

Of course, Martin was part of the infamous 1983 Kansas City Royals drug scandal along with 3 of his teammates, including former MVP Vida Blue and Willie Wilson.

#627 1981 Topps Luis Tiant

Though I prefer cards that depict Luis Tiant as a member of the Boston Red Sox, there's something about seeing the 3-time All-Star in New York Yankee pinstripes. I have a handful of cards featuring Tiant as a member of the Yankees, none of which rival his '81 Topps card.

From the pink frame around the photograph to the iconic uniform, there's a lot to like about this card, even if you're indifferent to the 1981 Topps set like I am.

#628 1974 Topps Ivan Murrell

There's a whole lot of San Diego Padres' team colors on this card, great if you like gold/light brown, but not if you don't. Personally, I love all the bright and bold uniforms from the 1970s, and '74 Topps is one of the better sets from that decade.

Plus, as is the case with several cards from the frankenset, the angle at which the photograph was taken is uncommon when it comes to Baseball cards.

#629 1985 Donruss

This page has already had more than its fair share of impressive cards/photographs, but now we have the fabulous combination of Yankee pinstripes, this time paired with the black-bordered 1985 Donruss design.

One of the more underrated sets of all-time, '85 Donruss makes an excellent look of sleek, thin black borders by pairing them with the colorful uniforms and overall uniqueness of the 1980s. In my humble opinion, it's the greatest set Donruss ever made.

#630 1982 Fleer Big Red Machine

It's rare for there to be one combo card on a frankenset page, let alone two, and this Big Red Machine, despite the excellence of this page, easily gets my vote for the #1 card.

By this point, the Big Red Machine was well past its prime with some players moving on and others soon to be retiring. Nonetheless, this photo of Dan Driessen, Dave Concepcion, and George Foster not only sheds light on some of the team's more underrated players but reminds Baseball fans how dominant this club was during the mid-1970s.

Given a page in which virtually every card is a standout, the Big Red Machine combo card thrives, garnering my vote for the best card of the page and will certainly rank among the better cards of the set.