Top 5 Relics/Autographs: Atlanta Braves

During my 74th and final frankenset page, I commented briefly on the Philadelphia Phillies, stating that with the new additions of Zack Wheeler, Didi Gregorius, and Joe Girardi running things, they should find themselves at the top of the NL East next season.

The keyword in that sentence is should because as we've seen, Baseball is wildly unpredictable. I mean, who genuinely thought, following the departure of Bryce Harper, that the Nationals would be World Champions this year?

The Nationals may have surprised everyone when it came to the postseason, but don't forget, the Braves captured their 2nd consecutive NL East title this season with a record of 97-65, beating out Washington by 4 games.  

Ronald Acuña Jr, though slightly overrated in my books, has established himself as one of the game's brightest stars at such a young age, and his teammate Ozzie Albies can't be discounted either. 

The talent doesn't end there; Freddie Freeman, Nick Markakis, and the possible return of Josh Donaldson complete this intimidating roster.

In my eyes, the Braves are a respectable starting pitcher away from becoming true championship contenders. It'll be interesting to see how Atlanta, Washington, and Philadelphia, as well as the New York Mets, fight it out to see who takes home the division title in 2020.

With all of that in mind, let's take a look at my top 5 Atlanta Braves relics/autographs.

#5 2018 Topps Allen & Ginter Mini Framed Relics Greg Maddux

As someone who's an avid collector of Topps Allen & Ginter each year upon its release, I am in full support of eliminating all relics aside from the mini framed versions. Simply put, the standard relics do not hold a candle to cards like the Greg Maddux relic above.

Although both the design of the card as well as that of the frame differ from year to year, the central idea remains the same; the frame always incorporates some sort of tropical-esque plant whereas the design is consistently an off-white color with other distinctive features.

The A&G mini framed relics are so spectacular, especially by the dwindling number of relic cards produced nowadays, that the plain white jersey swatch doesn't bother me in the least.

#4 2007 Topps Heritage Clubhouse Collection Relics Chipper Jones

It's interesting how much a seemingly minuscule detail can break or, in this case, make the entire card. Take this Chipper Jones '07 Heritage Clubhouse Collection relic, for example. If not for Topps' decision to use a star as an outline for the jersey piece, this card would be at #5, not #4.

It also helps that I've had this card in my collection since the release of 2007 Heritage over 12 years ago, so it has more sentimental value than, say the Greg Maddux relic. Nonetheless, details like this are what I often look for when it comes to cards, and this one, in particular, helped this card big time.

#3 2003 Topps Gallery Original Bats Andruw Jones

Even if I didn't particularly like these 2003 Topps Gallery relic cards, I'd still give Topps credit for taking a risk with this outside-the-box design. However, the sheer variety of different colors as well as the stacked blocks, in my eyes, is pretty interesting. 

The result? A card that is more than worthy of this top 5 countdown. The card may be undeniably busy, but risks like this were necessary back when Topps had competition from Donruss, Fleer, and Upper Deck. Now, all they have to do is slightly change the design, and they can use the same kind of set every year.

#2 Topps Gallery Autographs Green Parallel Mike Soroka

Mike Soroka had a historic 2019 "rookie" season (he was also a rookie in 2018), so I'm glad I took this rookie autograph of his off eBay and held onto it myself. The card, which is numbered 46/99 on the back, is probably my greatest pull ever from this product.

Soroka's 2.68 ERA with 142 strikeouts in fewer than 175 innings pitched will cement him as Atlanta's ace going into the 2020 season. With the signing of Cole Hamels, the Braves pitching staff seems more than capable of aiding this team in their playoff push.

#1 2004 Topps Retired Signatures Orlando Cepeda

Truth be told, this countdown had far more competition than I originally expected, but even when I was debating what cards would make the top 5, I knew this Orlando Cepeda autograph would occupy the #1 spot.

The old-school uniform combined with the chrome cardstock is a crazy enough combination that it actually works. But the best element of this card has to be the way the blue sharpie pops in contrast to the black border. 

It's like Topps took the best elements of the 1960s and 2000s and combined them into 1 fabulous card. Then, by adding Cepeda's signature, this card becomes a no-brainer for the #1 spot.

Top 5 Autographs/Relics: Montreal Expos

Once I (eventually) complete my Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs PC inventories, the next and final team I'll likely choose to collect will be the Montreal Expos.

I've always collected Montreal Expos cards, from individual players like Vladimir Guerrero to entire team sets like 1969 Topps (their inaugural season). I've watched documentaries, read articles, and done research all connected to one of the most intriguing teams in the game's history.

The Expos' history was brief, but they experienced multiple eras of Baseball cards, including the vintage and overproduction eras. The wide availability of Expos cards inspires me to consistently add new ones to my collection, even if I don't collect the player.

Because the Expos were around in the late 90s through the mid-2000s, card companies produced a surplus of relics and autographs, and Topps even produces a few to this day (i.e. the Galarraga auto at the top of this post).

Though I wish more than anything that the Expos never relocated to Washington to become the Nationals, I'm glad, if nothing else, that the eras in which they played in allowed for a wide range of Expos cards to be produced.

I've featured a handful of teams in the top 5 autos/relics series, but I figured it was time, thanks to recent additions, to show off the Expos. It might not rival my Red Sox or Cubs countdowns, but I love every one of the cards featured in this top 5.

#5 2019 Topps Archives 50th Anniversary of the Expos Green Foil Autograph Steve Rogers

Aside from the outrageously long name, I like everything about this Steve Rogers autograph, especially the fact that I pulled it myself from a pack earlier this year.

Pedro Martinez spent 5 seasons with the Expos while Rogers was there for 13. Though a case can be made for both, if you take Martinez out of the equation, Rogers' career 3.17 ERA easily cements him as the greatest pitcher in franchise history.

The green foil means that the autograph is serial numbered (43/99), making it even more special of a pull. Topps also did a very nice job replicating the '69 set, something they haven't always done well in the past.

#4 2001 Topps Gold Label MLB Award Ceremony Pedro Martinez

Speaking of Pedro Martinez, I'm ecstatic to have one, glorious relic featuring the 3-time All-Star as a member of the Montreal Expos. In all honesty, the design isn't my favorite, as I could do without whatever's happening on the lefthand side of the card.

That said, there aren't many Pedro Martinez Expos relics out there, and Topps did a respectable job of making the card emulate the Gold Label design. For that, I have no qualms about placing it in the top 5.

#3 2003 Fleer Showcase Thunder Sticks Vladimir Guerrero

If I could choose 1 relic card set to complete, it very well could be the '03 Fleer Showcase Thunder Sticks set. It features some of the greatest sluggers of the early 2000s, and I have 2 of them in my collection, Guerrero and Manny Ramirez.

The sepia(?) filter pairs nicely with the bat relics and the font does so with the Fleer Showcase product as well. The print run of these cards (#/899), although high, is preferable to me than not being numbered whatsoever.

I don't believe the checklist of this relic card set is too high, and while I have higher priorities in my collection, I could scoop up a few of these sometime soon.

#2 2001 Topps Stadium Club Play at the Plate Vladimir Guerrero

As of right now, this Vladimir Guerrero card above is the only game-used dirt relic in my collection. A pickup from the card show dating several years back, the dirt is certified as batter's box dirt "used" by the 2004 AL MVP.

The design is one of my favorites thus far as it perfectly emulates the Stadium Club brand. Because of the creativity behind this card, I prefer it to almost all Expos relics/autographs in my collection.

Except for one.

#1 2003 Upper Deck Authentics Threads of Time Gold Parallel Vladimir Guerrero

The design and the jersey swatch alone from Guerrero's 2003 Upper Deck Authentics Threads of Time Relic are enough to cement this card at the #1 spot on this countdown. The gold border is gorgeous and the design is picturesque for a high-end product like Authentics, I assume, was.

However, there's one other detail that sets this card apart from every single relic that I own.

On the back of the card, Upper Deck reveals that this relic is from an official MLB All-Star game. Not the warmup/event relics from modern-day Update: an actual game-used relic from an All-Star game, though I don't know which.

Yeah, there's no beating that, but if anyone has any clue as to when the National League wore red jerseys in the All-Star game during Vlad Sr's tenure in Montreal, it would be greatly appreciated.

Top 5 Relics/Autographs: Cincinnati Reds

The top 5 relics/autographs series hasn't been a regular occurrence on the blog like the frankenset and standard top 5 cards posts have been, but I still appreciate having these posts as an option for when I'm looking for a post idea.

I've also refrained from making too much progress with this series so that I can (possibly) accumulate more cards for these countdowns, thus boosting the quality of the lists.

For instance, I held off on creating a Cincinnati Reds top 5 relics/autographs post until today, and 2 of the top 5 cards were brought back from The National. Had I rushed and written these posts more frequently, the quality of the cards in the countdown wouldn't be as high as it is if I wait a little longer.

When I began this series over a year ago, I started out with top 5 Red Sox and Cubs relic cards, 2 posts that I'd like to update soon to feature autographs and/or expand the number of cards featured.

I also have to have a fair number of cards to consider for one of these posts, hence why I've only done them for a handful of teams thus far. Now, the Cincinnati Reds are about to join that group.

The list features 3 relic cards and 2 autographs, highlighting some of the greatest players in franchise history. Let's begin with #5, a jersey relic from a pretty well-known catcher, perhaps the greatest to ever play the position.

#5 2016 Panini Diamond Kings Masters of the Game Johnny Bench

I might as well get my sole complaint out of the way immediately; I think the jersey relic is a little too small. That said, I believe that collectors take relic cards, particularly those of Hall of Famers, for granted.

The jersey piece on this card, however small it may be, was worn by Bench in an MLB game, and he's a top 2 catcher of all-time alongside Yogi Berra. Not to mention, Panini also did a pretty nice job with the overall design of the card.

I realize that autographs are where it's at and that no one pays all that much attention to relics anymore, but it's important, from time to time, to take a step back and realizes how much history and significance these overlooked cards contain.

#4 2005 Fleer Tradition Cooperstown Tribute Johnny Bench

And so the list begins with back-to-back Johnny Bench jersey relics with this one being from his home uniform. For whatever reason, my relic/autographs bins have a ton of 2005 Fleer Tradition relics, featuring Hall of Famers and then-active stars like Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez.

The Cooperstown Tribute design is near-perfect for its subject set, and I'm thrilled to have a reasonable number of these cards in my collection. Though they're not serial numbered, these relics are some of my personal favorites in my entire collection.

#3 2000 Upper Deck Legends Legendary Signatures Dave Concepcion

This Dave Concepcion autograph was produced right around the time of the first autographs and relic cards, and I think Upper Deck did a pretty sensational job. After all, this card is from the very beginning of the relic/autograph era.

For starters, Concepcion's autograph is beautiful, and Upper Deck was smart to have him use a blue sharpie even though the card was produced before the autograph soared in popularity. I'm also a huge fan of the black and white filter, particularly how it pairs with the simple card design.

While the autograph may not be groundbreaking, Upper Deck did an excellent job considering that this card is almost 20 years old. It just so happens that, as time went on, companies perfected this art.

#2 2006 Topps Heritage Flashbacks Stadium Seat Relics

The stadium seat piece on this card is from Crosley Field, the tiny home of the Cincinnati Reds from 1924-1970. Throughout its existence, the ballpark was among the smallest in the game in terms of capacity, which never topped 30,000, and field size.

Midway through the 1970 season, the Reds moved to Riverfront Stadium where they'd achieve a great deal of success, including a World Series appearance later that season and consecutive Fall Classic victories in 1975 and 1976.

Stadium seat relics aren't as common as jersey and bat pieces, but I, nevertheless, appreciate the history and context that they provide.

#1 2018 Topps Luminaries Home Run Kings Black Parallel Frank Robinson

This gorgeous Frank Robinson 1/1 on-card autograph was the crown jewel of my Dad and I's trip to the National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago earlier this year, and as long as I collect, it'll rank as one of the greatest cards I own.

Certainly, a card of this caliber didn't have any trouble claiming the #1 spot on the list. The Luminaries design, however expensive the cards are, is beautiful, and Frank Robinson's signature is one of the best that I've ever seen.

It's challenging to see the full beauty of this card without looking at it in person, but the longer I stare at it, I notice more details that help make this card one of the prized possessions of my card collection.

Top 5 Kansas City Royals Autos/Relics

Similar to the Baltimore Orioles, a team that I wrote this same type of post for last week, my top 5 Kansas City Royals autograph/relic card post primarily features cards of 1 specific player.

This time, that player is another legendary 3rd baseman, both on an offensive and defensive level. I'm, of course, talking about 13-time All-Star George Brett who, like Brooks Robinson of the Baltimore Orioles, has a plethora of relic cards out there, many of which have made their way into my collection.

I've always been a somewhat-avid collector of relic cards due to their availability and low prices, but I can't say that I've realized the extent of this until recently. Collecting relics/autos is, by no means, my #1 priority, but I always seem to be adding new ones to my collection.

Whether I pick up some bargain hits at the show or pull them from packs of cards, my hit collecting ways have allowed me to create posts like this for more teams than just the Red Sox and Cubs. Since starting this series, the A's, Cardinals, and Orioles have all been featured. Now, it's the Kansas City Royals' turn.

I mentioned earlier that a good portion of the cards on this list are of Royals legend George Brett, but not all of the inclusions showcase the 1980 AL MVP. A couple of active players also have cards on this list, although neither one of them are still with Kansas City.

Finally, although the title suggests that both autos and relics are featured in these posts, the Royals list, in fact, consists solely of relic cards. Now, let's get to the countdown.

#5 2001 Topps American Pie Rookie Reprint Relics George Brett

At first, I didn't think much about including this particular relic card in the top 5. The concept behind these relics from 2001 Topps American Pie is superb, but some aspects of the execution leave a little be to be desired.

With that being said, I'm too fond of Brett's Rookie Reprint relic not to feature it on the list and, believe me, there were plenty of other options. I appreciate the fact that the jersey is game-worn, but more so than that, I admire how the style of this card stays true to both the 1975 rookie card and the American Pie brand.

#4 2004 Donruss Elite Career Best Jerseys George Brett

I guess the same could be said for the #4 card on this list as well; a 2004 Donruss Elite jersey relic numbered out of 200 copies. The more I look at it, however, I appreciate the combination between the gold parallel and the blue on the rest of the card, specifically the powder blue jersey swatch.

While I remember buying the American Pie relic at a card show a few years back, I don't recall where or when I added the Donruss Elite jersey swatch card to my collection. Regardless, it's a very unique and daring card, worthy of making the top 5 list for Royals autographs/relics.

#3 2016 Panini Diamond Kings Studio Portraits Materials Silver Lorenzo Cain

Powder blue jersey swatches are an automatic plus for any team's relic card, including the Kansas City Royals. In this case, not only are there 2 light blue jersey swatches, but the card itself stays true to Kansas City by using the color profoundly across the rest of the card.

Panini Diamond Kings, as a whole, can be a hit or miss product, but this dual relic numbered to 99 is definitely a success. Not only does it reflect highly of the set itself, but you can tell that the card was created with a ton of attention to detail.

#2 2004 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites Relics George Brett

The final George Brett relic card on this list is one of the most unique relic cards in my entire collection; a 2004 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites card with a generous jersey swatch in the middle of the card. Specifically, the design is incredibly unique and different from anything we ever really see on a memorabilia card. 

I dig the retro-style Fan Favorites text along with the Baseballs lined up below the relic swatch. I also find the background, which I'm just noticing now, incredibly interesting as the Philadelphia Phillies' dugout is featured directly behind the photo of Brett.

I have this exact same card of Carl Yastremzki, and I thoroughly appreciate both of these Fan-Favorites relic cards. You can bet that, if I ever see another one at the show, I'll have to consider adding it to my collection.

#1 2014 Topps Gypsy Queen Framed Mini Relics Black Parallel Eric Hosmer

While determining #2-5 on this list proved to be slightly difficult, the #1 card was a no brainer; a gorgeous black framed mini relic card of Eric Hosmer, back when the 1st baseman was still a member of the Kansas City Royals. Not only do I love the black mini card and the frame, but the dark blue jersey swatch is another incredible touch.

I even pulled this card myself out of a pack of 2014 Topps Gypsy Queen on my birthday a few years ago. Numbered out of just 10 copies, the card is absolutely gorgeous, and Hosmer's still a relevant enough player that this card could potentially have some value.

But honestly, it's hard to care too much about value when it comes to a card like this. I can thoroughly say that I don't dislike a single element of this card, and I'm ecstatic to have it as the #1 card on my list.

Top 5 Baltimore Orioles Autos/Relics

The Baltimore Orioles are one team on a short list of clubs that I'm willing to write one of these top 5 auto/relic card posts for. 

Along with previous subjects like the Red Sox, Cubs, Cardinals, and Athletics, I have a fair share of Orioles relics and autograph cards, making it a lot easier for me to formulate a strong list of 5 standout cards.

I've only pulled 1 or 2 Baltimore Orioles hits from packs myself, meaning that most of the Orioles relics and autographs in my collection were purchased by either myself or my Dad. 

Nevertheless, this revelation makes sense, for I vividly remember my Dad returning home from a Baseball card show a few years ago with a ton of HOF relic cards that he found for incredibly low prices, including a large stack of Brooks Robinson cards.

Although relic cards aren't as popular as they once were, I enjoy picking up relatively inexpensive jersey and bat cards at the show. As far as collecting hits are concerned, I'm not fussy over whose cards I collect. 

Truth be told, I care more about the price of the card and the set design than I do about the actual player. By purchasing less expensive relics or even some autos at the Baseball card show, I've been able to boost my hits collection, allowing me to write posts like this for several different teams.

Every time I write a top 5 cards post, for either a player or a team, I always try to feature a wide range of different cards, even though I'm only showcasing 5. This time around, however, I unintentionally chose cards of just 2 different players; Brooks Robinson and Jim Palmer.

While I'm not too keen on featuring cards of just 2 players, the 5 that I selected are truly the greatest Orioles relic cards and autographs in my collection. Beginning with a Brooks bat relic from 2004, here are my top 5 Baltimore Orioles autos/relics.

#5 2004 Topps Tribute Hall of Fame Tribute Relic

There were a couple of Orioles relic cards that, based on set design alone, I preferred to the one shown above. However, the thing that I appreciate most about the '04 Topps Tribute HOF card above is the sizeable bat relic that Topps included.

Arguably, a smaller bat relic would've gelled better with the other numbers in the year 1983, but Topps went out of there way to include a large, game-used bat relic of the 15-time All-Star. 

The Tribute set design from '04 is very elegant, especially with the gold box around the words "Hall of Fame" at the bottom. The photograph is standard, nothing too special, but it succeeds in working well with the rest of the elements of the card.

#4 2006 Fleer Greats of the Game Decade Greats

Even when Fleer was taken over by Upper Deck in 2006, the Greats of the Game brand remained one of my favorite Baseball card products. The set designs are classic and the checklists feature players who are often underrepresented as far as Baseball card products are concerned. 

The previously mentioned relic card sets, especially from the 2006 release, are spectacular. This includes Decade Greats card above and another Brooks Robinson game-used bat relic. 

The card sticks primarily to orange and black, Baltimore's team colors, and features a simple yet effective design that draws attention first to the bat piece, then to the black and white photo of Robinson.

#3 2002 Fleer Box Score Hall of Fame Material

I promise that this is both the final Brooks Robinson card and the last bat relic in the top 5. After this card from 2002 Fleer Box Score, I'll move onto the top 2 where both the cards feature Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer.

Speaking of the HOF, the #3 card on this list is from the Hall of Fame Material relic card set, featuring yet another game-used piece of Brooks Robinson's bat. I really love the brown border as well as the sepia photo, for they both contribute to the overall feel of the card.

I can't quite describe what it is, but I'm a huge fan of the style of this card. My only criticism is that the Orioles logo should reflect the time in which Robinson played, not the actual Baltimore logo from 2002.

#2 2011 Topps Tribute Dual Relic

I don't have all that many dual, triple or quad relics in my collection, but I cherish the ones that I do have, especially the Palmer card from 2011 Topps Tribute. This is the base version of the dual relic cards from the set, so it's serial numbered out of 99 copies.

When scanned, the card background appears to be a mix of pink and gold, but it's more of a shiny silver color in real life. Like the first Tribute card on this list, multiple elements come together to create an impressive card, including a nice gold ink facsimile signature above the 2 relic swatches.

#1 2018 Topps Archives Topps Rookie History Autographs

The only autographed card on this list also happens to be one of my favorite autos or relics in my entire card collection. For the price of a blaster box of cards, I purchased a redemption card for this Topps Rookie History on-card auto of Jim Palmer, one of the greatest pitchers of the 60s/70s.

Topps was quite successful in recreating the 3-time AL Cy Young award winner's rookie card for this 2018 Topps Archives autograph insert set. Not only am I thrilled that the autograph is on-card, but it's also serial numbered out of 125 copies on the back. Talk about getting a bang for your buck.

I still love each and every one of the relic cards featured on this list, but none of them could top the spectacular HOF autograph that earned the #1 spot.

Top 5 St. Louis Cardinals Autographs/Relics

Back in September, I attempted to create a new series of posts here on the blog, but the idea never really came to fruition. I designed the series in order to revive common interest in the relic card, the popularity of which has declined steadily in recent years as the autograph has become far more desired.

However, after writing just a few posts for this series, I soon learned that sticking solely to relic cards would prove to be problematic. Among other issues, I didn't necessarily have 5 relic cards from each MLB team that would be worthy of this kind of post. 

I wanted to reserve the top 5 relic cards post for standouts, not relics that simply blended in. Alas, haven't written one of those posts in over 6 months, and it wasn't until today that I had the idea to revive the series.

In order for these posts to work, I feel obligated to expand the criteria from just relic cards to both relics and autographs. Not only does this give me more options for the list, but the top 5 cards that I eventually come up with will be a lot stronger than if it consisted solely of relic cards.

Albeit, it is a little disappointing that I won't be able to give as much attention to the relic card, but I still plan on including at least 2 of them per list. Today's post, in fact, features 1 relic and 1 autographed relic card in the top 5 as well as an additional relic as the cover card for this post.

To get the ball rolling once again with this newly-revived series, I'm starting today with the St. Louis Cardinals. Featuring a strong balance of different cards, I felt as if the Cardinals would be a nice pre-cursor into what's to come from this series that should include 1 post every 10 or so days.

#5 2005 Fleer Tradition Diamond Tributes Materials Albert Pujols

Today's relic cards from Topps Flagship and Heritage might not hold tremendous value, but there was a time when a bat or jersey card featuring a superstar player was a highly sought after card. An Abert Pujols relic produced today aren't super valuable, quite a departure from the future Hall of Famer's days with the Cardinals.

I've always had a number of these relic cards in my collection thanks to my Dad who purchased a ton of them around the time of Fleer's declared bankruptcy. What I appreciate most about the Diamond Tributes relics is the hand-painted backgrounds, something you rarely see on relic cards or autographs.

#4 2002 Topps 206 Autographs Bud Smith

I honestly don't care that Bud Smith isn't a major name, especially when compared to some of the other players on this list. That being said, it's the design itself that usually piques my interest when it comes to relic cards, not necessarily the player.

Framed relics/autographs is a concept that usually works out, and this card really isn't an exception to this notion. The mini features some beautiful artwork and the designated section for Smith's signature combined with the Topps 206 frame makes this card look like it belongs in a museum. 

#3 2014 Topps Tier One Acclaimed Autographs Lee Smith

Either my Dad or I purchased this card long before Smith was inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame via the Veterans Committee, for I remember having this card in my collection for a number of years. 

Even though I prefer seeing Lee Smith as a Cub rather than a Cardinal, this high-end signature is one of the most beautiful autographs that I own. I'm not extremely familiar with the Tier One product, but whoever was behind this card clearly put in a lot of effort to format everything perfectly. 

Like I mentioned earlier, even though I would've preferred a card of Smith on the Cubs, it's pretty difficult to fault this on-card autograph, featuring the Hall of Famer reliever on the St. Louis Cardinals.

#2 2018 Panini Chronicles Rookie Cornerstones Granite Parallel Jack Flaherty

Yet another on-card autograph to make the list, I actually pulled this Jack Flaherty card myself from a pack of 2018 Panini Chronicles at a card show a few months back. If this were any other team, this gorgeous quad relic autograph, featuring 2 patches, would've earned the #1 spot. 

I realize that I've discussed my love for the 2018 Panini Chronicles set before, but that's only because it's an absolutely insane product. In particular, the Cornerstones base cards and autographed relics are absolutely stunning. Needless to say, I'll be cheering on Jack Flaherty for the rest of his career.

#1 2007 Upper Deck SP Legendary Cuts Legendary Signatures Bob Gibson

After announcing my plans to attend the 2019 NSCC during yesterday's post, it's very fitting that I chose this card for the #1 spot on my top 5 Cardinals autographs/relic cards post today. After all, this is one of the many cards that I brought back for the 2018 National and one of the biggest bargains of the show as well.

The text doesn't scan all too well, but this card is serial numbered out of just 50 copies. Although the black background makes the text somewhat difficult to read, it's a nice homage to the SP Legendary Cuts base set. 

I'm even willing to look past the fact that this is a sticker autograph; that's how much this card impresses me. Not only that, but it brings back so many memories from last year's National, and that makes me even more ecstatic for what's to come at the end of July this year.