$5 Cards; Card Show Recap #25 Part 2

In what will likely be my final Baseball card haul until Black Friday (I'll either buy cards on COMC or head to the Mansfield show), I decided to vary in what I purchased so that I ended up with a wide range of different cards.

After initially picking up a stack of 90s oddballs and 2010s Red Sox cards, I wandered through the show floor with nothing particular in mind that I was searching for. As is often the case, I didn't have to look that long before I came across something of interest, a 2-row box of cards marked at $5 each.

Once I'd spent several minutes searching through the stacks of $5 cards, I knew where I'd be spending the rest of my time and money at the show. The bin didn't consist solely of Baseball cards, but there were, nonetheless, gems scattered across the 2 different rows.

Whereas I sometimes have to narrow down what I purchase to fit a certain budget, there were exactly 8 cards that caught my eye. Thankfully, I didn't have to swap any of them out and was able to secure every one of them.

The first one I chose was a 1960 Topps card of Brooks Robinson, one of my favorite Flagship designs of all-time. Robinson is one of my gold tier player collections, meaning I have over 100 cards of the 15-time All-Star. This new pickup, however, is now the oldest card that I own of Robinson.

While each of the other 7 cards in this lot is a base card, the Joe Morgan card above is actually the only relic in the group, a bat relic numbered out of 99 from 2016 Panini Pantheon.

I purchased this card with a full understanding of the fact that relics aren't what they used to be because I believed that a $4 HOF relic was too good of a deal to pass up. The concept, however, is where I'm a tad confused.

This bat relic is from a subset called Gallant Gloves, so wouldn't it make much more sense for the memorabilia to be from one of Morgan's game-used gloves? Or if Panini can't get enough gloves to produce these cards, name the card something else.

Still, I purchase inexpensive Hall of Fame relics whenever I get the opportunity, and the Joe Morgan bat relic, despite the contradictory name, fits the bill.

2011 Topps Update is obviously known for the iconic Mike Trout rookie card, but the set is also home to first-year players such as Jose Altuve, Paul Goldschmidt, and Anthony Rizzo.

Though I'll likely never come across a Mike Trout rookie card for a reasonable price, I can at least say that I have some of the other top rookies' cards from the highly sought after set, those players being Jose Altuve and, now, Anthony Rizzo.

Rizzo has been one of my favorite players in the game over the last several years. His consistency, both offensively and defensively, is truly remarkable, and I can only imagine what today's Red Sox team would be like if he was still a part of their organization.

His rookie card might not be the most valuable of the bunch, but I'm, nonetheless, thrilled at the price I paid to add this card to my Rizzo player collection.

The $5 price point was to steep for me to take a risk and purchase a card that I may already have in my collection, so I decided to check my player collection spreadsheets before adding this 1974 Topps Nolan Ryan card to the stack that I was amassing. Sure enough, I didn't have the card, but I do now.

This card, along with a few other .50 cent cards from yesterday's show, is getting me even closer to the 500-card mark that I'd like for the Ryan PC to reach by the end of the year.

The current total, with the additions from the card show, is around 485, and I'd like to get to 500 without explicitly buying 15 Nolan Ryan cards on COMC.

Because league leaders cards, particularly those from the 1960s and 2010s, often feature multiple players whom I collect, I need to have some way to decide which player collection the card will go towards.

I have a rule that the card will go to the highest-ranking player who also happens to be one of my player collections. I don't have a PC for Sandy Koufax (though I really should), so this 1967 Topps card, noting the '66 NL wins leaders, will go to Juan Marichal.

There's something about rookie cup cards, particularly those with the tall trophies from the 1960s, that never fails to captivate my attention. Plus, vintage rookie cup cards are a nice, inexpensive alternative to rookie cards, yet they're a tad more interesting than just a simple base card.

The condition of this 1968 Topps Tom Seaver card might not be too stellar, but the All-Star rookie trophy along with the extremely fair price helps me look past the crease down the middle of the card. Not to mention, the '68 Topps base set design happens to be one of my favorites.

The final 2 cards from the 8-card purchase are set needs, the first of which I have been trying to track down for quite some time now. I'm talking about Hank Aaron's final Topps Flagship card, an iconic shot of the true home run king as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers.

As is typical for the 1976 Topps set, the card features a daring color combination (pink and purple) that Topps was, somehow, able to pull off. Before Sunday's show, I hadn't seen a fairly-priced '76 Aaron card, so it was huge for me to check such a major card off the list.

Now, as far as I know, there isn't another big card like Aaron's standing in my way of completing this set.

 The most critical pick up from yesterday's show, undoubtedly, would have to be the 1961 Topps Willie McCovey card above, another major set need, of mine that I can now cross off the want list.

Unlike '76 and '79 Topps, there are several expensive veteran and 1 rookie (Juan Marichal) cards standing in my way of completing the 1961 Topps set. While I was able to make progress at The National, there's still a long way for me to go if I want to complete this 589-card set.

Adding this McCovey card to my collection is huge because it's another Hall of Famer, not to mention a high number, that I don't have to worry about.

But with Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and most of the All-Star cards still on my radar, I'll have to hope that another bargain like this comes my way.

Unfamiliar Territory; Card Show Recap #25

I take pride in having a reasonable understanding of Baseball and cards, particularly the 1960s-70s and the 2010s. It helps when I want to include bits of information on my frankenset page posts or when I'm updating my online player collection inventories following a trip to the card show.

Being able to write a few sentences about Dave Parker off the top of my head or identify some crazy Panini Prizm parallel helps me out big time, but really, the more cards/information I come across, the better equipped I am for when the next stack of dime cards needs to be categorized.

That being said, there's always been one period in Baseball history that's challenged my ability to identify cards and list facts about players. I'm referring to an era chock full of various brands, products, and parallels as well as high print runs and, to make things more confusing, dates printed on the back of the cards that don't match the year the set was released (I'm looking at you, Upper Deck).

The mid-1990s through the end of the decade (~1995-1999) perplexes me to this day. There's just so much inventory that I haven't yet familiarized myself with like I have for virtually all other decades in Baseball card history.

Alas, when updating my player collection inventories, I have to search for most mid-90s cards on COMC to ensure that I'm adding the correct one to the spreadsheet.

I suppose, nonetheless, that continuously buying and adding cards from '95-'99 to my collection will only help me gain more knowledge about this period in Baseball history. This plan, unintentionally so, went into effect when I visited my local Baseball card show earlier today.

Before I get to the glorious cards from the 90s, there was a small portion of pickups from today's post of cards that didn't hail from the last century.

As is always the case when I'm at the card show, I kept my eyes peeled for Red Sox singles so that I can continue adding to and building up my coalition of Red Sox cards, meaning both my player collections and the actual PC.

The 4 cards above, come to think of it, are all from 2019, and most of them will be going to their respective player collections. The only exception is the Wade Boggs card which will go towards my 2019 Panini Prizm project.

In addition to new Red Sox cards and 2019 Panini Prizm project additions, I'm always on the lookout for new Craig Kimbrel cards to add to the closest thing I have to a "super collection."

If someone were to ask me for my top 3 focuses as a collector, I'd list the 3 things above, though I'd have to rank my individual player collections above all.

Anyways, I came across a new Kimbrel card while searching through a bin of cards priced 3/$1. One of the easiest decisions I made all day, I added the card to my stack and went on with my time at the show.

I suppose you could include the first couple years of the 2000s (2000-2002) alongside the mid-to-late 1990s in terms of periods in Baseball history that I'm not overly familiar with. Honestly. with all the different brands, sets, inserts, and parallels out there, can you really blame me?

I will, however, stand by my thoughts that the 2000s, leading up to the end of Donruss and Fleer's respective runs as Baseball card manufacturers, was one of the golden ages of card collecting. Even if Panini gets the MLB license, I doubt we'll see as wide of a selection of sets as we did in the early 2000s.

It was that period, for better or for worse, that delivered some picturesque set designs and creative inserts, just like the 2 cards above.

Moreover, stars who debuted in the early 1990s and lasted through the mid-2000s are the recipients of some of the most cards produced of any single player, primarily because they played at a time where there were numerous brands, each of which was striving to produce the best possible cards.

What I got, as a result, was an extensive range of Ivan Rodriguez cards, for example. This sheer variety is what allows for so many of my player collections to reach gold and even platinum tier status. The wide selection and availability of some players' cards are simply unparalleled.

At the end of the day, Baseball cards from this era, more so than most others except for the 2010s, will be viewed with mixed opinions depending on what each collector likes and looks for in a card.

Those who love inserts and parallels as much as I do will be fond of the mid-1990s while those who prefer traditional cards might not be so inclined to pick out either of the 2 Topps Tek cards above.

At the end of the day, these cards have their ups and downs just like all others, but something intrigues me about the unfamiliarity that makes me want to come back for more.

I know that I haven't discovered everything that this period has to offer, and that's both exciting and slightly scary at the same 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.

Who's Going Where

Given the pace of last year's offseason and how long it took for marquee free agents like Manny Machado and Bryce Harper to sign their respective contracts, I probably don't have to write my 2019-20 offseason predictions so soon after the World Series came to an end.

Following Nick Markakis' decision to re-up with the Braves on a 1-year $4 million contract, I realized that any of the free agents, however unlikely it may be, could resign in the following days.

In what has become a tradition for me to write about each year, I figured I'd make my free agency predictions before it's too late. Even if they turn out as blatantly incorrect as last year's, at least I'll have my picks in writing before anything major happens.

This year, I'm hoping to get at least one prediction right, something I failed to accomplish last time around. Given the unpredictability of the game, however, particularly free agency, I don't know how feasible this is.

Gerrit Cole to the Los Angeles Angels

Last year, I made a couple of unconventional picks (Harper to the Cardinals: seriously, what was I thinking?) to go against some of the more widespread trade rumors. Well, you saw where that got me, so I've decided to go with some more expected choices this time around.

During what will likely prove to be his final press conference as a member of the Houston Astros, Gerrit Cole wore a Scott Boras hat, visibly upset by manager A.J. Hinch's refusal to put him in the game towards the end of the Fall Classic against the Nationals.

Given his ties to California and the management's desire to build a talented team around Mike Trout, Cole to the Angels makes a ton of sense.

Stephen Strasburg back to the Washington Nationals

You're probably thinking, rightfully so, that no one resigns with their previous team anymore, so it doesn't make sense for Strasburg to opt-out of his contract with the Nationals only to stay in D.C. Personally, I don't think the city/team is an issue for the 31-year old; rather, it was the 4-year $100 million remaining on his contract. 

Following a World Series in which he was the MVP, Strasburg can earn more than ~$25 million a year, and I firmly believe that Washington, to keep the team together, will give it to him.

Anthony Rendon back to the Washington Nationals

I'm sure the Nationals want nothing more than to sign Anthony Rendon to a max extension, ensuring that he plays most if not all of his career in D.C. 

However, it remains to be determined whether they can bring back the MVP candidate in addition to Stephen Strasburg given their current contracts for guys like Scherzer and Corbin. 

If it comes down to Rendon or Strasburg, I maintain that Washington will bring back the former, causing the 31-year old to sign elsewhere.

Jose Abreu back to the Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox is the only team that Jose Abreu has ever known since he made his MLB debut back in 2014. Though he's exceeded expectations in terms of his consistency and serves as a leader in the clubhouse, there isn't all that high of a demand for the 32-year old.

With young stars like Eloy Jimenez and top prospect Luis Robert ushering in a new era for the South Siders, something that Abreu most likely won't want to miss out on. Barring any reluctance from ownership, Abreu should be back with the White Sox by Opening Day in 2020.

Josh Donaldson to the St. Louis Cardinals

Donaldson was able to reinvent himself as a member of the Atlanta Braves in 2019, but will a team led by young stars like Ronald Acuña Jr and Ozzie Albies be willing to resign a 33-year old (almost 34) who is past his prime?

The Cardinals, on the other hand, surprised everyone in 2019 by beating Atlanta in the NLDS, including a 13-1 showing that catapulted St. Louis into the next round. If the Cardinals are looking for one piece to complete their championship-contending team, Donaldson could be their guy.

Marcell Ozuna back to the St. Louis Cardinals

Although Ozuna hasn't been able to replicate the breakout 2017 season that he had with Miami, he's been open about how much he loves St. Louis and his willingness to remain a member of the St. Louis Cardinals.

He was one of the players who received a $17.8 million qualifying offer, and given the fact that he didn't have the greatest 2019 season, it makes sense for the 28-year old to accept the offer and remain a Cardinal for one more year. That way, if he bounces back in 2020, he'll make more money in the following offseason.

Didi Gregorius back to the New York Yankees

In spite of all the injuries that plagued the New York Yankees this season, and there were a lot of them, the team persevered and finished with one of the best records in Baseball.

Though players like Gio Urshela and Mike Tauchman were able to shine in the absence of guys like Andujar and Gregorius, there's not much doubt in my mind that those two stars will get their groove back and make their way back into the starting lineup.

I simply don't foresee the Yankees letting a talented player like Gregorius walk, particularly if they could sign him for less than, say, they would've 2 years ago. Simply put, they're too smart to let him go.

Madison Bumgarner to the Atlanta Braves

Despite obtaining more success than any other team this decade, the San Francisco Giants are going in a very different direction this offseason than they have in the past. Long-time manager Bruce Bochy has retired, and the club's ace, Madison Bumgarner, has virtually no chance of returning.

Instead, Bumgarner would be an excellent fit for a team that needs help with pitching as well as a veteran presence in the rotation. If Atlanta doesn't work out, Bumgarner could end up with the Angels if Cole decides to sign elsewhere. 

One thing's for sure, the 3 aces on the market (Cole, Bumgarner, Strasburg) will make for an interesting free agency.

Mike Moustakas to the Tampa Bay Rays

I made this prediction last offseason as well before Moustakas decided to sign a 1-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. However, I don't know how dedicated the Brewers are to keeping him around, but I firmly believe that he will still attract a couple of clubs.

Granted, the market hasn't been kind to 30+-year old sluggers over the past few offseasons, but Moustakas is more of a low-risk, high-reward type of guy, perfect for a young team like Tampa Bay without a ton of money to spend over the next few months.