Sampler Album Week: 1993 Topps

Whoever is ready for Sampler Album week to be over, raise your hand!  Whatever, I've been at the beach all week and was oblivious to any yawns and/or complaints.

The 1990's section of my Sampler Album is pretty week.  Meaning, I don't have several of the years complete.  1993 was done pretty easily though, and it's a pretty nice page.

The Jr. Griffey card is really sharp, and I've got a good handful of HOFers here.  The 1993 design is pretty basic and understated, but I like that.

Sampler Album Week: 1986 Topps

As much as I talk about by Sampler Album, I don't do a whole lot of posts showing the pages that I've completed.  I'll remedy that this week and see if I can alienate a few readers with boring, one-note posts.

Today, I'll show my 1986 page.  This, and 1987are the two years I feel the most nostalgia for when I see them.  I think I have heard a lot of negative opinions on 1986 Topps, but I love it.  I guess because it was the first complete set I ever purchased, after I finally learned that there were dealers out in the world that sold baseball cards as complete sets.  All I knew up until that point was that you had to buy a ton of packs to get even close to building a set.

I think 1986 Topps is very smart:

I know the Will Clark is part of the traded set, but my Sampler Album rules are not hard and fast.  Overall, I love this page.  The Mattingly card is a work of art.  I've got Kirby Puckett on my 1985 page too, and prefer not to have players on back to back pages, so I'll eventually change him out for someone else.  But for now, this page is great and one of my favorites in the album.

Writing It In At Cleve's

My little boy's second season of baseball has gotten underway lately, and practices and games are Tuesday's and Thursdays.  Which mean, unless there is a rain out on a Tuesday, personal appearances at Cleve's auctions will be delayed a few months.  That's no big deal, as I get infinitely more enjoyment out of watching a bunch of 6 year old kids having fun playing baseball.  Besides, I can always write in my bids.  That certainly is not ideal, since you are basically starting the bidding at the highest price you are willing to pay.  When you are there in person, you might be able to get it for less than you set out as a maximum. 

This week I had several write in bids, and came away with 4 wins.  No vintage this week.  In fact, everything I won was 2011/2012 gimmick cards.  But they are very cool gimmick cards:

I'm not sure what the general opinion is on these World Series Pins, but I think they are incredible.  I'm not a big Reggie Jackson fan, but I was very happy to get this card for $6.  Had I been at the auction, I might have got it for less, but oh well.

I'm also a big fan of these di-cut cards from the Topps Diamond Giveaway site.  I am a fan of Bob Gibson too, so I was thrilled to get this for $4.  I was a little surprised to get it at this price, since NW Arkansas is mostly Cardinals country.

I like these fake leather nameplate cards.  I don't think many agree with that sentiment though.  I got the Ozzie for $5 and the Sandberg for $4.    From a cost standpoint, probably not the best bargains around, but still pretty dang good.

Grades:

2012 Topps Reggie Jackson World Series Pin  $6:  A-   I could flip this and double my money now, but I really like this card, so I'll probably keep it.

2011 Di-Cut Bob Gibson $4:  A  These cards are some of my favorites from 2011, and Bob Gibson is the boss.

2011 Leather Nameplate Ozzie Smith #99 $5:  B+  

2011 Leather Nameplate Ryne Sandberg $4: B-  I didn't need this and am ambivalent about Sandberg.  But it's a cool card nonetheless. 

Not sure if any of this is for trade.  The Gibson is not, and the Jackson would take some persuasion, but the Smith and Sandberg probably are.

Denny’s 1996

I am total sucker for gimmick cards.  I love motion and hologram cards, and anything that looks like some effort went into it.   That’s why I’m a fan of the Denny’s card sets from the 90’s.  I just bought the 1996 set on eBay, and I think it’s a nice little set.  You have to angle the cards just right to get the full effect though, and I’m sure my lovely wife thought there was something wrong with me as I contorted my arms and head trying to watch the action unfold on the cards. 

The scan won’t show it obviously, but every hologram is actually a little “video” of a significant play or moment for each of the 28 players.  There is a write up on the back notating the event.  I especially like the Ozzie Smith opening day back flip, and the home run from Cal Ripken’s 2,131st consecutive game.  By my count, there are a dozen current or future Hall of Famers in this set.

From a Historical/Americana standpoint, I even like the Denny’s logo being on the cards.  The 1997 set is even nicer, as Baseball Cards Come To Life points out in this post.    Denny’s put out sets almost every year in the 90s.  A collector could put together a pretty interesting master set of Denny’s cards without spending too much money.