Group Break Winnings: 2013 Topps Archives '83 All-Star Darrell Evans (83-DE)

Sorry about the long title, folks!   I chalk it up to some of my OCD-ness shining through.....labeling is very important :)

I like this Darrell Evans card.  Is it a different stock than the base cards from Archives?   It was pulled for me by @SportsCardBreaks during an on-line box break of 2 '13 Archives hobby boxes.  I randomly won the Giants and Rockies as my two teams in the break (any Rockies or Giants collectors need anything?!).   Nothing too sexy in the way of winnings, but this Evans card is interesting.   Topps decided to also use Evans as the subject for one of their SP cards from the set which depicts Evans as an Atlanta Brave (my preference, of course) - thought the selected picture is really kind of terrible.   That SP card also comes in a Fan Favorite Autographed version......which I kind of dig and can be had fairly cheaply.

I like this '83 All-Star version because I've always enjoyed the design of the '83 set.   The picture depicts a very happy mug shot of Darrell's big grin while a bat rests on his shoulder - I like that a lot.   It gives you a sense that he really enjoyed what he was doing......and the back is very easy on the eyes.   Something that also gets me weirdly excited.   I'm such an old fart.

I was surprised to find the back of the card told a "Great All-Star Moments" tale about.....the 2007 All-Star game?   I guess it's better than nothing; as you know I am a huge fan of knowledge being placed on the back of cards for our consumption.   But I just think it would have been fitting for Topps to have listed something about the 1983 All-Star game or from Evans' big year.

Darrell played for the Giants from '76 to '83, earning the All-Star selection during that final season in San Francisco.   He slugged 30 HRs and had 82 RBI that season, batting .277.   He would also finish 14th in the MVP voting.  

And what about that All-Star game appearance?  

Darrell went 0 for 1, lining out to center field in the top of the 8th.   'Ol Whitey Herzog had finally put him in the game to replace Al Oliver at first base.   Nothing too great, but that half frame was a 1-2-3 inning for the junior circuit's Matt Young.   Johnny Bench popped it up to the shortstop for the first out and then Pedro Guerrero struck out looking.   So a liner to center field doesn't look so bad now, does it?

Keep smiling, Darrell!

Thanks for reading!