Showing posts with label 2014 topps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2014 topps. Show all posts

Saturday, May 3, 2014

My Mattingly Collection - 2014 Topps Framed Rookie Reprints

We've all seen it a million times.   It's one of the most iconic cards from the 80's and a must-have for any Mattingly fan, Yankees fan or collecting-baseball fan from that decade.   It's the 1984 Topps Don Mattingly rookie card, presented in a "framed" and serial-numbered format courtesy of 2014 Topps Series 1.

I had to have one and it's pretty cool.   The colors and graphics are bold, as they should be for a modern-day reprint.  This particular copy is #19 out of 99....I will never get tired of looking at this card, my favorite card of my favorite player!




Here's a look at the back - it was printed in the "bleached" out fashion of the old traded sets, so it is not consistent with the original design, but it certainly provides some pop for this most recent rendition:




And just to give you an idea of what these framed cards are like, here is a side shot of the Mattingly for a sense of thickness.   They are substantial, rigid and much heavier than a standard card.  Since I scooped this one off the secondary market, I have no idea how they are packaged in with normal packs.   I can only imagine the excitement of pulling one, though, as you must certainly know that you have something special just based on weight and feel alone!


How do I store this thing?!?!


I'm slowly but surely starting to add post-playing days cards of Mattingly to my collection.   I should really try and focus more effort on that part of my collection as there was a lot I missed out on during my hobby hiatus from '94-2011.   I'd be interested in any of them if you have any for trade!

Thanks for reading and keep collecting!


Saturday, March 15, 2014

My Rizzo Collection - 2014 Topps Base

Typical me.

I got so excited about my '93 Topps Finest Mattingly from the Lost Collector that I forgot to showcase the other goodies he dropped in the package.....

Most importantly - my first Rizzo of 2014!   A beautiful base card that just REEKS of Cubbie goodness, this Rizzo shows a sunny day at Wrigley with an eye-black loaded Anthony headed to first base after a rope into right field.   The colors on the card look really sharp.   I like it.


Here's the back.   It definitely tells it like it is - Rizzo still carries a tremendous amount of potential to be at the center of a young and talented Cubs team.   Castro, Rizzo, Baez, Almora, Soler,  Bryant......what might be?


Yep.......that's a "WAR" column!

.....and, probably with a grin on his Syracuse-loving face, LC threw in some Notre Dame basketball cards.   This first one is of our turtleneck-sweater-loving coach, Mike Brey.   Brey is a good guy who has coached some talented teams into the latter stages of the NCAA tournament a few times, but we just can't seem to get over that hump.   I had the chance to meet Coach Brey when I ran into him in New Orleans during the 2012 Final Four.   He was very nice and took a few moments to speak with me.....unfortunately he was quickly supplanted as my top memory a few hours later when I wrapped my arm around Erin Andrews.

Seriously.



Ugh.  Great camera work, Ryan.   Here's what former Irish player Monty Williams looks like with your eyes crossed:



...which, coincidentally, is exactly how ND basketball has looked to me all season long.

(SIGH)

Thanks for the hook-up, AJ!