My Yankees Collection - 2007 Topps Co-Signers #26 Mike Mussina (Posada) #59/175

We collectors spend a lot of time discussing card designs. What we like and what we don't like. Our favorites and the ones we'd rather not ever see again.....ever. I go back and forth with my own personal preferences. I enjoy simple designs that emphasize the player's photograph. I want to see a team logo and information regarding the player's position as well as a healthy dose of information - statistics, biographical or interesting "factoids".

I checked out of the hobby as the insanely creative card-design engines of the 90's (or "Junk Wax Era") were just heating up. From lasers to rainbows and cartoons to studio portraits, I have seen some beautiful cards from my Hobby Ice Age. I have also seen some complete nightmares that just make me chuckle.

Here is a beautiful card, my friends:

This is a 2007 Topps Co-Signers card of the Moose and his battery-mate, Jorge Posada. I have never seen a card like this before, but I absolutely love it. Mussina and Posada are two Yankee favorites, and a quick glance at their results in '06 tell us why.

Posada boasted a .277 average with 23 long balls and 90+ RBI. You can't ask much more of a catcher than that although Jorge would go on to have his career year in 2007. Mussina recorded a 15-7 record in 2006, nearing 200 IP and close to 175 K's. They truly were a battery, and one that I can fondly recall catching on TV from time to time.

The Yanks would lose to Detroit in the '06 ALDS. Mussina lost a tough Game 2 by the score of 4-3 and actually out-dueled Justin Verlander before the Bombers' bats fell silent in the 5th inning. They would lose the next two games by margins of 5 and 6 runs, seemingly unable to recover.

Here's the back of the card, which is actually a Mussina card:

Holy CANNOLI, it's NUMBERED!

(laugh)

I couldn't help myself. I had no idea this one was numbered when I bought it. I guess that's pretty cool? It simply adds some luster to a card that I already thought was "tops". Pun intended.

Anyways, I just really dig this dual image - Mussina contemplating the next pitch to be dealt with a sepia-Posada in the background checking for signs from the dugout before lowering the mask and getting back to work. Throw in the facsimile signatures and we're good-to-go!

Despite the burnt-orange trim coloring.....great work, Topps!

A great card for my Yankees Collection.

Thanks for reading!

Ryan

"That's How We Roll..."

Another generous member of my new fraternity went above and beyond the call of duty when he answered my S.O.S. call for help in completing my '91 Fleer base set. That's right, Captain Canuck, our favorite Waxaholic, snuck an entire box of cards off my bloated NEEDS list across the border - and I understand the proverbial postal dogsled completed this run in record time!

Hey, wait a second!   What are those?

Oh yes....can't wait to file and cross off those bad boys.   But, wait?!   What's that?   WAX PACKS - from my era.   What a nice surprise.   '90 Fleer and '91 Score to be exact:

I've been here before....

A lot of fun.   I couldn't wait to tear into them (as you might be able to tell, I couldn't even wait until I snapped that picture).   Here were the highlights from each one:

Frank and George!

This was also Mussina's 1st Driver's License picture.   Go Rickey, GO!

Fantastic fun.   Thank you, Canuck!

Asking for nothing specific in return beyond a "just take a look through my lists", he single handedly brought my '91 Fleer quest into its final leg. It should also be noted - his selfless, LONG DISTANCE shipment of those base cards undoubtedly exceeded the 'cost' of what any of us could probably pay for a COMPLETE '91 Fleer set off of Ebay or the local flea market. The effort was completely illogical, BUT - like the Captain quipped to one of Waxaholic's faithful Lieutenants after one of his posts -

"That's how we roll."

I concur, Cap'n.......this is how we roll and I am enjoying every second of it.   Collectors helping other collectors with their pursuits.   Card by card (or in this case, box by box).   Because the story and 'players' involved in the 20+ year completion of this '91 Fleer set will be so much more colorful than a non-competitive bid on some junk wax from the Bay of E.   Indeed, this is how we roll.

Thank you for your generosity!  Another example of what I love about this hobby.  There will be some cardboard headed north SOON.   The dogs just wanted to grab some BBQ before they turned around.

Thanks for reading!