The Vintage Stack: 1965 Topps #266 Bert Campaneris

Let's dive somewhere into the middle of that mystery vintage stack, shall we?

Is that a vintage spring training photo I see?!?!  BONUS

Oh baby, do I like the looks of this '65 Campaneris!   Bert Campaneris is one of those baseball names that you hear a lot, for some reason.   There are some VERY good reasons for that, as we'll discuss in a moment.

First of all, the card is very nice to look at.   The corners have been well loved, but the centering is pretty stellar and the colors are bold, which is key for '65's.   Easily one of my favorite designs, Bert's card is a great example.   The color combinations a re a bit odd here (blue, yellow, red, black, white) but it works for me.   The vintage Athletics elephant logo on the team pennant is really cool.   I have a soft-spot for the KC A's in my heart after reading so much about them in all of my Yankee research.   For so many years, Kansas City just seemed to exist as a conduit farm team for the Bombers....

ROOKIE CUP!   Most of us love the rookie cup and these 60's versions are the thoroughbreds of the rookie cup images.   This thing towers beside Bert, from chest to nostril, which may offer a clue for Campaneris' "who farted?" look - did the Rookie Cup guy break some wind?   So weird.

To the back:

These Carolina Blue card backs are great.   I love these original versions and they are a big attraction for me as I work my way through building the 2014 Topps Heritage set.   Check out my NEEDS List if you get a chance!

This is a great write-up, you guys.   It describes Bert's amazing feat of slugging two bombs in his first major league game.   That placed him in a tie with Bob Nieman, who pulled it off in 1951, however, I wonder if Bob can say that he ripped the very FIRST pitch that he saw for the first long ball?   Can anybody confirm?   Three players have accomplished the same feat since but it didn't happen again until 1999!

The other part of this card back that I love is the mention of Campaneris' nickname, "Campy".   Most of us think of Roy Campanella when we hear "Campy", but I just can't see how there's any way around this for a guy with a name like Campaneris, can you?   Does "Campy" make any of you think of Campaneris instead of....Campy?

1965 would be a GREAT year for Bert.   He would lead his team in batting and lead the junior circuit in triples and stolen bases (51).   The 51 swipes was the most by an Athletic since this guy swiped 58 back in 1914:

Hall of Famer Eddie Collins....and a kick-ass elephant!

Seriously, how cool does Collins look?   I'm going to make a mental  note to add Eddie to my list of players to explore and learn more about in my baseball pursuits.....

But back to Bert.

Not only did Campy's 51 bags total the most in 37 years for the club, but it also ended Luis Aparicio's streak of nine years as the American League's stolen base leader.   Way to go, Bert!

Another solid piece of baseball history from the 'vintage stack'.   I am very excited about where the stack might take us next and I hope you are enjoying this exploration as much as I am.   This cardboard appreciation is one of my favorite parts of our hobby.

Thanks for reading and keep collecting!

Ryan

2014 Topps Heritage - The Decision to Build

They got me again with their card stock tractor beam!

I normally don't do racks, but when I do...I do 'em big.

If you follow my ramblings on Twitter, you know that I am a big time nerd, play fantasy sports and recently had a lot to say about the new Heritage set from Topps.   I picked up a few rack packs from Wally Mart on that post-release Monday to check them out.   I love the 1965 design but, for some reason, I need my Heritage cards to be printed upon that nice thick card stock that disappeared during last year's Heritage release.   Yes, I know that some of that stock swapping has to do with actual historical accuracy.....ridiculous notion for a product called "Heritage"!

The result?

Oso Blanco - Beard - Pennant - ROOKIE CUP combo in 1st pack NEVER HURTS

EXHIBIT A - Why a brand like Heritage is loved by collectors like me who value...old card backs

I love them!   The pictures and images for these cards are as BLAND as ever.   So simple, so staged and....so weirdly perfect.   That card stock is nice and thick and when you take a whiff of a fat stack of these bad boys - it's nothing but pulpy, cardboard-y goodness.   Where are you going?   No slippery gloss and syrupy odor 'round here.   No serial numbers or super-short printed action/logo variation cards in my packs...

Colon & Marichal - WHAT could be weirder?

Smile, Freddie.

So, why do I love them?   Again, these are just simple baseball cards....but that's exactly what I like to collect sometimes, particularly when I'm building a set.   I pulled 76 base cards out of 4 packs in addition to 4 inserts (a couple of which I liked).   No duplicates!   Wait...upon further reflection, I think that stack of 76 included 3 SPs, one of which was my ONLY colored parallel.   I like those numbers.   I also love card backs from the days of yore - and these are a perfect example.   The drawings and cartoon-ish font upon a sea of baby-blue.......dude, what could be better?   Sure, a relic or an autograph or a card with an old postage stamp would have been cool to pull (and helped me reclaim some of the investment) but I am quite content and now, perhaps foolishly, on a mission to build the set!

I am a little disappointed in the fact that Topps decided to place a high percentage of star players in the SP portion of the release.   I think this is a huge mistake and a potential trend that could really damage the hobby - let's hope it doesn't persist!

Let me know if you have any cards from this set to trade, sell, whatever.   I will post my NEEDS list in a new tab to the right - my first new tab in quite awhile.   Check it out!   I will try to keep it updated as best I can and begin to list duplicates that I have for trade if/when they arrive.

Keep collecting!

Ryan