Most Interesting Cards

[PuddleMonkey]

Originally Posted by Skipscards

Here’s an interesting card from this, um, week…

gotta be 'shopped

[Skipscards]

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

gotta be 'shopped

I know, right? It was hit by these guys…

https://www.instagram.com/wethehobby/

[HarryLime]

Originally Posted by soey10

1953 Brown and Bigelow playing cards - since these were used as advertising I like the different businesses listed on the cards (also my Grandpa worked for Brown and Bigelow for more than 50 years so I have a personal connection)

This is fascinating to me. I am extremely familiar with Brown & Bigelow and have many B&B pieces in my boxing collection. Is your grandpa still with us? If I had a podcast I would want to have him on it. Do you think he would mind answering a question or two?

Arthur

[soey10]

Originally Posted by HarryLime

This is fascinating to me. I am extremely familiar with Brown & Bigelow and have many B&B pieces in my boxing collection. Is your grandpa still with us? If I had a podcast I would want to have him on it. Do you think he would mind answering a question or two?

Arthur

Unfortunately he passed away in 2011 at 98 years of age. As a kid we heard so many stories about Brown and Bigelow. He did film a short video about his career as a salesman. I came across it not too long ago and watched it. His claim to fame is that he is in the HOF at Brown and Bigelow for having sold over a million calendars in his career. Send me a message if there is anything else you want to know.


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[ScooterD]

Originally Posted by Twalk1975

I can think of a number of cards that feature snow, and some cards that show players sliding on the field during rain delays. This Freddie Freeman variation from 2016 GQ is the only one I know of that shows a player in the rain. It's definitely not a very good looking card, which might explain why it seems to have been a one and done idea. They also seem to be fairly rare, as I can't remember the last time I saw another one of them.

I thought the same about the 2018 Topps Update Joey Lucchesi… never saw this Freeman. Cool!

[soey10]

This card is interesting because it is considered the first action shot on a mainstream baseball card. 1953 Bowman color Pee Wee Reese


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[spuds1961]

Some threads turn into better reads than you thought they would, this one qualifies Thanks OP.

[Skipscards]

Originally Posted by soey10

This card is interesting because it is considered the first action shot on a mainstream baseball card. 1953 Bowman color Pee Wee Reese


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That’s a great card but there’s been action shots since the 19th century…

1887 Old Judge. Close call but it looks like Jack Farrell got his man…


And here’s one of the famed Polka Dot Nine with the quick grab at 2nd the year…

[base set]

I found an interesting new card, one that tells a story as requested by the OP, while I was writing about the new Rookie Debut patch. When those were announced, I was hoping they would be transposed to Baseball Cards not just as the uber-desirable 1/1 card of the patch itself, but that the patch would appear in the pictures on the cards. And there are several in Update this year that authenticate the picture on the Rookie Debut card being from the rookie's debut game, which makes for a very nice Baseball Card in my opinion.

Previously, I thought there was only one really great Rookie Debut card, which is one of my favorites from the 2010s:



That tells a very short story; Mookie debuted in Yankee Stadium, and the pathos of it all is nicely captured on cardboard. But I have never been sure of the authenticity of pictures of the blur of so many other Rookie Debut cards that I don't really pay any attention to.

The new one I like a lot is for a player I am otherwise unfamiliar with. I must have largely missed the Twins-Tigers games this year. Working too much, I guess. This one also tells a very short story, in the picture, and Topps Card Back Writer comes through and explains the kinda odd picture.



It's the Red Eye card, as in flight. ""Julien caught an early-morning flight from Triple-A Indianapolis to Minnesota on April 12, 2023, arriving in time to start a matinee against the White Sox."

I am now thinking about tracking down all of the RD cards in 23 Update. Never thought I would be doing that deliberately.

[JimEd14]

In an effort to keep this thread going, a rainy day project from yesterday.

After I did the investigative work on the Danny Valencia card on the previous page, watching ta24cards on IG who does breakdowns like this that I find incredibly entertaining, and with a hat tip to the previous Aybar post, I wanted to pick out one of my PC cards and see if I could find where the shot came from. Not only did I, it ended with an unexpected twist which I’ll explain at the bottom.

Enter: 2013 Topps David Ortiz #595 / Topps Chrome #79




Classic Papi swing, love the shades … but, I was curious about the uniform. Certainly feels like a special game, not a playoff game but something that would make this easier to find. Noting the bunting on the wall in the background, I immediately went to Opening Day from the previous year, April 13, 2012. But a quick search showed they were wearing the classic white home unis.



More image searching in 2012, I found the uniform. The 100th anniversary celebration of Fenway Park which happened a week later, April 20th, 2012. A huge celebration where they brought back all the old timers, hall of famers, massive pre game ceremony (more HERE ).

The Red Sox did wear these throwbacks, and indeed, I found the image HERE with the description:

Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz watches a hit against the New York Yankees during the game on Friday, April 20, 2012 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.


I looked up the box score, Sox lost 6-2 to the Yankees but Papi went 2 for 4 with a homer. That got me wondering if this is indeed the home run swing? It didn’t mention this in the image description.

More searching … and thankfully YouTube has so many archived games and highlights. Found the full game rebroadcast from NESN and there it is, bottom of the second, Sox down 3-0 and Papi leads off … Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy on the call: https://youtu.be/wl9mhh48FSI?si=s5lUMI1v0KSfn0eL&t=2790

Called a double initially but after a lengthy review, overturned and Ortiz was given credit for the homer.

As for the swing and the image … after a brief scare noting the bat in the video was black and the handle on the card was light brown, full view of the bat fortunately shows it’s a two toned bat.

I think I got my shot:




The Getty image timeline, going in reverse order, confirms it as it shows some pregame images, then the swing, then Papi on 2nd waiting for the review, then trotting around to score. Mission accomplished.




Finally - As for the twist, well, April 20, 2012 is also the exact same day I had my first date with my still current girlfriend. She was pretty stoked when I explained all this to her, gotta score those relationship points when you can!

[JimEd14]

Originally Posted by base set

I am now thinking about tracking down all of the RD cards in 23 Update. Never thought I would be doing that deliberately.

I feel the debut cards should get way more love. This is great.

[Triple B]

Cal Raleigh…Cal Ripken Jr…tomato, tomatto.




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[nevermore]

Originally Posted by eye4talent

Did somebody say Rinku and Dinesh? (LittleJimmies- Did I discuss this with you before and share the Sports Illustrated story?)
Here’s Dinesh, near his home town, holding my 2009 BCA refractor. He was very excited to see a card that he had signed on the other side of the world a few years earlier.



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Awesome story, where does he live now?

Also, nice stash! I've a few of these since release. Sold a few during the movie hype, but kept one of each of the Bowman Chrome.

https://www.freedomcardboard.com/for...mpleted.82900/




1952 Topps #1 Andy Pafko, being condition sensitive first card. Was also featured in a movie.

[eye4talent]

Originally Posted by nevermore

Awesome story, where does he live now?

Also, nice stash! I've a few of these since release. Sold a few during the movie hype, but kept one of each of the Bowman Chrome.

https://www.freedomcardboard.com/for...mpleted.82900/




1952 Topps #1 Andy Pafko, being condition sensitive first card. Was also featured in a movie.

I don’t know where he lives now. I can only assume near his home village in northeastern India; I don’t remember its name, but it’s near where I took that photo (in 2012), which is in Sarnath. We were at some weird, rundown zoo, next to this archaeological site where it’s said some of Buddha’s ashes are entombed. This is all on the outskirts of Varanasi, the most holy city in Hinduism.


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[bblair_2002]

Any other HOFer have a RC 100 years after his playing days?

Untitled by Brett Blair, on Flickr

[Dalston]

This is a great thread. I love this Obak card depicting Pat Venditte, the switch pitcher, throwing both right and left handed. There are also variations, which I think must be short-printed as you pretty much never see themcone up, of him throwing only righty and only lefty.




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[nevermore]

Originally Posted by eye4talent

I don’t know where he lives now. I can only assume near his home village in northeastern India; I don’t remember its name, but it’s near where I took that photo (in 2012), which is in Sarnath. We were at some weird, rundown zoo, next to this archaeological site where it’s said some of Buddha’s ashes are entombed. This is all on the outskirts of Varanasi, the most holy city in Hinduism.

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This was from over 10 years ago. Very cool you go to go. I was just wondering what he was up to now if it was more recent.

[eye4talent]

Originally Posted by nevermore

This was from over 10 years ago. Very cool you go to go. I was just wondering what he was up to now if it was more recent.

I did a follow-up phone interview with him prior to the Million Dollar Arm movie release, which would’ve been early 2014. I think he was in LA for some promotional stuff, but he said he was living near his family back in India. I have no idea after that.

I can say, though, that his story isn’t quite as interesting as Rinku Singh’s, aka Veer Mahaan.


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[soey10]

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[Robles Fan]

Originally Posted by bblair_2002

Any other HOFer have a RC 100 years after his playing days?

Untitled by Brett Blair, on Flickr

The irony though is that the player's image shown on the card might not even have been Fowler. Google Images shows quite a different looking person than the one seen on that card:



Also, the player below might not have gotten into the HOF. But it's interesting to note that he too had his RC issued more than 100 yrs after he had retired:


Chief Sockalexis (Cleveland Spiders, 1897 - 1899):



(2003 Topps 205 Sockalexis RC)

[base set]

Originally Posted by JimEd14

In an effort to keep this thread going, a rainy day project from yesterday.

After I did the investigative work on the Danny Valencia card on the previous page, watching ta24cards on IG who does breakdowns like this that I find incredibly entertaining, and with a hat tip to the previous Aybar post, I wanted to pick out one of my PC cards and see if I could find where the shot came from. Not only did I, it ended with an unexpected twist which I’ll explain at the bottom.

Enter: 2013 Topps David Ortiz #595 / Topps Chrome #79




Classic Papi swing, love the shades … but, I was curious about the uniform. Certainly feels like a special game, not a playoff game but something that would make this easier to find. Noting the bunting on the wall in the background, I immediately went to Opening Day from the previous year, April 13, 2012. But a quick search showed they were wearing the classic white home unis.

Hey thanks for doing that card, it is an interesting one. I have wondered about it for a long time because there are 2 other Red Sox cards (Ellsbury, Sweeney) with photos showing the Opening Day bunting but they are wearing the regular uniforms.

Sometimes that bunting indicates a World Series game, which makes for an interesting card.

[Shankweather]

One of my favorite PSA set registries is Ralphie's Collection, the three rather random baseball cards Ralphie had on his headboard in A Christmas Story. Especially since one of them is a Cub.

1909-11 T206 Ed Reulbach (glove showing)
1909-11 T206 Jimmy Hart Montgomery
1940 Play Ball John Rucker

https://www.psacard.com/psasetregist...llection/21761

[DioBrando]

Originally Posted by Shankweather

One of my favorite PSA set registries is Ralphie's Collection, the three rather random baseball cards Ralphie had on his headboard in A Christmas Story. Especially since one of them is a Cub.

1909-11 T206 Ed Reulbach (glove showing)
1909-11 T206 Jimmy Hart Montgomery
1940 Play Ball John Rucker

https://www.psacard.com/psasetregist...llection/21761

As many times as I've watched that movie over the years, I've never noticed the cards before. Very cool.

[soey10]

In 1974, Washington was tapped by Oakland A's owner Charlie Finley to become the team's "designated runner". Finley and Washington worked out a one-year $45,000 contract with a $20,000 signing bonus. The contract had an unusual clause requiring Washington to grow facial hair before the beginning of the season. Washington had difficulty growing a full mustache, so he used an eyebrow pencil to simulate full facial hair.[1]

Despite having no professional baseball experience, and having last played baseball in high school, Washington was a member of the Athletics 1974 World Series championship team.[6] Finley announced that he would utilize Washington as a "designated runner" and that he did not expect Washington to develop other baseball skills.[3] Washington received coaching on baserunning from Maury Wills.[6] Though Washington's teammates recognized his speed, he received a mixed reception from them because of his unusual background. Reggie Jackson said, "He's a great athlete, but he's not a baseball player."[3] Pitcher Rollie Fingers said that he thought the idea was "a little crazy" but that Washington "could run like crazy".[6] Bert Campaneris said that the team could count on Washington to steal a base when needed.[6]

Before the 1974 World Series, team captain Sal Bando said that he did not think Washington should be used in the World Series, noting that Washington might not have a second chance to make up for any mistakes committed during the series. Appearing as a pinch runner for Joe Rudi in game two of the World Series, Washington was picked off first base in a crucial ninth-inning situation by Dodgers reliever Mike Marshall.

Early in the 1975 season, Washington was released. Before the season, the Athletics had acquired Don Hopkins, a pinch running specialist who could also play in the outfield.[3] The Athletics had also acquired a second pinch running specialist, Matt Alexander, just before Washington's release.

Washington played in 105 MLB games without batting, pitching, or fielding, playing exclusively as a pinch runner.[7] He had 31 stolen bases in 48 attempts and scored 33 runs during his short career. Washington is one of only seven players to have more game appearances than plate appearances,[8] presumably excluding starting pitchers who played primarily for the American League, and relief pitchers.

Washington's 1975 Topps baseball card is the only baseball card ever released that uses the "pinch runner" position label.


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[JimEd14]

Amazing soey10, top notch!!! What a story.