1962 Cincinnati Reds Autographed Team Ball

23 signatures on this baseball: Fred Hutchinson, Dick Sisler, Jim Turner, Reggie Otero, Pete Whisenant, Cookie Rojas, Jim Brosnan, Gordy Colemen, Wally Post, Vada Pinson, Don Blasingame, Joey Jay, John Edwards, Marty Keough, Gene Freese, Eddie Kasko, Don Pavletich, Hank Foiles, Frank Robinson, Jerry Lynch, Don Zimmer, Bob Purkey, Leo Cardenas.

1958 Autographed Redlegs Baseball

This is the oldest team autographed baseball in my collection. While some of the signatures have faded over time, many of the key signatures are still visible. Of the 29 signatures on this baseball the 20 that can be read include: Smokey Burgess, Bob Purkey, Joe Nuxhall, Ed Bailey, Pete Whisenant, Willard Schmidt, Alex Kellner, George Crowe, Dee Fondy, Bob Henrich, Frank Robinson, Jerry Lynch, Jay Hook, Dutch Dotterer, Tom Acker, Ted Wieand, Hal Jeffcoat, Brooks Lawrence, Vada Pinson, and Roy McMillan. Not a bad looking baseball for being almost 70 years old.

1963 Cincinnati Reds Scorecard

This past week I purchased one final scorecard for my collection, a 1963 scorecard depicting a match up between the Reds and Cardinals. I'm not sure what specific game this is from, but I have it narrowed down to a series that occurred July 30th to August 1st of that year. The scorecard is in excellent shape for being more than 50 years old. My favorite is always the old advertisements that are in these scorecards. My primary purpose for picking up this particular scorecard was that it's from Pete Rose's rookie season with the Reds. It's icing on the cake that it included Hall of Famers Frank Robinson and Stan Musial! I'm definitely happy to have this in my collection!

1961 Cincinnati Reds Scorecard

Here's my latest addition to my Reds collection, a 1961 Scorecard! I had to do some research for this since there was no date listed on the card. I found out this scorecard was used on May 21, 1961 when the Reds faced the Milwaukee Braves. There are a couple of Hall of Famers listed on this card - four to be precise (Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, Warren Spahn, and Frank Robinson). The Reds won the game 7-6. This is fourth entry into my collection which leaves me with just two more to add. I still plan on grabbing one more scorecard from the 1960s and I would like to add a scorecard from Great American Ballpark. I'm not sure if I'll be able to get those before the end of the year considering I'm lagging behind on my collecting goals. I have decided however to eliminate yearly goals because it's sucking the fun out of my collecting experience.

And then there were three

Scratch another goal off my 2012 list. I recently completed my 1961 Topps Cincinnati Reds team set. While this may have seemed like a small goal, to me it was a huge accomplishment. Not only did I acquire my final Frank Robinson card, but I also knocked out the 60s decade as a whole. I know things won't be so easy as I pursue the cards I need from the 1950s...especially since most commons start in the $4-$6 dollar range. Let's not forget also that the 1952 Topps high series will be a killer to the wallet. For now, I'm just going to enjoy the fact that I'm happy that I've wrapped up the 60s and will now be concentrating solely on the 50s. Onward and upward!

Another one bites the dust!

Yesterday I received a package in the mail from a recent ebay purchase. Curious as to what was inside? Well, for the price of two blaster boxes I was able to land the last three 1962 cards I needed for my Reds team set. There were a total of 32 cards in the lot with all of them in vg-ex condition. When I first saw the listing I had to do a double take. Although I had most of the high number cards there was one that I was sure would take me FOREVER to acquire...594 Don Pavletich. It's not that Don was a superstar or anything, but he was fortunate to share the card with BOB UECKER!!! I haven't been able to find this card alone for less than $55 and, like I said, I had to do a double take when I saw this card included in the lot. The price I paid for all 32 cards was like getting a steal on the Uecker Rookie and having the other 31 thrown in for free. Other highlights I received was a Frank Robinson card and a Don Zimmer card. I'm very happy to cross this off my list card collecting goal.By the way, if anyone is interested in some 1962 Topps Reds cards, I have 29 cards I would be willing to trade on my wantlist. Here's what I have available (2, 16, 41, 80, 103, 120, 148, 151, 171, 172, 193, 205, 258, 263, 267, 282, 302, 331, 364, 381, 393, 414, 440, 450, 465, 487, 508, 524, 552)

GET OVER HERE!

It's always nice to finish a set. Today I was finally able to knock off my 1958 Topps Reds team set from my 2012 Card Collecting Goals list. The last card I needed from the set was the Frank Robinson All-Star card which I was able to pick up in excellent condition on eBay. With three months to go in 2012 it's becoming more likely that I won't be able to complete all my goals, especially since I was sidetracked earlier this year with picking up some World Series tickets from the 1975, 76 and 90 series for a steal. Here's hoping that I'll have to get a 2012 World Series ticket in the next few weeks!

Bronze Nuxy

This is one of my most favorite stadium giveaways I have in my collection. The Reds gave out 30,000 of these bronze beauties on June 10, 2008 when the Reds were defeated by the Cardinals 7-2 The only highlight in that game for the Reds was a Votto home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Nuxhall giveaway represents a smaller version of the statue that can be found outside the main entrance to the stadium (along with Ernie Lombardi, Frank Robinson and Ted Kluszewski). Nuxhall made his major league debut with the Reds on June 10, 1944 giving up five runs before being relieved after a third of an inning in the ninth. He spent 15 of his 16 years in the majors with the Reds and was a two time all-star. After retiring from the field he began announcing games for Cincinnati. In 1974 he teamed up with Marty Brennaman to become one of the most memorable announcer pairings in Reds history. He retired from broadcasting in 2004, but continued to make guest appearances prior to his death on November 15, 2007.

1955 Topps

Yesterday I received seven of the twelve 1955 Topps Reds cards and I wasn't disappointed with what I saw. Although I don't like the 1955 Topps as much as the 1956 Topps, it's still a nice set to look at. The horizontal design along with the portrait and action photos and the facsimile autograph make for a classy card. The only complaint I have about the cards are the bold background colors. Yellow seems to be the favorite for Reds cards in the set (with a few reds sprinkled in), but if it were any different I guess it would be a duplicate of the 56 Topps set. My favorite Reds card from this set would have to be the Chuck Harmon card. Chuck was the first African-American player for the Reds. While he didn't put up the numbers Frank Robinson did with his stint in Cincinnati, Chuck was able to steal 9 bases in 1955 putting him on par with Gene Baker, Ernie Banks and Duke Snider. Not too shabby.

1958 Topps

So when it comes to completing a team set from a particular year, I have the attention span of a gnat. I always try to finish a year before I start on another one, but when I was surfing ebay the other day I came across a crazy good find of 12 1958 Topps Reds cards for $32.99 that included shipping. While I'm not a huge fan of the 1958 topps set, particularly the Reds with the nasty yellow background that's present on most of their cards, I do like the vintage sets and the Mr. Redlegs image that's on most of the older sets. Another gripe I have with this set is that most of the cards are portrait shots with only a few action shots sprinkled in. Such a disappointment, but oh well. Anyway, getting back to my find on ebay...while the combined lot amounted to a little less than $3 a card, what made this find truly amazing was the fact that this card was included...a second year Frank Robinson card. How sweet is that? I was a little disappointed when I received the package and found that one of the cards (Dutch Dotterer) had a big crease down the middle of the card, but the others were in great shape. So ultimately I got 11 1958 Topps Reds cards for $3 a piece. Can't complain for getting a second year Robinson for $3 can I?

1961 Topps

What to say about this set when there's really nothing to say about it. I'm not a fan of 1961 Topps. It's probably the most poorly designed set that Topps released in the 1960s. To say that this set is nothing more than a plain Jane would be a compliment. Even calling it an Ugly Betty would be too kind. I just want to know what happened Topps? The 1960 set was nice with the horizontal layout with two pics used on the front. Did you just decide to let two year old little Billy down the street make the call on this? Disappointing. Unfortunately, the only joy I get from this set are the comics on the back.

1962 Topps

In the past few weeks I've started working on one of my collecting goals for 2012....the 1962 Topps Reds team set. I can't put into words how much I loath this set. I know that Topps tried to base the design on a poster pasted to a wooden fence (kinda like those circus posters that you saw every year when they were coming to town), but this is just plain hideous. I'm not a fan of the photos that Topps used in this set either. Most appear out of focus, dark, or just plain boring. Very sub par set from Topps. I will say that if there's one card in this set that's my favorite, I would have to pick the Frank Robinson card. Sure, it's a hokey shot of him looking out into the field after following through on a fake swing that the photographer insisted he take, but maybe Frank is pondering of things yet to come. Things that wouldn't be achieved in a Reds uniform. One can only wonder.

Frank Robinson Bobblehead

30,000 of these bobbleheads were given out to fans on July 25, 2007 when the Reds hosted the Milwaukee Brewers. The Reds defeated the first place Brewers 7-3 thanks in part to Jeff Keppinger's three RBIs. Robinson is probably my favorite Reds player of the past. When I mean past, I'm talking about the Crosley Field era of the team. He made his major league debut with the Reds on April 17, 1956 when the Reds took on the St. Louis Cardinals. In his nine seasons with the Reds, Robinson was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1956, the National League MVP in 1961 and an eight time All-Star (14 major league total). Prior to the 1966 season, Robinson was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for Milt Pappas, Dick Simpson, and Jack Baldschun in what many observes believe to be one of the most lopsided deals in baseball history. Sad to think what might have been if Robinson had been playing with Rose, Perez and Bench! Makes me sad just thinking about it.

1957 Topps

I love these cards, even though they're expensive and they don't have all the design elements that I normally look for when critiquing a set. The 1957 Topps set just screams old. The photography, the white border, the gray backs with red ink...classic. Although I only have one Reds card from this set, that being Frank Robinson, I'll make sure that changes after the first of the year. Today's cards just can't stack up to the sets of the 50s, 60s, or even 70s that Topps produced. Sure, today's sets are gloss heavy on premium cardboard using thousands of shades of ink colors with numerous parallels that encompass all the colors of the rainbow, they just don't have the flavor of the old sets. On a different note, I'm taking a break talking about Topps sets for a while, mostly since I've covered everything with the exception of some sets from the 50s and two from the 60s. I feel that I can really review a set unless I have at least one card from that year forever encapsulated within my collection. So, until I pick up some vintage cards from those sets I'll be talking about something else. That's where I need your help. Not sure if I should talk about Reds bobblehead stadium giveaways that I'm collecting or the different autographs from past and present Reds I've acquired through the mail (which currently number 125+) So let me know what you would like to see.

2007 Topps

You can't go wrong with black! This set reminds me of the 1971 Topps set for some reason...probably because of the black border. But nevertheless, I like this set. Sure, there are those that argue that it's plain, bland, boring, or just an afterthought compared to Topps other products. But I see something totally different: smooth, suave, sleek, sophisticated, stylish. Need I say more? I do get a tear in my eye though whenever I look at this set and see Josh Hamilton in his Reds uniform and think about what might have been. Especially looking at the hot mess Volquez has become. Kinda reminds me of the Frank Robinson / Milt Pappas trade back in the 60s. For once I wish the Reds would come out on top when they decide to trade someone away. We can all hope, can't we?

1967 Topps

Another set from the 1960s, another set that I like. Topps kept this design simple with a white border around the card, the team name in big letters at the bottom, facsimile autograph, a colorful green back and descent photography.This set has my favorite Pete Rose card produced by Topps. I love the old Reds pinstripe uniform that Pete's wearing along with his stance and a beautiful shot of Crosley Field in the background with a nice blue sky. This card is as close to photo perfection as possible (at least that's my opinion and I'm sticking with it). Some of the other highlights are the high number cards of Tony Perez and Vada Pinson, a couple of my other favorite former Reds players. I just wish Cincinnati would have kept Frank Robinson instead of trading him to Baltimore a year earlier....then this set would be one of my favorites of all time.

1960 Topps

Here I am talking about another set from the 60s... 1960 to be precise. I don't know what it was about Topps when they were putting sets out in the 60s, but I think that the 60s were by far the best decade for Topps and this set is no exception to that statement. I love the horizontal design and the portrait pictures. The small side images on the front of the card are ok, and I can see that Topps was trying to place an action photo on the card to make it more interesting and some work out well while others, not so much. I would like to see Topps put out a modern set with a horizontal layout (and not called Heritage), but I doubt if that happens anytime soon.

More Autographed Baseballs

Aside from my autographed team baseballs and the three baseballs from individuals affiliated with the reds that weren't players (Marty Brennaman, Marge Schott, and Hal McCoy), here are the other autographed baseballs in my collection as well as a rundown of why I have them:
Tom Browning - Only Red to throw a perfect game
Johnny Vander Meer - Only pitcher to ever throw back to back no hitters
Chris Sabo - 1988 National League Rookie of the Year
Tommy Helms - 1966 National League Rookie of the Year
Eric Davis - Tied for most grand slams in a month (3)
Frank Robinson - 1956 National League Rookie of the Year and Hall of Famer
Barry Larkin - 1995 National League MVP, 12 time All-Star and future Hall of Famer
Ken Griffey Jr - future Hall of Famer
Joe Nuxhall - youngest player ever in professional baseball (15 years 10 months 11 days old)

Although Robinson (and probably Griffey) was elected to the Hall of Fame not as a Red, he did spend time with the club and made it in to my collection.

1959 Topps

Not really one of my favorite sets of the 50s, but who am I to criticize? I just feel like there was a lot of wasted space on the card with the large circle containing the photo of the player. Kinda reminds me of the intro to the James Bond movies really. The only thing I like about this card is Mr. Redleg marching across the bottom. But hey......it is what it is. At least Topps redeemed themselves the following year with the 1960 set.