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?

I've Decided to Create My Own Card

So I've been tossing around the idea of creating my own baseball card. Not the kind that depicts players or mascots, but rather stadiums. I always thought a set that featured all baseball stadiums past and present would be such a cool idea. Imaging a set that had the Polo Grounds, Shibe Park, Comiskey Park, Coors Field, Progressive Field...or in the case of me being a Reds fan... Palace of the Fans, Crosley Field, Riverfront Stadium and Great American Ballpark. While the cards would feature pictures of both the outside and inside of the stadiums, it would have information about the stadium on the back of the card as well as a little factoid that's unique to each stadium. Anyway, I decided to give it a try. Let me know what you think and how I could make the design better.

What Reds Fan Wouldn't Like to Have This?

In addition to collecting cards, I'm slowly building up a collection of memorabilia to display in my, as of yet unstarted, Cincinnati Reds Man Cave. Most of the things I have can be found on my Memorabilia page of this blog. Probably one of my most favorite items I have is a pair of seats from Riverfront Stadium/Cinergy Field that my wife and I received as a Christmas gift back in 2002 from my mother-in-law after the stadium was torn down. There's still one seat that I would like to have for my Man Cave, but the possibility of me obtaining this is the near future is highly unlikely...a figural seat from Crosley Field. These seats are amazing! Unfortunately, there amazingly expensive as well. A recent search on ebay has one listed for $1,499.99 which is a little too rich for my blood at this time. But maybe someday.

I'm up to 10

Ten followers that is! Sure, it's not a lot....but it's a start. Thanks you to all who are following my blog. On another note, I signed up for Yahoo Sport's Fantasy Baseball today. Here's hoping to a great season. Baseball is just around the corner!

Two More in the Can

Today I knocked out two more of my 2012 collecting goals. I grabbed the last two 1993 Flair Wave of the Future insert cards that I needed AND I finally completed my 2011 Topps Gypsy Queen set. I was able to grab the last five short print cards, but wasn't too thrilled that I had to spend $7.50 for the Chase Utley card. Those things are almost impossible to find so I decided to bite the bullet and shell out the money before they were nowhere to be found. Anyway, with those two sets complete, I'll be spending the next month or two trying to complete my 61 and 62 Topps Reds team sets. The one card I'm not looking forward to trying to get is the 1962 Topps #594. While it is the rookie card of Red's catcher Don Pavletich...it's also the rookie card of Bob Uecker!!! Ouch!

Ryan Braun Suspension Overturned...WTF?!

So as most of you know, or at least should know by now if you're a true baseball fan, the reigning National League MVP's fifty game suspension was overturned. It's not that I don't like Mr. Braun...in fact I have no opinion of him whatsoever. Being a Red's fan I know I should despise this Brewer, but I don't. What I do despise is the technicality for which the suspension was overturned. As far as I'm concerned, Shyam Das has done a great disservice to MLB players who strive to do their best legally without the use of performance enhancing supplements. I'll be completely honest, if the shoe was on the other foot and Joey Votto or Brandon Phillips or any other Reds player had tested positive, then I would have the same opinion as I do regarding Braun.....suspend them. They don't put up with this crap in the Olympics (sure it's a poor choice for comparison) but baseball is still trying to wipe the tarnish off from the steroid era. While random drug testing helped to add accountability to the players, this ruling completely flies in the face of what needs to be done in baseball.

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.