1989 Upper Deck Nolan Ryan
Also in honor of Game 7 of the World Series, my second favorite Nolan Ryan card from the 1989 Upper Deck set (the first coming before he was signed by the Rangers). As a kid my mind was blown seeing one of my favorite players throwing a football on a baseball card. I had no idea what was going on! It turns out throwing a football was one of Ryan’s preferred ways of warming up. Is a modern card of a Hall of Famer better than a vintage card of an average player? Is this an indication of who will win tonight? Answers: “I don’t know.” and “No.” I have to root for Rafael Furcal and the National League though. Sorry Nolan.

1955 Topps Gordon Jones
In honor of Game 7 of the World Series, here is one of the last old Cardinals cards I have that I haven’t shown yet. Beautiful card, but I have no attachment to it. Wanna trade?

2001 Topps Archives Ron Cey certified auto
 I don’t always buy autographed cards. But when I do I buy awesome certified autos of the Penguin for less than 5 bucks shipped.

1955 Bowman Al Corwin available for trade
I love the 1955 Bowman set, I hate this card. The “TV set” is such an iconic release for vintage cards. It’s kind of funny that the aspect ratio of the TV is much like modern widescreen TV’s but in the 50’s design. I’ve had it since I was a kid and I don’t remember how I got it. I do know that it is a Giant, and the back of the card mentions their pennant win the previous year over the Dodgers. So, someone out there, give me another 1955 Bowman card for this card. I don’t care if it’s worse shape, It doesn’t even have to be a Dodger, as long as it’s not a Giant.

1958 Topps Don Newcombe
I don’t know what’s going on with Don’s arm and leg on this card. Some sketchy 50’s production value. The back is pretty amazing though, even with the missing piece of cardboard.

Anyone who’s been to more than a few Dodger games has probably seen Newk around the stadium, sharply dressed in a suit and hat. One of my favorite Dodgers of all time, he’s apparently been a huge influence on Matt Kemp, who is one of my other favorites.

1968 Topps Harmon Killebrew
Just a spectacular card of a spectacular player.

1965 Topps Bob Uecker
In honor of the end of the regular season, I present to you : possibly the best card in my entire collection. It’s even Postseason related! 1. He was a Cardinal, who I’m rooting for vs the Phillies because they knocked the Dodgers out of the Postseason two years in a row and the Cards have Rafael Furcal who was one of my favorite Dodgers. 2. He’s now the radio announcer for the Brewers, who I’m rooting for vs the Diamondbacks because I don’t want another NL West team in the World Series.

And now for why this might be the best card in my collection. 1. 1965 Topps is one of the best sets of the 60’s, if not all time. I’m still considering making it my only long term set collecting goal. 2. The PERFECT baseball card pose. Smiling, posed batting stance with great depth of field, and a team hat logo front and center. 3. Bob Uecker! When I was growing up I didn’t even know Bob used to be a Major League Player. Like everyone else my age, I knew him from Mr. Belvedere and the movies “Major League” and “Major League 2.”

Bonus Story: Uecker holds a special place in my heart because my mom’s boyfriend looked VERY similar to him. At the height of Uecker’s fame people were always coming up to him and asking him to sign things or take a picture with him. He would always correct them if they said “Are you Bob Uecker?” or called him “Bob” or “Mr. Uecker.” If they just came up and asked for those things without using a name he’d oblige and sign their paper with his name, or take a picture with them, it always cracked me up.

1953 Topps Art Schult avalable for trade
This was my first 1953 Topps card. The first time I had seen one in person, and I like it. However it’s a Yankee, and now I have a few other ‘53 Topps cards that I LOVE. So I’m willing to let this one go.

1970 Topps Tom Seaver
I acquired this card sometime in the late 80’s, I don’t remember how or where. I do remember knowing I had a vintage card of a soon to be Hall of Fame pitcher. Every time I flip by it in my collection I can remember when it was the only card I had in a card saver (even though it was so beat up), when it was in a binder with a bunch of random cards, when it was in a top loader randomly thrown in a box of stuff at my mom’s house, and now back in my collection.

1964 Topps Pete Rose
Wow. I normally stay away from those “mystery pack” type deals on ebay. This seller was promising “1 vintage star, one patch or auto card, and one rookie” in each pack. There were 2 big cards in the 75 random packs and this was one of them. So I bid on a few of them and won them for 3 bucks a pack. This was in the last pack I received.

I have always wanted this Rose card, even more than his actual rookie card (which was one of the “Rookie Stars” 4 way split cards in the 1963 set). I’m a sucker for the giant All Star Rookie trophy.

I remember when news broke of Pete Rose being banned from baseball and made ineligible for the Hall of Fame. I remember thinking “what’s the big deal about betting on baseball?” My mom explained it to me as best she could, and I remember feeling sad for Pete. I now have a better perspective on the situation, and understand that it was a well deserved banishment. I still feel sad for Pete. It seems almost criminal that someone with so many amazing achievements should have to live the rest of his life without the glory that his lesser peers received. He was signing in So Cal for a charity event the year before last and I got the chance to get a ball signed by him. With the addition of this card I think my Pete Rose collection is complete.