However... there's one card in the set I'll never get tired of looking at. It's the Craig Biggio card, which is hands down my favorite card in the set. The photographer was in the right place at the right time and captured him in a pose that could be featured as the next MLB logo.
I was really excited to hear that Topps included this card in their 2016 Topps Archives Signature Series. I love, love, love this product... because you're able to pick up autographs of guys like Rollie Fingers, Steve Garvey, and Kent Tekulve for very reasonable prices and all of them are hard-signed.
Unfortunately... Biggio's signatures are a little pricier than those three guys and unfortunately I spent a lot more money on this card than I had originally anticipated. Back in early October a copy sold on eBay for under $20 (delivered). A few weeks later, I put in a bid of $25 (+ $3.25 shipping), but somebody outbid me.
So when I found another copy up for auction, I decided to enter a max bid of $30 (+ $3.45 shipping) and that's exactly what I ended up paying. Not exactly a bargain. But in hindsight... I have no regrets. In fact had someone outbid me, I probably would have been upset that I didn't put a higher max bid.
The card arrived two weeks ago, but I didn't get a chance to open up the package until last weekend. It was everything I had expected. However after holding the magnetic in my hand, I started feeling guilty that Biggio was locked up in a protective cell.
That's when I made the executive decision to cut the seal and let Biggio breathe. Here's a better look at the card without the plastic getting in the way:
Here's a scan of the backside for those of you who are into card backs:
And if you're wondering how I typically store my autographs, I use the same method I've used since I reentered the hobby 8 years ago:
Penny sleeve. Top loader. Team bag.
Eventually... I hope to add signed versions of some of my other favorite "catchers in action" cards:
1973 Topps #380
1984 Topps #450
1977 Topps #640
1971 Topps #5
1986 Topps #260
Happy Wednesday and sayonara!
9 comments:
Nice pickup - having not become a true fan of baseball until the late 90's, it's always strange for me to think of Biggio as a catcher. He was such a versatile athlete!
Mentioned this before on my blog but 1990 set is weird in that there are certain cards in the set where everything -- the design, the colors, the team, the photo -- meshes perfectly and produces a really nice card. Biggio is one of those few.
Very nice. Love the Topps hard signed cards. And I agree about seeing some of the less obvious players.
I'm with you in that 90 Topps isn't the best set ever but there are a few interesting cards, that Biggio definitely being one of them. Very nice pickup.
1990 had to be this bad so they could turn around and make the 1991 set so good. At least, that's what I told myself as a kid...
As one of the few fans of '90 Topps I absolutely love this one Fuji! Great card!
Nice-and what a bargain. I have avoided this product for Redbirds-I don't know what to make of it. I mean there must be 8 Mark Mulders! I mean Mark Mulder?
Damn!This is one of those posts where I don't know where to begin..all such good cards!
But seeing Bench almost going to the bench is funny
sorry about the delay. i thought i had responded to comments already.
tony b - i know he'll always be remembered as a 2nd basemen by me.
night owl - agree. some of the border colors don't match the player in the set. but everything came together on this card
hackenbush, adam s, & shoeboxlegends - thanks
rob - i've only recently become a huge fan of 1991. i think for me 1991 was so overproduced that it negatively impacted my feelings on the design. but i've really grown to appreciate that set in recent years
b man - i actually picked up at least one mulder for my a's collection ;)
ana l - i originally had the bench headlining an "eye in the sky" post.
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