2020 Topps #179
This card doesn't only feature a well-cropped action shot of one of my favorite current Athletics. I love the fact that I can watch him make the catch here:
Ramon Laureano robbed Teoscar Hernandez of a home run on April 22nd, 2019 when the A's were hosting the Toronto Blue Jays. It's just one of Laureano's outstanding defensive plays from last season.
Today, I thought it would be cool to show off a few cards sent to me by Rod over at Padrographs that capture plays you can actually view on YouTube.
In addition to the Laureano, he sent me a few cards of Kurt Suzuki. This one stood out:
2020 Topps Heritage #328
This card is obviously a highlight from last year's World Series. It shows Suzuki launching a home run off of Justin Verlander in the top of the 7th inning which broke a 2-2 tie and helped the Nationals win the game.
You can watch video of the home run here:
Here's a screenshot of Suzuki hitting the home run:
I thought it was interesting, but not surprising that Topps removed the Camping World sign in the background.
The next card was hands down my favorite item in Rod's care package:
2016 Topps Update First Pitch #FP-8
We all have our own definition of what a hero is. I've written about mine a few times on this blog. But I'm willing to bet most Americans would agree with me when I say that Burke Waldron is a real American hero. And I'm super excited to add his signature to my collection.
Like the back of his card states, Waldron is a World War II veteran. If you're interested, you can read about him and his participation in the Battle of Saipan here. You can also see the first pitch that was captured on the card above here:
I wasn't able to find a YouTube video for this card:
2017 Topps Opening Day #ODB-12
However the back of the card clearly gives collectors the impression that this photograph on the front was taken on April 4th, 2016:
Well... that's it for the sports moments captured on cardboard portion of this post.
Rod sent about 100 other baseball and basketball cards featuring Japanese baseball players, Oakland A's, and Los Angeles Lakers. Here are some of the highlights:
Rod sent about 100 other baseball and basketball cards featuring Japanese baseball players, Oakland A's, and Los Angeles Lakers. Here are some of the highlights:
I just noticed that I probably could have found a video clip of the Yusei Kikuchi's press conference that's featured on the pink refractor above. Oops.
I might not follow the sport as much as I used to, but it was cool to see a nice stack of Lakers which included multiple cards of my three favorite players: Magic Johnson, Byron Scott, and Kobe Bryant.
He also sent me five issues of my favorite magazine: Sports Illustrated for Kids. Here are the sheets of cards from those issues:
I might not follow the sport as much as I used to, but it was cool to see a nice stack of Lakers which included multiple cards of my three favorite players: Magic Johnson, Byron Scott, and Kobe Bryant.
He also sent me five issues of my favorite magazine: Sports Illustrated for Kids. Here are the sheets of cards from those issues:
And if that weren't enough... he also sent me a PWE containing these two cards:
2020 Topps #251
2020 Topps Opening Day Red Foil #168
2020 Topps Opening Day Red Foil #168
Free Card Fridays have recently become a huge part of the sports card blogosphere and Rod offered this Opening Day parallel on his blog two weeks ago. Puk has been one of the A's top prospects ever since he was drafted by them in 2016. I'm excited to see if he lives up to the hype.
Speaking of Free Card Fridays... John over at Johnny's Trading Spot has been giving away a ton of free cards too. I was lucky enough to participate in one of this month's Friday Big Fun Games. My prize? Some vintage football:
My favorite of the bunch was this card of Merlin Olsen:
1971 Topps #125
Olsen played his final NFL game when I was only four years old... but my father told me about him and The Fearsome Foursome. I love the photo of Olsen used on this card... except he looks more surprised than fearsome.
John sent me a really cool bonus in his PWE:
1976 Kellogg's #7
Yup. A super clean 70's Kellogg's card of Joe Rudi.
If you're not familiar with him, he was robbing batters at the wall decades before Ramon Laureano.
Thank you Rod and Johnny for these awesome cards! By the way... Johnny just published his Friday Big Fun Games signup post. Click here if you're interested in joining. You won't regret it.
By the way, I know it's early in the year, but...
What are some of your favorite cards of 2020 so far?
I hope all of you have a great week. Happy Monday and sayonara!
12 comments:
I haven't really seen a card yet that I would lay claim as a favorite just yet. Thanks for the pimp, still need 4 more players for April's games.
Laureano is definitely on my short list for Best Cards of 2020 so far.
The 2020 Topps Heritage highlights cards are really nice. I've seen a couple flagship photo variations that I like, but they're SSP'd and out of my budget.
Burke Waldron's inscription is fantastic, and his pitch was pretty good for someone his age - or any age, really. I doubt I could have done better!
Bianca Andreescu won me over last year when she beat Serena Wiiliams - and even more in their previous match when Serena was forced to retire and Bianca consoled her idol/opponent. Classy young champion.
Man, so many cool cards... I've always wanted a card of the Navy Veteran, being a former Navy guy myself. Good Job! 👍
I'm pretty sure Topps did NOT remove the Camping World sign from the Kurt Suzuki card. It wasn't there. That's a bad place to put a sign, because it can be distracting to the pitcher. But it's a great place for advertisers...so they digitally add the ad into the broadcast. You'll notice that the signs there often change as the game goes on, and network broadcasts often put in ads for their own programming. What you see on the Topps card is the green screen which facilitates the digital add-ins, just like a green screen for special effects in superhero shows and such.
The thing I often don't like about catch-at-the-wall cards is that you can't see the player's face, so the fact that Laureano's face is visible on that card really makes it work for me.
Wow, you got the hook up for sure! Nice cards! No particular set from 2020 yet stand out....except sumo of course!!
That veteran auto is really sweet add. I meant to TTm him myself but keep forgettingto
Nice cards. Free card Friday is a good idea though I'm betting no one would take the rubbish I have. I haven't opened any 2020 cards yes and the ones I've seen haven't been that memorable. That being said, Tom O sent me a 2020 insert of Darryl Strawberry in the 1985 logo so I guess that'll be my card of the year for now.
I don’t have a 2020 favorite yet but that Burke card is my fave of this post! Well played combining the videos with the cards.
That opening day card does feature a photo from 2016 opening day as that was the only day the a's wore the tony Phillips and dave Henderson patches.
My favorite card of 2020 so far is the topps flagship enrique hernandez card, but the Jaime jarrin auto from opening say is a very close second.
That Laureano card is a really good one. I like the Tommy Pham card in the Heritage set. Missed seeing those brown Padres uniforms, good to see them back on a card.
Not a card of the year contender, but I like the Puk cards. I need to catch up a bit with him, but I saw him throw a combined no-hitter a few years back while he was in college. Definitely going to be a good player.
johnnys trading spot - thanks again for allowing me to participate in your game. i'm sure you'll have no problem filling the slot. who doesn't enjoy free cards
nick - hopefully it makes a future frankenset of yours ;)
chris - i've seen a few classy acts in tennis over the years. and yeah... waldron's pitch was pretty awesome
john sharp - there are a few military inspired insert sets out there. you could start a navy pc
brett alan - that totally makes sense. thanks for the heads up.
sumomenkoman - can't wait to see those 2020 sumo card posts
sport card collectors - i love the energy this guy brings to the baseball stadium. there are a few videos of him on youtube
peter k steinberg - those 1985 inserts topps produced this year are pretty nice. i'm especially fond of the relics and autographs
steve at 1975baseballcards.com - it's my favorite card too.
gcrl - good eyes. i didn't even notice those patches. and those broadcaster autographs are very cool
the snorting bull - i'll have to look up the pham card in heritage. i hope you're right about puk. and hopefully the a's keep him around long enough for a's fans to appreciate him.
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