Cameo Cards - 1978 Topps Roy White

This is the seventh entry of Cameo Cards, which is a serial focusing on Hall of Fame players making cameo appearances on common cards...

Finding a Cameo Card is never easy.  Finding one on a Topps card prior to 1987 can be downright difficult, as Topps was pretty stingy with the Action Shots from 1971 to 1986.  Luckily, I was able to spot this one relatively quickly when fanning through the 1978 Topps set, and I was even luckier considering Roy White's card is #16.  One turn of a 9-pocket page, and I have post-gold.  Sweet.

Anyways, today's Cameo Card is courtesy of Roy White who has a Hall of Fame catcher lurking behind him.  Who is that masked man?  Why it's Carlton Fisk of the Boston Red Sox!

Let's take a look at this card in detail, and see what makes this an awesome Cameo Card:

1. A rivalry game between the Yanks and Red Sox on a 35 year old piece of cardboard.
2. Roy White is rocking the wrist bands.
3. Judging by both Roy and Carlton's eyes, Roy has blooped one to short right-center.  Ok, this is a total guess, but it's my story to tell.
4. Fisk is in all red gear, and has on the old washboard chest protector.
5. Faceless fans courtesy of the Topps Airbrushing Department.
6. A dugout full of Yanks.
7. Real stirrups!
8. The motion/placement of Roy's feet is almost anti-gravitational...   

So, all you Carlton Fisk collectors, go out and get yourself a 1978 Topps Roy White to round out your player collection.  Unless you're a diehard Red Sox fan, and would projectile vomit having a Yankee's card in your player collection...

Topps Cards That Never Were - 1972 Carlton Fisk

A little while back, Joe Average Card Collector requested a standalone version of Carlton Fisk's 1972 Topps Rookie Card.  As most of you know, Fisk's original RC was a 1972 tri-player version shown below.

I have mixed feelings about the two, three and four player (Has there been a five-player?) rookie cards Topps has released in the past.  As shown above, I have no qualms whatsoever with a three player card featuring all Red Sox (or all of any one team).

Where I get irritated is when Topps releases a card that is position based and may include up to four players from different teams.  What's the big deal, you ask?  Well, I like Padres, and I've dabbled in Team Collecting over the years, but I'm always dissuaded because of one rookie card.  No, not Tony Gwynn, nor Dave Winfield, but good old John "Dave" Hilton's rookie card.  Who?

That's right, Dave Hilton, who scrapped out a whopping 108 hits over his four year career in San Diego with a Mario Mendoza inspiring .213 batting average.  Typically, this card would be in the 25 to 50 cent range, maybe $2 because it's a high-number.  Except for the fact the John/Dave shares the card with fellow rookies Ron Cey and Mike Schmidt.  

Over the years, I've heard plenty of Dodger fans bemoan the fact that Mike Schmidt was on a Ron Cey card, thus adding plenty of dollar signs to a Team Collection.  Well, with no disrespect to Mr. Hilton, at least Ron Cey had a lengthy, All-Star filled career that earned him a nickname.  The same cannot be said for John/Dave Hilton.

So, I am glad to produce a standalone rookie card of Carlton Fisk for Joe Average Card Collector.  I'm sure Cecil Cooper and Mike Garman would appreciate the extra room on their card.

Enjoy, and please make some requests!

2013 MLB Tournament Prizes #11 through #15

Tonight I bring you the Week 3 reveal of the next batch of potential prizes for the 2013 MLB Tournament.  As noted previously, there will be 30 prizes available, however, only the tournament winner will receive a prize.  The prizes consist of one card from my collection for each of the 30 teams.

Seeds are not open for claiming, and the prizes are based on a sliding scale using Las Vegas' odds for winning the 2013 World Series.

For further information, check out the original 2013 MLB Tournament announcement, as well as the reveals of Prizes #1 through #5 and Prizes #6 through #10. 

This week the prizes are beginning to considerably step up in quality.  Let's take a look!

#11 - Odds 16/1 - NL Seed #8	1960 Topps Robin Roberts
#12 - Odds 22/1 - AL Seed #5	2011 Topps Lineage 1975 Mini Relic
#13 - Odds 25/1 - AL Seed #12	1972 Topps Carlton Fisk RC
#14 - Odds 25/1 - NL Seed #5	1968 Topps Bob Gibson
#15 - Odds 30/1 - AL Seed #2	1970 Topps Reggie Jackson

PS - Seeds are not open for request, and will not be opened until all 30 prizes have been announced.

PPS - Here is the bracket...

Oh, Wow...

A Pinch of Pudge