2013 MLB Tournament Prizes #16 through #20

I'm over the shock of yesterday, and I've done my part by observing a moment of blog silence for most of the day.  The shop is open a few more days, so that gives me some anxiety filled time to decided whether or not I want to do something completely insane...

Anyways, it's time to return to our regularly scheduled programming and reveal 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, Prizes #6 through #10 and Prizes #11 through #15. 

This week the prizes begin to get down to the nitty gritty.  These prizes just may make you take a long-shot underdog over picking your favorite team.  Wait, is that a 1950s card of a Hall of Famer???  Let's take a look!

#16 - Odds 35/1 - NL Seed #7	1976 Topps Hank Aaron
#17 - Odds 40/1 - AL Seed #4	1965 Topps Brooks Robinson
#18 - Odds 40/1 - AL Seed #8	1959 Topps Luis Aparicio
#19 - Odds 45/1 - NL Seed #9	2002 Topps Gold Label Randy Johnson Jersey Relic
#20 - Odds 50/1 - AL Seed #11	1976 Topps George Brett

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

PPS - Here is the bracket...

Topps Cards That Never Were: 1977 Hank Aaron

Before I began this blog, I came up with a list of topics and recurring themes. Prior to ever posting, I had ideas for at least 60 posts, and about 5 themed topics. I even wrote out 10 of them, and was waiting to scan some cards to go with the posts. Alas, we no longer have a scanner, so I need to focus on other topics besides how my collection was amassed.

Looking for an idea, low and behold, Bad Wax dumped a treasure map right in my lap. One of my recurring topics was to discuss Topps cards that were never made for sure fire HOFers. All I needed was some free imaging software, and a Google search engine, and I was set. After reading Bad Wax’s post, I now have free imaging software with somewhat understandable instructions, and I can now unleash my homemade cards on the world.

Which brings me to the topic at hand, why in the world did Topps not print cards for the last seasons of baseballs greatest players? Was it really that important to have a no name nobody who scratched 50 ABs in their fifth season deserve a card, and leave out immortals like Aaron, Mays, Schmidt, etc.? It absolutely boggles my mind.

So, I decided to honor all those baseball legends who ended up on the Topps cutting room floor for the likes of Enzo Hernandez.

First up would be The Hammer, arguably still the reigning Home Run King. I made two versions of this card because I like both action shots I found. The DH turned out much better than I thought it would, but I’m not completely satisfied with the font type and color.

Version 1 - "Aaron at the Bat"

Version 2 - "Run, Aaron, Run"

Here is Aaron’s line from 1976 in 77 Topps format:

Year	Club	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	AVG
1976	Brewers	85	271	22	62	8	0	10	35	.229

Not too shabby for a 42 year old at the twilight of his HOF career, and much more deserving of a 77 Topps card than many others from that set.

Which card do you like best?

EDIT: After seeing Punk Rock Paint's awesome version of the 77 Aaron card, I forgot that those cards didn't list DH, they listed DES. HITTER. So, I edited the picture to be more accurate. Also, PRP, do you remember the font style you used for your version? Mine is almost, but not quite right.