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...

The Joy of Sets - 1987 Topps Traded

This series shines a spotlight on each set that I have completed throughout the years…
What: 1987 Topps Traded
Size: 132 cards
HOFer Content: 3% (and rising)
Subsets: None
Errors/Variations: None
Completed: Fall 2001

Like most young collectors at the time, the 1987 Topps Traded Set was a rarity.  Actually, all traded sets to me were mythical.  For all you young pups, back in my day, traded or update sets were not sold in pack form in some mega retail outlet.  They weren’t even sold in pharmacies, little league diamond snack shacks, or even liquor stores (I bet some of you couldn’t fathom buying cards at a liquor store…).

No, the only way you could get your hands on a traded set was to go to your local card store and hope they were an official dealer with Topps.  Also, notice I said “set.”  You couldn’t buy packs.  You could only purchase the entire set, which came housed in special packaging and was printed on bleached cardstock, which I guess was either to distinguish the traded set from the main set or to imply fanciness.  It's kind of hard to make basement wood paneling look fancy.

Also, those sets were usually outrageously priced because they contained such potential superstars like Kevin Mitchell, Ellis Burks, David Cone, Matt Nokes and Kevin Seitzer.  So, in lieu of wasting good money better served playing Mortal Kombat or Galaga at the local pizza parlor, I passed.  Well, my patience paid off because eventually most (not all) of those sets fell back to earth and flooded the secondary market.

Case in point, I purchased the 1987 Topps Traded set in the fall of 2001 off of eBay for $4.50 including shipping.  Not a bad deal.  Anyways, as the dust settled, none of the aforementioned prospects really panned out except for some card showing a gangly kid on the mound with greasy hair and a wispy mustache.  You know, Garry Maddox’s younger brother from another mother (and father), Greg Maddux.

Traded sets were also known for one other great distinguishing feature, airbrushing.  Some of these cards look like either Crayola was an official sponsor of Topps, or the Topps’ art department heavily invested in Mario Paint.  Check out these two nuggets.  Greg Minton looks like he’s trying to stare down the mess on top of his hat, and Gene Nelson looks downright pissed with his artistic treatment.

Besides the prospects and Color By Number cards, traded sets were also a great place to see superstars giving their last hurrah or showing off their new duds after they’d cleared free agency.  Here are the HOFer examples…

I must say that I do enjoy traded sets, but I’m glad I waited 20+ years to complete them.  In fact, I’m working on the 1989 and 1990 Topps Traded sets right now!

Score: 6/10

Topps Cards That Never Were - 1977 Reggie Jackson

For this entry, I am deviating once again from my previous course of making final season cards for Hall of Famers.  This Topps Card That Never Was is for Reggie Jackson's 1976 season in Baltimore.

The 1977 Topps release features Reggie Jackson in an airbrushed Yankees' uniform/helmet, from what appears to be an Oakland Athletics' photograph.  Not a very inspiring photo as you can see below...

Also, I didn't realize that Reggie Jackson played in Baltimore until well in the '90s!  I remember when I saw the 1988 Score tribute that showed Jackson in an Oriole uniform.  I was blown away and thought it was an error/trick/etc.  I then dug out my "Total Baseball" encyclopedia and looked up Mr. October.  I couldn't believe that I had completely missed the fact that Reggie Jackson was an Oriole for one glorious summer.

So, 20 years later and armed with the firepower of Photoshop, I decided to end this travesty.  Ergo, enjoy the custom made 1977 Topps Reggie Jackson card in all it's Baltimorey goodness!  

PS - I will gladly take requests, just leave a comment!

Oh, Wow...

*Sherpa not included

Topps Cards That Never Were: 1988 Reggie Jackson

Two posts in two days, I hope my boss doesn't find out...

Well, pickings are getting slim on the ready made custom Topps cards, so you are going to be graced (or cursed) with this rendition of a 1988 Jackson. This card was incredibly difficult to make because of the Athletics name, plus I had a heck of a time finding a decent shot of Reg in an A's uniform that didn't come from the 60s-70s. Prime fodder for retro remakes, but I don't think a side-burned laden funky Jackson in a bright yellow uni would look right on an 88 Topps. Maybe would look good on Night Owl's new 75 Topps homage site though. PLUG!

Anyways, Jackson was really a non-interest guy for me in my childhood days. My dislike for the AL lead to me rarely following him, even when he was an Angel and a short drive from home. However, I've grown to enjoy Mr. Jackson (I am for reeeaaal), since his retirement. I've enjoyed some of his movie cameos and he actually seems to be a real nice guy and not the trouble maker those Damn Yanks would lead you to believe he was. Also saw him on PBS doing an interview with Bob Gibson (Yes, I am a nerd). Those two guys were intimidating just sitting around the table chatting, let alone on the mound or in the box.

On a side note, he has always kind of looked like my Dad, despite the obvious skin tone differences.

Reggie's final season was pretty ho-hum for a final bow. The soft AL rules did allow him to play to the ripe age of 41, and gave him his final resting spot of 563 on the dinger chart.

Also, I just read he is a cousin of Balco Bonds. Geez, who isn't?

Mr. October

Here are Reggie's stats from 1987:

YEAR	CLUB	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	AVG
1987	A's	115	336	42	74	14	1	15	43	.220