Seriously? SERIOUSLY?

Mounts soapbox

Either my internets are broken, or I have flat out hit the wall when it comes to making custom cards that never were.  I know I am ranting, but when a picture of Jim Palmer in his underwear gets 900% more hits than a sweet custom card of Ted Williams, then I do believe the apocalypse is nigh.  

Call it what you will; whining, complaining, bitchin', whatever, but this card needs to get some respect.  Sing it Aretha.  Look at it!  LOOK AT IT!  LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOK.

Drops mic

Topps Cards That Never Were - 1961 Ted Williams

Just like the original Star Wars Trilogy, it’s time to complete the Ted Williams’ Cards that Never Were Saga with his 1961 Topps release.

As I mentioned before, Williams had an exclusive contract with Fleer in 1959, 1960 and 1961, so the collecting world was denied these Topps cards.  That is why I’ve created my own version of his 1959 Topps (ok), his 1960 Topps (much better) and finally his 1961 Topps card...

I will be honest and say that I absolutely love this card.  Granted, I nabbed the photo from Ted Williams’ The Science of Hitting book, but I think it fits perfectly with the 1961 Topps set.  The photo is grainy, the color is washed out, and Williams is obviously at the end of his career.  It all fits.  

I can almost see this card stuck in the rear spokes of a kid's bike. It even has dinged corners and a printing smudge on the 'W' in Williams.  Man, I LOVE this card, even though it only exists in the ether.

I hope you enjoyed viewing the Williams Trilogy, but even if you didn’t, it was a blast to make and I am very happy with the finished product.

Doc

Topps Cards That Never Were - 1960 Ted Williams

As promised last week, I am in the midst of releasing a trio of Topps Cards That Never Were for arguably the greatest hitter to ever play the game, Ted Williams.  Previously, I featured a 1959 Topps version of Williams that received little fanfare and was largely ignored.  Oh well, I’m not in it for the adulation.

This week is a 1960 Topps card representing Williams’ 1959 season, the one and only season he hit under .300!  The release of this card is also special because it is my Dad’s birthday, and Ted Williams was his favorite player.  So what better gift than to present a 1960 Topps Williams’ card that never was?  Enjoy!

I enjoyed making this card.  Adding the black and white photograph was fun, and I like the approach I took of showing his number instead of his face like most 1960 Topps cards.  The number nine is synonymous with Ted Williams and it should be shown on a card!  The lettering did give me fits.  I was almost done when I realized I had the black/red alternating sequence messed up.  Oops.

As always, let me know if you have any requests, and I’ll start working on a card for you.  I have one more Williams to show, and a request for a 1972 Topps Fisk RC.

2013 MLB Tournament Prizes #6 through #10

This week reveals 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.

Again, the 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 reveal of Prizes #1 through #5. 

Now, let's take a look at the next potential five prizes!

#6 - Odds 12/1 - NL Seed #2	1973 Topps Johnny Bench
#7 - Odds 12/1 - AL Seed #3	1972 Topps Ted Williams
#8 - Odds 14/1 - AL Seed #1	1975 Topps Thurman Munson
#9 - Odds 16/1 - NL Seed #3	1967 Topps Gaylord Perry
#10 - Odds 16/1 - NL Seed #4	1968 Topps Phil Niekro

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 - 1959 Ted Williams

Since I began making these custom made Topps cards that never were, I have intentionally avoided one player.  Not out of desire to create his cards, but more of hesitancy that what I created would only be passable or adequate.  In my eye, the Splendid Splinter needed custom cards worthy of his accomplishments.  So, after 25+ creations and a lot of trepidation on my part, I’m willing to share my version of Ted Williams’ 1959 Topps card.

Why the apprehension in creating a Ted Williams card?  While I do consider Teddy Ballgame the greatest hitter ever (even better than Tony Gwynn, gasp!), I have a more important reason.  Ted Williams is my Dad’s favorite baseball player.  Ever.

That’s a big deal to me, especially compounded with the fact that Tony Gwynn is my favorite player, and that he and Ted Williams struck up a friendship late in Mr. Williams’ life.  Between those two players, my Dad and I have carved out a huge chunk of baseball history and lore to claim as our own.  That in itself deserves my respect.

As for the 1959 Topps card, it is not the final Topps card that should have been for Ted Williams.  In fact, I have two more coming on the heels of this one, his 1960 and 1961 Topps releases.  From what I can gather, it seems that Ted Williams signed an exclusive contract with Fleer to produce the Ted Williams Sets from 1959 through 1961.  This would seem to be the reason for no Ted Williams’ Topps cards in 1959, 1960 and 1961.  Someone please correct me if I am mistaken.

Of the three Williams’ in the cue, I consider this the least “worthy.”   I worked for hours on this card trying to get every last pixel right.  The template ended up looking great, but the photo doesn’t quite go with the era.  The picture is too clear and I can’t recall many swinging photos in the 1959 set.

I hope you like it!