Completed! The Best Of 1992 O-Pee-Chee Premier

Earlier this week I showed off the last card I needed to finish the 1992 O-Pee-Chee Premier set. Completing a set is always a noteworthy occasion, so I thought it would be fun to show off some cards and give out some yearbook style superlatives.

Best Red Sox card: Wade Boggs

Maybe I'm overthinking it, but I'm trying to figure out in my head how the bat still points forward on a follow-through swing. This looks completely unnatural to me for some reason, but perfectly natural to Boggs. 

Best Hall of Fame player: Rickey Henderson

The only card in the set that memorializes a season highlight. Even after almost 30 years, 1,000 stolen bases is insanely impressive and I doubt we'll ever see someone else reach it.

Best rookie card: Rod Beck

 There's a very small number of rookies in this set, so I'll give the nod to the 3x All-Star.

Best card back: Mark McGwire

 

The look on his face is priceless! This is the most "WTF" look I've ever seen on a card!

Best smile: Kyle Abbott

If I'm going to hand out superlatives, I should  give one out to the guy who genuinely looks like he's having a yearbook photo taken...

 

Best action shot: Mark Whiten 

This set doesn't have a lot of action on it's cards. Whiten kicking up a dust cloud was a pretty easy choice.

Best background: Kenny Lofton

I love clear shots of the dugout, even if this particular card makes me think I'm looking at a frame from the movie "Major League".

 

Best facial hair: Doug Jones

There were some great cookie-dusters in 1992, but I'll give this esteemed reward to the recently departed Jones.

 

Best thing about the set 

It's a Canadian set, which means you have a fun way to learn French!

 

Biggest surprise 

As I was looking at the Hall of Fame players in this set, it dawned on me that Larry Walker is not represented. O-Pee-Chee (and Leaf) leaned heavily on it's Canadian roots, and often focused on the Expos and Blue Jays. It amazes me that they left off an up-and-coming superstar, who not only was a native of Canada himself, but played for a Canadian team. Walker should have been an easy addition!

*****Vote For The Best of 2021!*****

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Repack Haiku #232 (Mark Langston)

Lost rookie award

To teammate Alvin Davis

Despite strikeout crown

 

1989 Topps Traded
#66T Mark Langston

This card also reflects Mark's trade to the Expos. The Mariners got some tall pitcher named Randy Johnson in return.

TCDB Trade: A Card From Victoriaville, QC, Canada

Just a quick little one card trade, courtesy of a TCDB member who goes by JF.

 

 

This Tony Gwynn was the last card I needed to complete the 1992 O-Pee-Chee Premier set! This is one of those sets that I picked up a box of way back in high school, got most of the set, and didn't think to finish until recently. This becomes the second hand-collated complete set I've finished this year, and my first ever foreign set! Anyone else out there complete a foreign set before?

 

Thanks for the trade JF!

Thank You, Times Three

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Lately I have a lot to be thankful for, especially when it comes to baseball cards. I have been on the receiving end of some acts of kindness, and I'd like to properly thanks those who have brightened my days.

Thank you to Jeff (Wax Pack Wonders). He sent along a few Missing Sox along with his latest Time Travel Trade. It's always nice to knock a few Hall of Famers off the list, as well as a baby-faced Dwight Evans!

 

Thank you to blog reader Oren, who surprised me with a mailer full of Red Sox goodies. Not shown are a few autographs/relics I also got - my original intent was to have a post dedicated just to this mailing, but then I switched gears and had to retake this picture after I had already filed away the hits.

 

Oh, and since Oren was curious to know which of these ended up as my favorite:

 

Fun photo + shiny gold border = a win in my book!

Last but certainly not least, thank you to Jim (Cards As I See Them). Awhile back, he showed off a Red Sox card from Topps Update that I had yet to see. I commented how I thought it was a fun card (even if I'm not too keen on those yellow jerseys), and Jim graciously sent it my way, along with a few cards from my So Close list. That '78 Topps list just keeps shrinking and shrinking!

 

Thank you again guys for your kindness. I fully intend to pay back, or at least forward, some kindness this Christmas season!

Repack Haiku #231 (Terrell Wade)

3 games, 4 innings

Was enough to earn a ring

With '95 Braves

 

1994 Upper Deck Minors
#7 Hawatha Terrell Wade

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers! I'm thankful for your views, your comments, your support, and your friendship!

RIP Doug Jones

 

1991 Score #884 Doug Jones (DT)

 

Seeing as I once proclaimed this card as the greatest card ever made (a statement I still stand by), I felt obligated to at least acknowledge the passing of the 5 time All-Star. RIP Mr. Jones, this card will always hold a special place in my heart.

Time Travel Trading Update #59

 

It's Thanksgiving week, and I for one am thankful that I have so many great cards to show off and trade in this month's edition of Time Travel Trading! So unbuckle those belts and get comfy, because there's a lot to digest here!

When I concluded last month's update, I mentioned I had one more trade pending. Wouldn't you know it, those cards came the same day I posted. The trade comes courtesy of Greg (Night Owl Cards). Greg sent these two cards in exchange for a football card:

Next comes some vintage cards from Jeff (Wax Pack Wonders), including the iconic Lowell Palmer and his sunglasses. (I'm also thankful for the bonus cards Jeff sent to me, which I promise I'll show off in a later post.)

The big trade of the month comes from a TCDB member named Ken. 13 cards get added to the stack, all from the 1950's!

 

Including some great vintage football!

Bo (Baseball Cards Come to Life!)  was more than happy to snag all those minis I acquired last time, and sent a fantastic selection of baseball cards. 

I had an opportunity to make a trade on the TCDB, but the other trader wanted a few cards that were in the Time Travel stack. So I made a trade with myself, adding those two cards to my personal collection and putting these two in the trade stack:

 

We come full circle with our last trade, which comes from Greg (Night Owl Cards) again! This time he nabbed a few players he has had the opportunity to interview and sent back some beauties, including a vintage Koufax and a Hostess. (As a upstate NY native, I appreciate those Bills cards as well - Let's go Buffalo!)

 

I'm still awaiting returns on a couple more trades, so hopefully we'll have a great big Christmastime edition of Time Travel Trading for next month. As always, these cards are all available in exchange for an older card! You can claim your cards below, or through the TCDB (Kep75). Let's make some trades!

The Time Travel Trade Stack:

 

2021 Topps Heritage
#205 Nathan Eovaldi

 

2020 Sage Hit - Rookie Autographs Black (football)
#A17 Harrison Bryant (AU)

 

2019 Topps Archives
#15 Carlton Fisk 

 

2017-1018 Pocket Schedule
Carolina Hurricanes

2017 Bowman
#12 Trea Turner

 

2015-16 Upper Deck (hockey)
#185 Alex Ovechkin

 

2014 Topps Valor - Strength (football)
#52 Richard Sherman (SN499)   

 

2013 Panini USA Champions
#56 Randal Grichuck

  

2010 Bowman - Prospects Black
#BP51 Chase D'Arnaud
#BP56 Rolando Gomez

2010 Bowman Chrome
#13 Brian Roberts
#122 Hanley Ramirez

2010 Bowman Chrome - Prospects
#BCP178 Nathan Adcock
#BCP186 Jhan Marinez

 

2010 Bowman Platinum - Prospects
#PP38 Brian Johnson 

 

2010 Topps (football)
#341 Peyton Manning (AP)

 

2009-10 Panini Season Update - Christmas Cards Materials
#22 Jeff Pendergraph (MEM, SN499) 

 

2009 Bowman - Chrome WBC Prospects
#BCW18 Tao Bu  

 

2004 Topps
#203 Bo Hart (ASR)

2004 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites
#52 Clete Boyer

2002 Fleer Greats Of The Game
#64 Frank Howard

2002 Upper Deck World Series Heroes
#76 Don Larsen

 

2001 Fleer Greats Of The Game
#77 Lester Lockett 

 

2000 Just
#29 Brian Daubach 

 

1998 Score
#68 Scott Rolen

 

1996 Fleer Update
#U238 Tim Salmon (ENC) 

 

1994 Stadium Club
#448 Erik Pappas 

1993 Leaf
#271 Jay Buhner

1993 Classic Draft Picks (basketball)
#33 Will Flemons
#67 Bennie Seltzer

 

1992 Score - 90's Impact Players
#65 Ron Gant 

1991 Leaf
#174 Roger Clemens (CL)

 

1991 Stadium Club

#327 Terry Pendleton

#332 Dennis Eckersley 

1991 Upper Deck
#778 Dave Righetti

 

1991 Pacific (football)
#32 Steve Tasker 

 

1990 Donruss
#712 Wade Boggs (AS, COR, VAR)

1990 Fleer
#271 Roger Clemens

 

1990 Upper Deck
#626 Frank Viola

1990 Pro Set - Theme Art (football)
#10 Super Bowl X Pittsburgh Steelers / Dallas Cowboys

 

1989 Score
#495 Larry Parrish

 

1988 Score
#657 Mike Schmidt (HL) 

 

1988 Topps (football)
#233 Eagles Team Leaders - Randall Cunningham (TL)

#363 Christian Okoye (RC)

1987 Topps
#313 Roberto Clemente (TBTC)

 

1987 Topps - All-Star Game Glossy
#10 Dwight Gooden 

 

1986 Topps
#5 Rose Special '75-'78

#5 Rose Special '75-'78
#6 Rose Special '79-'82

#159 Orel Hershiser 
#401 Fernando Valenzuela (Turn Back The Clock)

 

1986 Topps - Glossy All-Stars

#9 Carlton Fisk

#13 Steve Garvey

#21 LaMarr Hoyt 

1986 Topps Major League Leaders Minis
#65 Tony Gwynn

 

1986 Topps (football)
#229 1985 NFL Interception Leaders (Daniel/Lewis/Walls)

 

1985 O-Pee-Chee
#105 Ron Kittle
#176 Buddy Bell
#366 Ron Cey 

1985 Topps
#694 Joe Carter

 

1984 Donruss

#376 Charlie Lea

1984 Fleer

#482 Bill Scherrer (RC)

 

1983 Topps (football)

#82 Mark Lee

#109 George Rogers (TL)

#186 John Riggins (TL)

#264 Rich Karlis (RC) 

#337 Mark Van Eeghen

1983 Topps The A-Team (non-sport)
#20 Pretty as a Picture!
#49 Heavy Traffic!
#50 Crashing the Gates!

1982 Donruss
#239 Dwayne Murphy

#NNO Checklist 545-653

 

1982 Fleer
#33 Bucky Dent 

 

1982 O-Pee-Chee
#254 Jorge Bell (RC)
#275 Bob Watson 

1982 O-Pee-Chee E.T. The Extraterrestrial (non-sport)
#15 Among Elliott's Toys

1982 Topps
#125 Danny Ainge

#237 Rusty Kuntz 

#303 Bill Caudill
#399 Pat Zachry  
#462 Dave Chalk
#754 Joe Morgan

 

1982 Topps (football) 

#82 Craig Morton (IA) 

1981 Donruss 
#374 John Candelaria
#383 Jose Cruz

#386 Doc Medich 
#409 Carney Lansford
#420 Tommy Lasorda (MGR)
#421 Charlie Leibrandt (RC)
#427 Leon Durham (RC)
#496 Mickey Rivers
#531 Jerry Koosman
#565 Ken Landreaux

1981 Topps

#82 Astros Future Stars (RC)
#98 Clint Hurdle
#121 Larry Harlow
#151 Claudell Washington
#182 Bob Grich
#194 Rod Scurry 

#202 Steve Carlton (RB) 
#259 Mets Future Stars

#323 Jim Morrison 
#350 J.R. Richard

#354 Mario Soto
#365 Graig Nettles

#374 Tom Hutton 
#402 NL Championships
#414 John Pacella  
#465 Bill Russell
#477 Luis Gomez
#494 Bob Walk 
#569 Al Williams
#632 Alan Bannister

#645 Rick Reuschel 
#695 Kent Tekulve
#726 Rick Monday

 

1981 Topps (football)
#18 Frank Lewis 

 

1980 Topps 
#90 Manny Trillo
#143 Bruce Bochte
#145 Darrell Evans
#157 Willie Wilson

#271 Dick Drago 
#325 Dan Driessen  
#406 Paul Molitor

#516 Hector Cruz 
#572 Jerry Morales

#595 Don Money 
#642 Ken Forsch
#655 Tug McGraw

1979 Topps
#130 Bob Watson
#214 Boston Red Sox (TC)
#465 Reggie Smith

#558 Jay Johnstone 

1978-79 Topps (basketball)
#12 E.C. Coleman
#18 Steve Mix
#19 Marvin Webster

#21 Steve Hawes

#37 Mike Gale
#46 John Shumate

#53 John Mengelt

#55 George Johnson
#62 Anthony Roberts

#64 Leon Douglas (RC) 
#66 Lonnie Shelton
#76 Brian Winters

#93 Ricky Sobers 

#105 Jim Chones 

#118 Kevin Porter 
#129 Ray Williams (RC)

1978 Topps
#148 Andre Thorton
#373 Jim Willoughby
#385 Tito Fuentes
#424 Boston Red Sox (TC)
#482 Rick Miller

#601 Gene Mauch (MGR)

#631 Danny Ozark (MGR)
#706 Rookie 1st Baseman (Cage/Cox/Putnam/Revering)

 

1978 Topps (football)
#339 Joe Ferguson 

 

1977 Topps

#67 Joaquin Andujar (RC)
#535 Cesar Geronimo

#607 Larry Demery

 

1977 Topps (football)
#350 Bill Bergey (AP)

 

1976 Funky Sales Corp Funky Facts Baseball
#2 In A Trance
#3 Fans Vs Players
#5 Baseballeese

 

1976 Hostess
#75 Boog Powell (SP) 

1976 Topps
#70 Roy Smalley/Roy Smalley Jr. (FS)

#101 Pete LaCock 
#196 1975 AL RBI Leaders (Scott/Mayberry/Lynn)

#567 George Stone 

1975 Topps
#41 Cesar Geronimo

#66 Willie Horton
#310 '74 Victory Leaders
#378 Derrel Thomas
#402 Bob Tolan

#445 Felix Milan 

 

1974 Topps  
#67 Tommy Helms 
#107 Alex Johnson
#141 Pat Bourque
#158 Jack Billingham
#158 Jack Billingham
#227 Mike Lum
#248 Tom Hall

#305 Tito Fuentes 
#349 John Vukovich

#461 John Odom
#506 Ed Farmer

#512 Joe Lahoud
#519 Bill Sharp (RC) 
#534 Eddie Watt

#572 Enzo Hernandez

#583 Marty Pattin
#638 Ken Sanders
#660 Larry Dierker

1974 Topps - Team Checklists
#NNO Montreal Expos

1974 Topps - Traded
#270T Ron Santo
#458T Jim Ray
#496T Tom Murphy

 

1974 Topps (football)
#63 Gene Washington
#513 Bill Lueck (RC)

 

1973 Topps
#102 Rudy May

#485 Norm Cash 

1972 Topps  

#22 Rob Gardner

#33 Billy Martin (MGR)

#36 Jerry Johnson (IA)  

#52 Harmon Killebrew (IA)

#54 Bud Harrelson (IA)

#58 Ernie McAnally

#83 Dalton Jones

#99 Ross Grimsley (ASR, RC)

#109 Jerry May

#113 Rogelio Moret 

#137 Dick Williams (MGR) 

#174 Clay Kirby (IA)

#192 Chicago Cubs (TC)

#196 Mel Queen 
#197 Johnny Briggs
#225 World Series Game 3 - Manny Sanguillen
#231 Casey Cox
#239 Tom Timmermann

#262 San Diego Padres (TC)
#266 Bobby Bolin

#312 Clay Carroll (IA)

#334 Rangers Rookies - Bill Fahey / Jim Mason / Tom Ragland (RS, RC) 

#344 Dave McNally (BP)
#363 Ron Klimkowski
#373 John Mayberry

1971 Topps
#16 Ken Singleton (RC)
#63 AL 1970 RBI Leaders (Howard/Conigliaro/Powell)
#71 AL 1970 Strikeout Leaders (McDowell/Lolich/Johnson)
#80 Bill Melton  
#105 Tony Conigliaro
#123 2nd Series Checklist #133-263 (CL, VAR)
#146 Ralph Houk (MGR)
#195 AL Playoffs Game 1 - Powell Muscles Twins!

#237 Cesar Cedeno (RC) 

1970 Brooke Bond North American Wildlife In Danger (non-sport)
#32 Polar Bear

1970 Topps
#3 Darrell Chaney

#12 John Hiller

#12 John Hiller

#16 Charlie Metro (MGR)
#18 Carlos May
#18 Carlos May

#31 Marty Pattin 
#38 Mack Jones

#39 Mike Nagy (ASR, RC)

#39 Mike Nagy (ASR, RC) 
#47 Bob Miller

#59 Dick Ellsworth 

#81 Dave May

#93 Rick Renick 

#115 Alex Johnson 

#123 Don Gutteridge (MGR)
#206 Clete Boyer

#222 Jim Rooker 
#238 Jose Laboy (ASR)

#252 Lowell Palmer (RC)

#287 Fred Talbot 

#390 Willie Davis  

#445 Vada Pinson

#457 Rico Petrocelli (AS)

1969 Topps
#66 Orioles Rookies

#72 Ron Taylor 
#75 Luis Aparicio
#80 Norm Cash  
#182 Bill Rigney (MGR)
#484 Joe Gordon (MGR)

#516 Earl Weaver (MGR) 

1969 Topps - Deckle Edge
#13 Mel Stottlemyer

 

1968 Topps

#15 Ron Hunt

#202 Adolfo Phillips 
#208 Willie Davis
#309 Ken Henderson
#320 Frank Howard

#434 Ricardo Joseph (RC) 
#449 Gene Oliver
#519 Jerry Stephenson

1967 Topps
#1 The Champs (F. Robinson/Bauer/B. Robinson)

#7 Don McMahon 

#18 Gene Oliver

#27 Bob Saverine

#60 Luis Aparicio 

#116 Herman Franks (MGR)

#118 Bernie Allen 

#192 Fred Gladding

#206 Dennis Bennett

#227 Paul Lindblad 

#272 Dick Lines (RC)

#281 Bob Rodgers 
#366 Andy Kosco

#399 Al Worthington 

1966 Topps
#46 Howie Koplitz

#47 J.C. Martin 

#56 Sandy Valdespino 
#104 Alex Johnson
#154 Chuck Hiller

#189 John Roseboro  

 

1965 Topps
#17 Johnny Romano
#27 Dick Bertell
#86 Les Narum  

#92 Dick Howser
#108 Don Mincher
#111 Lee Thomas

#149 Wayne Schurr 
#178 Dalton Jones
#307 Barry Latman

1964 Topps 

#5 NL Strikeout Leaders (LL)

#95 George Altman

#255 Lee Thomas

#421 Camilo Carreon 

 

1963 Topps

#174 Larry Burright 

1962 Topps

#19 Ray Washburn (RC, RS)

#79 Ed Hobaugh

#364 Ken Hunt 

1961 Topps

#38 Bob Lillis
#83 Bob Bruce
#96 Billy O'Dell
#98 2nd Series Checklist 89-176 (CL, VAR)
#111 Jack Meyer

#212 Haywood Sullivan

#258 Jack Sanford
#399 Cliff Cook (RC)

 

1960 Topps

#61 Eddie Kasko 

 

1960 Topps (football)
#28 Jim Ray Smith 

1959 Topps
#424 Ken Aspromonte

1958 Topps

#6 George Zuverink
#23 Bill Tuttle (VAR)
#36 Ted Kazanski

#59 Dave Sisler

#65 Von McDaniel (RC)

#73 Pete Daley

#124 Bobby Usher 

#147 Don McMahon (RC)

#208 Cal McLish 

#273 Hal Smith

#274 Rocky Bridges 

#290 Dick Donovan

#336 Bert Hamric 

#380 Charley Maxwell

#447 Ray Monzant
#473 Bill Renna (UER)
#474 Roman Semproch (RC)   

1958 Topps Zorro (non-sport)
#83 Rude Awakening

1957 Topps
#68 Ray Crone 

 

1956 Topps (football)
#42 Tom Fears
#51 Ted Marchibroda

 
1956 Topps Flags of the World (non-sport)
#70 Jordan

 

1955 Bowman
#195 Erv Palica (VAR)
#207 Spec Shea

1955 Topps
#45 Hank Sauer

 

1955 Bowman (football)
#9 Don Stonesifer
#29 Bucko Kilroy

1955 Topps All-American (football)
#46 Arnie Lassman

 

1954 Topps

#124 Marion Fricano 

#238 Al Aber

1954 Bowman
#73 Don Mueller

1954 Bowman Power For Peace (non-sport)
#91 USS Coral Sea (CVB43)

1953 Topps

#101 Ted Wilks (VAR)

#213 Ray Scarborough

1952 Bowman
#57 Clyde Vollmer

1938 Church & Dwight Useful Birds Of America Tenth Series (J9-6) (non-sport)
#2 Black-throated Green Warbler

1937-38  Diamond Matchbooks Tan 6 (hockey)
#NNO Glenn Brydson

 

1935 Church & Dwight Useful Birds of America Eighth Series (J9-4) (non-sport)
#10 California Jay

1933 Church & Dwight Useful Birds of America Fifth Series (J9-1) (non-sport)
#5 Indigo Bunting 

1922 Church & Dwight Useful Birds Of America Third Series (J7) (non-sport)
#7 Prothonotary Warbler

1915 Church & Dwight Useful Birds Of America First Series(J5) (non-sport)
#1 Quail

 

1890 N245 Sweet Caporal Actors & Actresses (non-sport)

#NNO Frankie Raymond

The Time Travel Trading Project is simple in concept. I started out with a random pack of 2018 Topps Series 1 baseball cards. My aim was to trade every card in that pack for something older. Each card I receive in turn is then made available for trade, with the goal to get the oldest card I can get.

Number of trades completed: 128 (2 pending!)
Unique trading partners: 54

Number of cards mailed out: 492
Year of oldest card mailed out: 1910-11

Number of cards received: 773
Year of oldest card received: 1890