Friday, December 30, 2022

The Greatest Red Sox Cards of 2022

I've done this list for the past three years (If you're interested - 2019, 2020, 2021). One thing I could always count on was a few great cards from Stadium Club. When this year's set got postponed a few times, I started to worry. Was Stadium Club going to follow in the footsteps of Big League and not release until the following calendar year? Fortunately, Stadium Club did release in the nick of time, and thanks to the TCDB, I was able to see what all the base cards looked like. Did any crack the Top 10? Find out below:
 

10. 2022 Topps Heritage - 1973 Topps Comics

#73TC-17 Rafael Devers


Like a lot of kids, I grew up reading comics in the daily newspaper. The Sunday Comics were instantly grabbed and poured over. The whimsy of those days is reflected in Heritage's recreation of the 1973 Topps Comic inserts. These cards are just plain fun!
 

9. 2022 Topps Archives

#313 Vazquez Leads Red Sox (BS)


The way things are going, this may be the last Red Sox postseason highlight card produced for awhile. I love the look of elation on Christian's face, and the card is well-framed with the perfect background of equally-elated fans.
 

8. 2022 Topps Now

#587 David Ortiz


A Hall of Famer holding his plaque will always be a cool photo for a card. Big Papi looks sharp holding his.
 

7. 2022 Stadium Club

#196 Wade Boggs


Topps has used this image before, but it reaches it's potential by getting the full-bleed Stadium Club quality treatment. I feel sorry for the chicken he picked out...
 

6. 2022 Topps Update

#US44 Ted Williams (SP, VAR)


I don't know why Topps enjoys showing Ted Williams with cars, but this is the best one yet with Williams waving from behind the steering wheel.
 

5. 2022 Stadium Club

#151 David Ortiz


It's amazing that next year will mark the 10th anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings. Ortiz lifted a whole city with some casual swearing. The flag backdrop makes this card really stand out!
 

4. 2022 Topps

#398 Jackie Bradley Jr.


JBJ was known as Superman in some Red Sox circles. The guy could get airborne like no other, especially when catching a ball. Dude could fly trying to score too!
 

3. 2022 Choice Worchester Red Sox

#06 Triston Casas


99.9% of the time, minor league cards don't even register when it comes time to create a list like this. I usually don't even waste my time with them. However, this card is fantastic. I'll argue it's one of the best bat-flip cards ever put on cardstock. Taken from a great angle, it captures the bat in the air perfectly, with Casas and the catcher looking off to the side watching the ball travel. I love this card, and I'm looking forward to seeing Casas do this on the Major League level.
 

2. 2022 Topps Heritage

#213 Christain Vazquez


Vazquez makes his 2nd appearance on the list with this beautiful horizontal offering from Heritage. Action scenes like this are why horizontal cards exist.
 

1.  2022 Topps

#90 Enrique Hernandez


For the second year in a row, Kiki takes the top spot! I've already blogged about how he has been kissed by the cardboard gods, and this card is just the latest proof of that. Hernandez's athletic contortions really pop off the card against the simple but unmistakable backdrop of the Fenway Park.

So there you have it! Do you agree with my rankings? Any cards that I might have missed?
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Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Repack Haiku #286 (Mike Bielecki)

Cubs' starting pitcher
For historic first night game
Played at Wrigley Field 
 
1990 Donruss #9 Mike Bielecki (DK)

 
The first night game ever at Wrigley Field occurred on August 9, 1988.
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Sunday, December 25, 2022

Merry Christmas!

 


Have a 




It's the best time of the year!

I don't know if there will be

but have a 

 of 


Merry Christmas to all of you out in blogger-land! May your stockings be filled with cardboard! (And yes, I did just repost this from previous years - I'm not lazy, I just have a lot of presents to wrap!)
 
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Friday, December 23, 2022

Trapped In Time: Remnants Of the 28th Trade

 
You have to love it when things just align perfectly, right? Here's it is December, and we've reached the last Trapped In Time post for 2022. As it turns out, today's highlighted card comes from the very last Time Travel Trade of 2018!
 
  • 1962 Topps #278 Ken Johnson
Received:
  • 1990-91 Pro Set Super Bowl 160 (football) #16 SB XVI Ticket - San Francisco 49ers/Cincinnati Bengals (See Trade #31)
  • 1990 Pro Set - Theme Art (football) #10 Super Bowl X Pittsburgh Steelers/Dallas Cowboys
  • 1960 Topps #289 Willie Jones (See Trade #89)
 
 
Bo (Baseball Cards Come To Life!) threw in a couple of bonus football cards with this trade, and this lone trophy remains. I guess there aren't many Steelers or Cowboys fans amongst my readership. I'm not a football collector, so I'm hoping this card finds it's way into someone's welcoming hands!

Not counting this card, I've featured 13 cards in the Trapped In Time series. I've only been able to trade 4 of them, which isn't bad considering these cards have been in the trade stack for 4 years. 2019 was the when this project really started gaining momentum, so there will be a lot of cards getting their "last chance" in the coming months. Spoiler, next month's post will be a big one!


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Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Repack Haiku #285 (Jack Voigt)

Did Fleer make a pun?
Called him a "jack-of-all-trades"
On back of his card
 
1994 Fleer #23 Jack Voigt

 
In addition to the outfield, he was used at first and third base as well.
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Monday, December 19, 2022

Time Travel Trading Update #72


 
In regards to the Time Travel Trading Project, things have been crazy. Normally, I get most trade offers within a few days of the latest update. This past month however has seen a consistent stream of trade offers, including a new trade in each of the past two weeks! I've got plenty of cards to show off, but I think this may the first time I also have numerous trades still in the works. Nothing like staying busy around the holidays!
 
Our first completed trade comes from a guy named Mike. When I put out a last call on the 1982 O-Pee-Chee E.T. card, he was one of the few TCDB collectors that had it on his want list. We managed to make a larger trade, and now the stack has some great 80's cards added, including the iconic Gary Pettis card:
 
My next trade came from Ken, a TCDB member that has Time Traveled with me once before. (He's also one of the trades I have pending for next time!) He's been a fun trade partner because he targets vintage, hasn't been too concerned with condition, and offers up some great vintage in return. This time around he included some bonus cards from 1989:

But we're here for the vintage! For the first time ever, we now have baseball cards (and 1 football) from the 1940's! (OK, technically I had some cards from the 1947-66 Exhibits W461 set, but those were most likely from the 50's or 60's). They're in rough condition, but they're still amazing.

Brendan (The View From The Third Floor) came back for another trade, but mentioned in his note that this might be his last Time Travel Trade. If that's true, my second-most frequent trade partner is going out with a bang. Brendan included a lot of extra cards, including some football:

Some recent baseball cards:
As well as some older ones:
I'm not sure which is cooler - the 2 Japanese cards or the 1994 "rookie card for every guy on this card except" Derek Jeter gold card!

Our final trade comes from none other than Bo (Baseball Cards Come To Life!).  1974 Topps is one of the more plentiful sets in the stack, and Bo gave it a nice boost!
I must admit, I kind of miss seeing the floating heads of coaches on cards.

That's 4 trades this month, but I have 4 more already in progress for next month! That's going to be a big month for sure, so stay tuned!
 
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:

2022 Topps
#104 Nelson Cruz
#211 Christian Javier

2022 Topps Heritage
#331 Blake Snell

2022 Topps Opening Day - Opening Day
 
2022 Topps Opening Day - Opening Day Autographs
#ODA-LWJ LaMonte Wade Jr. (AU) 
 
2021 Topps
#130 Josh Bell
#290 Josh Harrison
 
2021 Topps - Through The Years
#TTY-12 Fernando Tatis Jr.

2020 Stadium Club - Bash & Burn
#BAB-10 Victor Robles

2020 Topps Heritage - Then and Now
#TN-10 Tony Oliva/Tim Anderson

2019 Finest
#75 Nolan Arenado
#97 Max Scherzer

2019 Topps Opening Day
#21 Kenley Jansen

2019 Topps Opening Day - 150 Years Of Fun
#YOF-5 Babe Ruth
#YOF-7 Sandy Koufax
#YOF-8 Roberto Clemente
#YOF-22 Derek Jeter

2019 Donruss Optic - Pink (football)
#108 Jeffery Simmons

2018 Topps - MLB Opening Day
#OD-19 Nolan Arenado

2018 Score - Scoreboard (football)
#4 Tom Brady 
 
2017 Topps - MLB Award Winners

2017 Topps Update - Topps Salute
#USS-32 Josh Reddick

2014 Topps Allen & Ginter


2011 Topps Heritage Minor League
#191 Wilin Rosario
  
2010 Bowman - Prospects Black
#BP51 Chase D'Arnaud
#BP56 Rolando Gomez

2010 Bowman Platinum - Prospects
#PP38 Brian Johnson    
 
2010 Topps (football)
#20 Randy Moss
 
2009 Bowman - Chrome WBC Prospects
#BCW18 Tao Bu     
 
2008 Upper Deck Marvel Masterpieces (non-sport)
#5 Black Queen 
 
2005 Playoff Absolute Memorabilia
#44 Shawn Green
 
2004 Bowman Heritage
 
2002 Fleer Maximum
 
2002 Upper Deck World Series Heroes
#85 Tino Martinez
#88 Andy Petitte
 
2001 Fleer Greats Of The Game
#77 Lester Lockett 
 
2000 BBM Diamond Heroes
#241 Hawks Checklist
#244 Marines Checklist

2000 Upper Deck MVP
#216 Bernie Williams
 
1999 SkyBox Metal Universe (football)
#116 Tiki Barber

1998 Pinnacle Inside
#25 Andruw Jones
 
1998 Pinnacle Performers
#14 Hideo Nomo
 
1997-98 Score New York Rangers (hockey)
#8 Alexander Karpovtsev

1997-98 Score Philadelphia Flyers (hockey)
#18 Vaclav Prospal
 
1997 Collector's Choice
#215 Glenallen Hill 
 
1997 Pinnacle Inside
#111 Matt Williams

1997 Pinnacle X-Press
#64 Craig Biggio   
 
1997 Topps
#268 Scott Rolen

1997 Ultra
#255 Scott Rolen
 
1997 Upper Deck
#13 Mark Lemke

1996 Leaf

 
1995 Topps
#311 Bryan Harvey 
 
1995 Finest (football)
#124 Trent Dilfer   
 
 
1994 Ted Williams
 
1994 Topps - Gold
#158 Shortstop Prospects
 
1994 Topps Archives 1954
 
1994 Score (football)
#119 Clyde Simmons 
 
1993 Leaf

1993 Classic Draft Picks (basketball)
#33 Will Flemons
#67 Bennie Seltzer
 
1993 Redstone Dinosaurs Mesozoic Era (non-sport)
 
1992-93 Humpty Dumpty I (hockey)
#NNO Troy Murray
 
 
1992 Front Row Draft Picks
#46 Ed Christian   
 
1992 Leaf - Gold Rookies
#BC-10 David Nied

1992 Pinnacle - Team 2000
#42 Jim Abbott
#48 Roberto Alomar
#59 Gary Sheffield
 
1992 Post Cereal
 
1992 Upper Deck
#723 Sammy Sosa 
 
1991-92 7th Inning Sketch OHL (hockey)
#258 Brandon Convery
 
1991 Post Cereal

1991 U.S. Playing Card Co.
#2Spades Eddie Murray
 
1991 Pro Line Portraits (football)
#267 John Riggins (RET) 
 
1991 Pro Set Platinum (football)
#81 Lawrence Taylor
 
1991 Topps Desert Storm (non-sport)
#147 Working Together  
 
1990-91 Pro Set Super Bowl XXV Silver Anniversary (football)
#88 Nick Buoniconti

1990-91 7th Inning Sketch OHL (hockey)
#236 Tony McCabe

1990-91 Bowman (hockey)
#19 Peter Zezel
#127 David Volek
 

1990 Fleer
 
1990 Leaf
#16 Hubie Brooks  

1990 Post Cereal
#22 Pedro Guerrero 
 
 
1990 Upper Deck
#626 Frank Viola

1990 Pro Set - Theme Art (football)
#10 Super Bowl X Pittsburgh Steelers / Dallas Cowboys
 
1990 Score (football)
#436 Chet Brooks (RC)
 
 
1989 Fleer
#299 Roberto Alomar  
 
1989 Topps
#206 Roberto Alomar
#360 Ryne Sandberg
#437 Andy Benes (FRDP, RC)
#573 Jim Abbott (FRDP, RC)
#628 Matt Williams
#764 Robin Ventura (FRDP, RC)
 
 
1988 Topps Toys "R" Us Rookies
#30 Terry Steinbach 
 
1987 Fleer Update
#U-82 Kevin Mitchell
 
 
1986 Topps
#40 Ken Griffey 
 
1986 Fleer
#322 Goose Gossage 
 
1985 Topps
#497 Gary Pettis 
 
1985 Topps (football)
#38 Bill Bates (RC)
#39 Doug Cosbie
 
1984 Donruss

1984 Fleer
 
1984 O-Pee-Chee 
 

1983 Topps Drake's Big Hitters
#14 Dave Kingman
 
1982-85 Galasso Baseball Hobby Card Report T-206 Reprints
 
1982 Dover Publications Reprints National League
#15 Robin Roberts 
 
1982 Fleer
#129 Bruce Sutter
 
1982 Topps
#127 Lonnie Smith
#132 Lee May
#786 Red Sox Leaders (Lansford/Torrez) (TL, CL) 
 
1982 Topps (football) 
 
1981 Donruss  
#157 Steve Henderson
#170 Fred Patek
#180 Rudy Law
#397 Elliott Maddux
#409 Carney Lansford
 
1981 Fleer
#8 Larry Christenson 

1981 Topps
 
1981 Topps Drake's Big Hitters
#16 Cecil Cooper 
 
1981 Topps (football)
#18 Frank Lewis   
 
1980 Topps 
#90 Manny Trillo
 
 
1979 Kellogg's
#59 Ron Jackson (VAR) 

1979 Topps 
 
1979 Topps (football)
#12 Bernard Jackson
#86 Butch Johnson
#252 Robert Newhouse
#315 Preston Pearson
#399 Calvin Hill
 
1978-79 O-Pee-Chee (hockey)

1978-79 Topps (basketball)
#118 Kevin Porter 

1978 Topps  
 
1978 Topps (football)
#41 John Ebersole

1977-78 Topps - Glossy Inserts (Rounded Corners) (hockey)
 
1977-78 Topps - White Backs (basketball)
#78 Richard Washington (RC)
 
1977 Topps
 
1977 Topps (football)
 
1976 Funky Sales Corp Funky Facts Baseball
#2 In A Trance
#3 Fans Vs Players
#5 Baseballeese
 
1976 SSPC
#7 Elias Sosa 

1976 Topps

1976 Topps (football)
#74 Bryant Salter

1975 Topps
 
1974 Topps  
#84 Rick Wise
#99 Brewers Field Leaders (MGR, CO)
#125 Nate Colbert (VAR: San Diego)
#158 Jack Billingham
#158 Jack Billingham  
#217 Tim Foli 
#435 Dave Concepcion
#508 Montreal Expos (TC)
#520 Tim McCarver
#522 J.R. Richard
#534 Eddie Watt
#634 Braves Field Leaders (MGR, CO)
#646 George Foster 
 
1974 Topps - Traded
#43T Jim Wynn
 
1974 Topps (football)

 
1972 Topps  
 
1970 Topps
#3 Darrell Chaney
#287 Fred Talbot   #390 Willie Davis  
 
1969 Globe Imports Playing Cards Gas Station Issue
#8Hearts Jim Wynn
 
1969 Topps
#32 Sammy Ellis
#173 White Sox 1969 Rookie Stars (RC, RS) 
 
1968 Topps

1966 Topps
#46 Howie Koplitz
 
#149 Wayne Schurr

1964 Topps 
 
1963 Topps
#72 Johnny Romano

1962 Topps
1961 Topps
#8 Dick Williams
 
1960 Topps
 
1960 Topps (football)
#28 Jim Ray Smith 

1959 Topps
#75 Sam Jones
 
1958 JCM 30a Doyusha Team Name Back (solid front w/o borders)
 
1958 Topps (football)
#3 Joe Schmidt 

1957 Topps
 
1956 Topps
 
1956 Topps (football)
#42 Tom Fears
#51 Ted Marchibroda
 
1955 Bowman
#145 Bob Nieman (RC)
 
1955 Bowman (football)
#9 Don Stonesifer

1955 Topps All-American (football)
#46 Arnie Lassman
 
1954 Topps
#238 Al Aber

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

1953 Topps
 
1951 Bowman
#147 Ken Heintzelman

1948 Bowman
#10 Buddy Rosar (RC)
#15 Eddie Joost
#15 Eddie Joost

1948 Bowman (football)
#28 Paul Governali (RC) 
 
1939 Wills's Garden Flowers by Richard Sudell (non-sport)
#46 Sweet Sultan 

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 
 
1925 Sports Records (multi-sport)
 
1924 Imperial Tobacco Co. of Canada (ITC) Dogs Series (non-sport)
#4 Otter-Hound

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
 
1910 Champions (T218) (multi-sport)
 
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: 212 (4 pending!)
Unique trading partners: 66

 Number of cards mailed out: 986
Year of oldest card mailed out: 1910-11

Number of cards received: 1,474
Year of oldest card received: 1890
 
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