New Project: 1949 Leaf Baseball Set
With an ambitious set collecting project finished and my 1952 Topps project well into the later innings, it is time to explore an even more demanding effort.
Set Collecting
Wally Cards
For a guy who made his debut at 26 and struggled to get full playing time after turning 30, Wally Westlake sure has some interesting baseball cards. How many other players can claim to share their rookie card with Shoeless Joe Jackson?
Even Phillies Fans Can Appreciate This Mets Card
Richie Ashburn was a man of extremes: Excelling in the polar opposites of base hits and putouts.
Legend From the Common Bin
What if there was a player in the 1952 Topps checklist just as scary to face as Carl Hubbell or Bob Gibson?
Donnie Baseball Baseball Cards
We’re two games into the 2025 World Series and the Dodgers and Blue Jays are tied at one game apiece. Coaching for the Jays is Don Mattingly, who is getting his first ever taste of Fall Classic baseball. With the end of series just days away, now is the time to look at my shiny card of “Donnie Baseball.”
Hit It Where They Ain’t
Pick any Don Mueller card at random and you will see one of his two poses: 1) Confident slugger watching a double sail deep into the outfield; or 2) A closely cropped portrait of a guy who was just asked a surprise math question.
Last Refractor Standing
Ah yes, the existential dread of discovering your favorite “modern” baseball cards are increasingly being seen as vintage. Someone should remind the last guy left in the checklist to hit the lights on his way out.
Yeah, But Is He Wearing Shoes?
Move over Shoeless Joe Jackson. The Tigers have their own bare-footed phenom.
The “A” in Ace
Two things are true if you remember opening packs of 1952 Topps. One: You’re getting old as dirt. Two: You were looking for pitchers who won 20 games.
1993 Finest Maddux: From An Early Complete Set To The Most Recent
How one of my most frustrating refractor additions became one of the more fun acquisitions. Also, bring on automated umpires.