Ten for Tuesday - Best Yankees Cards

Hey everyone, Drew back here! Over the summer, despite my lack of Ten for Tuesday posts, I spent a lot of time coming up with different ideas for future topics of discussion. This post was one I had been eager to write since the idea first came to mind.

This week, we're going to dive into what this blog was originally all about: baseball cards, and more specifically; Yankees baseball cards. I understand the Yankees are a controversial organization that some of you loathe and some of you love, but with their immense history has come a ton of special cards that will one day make me a broke man. I've decided to rank which cards in my opinion are the greatest ever printed featuring a Yankees logo on its cap. This is not necessarily judged solely by dollar value, but it did serve as a good basis to begin my intrapersonal debate (also - no relics, autos, parallels will be seen here).

10 Best Yankees Cards

Honorable Mentions:

1933 Goudey #53 Babe Ruth
1933 Goudey #180 Lou Gehrig (Rookie Card)
1939 Play Ball #26 Joe DiMaggio (Rookie Card)
1952 Bowman #101 Mickey Mantle
1952 Topps #11 Phil Rizzuto
1962 Topps #200 Mickey Mantle
1976 Topps #74T Oscar Gamble
1992 Bowman #302 Mariano Rivera (Rookie Card)

I was extremely motivated to try and get Oscar Gamble and his fabulous afro inside the Top 10, but ultimately it just couldn't be done. With all of the history behind the Yankees organization, Gamble was more known for that card than for his actual on field contributions. Mariano Rivera's 1992 Bowman Rookie card technically doesn't fit the criteria (featuring a Yankee logo) but there's no way I couldn't at least mention the greatest reliever of all time.

The hardest card to keep off was the 1939 Play Ball Joe DiMaggio rookie card. I've always undervalued Joltin' Joe, almost to the point where sometimes I feel like I have something against him. I considered some parts of his legacy to be overrated earlier this year, and I really don't have much of his in my collection. This card didn't make the cut because it was made during a time where cards really didn't seem to matter much; between the earlier 1930's Goudey cards and the late 1940's Bowman cards. If anything, it's card #10B on this list; close, but no cigar.

10 - 1961 Topps #2 Roger Maris

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Don't worry, I'm not trying to say that Roger Maris was a better Yankee than Joe DiMaggio because I put this card ahead of his. If I were to actually mean that, I would encourage you all to click the 'X' button on my blog tab. 

By 1961, baseball cards were becoming a larger part of pop culture alongside a great period for the sport itself. Roger Maris was a good player up until his 1960 MVP season, where he emerged as a superstar power hitter. In 1961, his name was etched into the record books when he smashed 61 Home Runs en route to defeating his teammate Mickey Mantle in one of the best power competitions ever. Not many wished for Maris to beat the beloved Mantle, but the outcome not only awarded Roger his second consecutive MVP but also a place among Yankees immortals forever.

His Topps card spoke highly of his calm, quiet demeanor in a way that they could not replicate again. As many of you know, I have a good chunk of the 1961 Topps set, not because it's an overly impressive design but because of its historical significance. No card encompasses that any more than Roger's. It may be a stretch to some, but I couldn't keep it off of my list.

9 - 1971 Topps #5 Thurman Munson

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For everything that was serene and peaceful about Maris' 1961 card, Thurman Munson's second year card was the exact opposite. The heart and soul of the Yankees 1970's generation was accurately portrayed on this card. Of course, you can't think of the former Captain without thinking about his tragic death in a plane crash which brought George Steinbrenner's crafted championship team to a startling halt. Munson's courage and compassion was an insurmountable loss for the team, and the Yankees would go without winning a World Series from 1978 all the way until 1996.

Once again, the 1971 Topps set simply was a template that gave way to the photo's brilliance. There is nothing overly special about the design, and the All Star Rookie logo is rather intrusive, but the collision and dust in the air put a different spin on a sport not always known for its aggressiveness. Injuries aside, collisions were always an entertaining part of the game and in a way I wish they still were allowed.

8 - 1984 Donruss #248 Don Mattingly (Rookie Card)

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Oh, to be young. The look in a young Don Mattingly's eyes shows that he had the confidence and poise to dominate New York. Who would have guessed the former 19th Round Draft Pick would have not only made his mark on the big leagues in his rookie season but also take home MVP honors the very next year? Mattingly's ascension into the stratosphere of baseball popularity was rapid, but unfortunately back issues caused his fall from grace to come much quicker than anyone wished.

But on the day this photo was taken, he was ready to conquer the Bronx faithful, and although he will likely never make the Hall of Fame, his #23 will always be revered. His Topps rookie card was also notable, but the Donruss card is more sought after and simply more aesthetically pleasing.

7 - 1948 Bowman #6 Yogi Berra (Rookie Card)

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Yogi Berra's name has got to be mentioned in every other one of my blog posts, and for that repetitiveness I am sorry. But, if any player deserves the limelight, it's Berra. Forget his memorable quotes and 10 World Series rings for a minute and just think about him as a player. Catcher just may be baseball's most difficult position, and he not only held his own there but contributed more than most of his fellow teammates offensively. He had excellent plate discipline and was a great source of power for several of the best teams of all time. Like he famously said, "You can observe a lot by watching". Any of his highlights that I've seen merit all of the attention and fame he has gotten, and while I may rank Johnny Bench as a slightly better all around catcher; Yogi is not far behind.

There are several really beautiful cards of the second #8 that could have made this list (1952 Bowman, 1952 Topps in particular), but the final selection was his simple and elegant Rookie Card out of 1948 Bowman.

6 - 1934 Goudey #37 Lou Gehrig

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Which card epitomizes Gehrig better than this 1934 Goudey beauty? Sure, cards were not nearly as coveted back in this generation, but the ones that were made were executed brilliantly. Babe Ruth may be the first name you think of in the Yankees history books, but Lou Gehrig started the "Yankee Way" fans have become synonymous with ever since his early death from ALS. Ruth was a great person by most accounts, but in a loud and boisterous way. Gehrig led by example and was as humble as one could be.

I didn't choose his 1933 Goudey Rookie Card, although it is certainly worthy of being right here in this card's place on the list in terms of value and importance. But there's something so charming and down to Earth about this card (even with a pretty ugly yellow in the background) that I couldn't pass over it.

5 - 1993 Upper Deck SP #279 Derek Jeter (Rookie Card)

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The legend from my generation, Derek Jeter; despite a general trend of overprinting and too many various parallels overpopulating the hobby these days, deserves to be recognized as much as just about anyone else. Beckett states that the most recent Yankee Captain has precisely 15,252 different cards to his name, but if I had to pick any one of them to represent his likeness, I would be hard-pressed to choose anything but his SP Rookie Card. Featured from the foil generation, this card scans horribly but is lustrous and polished when held in your hand. Jeter wasn't exactly a superstar for the reasons most players were during his prime, as he never specialized in power hitting (24 Home Runs was his career high for a single season). But Jeter was a complete player in every sense of the word for a vast majority of his career, until his age detracted from his range and overall defense.

This card may feel and seem far out from the rest of the pack; with more foil than on the rest of the cards combined. But it already belongs for all of the right reasons, and this card could even move up a spot or two twenty or thirty years from now.

4 - 1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle

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When viewing this week's Ten for Tuesday topic, I bet several of you wondered "How many Mickey Mantle cards will be on this one?" Heck, I could have done a Top 10 with just Mantle cards and would have struggled to come to fruition with it. Mantle is a cardboard god not just for his role as a fan favorite and being one of the finest athletes to ever grace the diamond, but for the timing at which his career began. The first official flagship Topps set was released in 1952, and Mantle made his MLB Debut in 1951. Mantle's emergence sparked the first collector rush in the Sports Card Industry, similar to what we see now with Bowman's top prospects and players like Mike Trout and Bryce Harper. Factor in that he was part of a team that won 5 Championships in his first decade manning center field, and you have a Hobby Hero on your hands.

The first Mantle inclusion on this list (there were two of his cards in the Honorable Mention section) is his 1953 Topps card; which in my book is the most visually satisfying Yankees card ever printed. I find three cards to be more important in the grand scheme of things, but if I had the opportunity to choose any of these 10 cards I would have to fight myself not to choose this one. The sketch looks like it came straight out of a Comic Book, and Mantle appears as a larger than life figure. The 1953 Topps design is iconic, and is a true definition of what vintage should be classified as.

3 - 1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle (Rookie Card)

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Just narrowly topping the 1953 Mantle is what is considered his official Rookie Card; his 1951 Bowman. This was the first Mantle card ever printed of what would amount to over 10,000 more in the future. Forget the recent splurge of Mantle we all were given in Topps flagship products (because yes, even Yankee fans like myself found it all a bit excessive), and remember him for classics like this instead. The first few Bowman releases really put an emphasis on simplicity and photography; not letting the design take away from the importance of the player highlighted. The clouds in the air and what appears to be a Spring Training complex in the horizon make Mantle pop out much like in the aforementioned 1953. It feels like he's ready to step outside of the white border and hit a home run in Yankee Stadium tonight.

There is such an aura with Mantle cards that really just can't be surpassed by any sports figure in history. Tell me if you feel it too, because I'm almost certain it's not just a Yankee thing.

2 - 1933 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth

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Babe Ruth doesn't have nearly as many cards as Mantle, but companies made the ones he had during his playing days count. "The Bambino" only played into the 1935 season, and there weren't many cards issued between his famous few Red Sox Rookie Cards and his 1933 Goudey's. But the handful of different cards he had in the Goudey set took on a legacy of their own that has continued since his retirement from the game.

I've heard that the card mentioned in the Honorable Mentions of his from this set; featuring a close up of Ruth swinging with a yellow backdrop, is the most valuable of the lot due to the difficulty of the cards still remaining in tact. This is my favorite of the bunch though, and it's beyond my distaste for the yellow color. When I look at this card, it feels like Ruth never actually existed and was a figment of the baseball fan's imagination. Hell, the man retired 80 years ago, and the game was completely different when he left it than it is now. The stories and myths regarding his career may or may not have actually happened, but it was so long ago that you may as well think they did.

This card also reminds me of "The Sandlot", one of my all time favorite baseball movies. If you haven't seen it, the players use a signed Babe Ruth baseball in their pickup games, much to the confusion of the boy who borrowed the ball from his step-father. It's a classic scene, as most of you know, and was recreated earlier this year by the Yankees (McCann really pulled off a solid Ham Porter). I think of the movie whenever I see this card because it looks like Ruth is playing in someone's back yard far from Yankee Stadium.

"Remember kid, there's heroes and there's legends. Heroes get remembered but legends never die, follow your heart kid, and you'll never go wrong."

1 - 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle

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Did you really think it was going to be anything other than this at the top? Though not Mantle's true Rookie Card, this was practically Topps' Rookie Card. This card helped spiral the company to the upper echelon of the card industry, and is far more than just a piece of cardboard. The 1952 Mantle is a rare find, to say the least. 

An article published on 24/7 Wall St. stated on August 2nd of this year that the card recently sold by Goldin Auctions for $330,000; far more than the card had ever commanded prior. Most commonly sell between $10,000 and $20,000, but the card sold had been graded an 8; in far better condition than most. The card's value has always been higher than any other Mantle somewhat in part to the famous legend that former Topps CEO Sy Berger cut off the circulation of most of the set after dumping hundreds of unopened cases of the product into the Hudson River. I'm currently sitting in my College Library overlooking the Hudson, and thinking of the fortune that lies deep within the water; completely disintegrated, brings a tear to my eye. One day it'll be mine. Hopefully.

As of now, I own 4 of my Top 10 cards, and I have a hard time envisioning owning any of the other 6. I currently have the 1961 Topps Maris, 1993 SP Jeter, 1984 Donruss Mattingly, and the 1971 Topps Munson.

Do you agree or disagree with my rankings? Feel free to get the conversation started in the comments below!

See Ya!

Ten for Tuesday - Most Iconic Sports Photographs

Hey everyone, Drew back here! After a week off from my new series, Ten for Tuesday, I have returned to bring you something a little different than what we've covered thus far. Over the past month and a half, I have created lists of Hall of Famers who may not deserve to be in, the Best Switch Hitters in Baseball, the players with the best signatures in baseball, among others. But this week, we are slightly shifting gears towards what is featured on the front of the baseball cards most of my readers love: the pictures.

It is safe to say through our love for this hobby we also all share a love for photography, because it is one of the main focal points that makes collecting fun. We complain when we see a set that features the same poses in photos; card after card. We like unique, and with that I decided to highlight the ten most Iconic Photographs in Sports History for you all to feast your eyes on.

10 Most Iconic Sports Photographs of All Time

Honorable Mentions - 

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No Kirk Gibson? No Carlton Fisk? Once again, let me remind you that this is my list, and I was on the verge of putting these unforgettable scenes on this list until others surpassed them. Mazeroski set the baseball world ablaze after defeating my all powerful Yankees dynasty in 1960, while Jackie Robinson snuck his foot into home just a few years before past the man in left field who watched Maz's long fly soar over the fence; Yogi Berra (he was out, by the way). Not many were alive to watch the feeble Lou Gehrig deliver one of the most famous speeches in American sports history, but the images we do have of the event showcase just how impactful and sincere "The Iron Horse" was. And to prove that I attempt to be unbiased, the lone moment I had the pleasure of watching first hand did not crack my top ten. Sorry, David Tyree.

10 - Bobby Orr, The Goal, Taken by Ray Lussier, 1970

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If you've followed my writing long enough, you know that I am in no means a hockey connoisseur. I was proud of myself that I managed to watch a majority of the Rangers' Game 7 victory over the Capitals last Wednesday that ended in an overtime victory. But when sorting through all of these iconic sports moments, this picture of hockey legend Bobby Orr stood out. This picture was a personal reminder of how sports truly are kids games performed by adults. Orr is flying through the air like Peter Pan, the boy who famously refused to ever grow up. The photo was taken after he scored a game winning goal that gave his Bruins a Stanley Cup title over the St. Louis Blues. Their opposing defenseman Noel Picard tripped Orr after he scored the goal, which caused him to take flight, however; the photo almost appears as if he didn't need to be tripped to fly. I know I didn't put Carlton Fisk's famous home run on this list, much to many Boston fans' dismay, but I hope I made up for that with this.

9 - Michael Jordan, Winning First Championship, 1991

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There is no sports photo I find more emotionally gripping than this one. Michael Jordan may just be the most dominant athlete in the history of American sports; perhaps worldwide as well. And this Championship series victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in 1991 was his first of 6 titles, and began the first of two three-peats. He was magical throughout the series, and came away with his first of 6 Finals MVP awards. The word that comes to mind every time I see this is dedication, as nobody out worked, out hustled, or out played #23 in his prime. As tears rush down his face, we can see that the journey was most certainly worth striving for. Hint: This may not be the last we see of the greatest to ever grace the court on this list.

8 - Tommie Smith & John Carlos, Black Power Salute, 1968

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The late 1960's were a controversial period of time in American history, as the Civil Rights Movement was becoming ever more impactful nationwide. The fight for African American equal rights extended throughout all facets of culture, including the sports world. During the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, two male African Americans named Tommie Smith and John Carlos placed first and third in the 200 meter race, respectively. But their actual performance was undermined by how they chose to celebrate their achievements. They made a political statement during the Star Spangled Banner while on the winner's podium, raising their fists with black gloves to bring awareness and salute the rise of black power in the country. It was extremely controversial at the time, and will forever go down as one of the biggest political moments in sports history.

7 - US Men's Hockey Team, Miracle on Ice, Taken by Heinz Kluetmeier, 1980

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USA! USA! USA! There is nothing more patriotic than watching an underdog US Men's Hockey team defeat the Soviets in one of the greatest Olympic upsets of all time! If you've never seen the movie based off of this story, I highly recommend it. Sports Illustrated even called the "Miracle on Ice" the greatest sports moment of the 20th century, and if you really think about it, that's quite an accomplishment. The joy expressed in this photo tells the whole story.

6 - Don Larsen & Yogi Berra, World Series Perfect Game, 1956

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Ah, yes, my lone Yankees selection for the list. Baseball has existed for hundreds of years now, and the World Series has since 1903. And there has only been one perfect game thrown in that series, by the hand of relatively unknown hurler Don Larsen. Larsen's name would forever be scratched into Yankees immortality all thanks in part to his heroic performance, and the image of Yogi Berra jumping into his arms following the 27th out is absolutely priceless.

5 - Dwight Clark, Super Bowl Catch, Taken by Walter Iooss Jr., 1981

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Dwight Clark was a pretty good player for a short period of time, but he picked the right time to shine. The only football moment on this list occurred in the 1981 NFC Championship Game when Clark's 49ers took on the Dallas Cowboys; America's Team. Late in the game, the Niners were down 6 points with minimal time left on the clock, and Hall of Famer Joe Montana led the team down the field. An 83 yard drive led the team to the Cowboys' 6 yard line, where Montana would connect with Clark for a touchdown that would forever be known as simply "The Catch" and would send the 49ers to the Super Bowl; which they would win. Epic catches have been made since then (such as David Tyree and Santonio Holmes' in their Super Bowl triumphs), but this was one of the very first clutch moments in the NFL's illustrious history. And with that, Clark's leap lands 5th on our countdown.

4 - Wilt Chamberlain, 100 Points, 1962

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People often try to rank the records that will be most difficult to break. Hell, I could even write about that in the future. Chances are one of the higher ranked records would be all thanks to this legend, Wilt Chamberlain, who on March 2nd, 1962, scored exactly 100 points in a routing against my New York Knicks. Although the moment was not recognized quite like it should have been (his reward was a piece of paper that said "100" on it), but since only one player has come slightly close to his record in over 50 years (Kobe Bryant, 81 points), a mystique has been given to Chamberlain's achievement. Chamberlain averaged 50.3 points per game in the 1961-1962 season, and topped 70 points twice that season, and twice the next. Talk about domination.

3 - Willie Mays, The Catch, Taken by the Associated Press, 1954

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Many will argue that baseball's version of "The Catch" was not even Willie Mays' finest work. Regardless of how anyone may object, Mays' over the shoulder diving grab in deep right field of the Polo Grounds has been the most recognized defensive play in baseball history. This play came in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series between the then New York Giants and the Cleveland Indians. His catch and quick throw kept Larry Doby from scoring what would have been the go ahead run. Overrated or not, Mays' storied career was personified by this image; showing the effort and perseverance he put into every play for 22 years.

2 - Michael Jordan, The Shot II, Taken by Fernando Medina, 1998

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Guess who's back? Back again; MJ's back. Tell a friend. If any of these legendary players deserved multiple spots on this list, Michael Jordan is as deserving as it gets. Jordan made two particularly remarkable shots that have taken simple names "The Shot 1 & 2" in his career playoff performances. The first came in the 5th game of the Bulls' first round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1989, where his buzzer beater seemed to freeze time. The photograph of Jordan leaping in the air from his 44 point performance is another that was seriously considered for the list, but it was his second "Shot" that took home first prize among all of 23's classic memories. Jordan made this shot against the Utah Jazz to win his 6th and final NBA Finals, and it would go on to be his final shot with the Chicago Bulls. I have always loved this picture because it appears that everyone in Utah's crowd was terrified of the inevitable; that Jordan would crush every chance of them winning a title. Sure enough, he did, and they haven't appeared in the Finals since then.

1 - Muhammad Ali, Defeating Sonny Liston, Taken by Neil Leifer, 1965

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In most cases, I am not sure who will take the top spot on any of my lists until I take some time to calculate, arrange, and rearrange all of the possibilities. This list featured an absolute no brainer. Yesterday was the 50th Anniversary of the day this inspiring photo was taken by Neil Leifer in Miami Beach, Florida. Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay) was underestimated the previous year against the ferocious reigning Heavyweight Champion Sonny Liston, and the publicity gained by the fight rivaled our modern day Mayweather-Pacquiao showdown earlier this year. After a six round battle, Ali's moves were too quick for the aging Liston; who failed to answer the bell and was defeated by technical knockout. It was an enormous upset at the time, but Liston wasn't ready to pass the torch just yet. The next year, they were back at it in their second matchup; this time in Lewiston, Maine. This fight was much quicker for the two foes, as Ali made use of a "phantom punch"; knocking Liston onto the floor midway through the first round. This photo above was taken as Ali shouted "Get up and fight, sucka!" at Liston, who rolled in agony and defeat on the ground.

This picture represents exactly who Ali would become: a champion. He may not have been America's hero all throughout his career, but he was always must-see TV. While the two bouts ruined Liston's troubled career, they kickstarted the career of who truly was "The Greatest".

I have often said (to myself, because usually not too many people care) that if I were to own any signed picture (within reason); this would be the one. It is the epiphany of what I love about sports; dominance. I have always been infatuated with larger than life athletes who transcended their individual sports, and Ali became boxing after his career was over. No matter how "undefeated" Floyd Mayweather may be, he would never stand a chance against the man who floated like a butterfly, and stung like a be. This may forever sit atop my wish list, but as long as I continue to get the satisfaction it provides me now, I'll be okay with that.

Happy 50th Anniversary to a moment in sports we will never forget. And hats off to the rest of the moments that have created amazing fans worldwide; on this list, just short, or even just the slightest imprint of talent that may have popped off the screen one day. 

See Ya!

2013 HOF Induction Ceremony Recap!

Hey guys, Drew back here. And yeah, we were in that. This year's Induction Ceremony was already planning on being a gloomy day for baseball, as three long dead inductees were being brought in by the Veterans Committee. It didn't help that the weather didn't even want to cooperate. There was a rain delay (fitting) for over an hour at the ceremony, and we were all forced to duck under various tents located around the area. We left our chairs and blanket out in the middle of it all, so by the time the rain stopped, we had no choice but to stand. Had we been standing a couple yards to our left, we could've been yelled at by a guy sitting nearby. At one point the guy became so frustrated with the man standing in front of him that he got up in the other guy's face, only to be pulled back by his son. What people do to see Deacon White get inducted into Cooperstown...

William and I, while appreciating the impact that Deacon White, Jacob Ruppert, and Hank O'Day made on the game we love today, came to see the returning members of the Hall of Fame. Not too many of them showed up, however it wasn't a complete wash in any way. Rollie Fingers and Rod Carew were two of the first players announced, both of whom are usually expected to be there. You can't have a Hall of Fame extravaganza without the handlebar moustache!

One of the marquee players of the pack was undoubtedly Sandy Koufax, the legendary lefty of the Dodgers! Sandy seems to love coming up for the induction every year, although he generally prefers to keep out of the public spotlight. It was great to see him though, and he really looked great for his age.

Rickey definitely won the "Best Dressed" award this year, as he seemed to find a way to look good wherever he ended up. You can also see in this picture how hard it was raining, and this was after the actual rain delay.

Frank Robinson also left his mark on the stage that day, and it was great to get to see him again. Hopefully one day I'll get a chance to meet him and add an autograph of his to my signed baseball collection!

I put my camera away for a while until the weather cleared up because I didn't want to risk my mom's high end camera being wrecked. I snapped a few pictures later on of both sides of the stage, and every time I looked at the left side of the podium, Ralph Kiner seemed to look.. well.. asleep. I give the man tons of props for being there, so he could sleep all he wanted. After all, listening to relatives of obscure Hall of Famers can be a little taxing, as all of our group realized.

The ceremony itself lacked a little bit in terms of speeches, but I think that was the goal of the Hall of Fame in this controversial year. However, they finally got some spare time to pay tribute to the players inducted into the Hall between 1939 and 1945, who never received a formal induction due to the US involvement in World War II. Twelve players were inducted in that timespan, therefore 12 current members of the Hall read off each of their individual plaques. The biggest names of the 12 were legendary second baseman Rogers Hornsby along with "The Iron Horse", Lou Gehrig. Who better to have read their plaques than perhaps the greatest living second baseman, Joe Morgan; to read Hornsby's plaque, and "The Iron Man", Cal Ripken Jr.; to read Gehrig's? Here is Cal reading off of Gehrig's plaque, courtesy of my video camera!

While the day was muggy, the ceremony proved to be one of the bigger statements the Hall has ever made. There were many references to "playing the game the right way", which all seemed to be jabs at the Biogenesis/PED/Steroid era. I'm hoping that next year the Hall will add many players, including the ballot's first timers Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Frank Thomas, and managers Bobby Cox, Joe Torre, and Tony LaRussa. I'm not sure if I'll be there again, but I'll be watching it on TV without a doubt.

See Ya!

Christmas Gift from William! Woah!

Hey guys, Drew back here. So, as you saw in the last post, William already did a good enough job helping my dad out with those 2 awesome pickups, in the Jackson auto and the quad Yankee relic, but he couldn't hold back in wanting to do more for me! So he sent me a bunch of loose Yankees mixed cards, along with one huge Christmas gift. And when I say huge, I mean huge! Take a look at some of the stuff he's sent me lately:

These actually came in a package he sent me before the Christmas gift, but I never got around to post them. Pathetic, right? Yeah, believe me, I know. I love adding any new Mattingly cards to my collection, and I needed all of the cards on the bottom row because I've been far too lazy to go out and buy any Bowman Chrome and Topps Lineage. 

Also, he sent me a few nice Cano cards I didn't have yet. Each card is chrome: his 2011 Bowman Chrome; 2011 Topps Finest base cards; and his 2011 Topps Chrome refractor parallel! All 3 cards are very nicely designed, but still they don't seem to have the kind of pop that cards had for me a few years ago. This card sure did though...

I don't even know where to start on this one! This dual bat card is just insanely incredible! From the set I'm attempting to put together, William got me the Lou Gehrig card out of the set! LOU GEHRIG! Not only is this a huge set wantlist helper, but man this is something I've always wanted to add to my collection! Gehrig is one of my favorite old Yankee players even though he was often overshadowed by Babe Ruth. It's hard for anyone to argue; however; who the best 1st baseman of all time is, and it's clearly the man on the card right above this paragraph.

Dude. You didn't have to do this. This is way too much! Thank you so much William! You're as classy as it gets and it's hard to find better friends than you out there. When I one day finish this set off, I'm going to think of you for the big help you gave me in the process of the set. It means a lot.

See Ya!

Ruth and Gehrig Autographed Photo... What did JSA Say About My Prized Piece?

Hey guys, Drew back here. For good reason, I almost completely forgot about posting about this. Back in March when I went to the White Plains card show, I took a huge piece with me. At the shows they hold there, many authentication companies are always present, to be exact: James Spence Authentication (JSA), Global Authentics, and Autograph Certification Experts (ACE), as well as a few grading services such as Beckett. It's safe to say that they certainly are on top of things in terms of authentication.

So, back a couple of months ago, my Pop Popps bought me an awesome gift of two frames featuring all sorts of autographs, of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Honus Wagner, as well as tickets from all throughout the early 20th century. He got them for less than $500, and we thought it is a steal of a lifetime. Here are a few pics to refresh your memory:

From the very start I had suspicions of whether the autographs were real. Two of the autographs were on vintage Goudey cards, and while they looked authentic, from my prior card knowledge, I knew that the Goudey cards were much bigger than the actual original size. Reprints weren't around back then, so there's no way that Ruth and Gehrig could have signed them.

But the pictures above show one particular picture, of Ruth and Gehrig posing together during their barnstorming league. On the back of the photo, it states that the photo is a copy of the autographs, but Ruth and Gehrig supposedly signed the copy to make the photo more authentic. Judging by the 2 autographs of each player on the photo, that could have possibly made some sense.

Anyway, I took the large framed photo with me to the last show, and at about noon, I brought it to the "kind" folks at JSA for them to take a look. I got an immediate response... and it wasn't so pretty. His response was "Here's my free advice, rather than you having to pay me $200 for me to tell you it's fake, its fake." Some kind of guy, gee, thanks for not having me pay $200. I tried asking him why it's not real, and showed him the back of the frame, but he wouldn't budge. Another guy was in line, so he shooed me away and pretty much ruined my day.

So, apparently, it's fake, and I'll take that, because of my prior suspicions of other parts of the frames. But the way he went about telling it really killed me. I came up exclaiming about how I love this great piece that my grandpa gave me, blah, blah, blah, and he responded with a pretty much "Get lost kid, it's not real."

But I still have my questions about it. First, what would you do with it if you were in my shoes? I personally might still hang both of the photos up in my room, even though I assume all of the items were reprints, because it looks pretty sweet nonetheless. Also, do you guys have any idea as to why this item is a fake? I have my reasons, but still, I doubt the item would be forged because the owner seemed to be a very good man.

Alright everyone, See Ya.

The Godzilla of Baseball Cards Has Been Pulled!

Hey guys, Drew back here. A few months ago when 2010 Topps Tribute was first released, a collector in Missouri pulled one of the best redemptions imaginable. He recently received the 1/1 card, and since he is not a Yankees fan, he decided to put it up for sale. Beckett Select Auctions took over the auction for him to ensure security and trust in the buyer's mind. Well enough about the pull, take a look at this card!

Yes, that would be ONE card! This booklet cut autograph features 9 autographs, of the entire 1927 Yankees team lineup! So this means, that there are autographs of Yankee legends Earle Combs, Tony Lazzeri, Bob Meusel, Waite Hoyt, and oh, I forgot, Babe Ruth, and Lou Gehrig! No modern day card can top this baby, as I'm sure that it is the best card of 2010, and maybe of the 21st century!

The opening bid for the card is $20,000, so if you have thousands of dollars just sitting around, you may be able to own one of the most valuable cards ever produced! I would expect the card to sell for close to $50,000, as Ruth/Gehrig dual cuts have sold for about $15,000 alone. Throw in 7 other greats, and make a beautiful 1/1 booklet card and this thing will be one of the highest selling modern day cards.

A huge congrats to the person that pulled the card, I am EXTREMELY jealous! Here is the link to the auction, which started last night, and will end by around the 23rd.

See Ya!

eBay Pickup from foul bunt!

Hey guys, Drew back here. Just a quick little eBay post, William had some cards on the bay and I decided to help out, and made out well. As most of you, we're good buddies, and I try to help him out whenever he needs it, so here's what I bought:

First off, he included these for no cost, that he got at his card shop! Awesome! Only complaint is Topps, please never use that Gehrig picture again. NEVER. It seriously looks like he's taking a kick to the crotch! Anyways, the Munson and Mantles look great though.

I got these four for about $5, some 2010 Tribute cards! I love 2010 Tribute, and these are my first cards from it, and as you know, I loved 2009 Tribute. Examples: 1, 2, 3, 4. Well, anyway, that Gehrig is by far my favorite card of his I've ever seen, it's beautiful. The Ruth is up there on his list too, love the new shot, but I know I'll hate it by next year when Topps uses it for every single product he's in because people LIKEd the picture. The other two are masterpieces too, unbelievable, never seen anything like it! (tv reference)

And this was the main reason I had to help him out. This is my first Rizzuto relic card, a piece of bat, or wait, is it a Stadium seat? We may never know. If it is a bat, it sure is a great looking card, numbered to 99.

Overall, well, I like this year's set, but I might like the design of the hits from last year better than 2010, even though both would easily beat a Peak Performance jersey, or some of the other uglier designs of relics these days.

Thanks so much William for the great cards, I'm glad I can help! See Ya!

A Look at the Yankees Museum

Hey guys, Drew back here, after going to the Yankees game yesterday, I am pretty darn tired. My dad and I had a great time, minus the whole Pettitte injury thing, which completely sucked. I took 340 pictures and took 5 videos. Some may call me crazy :). I just decided this will a two part series, one for the museum and one for the game, and maybe one more for the videos. I have A LOT TO SHARE!

After we got off the train and entered the stadium, we immediately went to the Yankees Museum, which we learned not only had Yankees but also had some of the other original NY team's memorabilia (Giants, Mets, Dodgers). They had all sorts of cool stuff, including a huge wall full of autographed baseballs, a good majority of everyone that played for the Yankees. Here's a few cool pictures from the museum:

Babe Ruth's Jersey, Hat, and Bats!


Babe Ruth 1933 Goudey!


Jackie Robinson Jersey and Hat


Willie Mays Autographed Bat


Don Larsen's Perfect Game Ball


2000 World Series Jeter/O'Neill/Piazza Jerseys


Some Early Lou Gehrig Cards


2009 World Series Trophy!


2009 World Series Ring!


Home Plate signed by entire 2009 Team!


Thurman Munson's Locker

And a few of the autographed baseballs:


BABE RUTH!


LOU GEHRIG


JOE DIMAGGIO


MICKEY MANTLE


YOGI BERRA


THURMAN MUNSON


REGGIE JACKSON


GEORGE STEINBRENNER


DEREK JETER!


ALEX RODRIGUEZ


ROBINSON CANO


NICK SWISHER

The wall was no doubt the coolest part of the museum, seeing so many Yankees autographed baseballs by so many different players.

This is probably around one fifth of the entire wall. It was a fun museum, and it was a good way to mix it up from the usual Monument Park trip. I'll be back with more sometime tomorrow, some of the pictures from the game. See Ya!