Inspiration for a new player collection

I've always liked Ryan Dempster.

I never really heard much about him before he became a Cub, though. Since he's come to Chicago, I've found out just how much of a prankster he is. But when it gets down to it, he's a fierce competitor as well, and a pretty darn good pitcher.

He pulled a "Smoltz" and went from starting pitcher, to closer, and then back to starter during the course of his career.

But I never really committed to getting any of his cards.

After getting back from school today, I plopped myself down on the couch and turned on the MLB Network, as I always do.

The first thing I saw was what appeared to be an interview between Dempster and former teammate Kevin Millar.

However, the interview wasn't about Dempster. It was about his daughter.

I'd heard rumblings of a near-fatal disease that Dempster's daughter had during the course of the 2011 season, but I didn't really look into the story a whole lot.

The interview, however, really opened my eyes. Dempster's daughter, Riley, made a miraculous recovery and is now two-and-a-half years old. All after not being able to properly breathe or eat food at all in her early years and needing 24-hour nurse care every day.

I never knew that the affliction was that serious or how deeply it affected Ryan Dempster. Him and his wife have also started a foundation dedicated to raising awareness of DiGeroge syndrome, which is what Riley was suffering from.

The interview inspired me to start a new player collection, dedicated to Ryan Dempster (and his daughter).

The five cards in this post are the only five cards of Dempster I own.

I need all other base or inserts if you've got any extras lying around (no GU or Autos, please). Please feel free to shoot me an email with what you'd need in return if you've got any extras for me.

It's been a while since I've started a new mini-player collection. Ryan Dempster is more than worthy of a spot in my binders, though.

I just don't know what took me so long.