When I started these frankenset posts, I was hoping to reveal a page per week.
For the past couple months, I've been severely slacking on that pace. Other post ideas and just life in general have been getting in the way.
As of right now, though, I hope to return to my original once-a-week pace for these frankenset posts. I love writing them, and I hope my readers enjoy reading them.
Tonight, we'll be kicking off a long, long streak of completed pages.
Completion status: 9/9...completed page!
Numbers needed: None.
The card: 1998 Upper Deck #82 Jamey Wright
Why it made the cut...
Pitcher at the plate!
As is usually the case whenever one of these come up, I couldn't help but take a peek at Wright's career hitting stats.
I was shocked to find out that the former Rockie hurler was still in the big leagues as of 2013. He pitched in 66 games for the Rays this year.
Since he hasn't been a consistent starter since 2007, though, Wright hasn't had all that many chances to hit lately. For the few who probably care, he's a .131 career hitter.
His lone home run came in 1998, the very year this frankenset gem hit the streets.
The card: 1995 Pinnacle #83 Milt Thompson
Why it made the cut...
This, my friends, is one of my personal favorite cards in this entire frankenset.
Pinnacle was always prone to featuring unique and downright strange photos, but this is one of the craziest pieces in the brand's history.
In what marks the only beach ball appearance I've ever seen in this hobby, Milt Thompson is pictured here disposing of one of those darn things, probably the result of an overzealous fan knocking it onto the field of play.
If you're simply a fan of odd cardboard, this is the perfect card for you.
The card: 2013 Bowman Prospects #BP-84 Luis Sardinas
Why it made the cut...
Double dip!
Mr. Sardinas is probably one of the most obscure players in my frankenset as we speak.
The card: 1991 Score #85 Dan Pasqua
Why it made the cut...
Score absolutely went to town with those White Sox throwbacks in their '91 checklist.
Almost all of the South Siders I've seen from this particular set are featured in throwback gear.
As I've mentioned before, each and every single one of these shots are from the first "Turn Back the Clock" contest in baseball history.
Now that's cool.
The card: 1982 Fleer #86 Shooty Babitt
Why it made cut...
Seriously, how could a card of a guy named Shooty Babitt not make this frankenset?
For reasons that are probably lost to history, former infielder Mack Neal Babitt was nicknamed "Shooty" by the time he reached the bigs.
During 54 games in 1981, his rookie season, he hit .256 for the A's. Those numbers were good enough for fifth in AL Rookie of the Year voting that year.
Those would be the only big league games he'd ever play.
In what looks to be a post-game "interview" shot (as evidenced by the little clip-on mic on his jersey), this would be the final card for the man they called "Shooty". (I found it during a rather unexpected dime box dig last year.)
Despite the dog-eat-dog nature of this little project, I doubt it'll ever get knocked out of my frankenset.
The card: 1993 Upper Deck Fun Pack #87 Brett Butler
Why it made the cut...
A fairly new frankenset inductee, I recently featured "big bat" Butler as part of a few grab bags I picked up from a local flea market.
In fact, it was at the very same flea market where I'd unearthed Mr. Babitt the year prior.
In a strange twist of fate, they're now frankenset neighbors.
The card: 1993 Upper Deck #88 Mark Lewis
Why it made the cut...
I'm a big fan of cards that feature those big buckets of baseballs.
As I'm just noticing now, this one has a rather strategic product placement on the part of Upper Deck.
The card: 1994 Stadium Club #89 Jose Vizcaino
Why it made the cut...
I can't resist cards that feature such a beautiful Wrigley Field backdrop.
Stadium Club hit yet another home run with Mr. Vizcaino here.
The card: 2012 Topps #90 Adron Chambers
Why it made the cut...
As far as cardboard goes, Adron Chambers is probably best remembered for appearing on five different "Rookie Stars" cards in last year's Heritage.
Why Topps went all Chambers-crazy there, I'll never know. I doubt any of us will.
Still, what might have been overshadowed by all that wackiness was the fact that Chambers received a stunningly beautiful card in Topps's Flagship release last year.
While I'd known about it for a long time, I didn't get around to picking up a copy until earlier this year. I'm still not quite sure how that happened.
All I know is that I'm happy he's a part of this page.
Not having a card this great in my frankenset would've been downright crazy.
2 comments:
Shooty Babitt and Bip Roberts do pre and post game analysis for the A's games out here. I'd be willing to bet that's the best pair of first names for a team of analysts anywhere!
Nick, shame on you, you had to go and entice me to check out just commons. My first order was $30, should be here tomorrow, and I've already put another $30.00 in my cart for my next order. Thanks for bragging, LOL. I closed up a huge gap in my Braves mini Collections.
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