Happy Sunday, everyone.
Welcome to a very special frankenset post.
Somewhere in this nine-pocket page is my single favorite card from my beloved frankenset. Let's see if you can guess which one it is.
With that in mind, let's dig into this fantastic frankenset page.
Completion status: 9/9...completed page!
Numbers needed: None.
The card: 1997 Upper Deck #154 Mickey Morandini
Why it made the cut...
Mickey Morandini makes quite a few appearances within this frankenset.
For being a fairly marginal player during his career, he sure received quite a bit of cool cardboard.
This one might be his all-time best. As 1997 Upper Deck's awesome "dating" innovation says, Morandini is seen here making his way to third on what looks to be a wild throw to second from the Pirates catcher.
As if that weren't enough, it even makes note of Nelson Liriano, the unfortunate infielder who is about to be bowled over by the former Phillie.
Combine all that with an epic cloud of dirt and you have one memorable baseball card.
The card: 1992 Bowman #155 Kevin Young
Why it made the cut...
I actually just received this one in a particularly awesome trade package a couple days ago.
Between the oversized bat and the awful suit/jeans combo, I'm not sure what I should focus on more.
The card: 1993 Upper Deck #156 Felix Jose
Why it made the cut...
At the wall!
The legendary 1993 Upper Deck checklist is filled with beauties like these.
The card: 2001 Ultra #157 Aaron Sele
Why it made the cut...
Awwwwwwwwwwwwww!
The little tyke even has Mariners socks on his feet.
The card: 1984 Fleer #158 Roy Lee Jackson
Why it made the cut...
This is it, my friends.
This is my absolute favorite card from my frankenset.
As the frontman of my fictitious "cardboard band", Roy Lee Jackson is the man who inspired me to hunt down cards of ballplayers dabbling into the world of music.
From what I've read, Mr. Jackson was an accomplished singer. He was so good, in fact, that he got to sing the anthem before a Blue Jays contest. (Whether it was "O Canada!" or "The Star Spangled Banner" is yet to be determined.)
The exact date this shot was taken, however, remains a bit of a mystery. From my research, one person argues that it may have been snapped before a Jays-Rangers game in 1982. Without video evidence, though, it's hard to know for sure.
All I can say is that this is the greatest card in my frankenset.
There's no doubt about that.
The card: 1991 Donruss #159 Greg Hibbard
Why it made the cut...
Let's rebound from the greatness of Roy Lee Jackson and take a look at...
1991 Donruss?!?!
Okay, okay. It's true that '91 Donruss is one of the worst sets ever made. I haven't heard many arguments refuting that.
However, I will give the set at least a little credit. It did produce this terrific "throwback" shot of Greg Hibbard, taken before the first-ever "Turn Back the Clock" game in 1990.
Cards like these are all over 1991 checklists.
Even Donruss had to get in on the fun.
The card: 1993 Upper Deck #160 John Burkett
Why it made the cut...
It's a rare combo mini-collection hit!
Upper Deck combined my "throwback" and "autograph" themes with this terrific shot of Mr. Burkett.
Let's not ignore that sweet commemorative patch, either.
The card: 1992 Stadium Club #161 Chris Hoiles
Why it made the cut...
Play at the plate!
It seems like most of my frankenset pages have at least one Stadium Club nominee.
The card: 2011 Topps Chrome #162 Elvis Andrus
Why it made the cut...
Today's special frankenset page ends with a very special "double dip" specimen.
What makes this one so interesting, you ask?
I'm about 99 percent positive it was taken during the 2010 World Series between the Rangers and Giants. That's clearly former Giant Cody Ross sliding in to second.
That said, I can't pinpoint a specific game in which this shot was snapped. There are a couple different possibilities.
Given that Elvis Andrus is sporting a home white uniform, we know it was taken in either Games 3, 4, or 5, which were played at the Ballpark in Arlington.
In the top of the second in Game 3, Ross was nailed at second on a 4-6-3 double play. (The hitter was Pablo Sandoval.)
In the top of the second in Game 4, however, Ross was forced out at second on a ground ball by Travis Ishikawa. There's a chance that Ishikawa may have been safe at first on a failed double play attempt.
I'm inclined to go with Game 3, mostly because I want to believe that this shot was taken during a successful "double dip".
Whatever the case, it's a terrific way to close out this special frankenset page.
2 comments:
Great stuff, all around. Never saw that Jackson card; I definitely can see why you call it your favorite of the project!
Do you have the Dwight Smith Pinnacle card showing him singing the National Anthem? It may rival that Jackson card for you as a Cubs fan.
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