Card #39: Golden Great

Considering that this card is number 39 it seemed appropriate to show it off today.  I have a few more of these Golden Moments

This insert was from 2012.  Topps produced these to be inserted in Series 1.  The 75 card checklist featured 5 cards of 15 of the greatest ballplayers to put on a pair of cleats.  Besides Clemente, others included Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Nolan Ryan, Derek Jeter, Ty Cobb, Willie Mays, Cal Ripken Jr, Hank Aaron, Tom Seaver, Sandy Koufax, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Albert Pujols, Jackie Robinson.

This particular card discusses two games where Clemente amassed 10 hits.

Card #38: Help Me Piece This Together

Earlier in the month I mentioned that I am trying to put the 1986 Donruss Roberto Clemente puzzle together.  In order to do this I will need two copies of each "puzzle card"

When completed the puzzle will look like this beautiful painting by Dick Perez as seen below.

This card represents all the puzzle pieces inserted in the old wax packs.  The back talks about both Clemente and Perez.

Currently I only have this card which contains 3 puzzle pieces.

I do have the completed mini puzzle which as you can see by comparing to the puzzle card above features different pieces.

I am looking to get two of each "puzzle card" so if you come across any PLEASE send them my way.  I want one copy to put the puzzle together and glue it in a frame.  I want the other copy to put in the Clemente binder.

Any and all help would be appreciated especially since these sometimes end up in dime boxes.

Card #37 : Class of 73

We just watched six new former ball players have their names called for election into the Hall of Fame Class of 2018.  Two were selected by veterans committee last month and four more last week.  It looks to be a very long day for the Class of 2018.

Roberto Clemente was elected to the Class of 1973 following his untimely death earlier that year.  His only classmate was Warren Spahn.

Oddly enough both players wore number 21 in their careers.
The back of the card discusses the impact both these fine men had on the game.

Card #36: The Toys Made Us

I have been watching a lot of Netflix in my down time recently.

One show/documentary that I particularly like is a series called The Toys That Made Us.  It is a four episode web series discussing the origins of hit toy lines and the impact they had on pop culture.  So far Star Wars, Barbie, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, and G.I. Joe have been featured.

Kenner of course not only made Star Wars figures, but in the late 80s went on to produce one of the most collectible lines of sports figures ever produced.

I doubt it would ever happen, but I would love to see one about Starting Lineups.  As a kid I had two small waste basket bins full of Starting Lineups.  I had so many of the stars and nonstars.  I would go to my friend's house and we would pretend to play a game using the figures.

My 1988 Cal Ripken Jr. figures lost both arms trying to hit a nerf ball, keep in mind he was a fielding figure.

I didn't have many of the legends figures as I didn't know much about them.  I remember having a twin pack of Willie Mays and a Willie McCovey.  I also had a Hank Aaron, which I used for my shoebox diorama I had to construct for my book project about a historical figure.  Yup, I chose Hank Aaron as a historical figure to write and present about.  Take that George Washington.

One figure I never had and still don't have is the twin pack of Roberto Clemente with Willie Stargell.

I did however manage to grab the card that came with the figures.

The Starting Lineup cards featured images of the players not usually seen in major releases and your standard offensive statistics on the back.

Card #35: Stroke of Inspiration

Today we look at the painting inspired design of the 2016 Diamond Kings release.

The lack of logos for "old timers" doesn't bother me so much. The card features a sleeveless jersey with a long sleeve undershirt worn by Clemente in their home uniform.  It appears that Clemente is wearing a wristband which I rarely seen him wear in other cardboard.

The back of the card features a neat fact about how Clemente switched to a heavier bat in 1961 which turned him from a career .288 hitter to winning the batting title that season with a .351 average.

Card #34: Welcome To the Hall Vlad

Yesterday it was announced that Vladimir Guerrero would be joining the likes of Ken Griffey Jr, Roberto Clemente,  Joe DiMaggio,  and many others in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The back makes mention not of their offensive abilities, but what they accomplish defensively.

The Hall of Fame class this year will consist of Vlad,  Chipper Jones, Trevor Hoffman, Alan Trammell, Jack Morris, and Jim Thome.   Congrats to the Class of 2018.

Cards #32 & 33: Triple Threads Pairings

I won a small lot of Pirates Triple Threads cards back in September 2017.  In addition to an emerald parallel of Cutch I also got two Roberto Clemente parallels.

The Emerald is numbered 232/250 and the gold is numbered 35/99.

Not only does the back include your standard counting stats (G, AB, R, H, RBI, and AVG) found on many older Topps cards there is also Total Bases, Slugging Percentage, and OPS.

It also has the standard 3 quick notes detailing facts about the player both on the field and off field.