Only four left-handed pitchers have won 300 or more games in major league history. Steve Carlton is No. 2 overall with 329 victories, trailing only Warren Spahn’s 363. No wonder Carlton was called “Lefty.” On Dec. 22, the wily southpaw celebrates his 78th birthday. Carlton is in the mix when naming the top southpaws of the post-World War II era, along with Spahn, Sandy … [Read more...] about Lefty At 78: A Look Back At Steve Carlton’s Career Through Baseball Cards
1980s baseball cards
Cal Ripken Jr. Was King In 1982 Topps Traded Set
It may seem odd to classify a baseball card set from the 1980s as vintage, but the 1982 Topps Traded/Update certainly fits the bill. The set is notable for the first Topps solo card of Cal Ripken Jr., but other features made it different. But vintage? Consider this: Only five players on this year’s major league rosters on Opening Day in 2022 were born before 1982. … [Read more...] about Cal Ripken Jr. Was King In 1982 Topps Traded Set
1982 Donruss Set Featured Ripken RC, Legal Intrigue… And a Puzzle
It’s hard to believe that the 1982 Donruss baseball card set is now 40 years old. Many collectors draw the line of demarcation between “vintage” and “modern” sets as 1981, when Donruss and Fleer issued their first sets in competition with longtime baseball card manufacturer Topps. Donruss’ 1981 set was not impressive, with 605 cards that had 30 variations or errors. The … [Read more...] about 1982 Donruss Set Featured Ripken RC, Legal Intrigue… And a Puzzle
1982 Topps Baseball Set Marked Start of 792-Card Era
One could say that 1982 was a watershed year for Topps. The company had ruled the roost in baseball cards for more than two decades, but the emergence of sets in 1981 by Donruss and Fleer called for some bold moves. So in 1982, Topps produced the largest baseball card set to date, at 792 cards, up from 726. That effectively ended the need for double-printed cards. In … [Read more...] about 1982 Topps Baseball Set Marked Start of 792-Card Era
1986 Mets Documentary Gets a Baseball Card Set
The new ESPN documentary on the 1986 New York Mets is coming with a set of baseball cards. Topps unveiled a 40-card set in conjunction with Tuesday night’s premiere of “Once Upon a Time in Queens.” The four-part set is being offered via an online exclusive, with each ten card grouping associated with one of the four parts of the show. The cards were not … [Read more...] about 1986 Mets Documentary Gets a Baseball Card Set
Card Back Q&A: Rob Ducey Talks Playing Softball, High School Wrestling and Beauty Pageant Wife
Toronto, Ontario born Rob Ducey played for six clubs during a 13-year career in the major leagues and even had a stint in Japan. The former outfielder holds the distinction of being the first Canadian born player to play for both MLB teams in Canada (Expos and Blue Jays) and also represent Canada in the Olympic Games. He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame … [Read more...] about Card Back Q&A: Rob Ducey Talks Playing Softball, High School Wrestling and Beauty Pageant Wife
8 Great 1980 Topps Baseball Cards Beyond Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henderson’s 1980 rookie card is a thing of beauty, no doubt. Displaying Henderson trademark crouched batting stance, it’d be a nice card even if it wasn’t extremely valuable. High-grade versions of the future Hall of Famer and Oakland Athletic great’s 1980 Topps card cost way more than you’ll pay for a typical complete set. Rickey’s rookie is the first card you … [Read more...] about 8 Great 1980 Topps Baseball Cards Beyond Rickey Henderson
Unwrapping Barry Bonds Rookie Card Populations as Action Picks Up
Like the man himself they've been a pariah. Born in an era of cardboard excess, most Barry Bonds rookie cards have never been worth much. Every card show and hobby shop always had at least a few, maybe a dozen, maybe hundreds, stuck in a box. Your run of the mill Bonds rookie card still isn't worth much; gaudy statistics don't matter when you're talking … [Read more...] about Unwrapping Barry Bonds Rookie Card Populations as Action Picks Up
ESPN on The Mystery of Mattingly’s 1987 Topps Birth Date
Look at the back of Don Mattingly’s baseball cards and you’ll see his birthdate listed as 4/20/61. Well, on every baseball card except his 1987 Topps #500, that is. Collectors who opened packs that year even saw a line in Mattingly’s bio stating that Mattingly’s birth certificate actually indicated his birthday was in 1962, not ’61. The following year and … [Read more...] about ESPN on The Mystery of Mattingly’s 1987 Topps Birth Date
Greg Maddux Rookie Cards Remain Mostly Plentiful, Affordable
He was so great he doesn't really deserve to have his cardboard debut on the fringes of the junk wax era but the upside is that collectors can own high-end copies of Greg Maddux rookie cards without much of an investment. Heralded as one of the best pitchers of any generation, Greg Maddux rookie cards remain incredibly affordable due to large production … [Read more...] about Greg Maddux Rookie Cards Remain Mostly Plentiful, Affordable