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What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

metsguyinmichigan Nov 14 2010 04:47 PM

Working on a fun blog post and was curious about the thoughts of the dedicated folks here. Topps is asking people to vote on the company's top 60 cards of all time. [url]http://vote.topps.com/ It's a flawed vote because the company picks 100 cards to choose from, and only five of them are Mets, which means they got about 95 of the wrong cards on there. There's even a bunch of Yankees in there -- and Jeter cards, too! As if. Naturally I'm correcting this oversight with a list of my own, picking the top 60 Mets cards of all time. I've got my favorites, like the 1972 Seaver, the 1970 team card, the 1985 Mookie. Which are your favorites? It has to be Topps, but I'm picking from any Topps set --a couple Heritage and Stadium Club cards are in there --and no inserts. Thanks!!!

Benjamin Grimm Nov 14 2010 05:01 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I just looked through my Mets cards (I only went as far as 1973; there's no way my favorite card would come from any year other than 1971, 1972, or 1973.) and the one that was most evocative for me, for whatever reason, was the 1971 Donn Clendenon. I also liked the 1971 Ken Singleton and the 1973 Willie Mays. That assortment offered by Topps doesn't include much from those years (just one card!) but they came pretty close to featuring my all-time favorite card. I like the 1972 Roberto Clemente better than any card ever, and Topps included the 1973 Clemente card.

Edgy DC Nov 14 2010 05:03 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

The poll is filled with a bunch of rookie cards --- fueling the market fever but not appreciation for the true beauty of the cards. First one to pop to mind is this classick:

metsguyinmichigan Nov 14 2010 05:04 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

That Clemente card is beautiful. Almost sad, too, with his head down. I like the Millan, too!

Benjamin Grimm Nov 14 2010 05:31 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

metsguyinmichigan Nov 14 2010 05:36 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

One thing all of those cards have in common? All the photos taken at Shea!

Ashie62 Nov 14 2010 06:24 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

All 1967 Topps Mets. Brilliant coloring and design. The 1965's run a close second.

Methead Nov 14 2010 06:38 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I really like the '71 Nolan Ryan but I'm not really sure why. I like the design of the 1971 set in general.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 14 2010 06:42 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Seaver and Matlack 74s with the horizontal pictures. Also, all of the World Series highlight cards from that year. Each one is a great action shot! Seaver's "75 record breaker" card where he's wearing the road uni facing the Phillies. I'm fuzzy on this one, but was it the 76 or 77 Koosman with a tight action shot? Ed Kranepool in Action! 1972

Edgy DC Nov 14 2010 07:10 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Ths set stunk with the generic cap logo and all, but there's something about the stinkiness that has always made this card stick with me. The small photos and the lighting just say, "Future stars... or future felons?" Maybe there's just something about appearing on a "Future Stars" card that makes an athlete look suspect --- like even he's doubting the crediibility of the "star" claim. I guess it could be that the shots are taken at a spring training camp where the player is in the midst of an uphill climb to even make the roster. Like the photographer is saying, "Raise your chin, like you're the best player out there." And you're thinking, "I don't even know if I belong out there. I'm not sure I belong in baseball."

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 14 2010 07:32 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Randle '78. Mitchell '87. The sliding ones are just plain fun.

metsguyinmichigan Nov 14 2010 07:35 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Good picks, guys! Here's where I'm starting, with explanations on the blog. [url]http://metsguyinmichigan.blogspot.com/2010/11/picking-topps-top-60-part-1.htmlAnd remember, we're staring at from the bottom. No. 60, 1962 Ed Bouchee No. 59, 1979 Nino Espinosa No. 58, 2005 Mike Cameron No. 57, 1965 Warren Spahn No. 56, 1965 Yogi Berra No. 55, 2005 Bazooka Matt Lindstrom No. 54, 2007 Opening Day Orlando Hernandez No. 53, 1999 Stadium Club Rey Ordonez No. 52, 1966 Choo Choo Coleman No. 51, 1988 Big Gary Carter

G-Fafif Nov 14 2010 09:55 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

1) Willie Mays, 1973, here. 1A) Tom Seaver, 1972, here, the search for which is recalled here. There are a hundred others if left to think about, I suppose, but those two have loomed large in my consciousness for-almost-ever. Honorable Mention: Team Card, 1970, because it's the first card I remember plucking from a pack of any size. And because it's the 1969 World Champions. For sale by somebody here. Can't wait for your series to unfold!

Willets Point Nov 15 2010 12:18 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card? Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Nov 15 2010 08:34 AM

Jose Oquendo of course. Or at least the people at Topps who slipped one of his cards into every waxpack I ever bought thought so.

Edgy DC Nov 15 2010 06:02 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I thought Bruce Berenyi was your hobgoblin. We all had 'em. The card that made you say, "Yay, I have a Met! ... and he's the same sucky sucky Met I got last pack."

Willets Point Nov 15 2010 07:32 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Edgy DC wrote: I thought Bruce Berenyi was your hobgoblin. We all had 'em. The card that made you say, "Yay, I have a Met! ... and he's the same sucky sucky Met I got last pack." Damn you have a good memory. You're right. I think I got more Berenyis than Oquendos.

RealityChuck Nov 15 2010 07:55 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

This one, of course.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 15 2010 09:32 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Not necessarily one of my all-time faves, but one of my faves from the recent crop -- Ramon Castro, 2008 Topps Heritage (1959 style Topps). A whimsical shot of one of the most whimsical Mets ... the apple red cheeks ... the ridiculous grip on his bat, only good for bashing Jerry Manuel over the head should he ever again call Cancel in from the bullpen to pinch-hit

Frayed Knot Nov 15 2010 10:09 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Separated at the feeding trough? The Warren Spahn one would look better without the bird crap on his head. Bad time to take off his hat. You'd think the photographer would notice something like that and simply take a new one.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 15 2010 10:15 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

me Willets Point wrote: Edgy DC wrote: I thought Bruce Berenyi was your hobgoblin. We all had 'em. The card that made you say, "Yay, I have a Met! ... and he's the same sucky sucky Met I got last pack." Damn you have a good memory. You're right. I think I got more Berenyis than Oquendos. Me? I got Sisked more than I cared to. Oh, did I get Sisked. (Also, Keith Millered, but that I didn't mind so much.) A not-so-recent fave-- the '73 Duffy, in which the photographer seems to have caught him in mid-... um... bathroom-constitutional.

Centerfield Nov 15 2010 10:26 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

My favorite Mets card of all time is 1984 Darryl Strawberry. In fact, during a period of my youth, it may not have just been my favorite card, but my favorite thing. Ever. Other favorites: Picked up this after I got somewhat serious about card collecting. Bad investment, cool card. I liked it because it was his rookie card, but it's a pretty ugly picture. Much cooler Gooden cards: Other Favorites: This is one from my Dad: In every pack I ever bought:

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 15 2010 10:38 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I think I was blocking out Paciorek. Yeah, I must have had 12-13 Pacioreks and 10 Sisks in '87.

HahnSolo Nov 15 2010 10:41 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Am I the only one thinks the guy on the left of the Carter card does not look like Gary?

seawolf17 Nov 15 2010 11:00 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Am I the only one thinks the guy on the left of the Carter card does not look like Gary? Yeah, that's not him. This year's Reyes:

metsguyinmichigan Nov 15 2010 11:09 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

The 1977 Seaver and the 10 Reyes are among those I've got pegged for the top 10! As for the Spahn, that's less a matter of bird poop and more a problem with me being able to afford mint cards from the 1960s..... Here's one I've forgotten about that I really like: And this Thompson: Topps, when it really wants to, can create some spectacular cards. But going through my binders, Upper Deck really kicked Topps' butt throughout the 1990s. This is cardboard perfection:

Edgy DC Nov 15 2010 11:26 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

If that's not Carter, who is it? He seems to have Sasser's jaw, but I don't think it's him either. Faces can be tough at some angles. I think that card of Dykstra above looks more like Elster, but he's got Lenny's number. Warming up a pitcher between innings without gear on and his hat pointed forward --- that would seem to indicate a third-string catcher (Sasser) or a backup infielder, and he looks to bulky to be the latter.

HahnSolo Nov 15 2010 11:47 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Ronn Reynolds maybe? Longish, dark hair. Both Kid and Reynolds wore Nike spikes in the photos I could find, so that doesn't offer any clues.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 15 2010 11:51 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

He looks like a pitcher. Maybe it's Bruce Berenyi or something. The lack of catching gear suggests it's not Carter as much as anything.

seawolf17 Nov 15 2010 12:03 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I'm a sucker for anything to do with the 1983 set. This is one of my all-time favorite cards.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 15 2010 12:14 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

While the card design's no great shakes, I like this Keith photo a little better... looks like he's taking aim.

Centerfield Nov 15 2010 12:28 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Edgy DC wrote: If that's not Carter, who is it? He seems to have Sasser's jaw, but I don't think it's him either. Faces can be tough at some angles. I think that card of Dykstra above looks more like Elster, but he's got Lenny's number. Warming up a pitcher between innings without gear on and his hat pointed forward --- that would seem to indicate a third-string catcher (Sasser) or a backup infielder, and he looks to bulky to be the latter. It looks like Sasser to me.

Centerfield Nov 15 2010 12:31 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Hat pointed forward, no catching gear? That's Mackey's MO.

Edgy DC Nov 15 2010 12:42 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I agree there. A lot of backups will come out to warm somebody up with no gear on if the catcher in the lineup was on the bases when the last out was made or made it himself (which Carter was doing a lot by 1988). I would think that, by that time, if Carter was sitting, Johnson wouldn't want him doing the auxiliary warmups.

HahnSolo Nov 15 2010 12:46 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Player on Carter card: wearing Nike. Sasser on his own card: wearing Pony. (Which proves nothing of course)

metsguyinmichigan Nov 15 2010 01:24 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

If anyone is curious about the 2011 Topps design.... [url]http://magazine-exchange.com/product_downloads/pdf/2011ToppsBaseballSeries1SellSheet.pdf

G-Fafif Nov 15 2010 02:53 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

metsguyinmichigan wrote: If anyone is curious about the 2011 Topps design.... [url]http://magazine-exchange.com/product_downloads/pdf/2011ToppsBaseballSeries1SellSheet.pdf Very nice. I thought 2010 was one of the best Topps had done in ages. Loved coming up the JRR escalator and seeing the starting lineup posted cardways, including Ike Davis as No. 78 from St. Lucie.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 15 2010 03:05 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

That's Gary Carter squatting on the left side of his 1988 Topps Big card. No doubt about it.

HahnSolo Nov 15 2010 03:09 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

batmagadanleadoff wrote: That's Gary Carter squatting on the left side of his 1988 Topps Big card. No doubt about it. I have a doubt. I don't think it looks at all like Gary Carter.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 15 2010 03:11 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

HahnSolo wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: That's Gary Carter squatting on the left side of his 1988 Topps Big card. No doubt about it. I have a doubt. I don't think it looks at all like Gary Carter. Well you're wrong. So's the rest of this thread. What? Is everyone fucking nuts here? This isn't even worthy of a debate. You're probably not used to seeing Carter without his fake politician's smile, that's all.

RealityChuck Nov 15 2010 05:37 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

The first Mets card I got:

SteveJRogers Nov 15 2010 06:51 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

BAM! Defense rests your honor. If the 8 can be shown, The Kid is at the backstop throne! (ducks rotten vegetables)

seawolf17 Nov 15 2010 06:56 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Nope. Not the same guy. See, they're facing different directions.

DocTee Nov 15 2010 08:36 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I thought they were the same, but subtle differences (wristband, batting glove) lead to me to question this, since athletes are such creatures of habit.

Edgy DC Nov 15 2010 09:13 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Same quality ass.

metsguyinmichigan Nov 16 2010 04:37 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Here's the next 10, with the reasons:[url]http://metsguyinmichigan.blogspot.com/2010/11/top-60-topps-cards-of-all-time-part-2.html No.50 No. 49 No. 48 No. 47 No. 46 No. 45 No. 44 No. 43 No. 42 No. 41

Benjamin Grimm Nov 16 2010 04:55 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

You have much more fondness for the recent cards than I do. Of the above, the only one that tickles me is the Mets Maulers one, which I don't think I had ever seen before. That 1976 Tom Seaver is almost too recent for my tastes! (Gosh, I'm old.)

metsguyinmichigan Nov 16 2010 05:12 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Well, we're still in the lower third of the list. I suspect the cards will get older as we get higher in the list. Too bad I can't use some of the glorious Player of the Month retro cards!!!

Edgy DC Nov 16 2010 05:43 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Perspective can be a funny thing, but those cops look about 11 feet tall.

metsguyinmichigan Nov 16 2010 05:58 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

The puddle creating the reflection is kind of cool.

G-Fafif Nov 16 2010 06:35 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Yay on Mets Maulers. Not a lot of mauling, but a great idea. Another '67 I adore: I'm fond of the 1967 set since it was my first exposure of any kind to cards (my sister's, which I inherited when she remembered she didn't care about baseball) and because they were uncluttered and classy. Bud fell into my hands a few years later, and it said all that needed to be said: young shortstop, ready to grow. Note the World's Fair patch, an anachronism by 1966, but we'll allow it. Great second ten overall (Shea card's inclusion a nice touch). Loving your series and the fact that it means you're blogging a little less infrequently!

batmagadanleadoff Nov 16 2010 08:34 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card? Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Nov 16 2010 09:30 AM

The 2007 Bowman Heritage set (see Joe Smith against the Wonder Wheel, above) includes many secret pleasures. Here's David Wright's 2007 Bowman Heritage card, an homage to the '52 Bowman Gil Hodges card:

metsguyinmichigan Nov 16 2010 09:09 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Oh sweet! I never made that connection!

Edgy DC Nov 16 2010 09:34 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Whatever they do to filter that photo makes that hat even more of a horror show, however.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 16 2010 11:54 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Edgy DC wrote: Whatever they do to filter that photo makes that hat even more of a horror show, however. Plus, the artist gave Wright Ben Turpin's eyes.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 16 2010 11:55 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

seawolf17 Nov 16 2010 12:10 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

G-Fafif Nov 16 2010 02:37 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

seawolf17 wrote: Those both kick ass. In a more perfect Citi Field, there's a Casey on a bench statue greeting all comers in just that pose. Pacella one, too, just to be cheeky about it. A recent favorite from the Topps Heritage set of 2007 here, back when my scanner worked. The Jose hamstring scare that inspired its scanning, incidentally, was a false alarm.

DocTee Nov 16 2010 04:09 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

If anyone is curious about the 2011 Topps design.... http://magazine-exchange.com/product_do ... lSheet.pdf 1. 330-ish cards? I recall sets from my youth with many more. Only 15 "team cards"? What about the other 15?? 2. A real frickin' diamond embedded in the cards? Glad to see MLB doing its part to keep DeBeers in business, and Sierrra Leone in misery.

seawolf17 Nov 16 2010 04:59 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Topps has three series now, 330 cards each. They'll do the other 15 team cards in series two, which comes out around midseason; then they do an "update" series, which hits right around the end of the season, which sometimes includes "traded" players who have appeared in the first two series, but also just other players they haven't hit yet. For example, the 2010 Topps Mets: Series 1: 2010 Topps #60 David Wright 2010 Topps #103 Daniel Murphy 2010 Topps #104 New York Mets 2010 Topps #184 Jeff Francoeur 2010 Topps #218 Fernando Martinez 2010 Topps #227 Josh Thole RC 2010 Topps #249 Jon Niese 2010 Topps #278 Carlos Delgado 2010 Topps #299 Gary Sheffield 2010 Topps #314 Angel Pagan Series 2: 2010 Topps #339 Jose Reyes 2010 Topps #394 Luis Castillo 2010 Topps #395 Jenrry Mejia RC 2010 Topps #416 Ruben Tejada RC 2010 Topps #436 New York Mets 2010 Topps #450 Omir Santos 2010 Topps #507 Francisco Rodriguez 2010 Topps #533 Gary Matthews Jr. 2010 Topps #567 Mike Pelfrey 2010 Topps #573 Johan Santana 2010 Topps #624 Carlos Beltran 2010 Topps #629 Oliver Perez Updates: 2010 Topps Update #US4 Alex Cora 2010 Topps Update #US15 Ike Davis RC 2010 Topps Update #US20 Jason Bay (card 170 in the main set) 2010 Topps Update #US26 Jesus Feliciano RC 2010 Topps Update #US92 Pedro Feliciano 2010 Topps Update #US180 David Wright 2010 Topps Update #US223 Henry Blanco 2010 Topps Update #US316 Rod Barajas (card 224 in the main set)

G-Fafif Nov 16 2010 05:18 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I didn't necessarily love the trades, but I sure liked the traded cards. 1972 Fregosi (big help, here. 1976 Lolich (recalled in the midst of Johan fever, Feburary 2008) here. Traded was like In Action for the offseason, except way after the fact and with airbrushing run amok.

Methead Nov 16 2010 06:14 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

There are a ton of really cool cards in that '52 Bowman set. [url]http://www.vintagecardtraders.com/virtual/52bowman/52bowman.html

SteveJRogers Nov 16 2010 06:59 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Centerfield wrote: I was at that game!

batmagadanleadoff Nov 16 2010 07:41 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

seawolf17 wrote: Topps has three series now, 330 cards each. They'll do the other 15 team cards in series two, which comes out around midseason; then they do an "update" series, which hits right around the end of the season, which sometimes includes "traded" players who have appeared in the first two series, but also just other players they haven't hit yet. For example, the 2010 Topps Mets: Series 1: 2010 Topps #60 David Wright 2010 Topps #103 Daniel Murphy 2010 Topps #104 New York Mets 2010 Topps #184 Jeff Francoeur 2010 Topps #218 Fernando Martinez 2010 Topps #227 Josh Thole RC 2010 Topps #249 Jon Niese 2010 Topps #278 Carlos Delgado 2010 Topps #299 Gary Sheffield 2010 Topps #314 Angel Pagan Series 2: 2010 Topps #339 Jose Reyes 2010 Topps #394 Luis Castillo 2010 Topps #395 Jenrry Mejia RC 2010 Topps #416 Ruben Tejada RC 2010 Topps #436 New York Mets 2010 Topps #450 Omir Santos 2010 Topps #507 Francisco Rodriguez 2010 Topps #533 Gary Matthews Jr. 2010 Topps #567 Mike Pelfrey 2010 Topps #573 Johan Santana 2010 Topps #624 Carlos Beltran 2010 Topps #629 Oliver Perez Updates: 2010 Topps Update #US4 Alex Cora 2010 Topps Update #US15 Ike Davis RC 2010 Topps Update #US20 Jason Bay (card 170 in the main set) 2010 Topps Update #US26 Jesus Feliciano RC 2010 Topps Update #US92 Pedro Feliciano 2010 Topps Update #US180 David Wright 2010 Topps Update #US223 Henry Blanco 2010 Topps Update #US316 Rod Barajas (card 224 in the main set) Now I know what R.A. Dickey can't do: get his own 2010 Topps baseball card. I'm blaming Cora.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 16 2010 08:12 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Of the above, the only one that tickles me is the Mets Maulers one, which I don't think I had ever seen before. Here's a few more '67 "teammates" cards: Which of these five is not like the others?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 16 2010 08:31 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

FENCE BUSTERS has no city or team-name reference or pun (that I recognize) -- not to mention no alliterative headline. I like that some have first and last names, but not all.

DocTee Nov 16 2010 08:47 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Mets Maulers only one without a HoFer, too.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 16 2010 08:48 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Topps recognizes Tom Seaver's best statistical season ever (1971) by honoring the star pitcher with six cards in its '72 set:

metsguyinmichigan Nov 16 2010 09:56 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

The next installment: No. 40 Jim Fregosi: All-Star infielder, killer accordion player. Trading Nolan Ryan probably made a lot more sense to fans once this card came out and they learned that Fregosi was a man of many skills. Most of the boyhood cards in the magnificent 1972 set showed the players in their Little League uniforms. Not Fregosi. No, he’s brandishing that massive accordion, ready to burst out a lethal version of “Lady of Spain.” And the crazy thing is the back of the card details Jim youth league exploits and never once mentions his apparent musical skills. No. 39 No. 39: 2006 Oliver Perez Perez is one of those players who seem to always have a sharp-looking action card. But I like this one best. Because if Ollie is on the bench, then he’s not in the game, walking the bases loaded and then giving up a grand slam. The odds of the Mets winning increase dramatically if Ollie is not playing. No. 38 In the days when card companies released only one set a year, Steady Eddie undoubtedly held the record for most appearances on cardboard by a Met. But 1979 was the last of his 18 seasons. This photo almost looks like Krane is tipping his cap to fans saluting him for a fine career. No. 37 Topps rarely added coaches to the manager cards, and it was nice to see Rube Walker, Roy McMillin, Eddie Yost and Joe Pignatano getting some recognition in the 1973 and 1974 sets. No. 36 I met Dykstra at a card show in Manhattan around the time this card came out. He seemed really nice when I asked him too sign my Mets book, and to add his nickname “Nails.” He did – and spelled it wrong, realized the error and tried to fix it. Sharpies are unforgiving. He sheepishly slid the book back across the table. No. 35 Topps started to give Mr. Met and less-worthy mascots some love the Opening Day sets. Note the assistant with the T-shirt launcher. I’m reminded of the television ad with Mr. Met sneaking into the empty stands before a game and launching shirts at an unsuspecting grounds crew member, then attempting to duck behind a seat. “Dude, I can see like 80 percent of your head!” No. 34 The 1962 Mets were a collection of faded stars, the under-skilled and a few youngsters with some potential. Count Hickman in the last category. He was a solid player and holds some milestones, including being the first Met to hit for the cycle. He hit the last homer in the Polo Grounds and was the first Met to hit three homers in one game. He also was the last of the original Mets. Hickman later represented the Cubs in the 1970 All-Star Game and smashed the 12th-inning hit that drove Pete Rose around third and barreling into Ray Fosse. No. 33 This portrait of a smiling Daniel Joseph Staub makes it pretty clear how he came to be known as “Rusty,” and “Le Grande Orange,” hero to Canadians. Alas, Staub was know by another name by the time this card came out: Detroit Tiger right fielder. Yet another bad trade by the Mets, and incoming Mickey Lolich didn’t even play the accordion. No. 32 Ventura’s Grand Slam Single in the rain during the 15th inning of Game 5 of the 1999 NLCS is easily one of the Mets most glorious post-season memories. But there have actually been two other grand slam singles, though none as dramatic. In 1970, the Tigers’ Dalton Jones accidently passed teammate Don Wert while rounding the bases. And on July 4, 1976 Fox broadcaster and know-it-all Tim McCarver must have been too enthralled by the bicentennial celebration because he passed teammate Garry Maddox. As for Ventura, the lighting on this 2000 card is just perfect. No. 31 And we close out the first third of our countdown with Nolan Ryan, before he was traded for a musician. Look closely at Nolan’s glove. That would be the ball nestled in the webbing. Ryan was famous for his blazing fastball, supposedly throwing so hard that batters could barely see it. Or, as this card suggests, Ryan was just really good at the old hidden ball trick.

G-Fafif Nov 17 2010 06:24 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

More MGIM gold. I am a little worried, however, that Krane's cap-tipping is going to distract Hickman from that fly ball.

Edgy DC Nov 17 2010 07:21 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Those leader cards, while lovely, are disappointing as they don't show (on the front, anyhow) the league-leading numbers that got them on the cards. I mean, this one... ...doesn't even say which stat makes them "pitching leaders." Did they throw the most pitches?

HahnSolo Nov 17 2010 07:55 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I assume wins, but don't know. But those cards did get my anger riled up about Seaver not getting the Cy in 1971. Additionally, that pic of Carlton on the Pitching Leaders card is the exact same pic as his regular 1971 card. Come on, Topps!

G-Fafif Nov 17 2010 07:59 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

HahnSolo wrote: I assume wins, but don't know. But those cards did get my anger riled up about Seaver not getting the Cy in 1971. Additionally, that pic of Carlton on the Pitching Leaders card is the exact same pic as his regular 1971 card. Come on, Topps! Last time Carlton opened his mouth for 15 years.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 17 2010 08:15 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Of course it's "Wins". Didn't anybody here ever collect baseball cards?

G-Fafif Nov 17 2010 08:19 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Indicative of what "pitching leaders" instinctively meant in 1972 versus now (Fergie as first guy was the dead giveaway if there was confusion, if one could transport oneself back 38 years to prove it). Today if we saw a card with that header, we'd expect WHIP or ERA+ on the back.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 17 2010 08:20 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

The next installment: No. 37 Topps rarely added coaches to the manager cards, and it was nice to see Rube Walker, Roy McMillin, Eddie Yost and Joe Pignatano getting some recognition in the 1973 and 1974 sets. Ever see this Yogi "73"?

Edgy DC Nov 17 2010 08:24 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

It's certainly clear that's what the card meant because the other two cards represented the other two jewels in the pitching triple crown. Still, though, from my recall of the conventions of the time, I'd expect the card to say Victories Leaders. Though equating credited victories as synonymous with pitching excellence? Joe Morgan would approve.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 17 2010 08:25 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Thanks to this thread, I first noticed that Bouchee ('62) was photographed in the Polo Grounds. Also, after posting the Seaver ('72) in action last night, I finally figured out why he's cracking up like that, doubled over in laughter. It's Family Day at Shea. (roped barrier in the outfield) Check out Seaver's comically enlarged glove.

G-Fafif Nov 17 2010 08:26 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Joe Morgan was from the days of W-L, I would expect nothing less (from someone whose mind appears as closed as Carlton's mouth). Hitting leaders would have unquestionably been average.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 17 2010 08:30 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Edgy DC wrote: It's certainly clear that's what the card meant because the other two cards represented the other two jewels in the pitching triple crown. Still, though, from my recall of the conventions of the time, I'd expect the card to say Victories Leaders. Though equating credited victories as synonymous with pitching excellence? Joe Morgan would approve. I was being facetious. ("Didn't anybody here ever collect baseball cards"?) You say victories. I say pitching. Must be a generation gap.

HahnSolo Nov 17 2010 08:34 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Look at that great head of hair on Andy Messersmith!

G-Fafif Nov 17 2010 08:40 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

HahnSolo wrote: Look at that great head of hair on Andy Messersmith! Imagine what that will get on the open market.

themetfairy Nov 17 2010 09:31 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

HahnSolo wrote: I assume wins, but don't know. But those cards did get my anger riled up about Seaver not getting the Cy in 1971. Additionally, that pic of Carlton on the Pitching Leaders card is the exact same pic as his regular 1971 card. Come on, Topps! I get angrier that he didn't win in 1981.

Edgy DC Nov 17 2010 09:39 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

batmagadanleadoff wrote: You say victories. I say pitching. Must be a generation gap. There we go. And they got around to putting those numbers on the front by then also.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 17 2010 09:43 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Edgy DC wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: You say victories. I say pitching. Must be a generation gap. There we go. And they got around to putting those numbers on the front by then also. When I was a kid, kids were kids. We had to figure things out for ourselves. We had to flip over the baseball cards --and with our bare hands-- to determine that Topps meant "Wins" when they wrote "Pitching". Your generation had everything spoon fed.

metsguyinmichigan Nov 18 2010 04:22 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card? Edited 2 time(s), most recently on Nov 18 2010 05:17 AM

My buddies were mocking me for filling my top 60 list with Mets, so I had to pause the countdown and include these non-Mets of note: [url]http://metsguyinmichigan.blogspot.com/2010/11/too-many-mets-in-topps-top-60-blame.html [list=]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RJnZXOek6bo/TOS_oxfvHWI/AAAAAAAAEtk/rU8Jd3rR738/s1600/biggio95topps.jpg[/list]

G-Fafif Nov 18 2010 04:54 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

My buddies were mocking me for filling my top 60 list with Mets, so I had to pause the countdown and include these non-Mets of note: You handled it with aplomb, but your buddies have no soul.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 18 2010 06:40 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I do like the 1971 Bench and the 1972 Mays. I don't think I ever saw that 1973 Didier before; it's a great card, made even better by the presence of Cleon Jones.

SteveJRogers Nov 18 2010 09:55 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

G-Fafif wrote: My buddies were mocking me for filling my top 60 list with Mets, so I had to pause the countdown and include these non-Mets of note: You handled it with aplomb, but your buddies have no soul. This rather Seaver heavy list reminds me of something I saw a huge Beatle fan FB friend do when presented with one of those "Pick Your Favorite 5" lists questions. The question, pick your 5 favorite bands that AREN'T the Beatles. His answers: Wings Plastic Ono Band Traveling Wilburys Quarrymen (I think) and the obscurest one for the win, The Dirty Mac. John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (I think that was the lineup off hand) performed as a "one off" super group on the Stones' Rock And Roll Circus television program.

Edgy DC Nov 18 2010 09:57 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

That was a pretty good performance, considering Lennon was as high as a kite. Keith Richards was on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums. (No Jagger.) The band was "Dirty Mack and they did "Yer Blues."

Edgy DC Nov 18 2010 10:00 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cCmOg5NKJ8 That clip is printed backwards for some reason, so everybody is lefthanded.

metsguyinmichigan Nov 18 2010 10:45 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

SteveJRogers wrote: My buddies were mocking me for filling my top 60 list with Mets, so I had to pause the countdown and include these non-Mets of note: You handled it with aplomb, but your buddies have no soul. This rather Seaver heavy list reminds me of something I saw a huge Beatle fan FB friend do when presented with one of those "Pick Your Favorite 5" lists questions. The question, pick your 5 favorite bands that AREN'T the Beatles. His answers: Wings Plastic Ono Band Traveling Wilburys Quarrymen (I think) and the obscurest one for the win, The Dirty Mac. John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (I think that was the lineup off hand) performed as a "one off" super group on the Stones' Rock And Roll Circus television program. My friend says about his buddy: He has very varied musical tastes. He like ALL of Elvis Costello's CDs.

Ashie62 Nov 18 2010 01:41 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

How do you add images as a URL???

Benjamin Grimm Nov 18 2010 01:43 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Apparently my web browser doesn't have access to Ashie's C: drive.

Ashie62 Nov 18 2010 02:29 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

seawolf17 Nov 19 2010 02:26 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Looking at the checklist for 2011 Topps Heritage -- which will use the 1962 design -- Topps did a cool thing. They've tried, with their Heritage sets, to parallel the original set. If the card numbers hold when the set is released next year, they'll have done a nice job: 7 Beltran (in the 1962 set, Frank Thomas was card 7) 26 Thole (Cannizzaro) 29 Mets Manager (Casey) 85 Ike (Gil) 94 Dickey (Hook) 181 Gee 183 Pelf (Craig) 213 Pagan (Ashburn) 256 Tejada (Chacon) 290 Niese (Bob Miller) 333 DUda 421 KRod (Ken MacKenzie) 436 Reyes (Mantilla) 464 Santana (Al Jackson) 478 Wright (Zimmer, who was pictured as a Met but listed as a Cub) and they'll have cards for Takahashi, Mejia, and Nickeas, although the numbering got weird on the file I saw. No 1962 number parallels for Gee/Duda (those numbers were guys on other teams), but that's well done.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 19 2010 08:00 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Looking at the checklist for 2011 Topps Heritage -- which will use the 1962 design -- Topps did a cool thing. They've tried, with their Heritage sets, to parallel the original set. If the card numbers hold when the set is released next year, they'll have done a nice job: 7 Beltran (in the 1962 set, Frank Thomas was card 7) 26 Thole (Cannizzaro) 29 Mets Manager (Casey) 85 Ike (Gil) 94 Dickey (Hook) 181 Gee 183 Pelf (Craig) 213 Pagan (Ashburn) 256 Tejada (Chacon) 290 Niese (Bob Miller) 333 DUda 421 KRod (Ken MacKenzie) 436 Reyes (Mantilla) 464 Santana (Al Jackson) 478 Wright (Zimmer, who was pictured as a Met but listed as a Cub) and they'll have cards for Takahashi, Mejia, and Nickeas, although the numbering got weird on the file I saw. No 1962 number parallels for Gee/Duda (those numbers were guys on other teams), but that's well done. #392 will be a David Wright NL Sporting News All-Star Card. original '62 #392

metsguyinmichigan Nov 21 2010 07:48 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Here's another pause in the countdown to welcome Terry Collins and see how previous Mets managers have fared. Here's the best of the manager cards Casey Wes, who had two darned good cards. Gil, only the 1970 is worthy of his greatness Yogi, who had two good card and a two team card headshot. Joe Frazier, the only non-interim never to get his own card Joe Torre, who only got one card to himself George Bambeger, one card only Frank Howard Davey Buddy Jeff Torborg got one air-brushed card and one shared card Dallas Green. Here's a card with the Mets best manager, and Dallas Green, too. It's Green's only card. Bobby Valentine only got two cards. And the Mets most animated manager gets two dull headshots. Art Howe got a great Heritage card Willie Jerry, so gets only one card as far as I can tell

Edgy DC Nov 21 2010 08:26 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Willie looks chuffed.

Rockin' Doc Nov 21 2010 08:48 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

How can this card not be a favorite for any Mets fan?

metsguyinmichigan Nov 21 2010 08:54 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Oh, I think we're going to see that one in the top 10!

batmagadanleadoff Nov 21 2010 10:52 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

More Mets managers: Dave Johnson Topps Update 1984 Randolph, as (haha) Stengel -- 2008 Topps Heritage Willie Randolph was also card #1 in a 2008 Topps special Mets team set. (same template as the regular 2008 set, but different image than the base set Randolph card) I couldn't find an image on the internet.

seawolf17 Nov 22 2010 05:18 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Willie Randolph was also card #1 in a 2008 Topps special Mets team set. (same template as the regular 2008 set, but different image than the base set Randolph card) I couldn't find an image on the internet. All the coaches were in that set too (as well as a similar set from 2007), so coaching cards of such luminaries as Rick Peterson and Rickey Henderson exist as well. (I have an extra 2008 set if anyone needs one.)

metsguyinmichigan Nov 22 2010 07:25 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Here's the team set Willie. I have all the Mets managers cards in the blog post, but didn't know if I'd be pushing the limits by posting all 40 of them here. [url]http://metsguyinmichigan.blogspot.com/2010/11/will-history-repeat-terry-collins-can.html I should boo Topps for using a near identical photo of Howe in different sets. Torborg's brutal airbrushing: Buddy looking serious:

Edgy DC Nov 22 2010 07:35 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Here's my imitation of Jeff Torborg opening a birthday present: "If I can... I just don't want to mess up this great paper... and here we go... and it's... WOW! THANK YOU! ANOTHER GREAT TURTLENECK!!"

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 22 2010 09:30 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Torborg is so white, he puts mayo on mayo. /Tip your waitstaff //Try the Chicken Murphy-- it's heavy on the sauce

RealityChuck Nov 22 2010 01:58 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

The next installment: No. 40 Jim Fregosi: All-Star infielder, killer accordion player. Trading Nolan Ryan probably made a lot more sense to fans once this card came out and they learned that Fregosi was a man of many skills. Most of the boyhood cards in the magnificent 1972 set showed the players in their Little League uniforms. Not Fregosi. No, he’s brandishing that massive accordion, ready to burst out a lethal version of “Lady of Spain.” And the crazy thing is the back of the card details Jim youth league exploits and never once mentions his apparent musical skills. Most fans would have agreed that the accordion was a better pitcher than Ryan in 1971. Even fans today: WHIP: 1.586, increasing every year he pitched. K/BB: 1.18, becoming worse every year he pitched. ERA+: 86 0 shutouts, 0 complete games (more important back then). Averaging just over five innings a start. -0.2 WAR

G-Fafif Nov 22 2010 05:30 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

The next installment: No. 40 Jim Fregosi: All-Star infielder, killer accordion player. Trading Nolan Ryan probably made a lot more sense to fans once this card came out and they learned that Fregosi was a man of many skills. Most of the boyhood cards in the magnificent 1972 set showed the players in their Little League uniforms. Not Fregosi. No, he’s brandishing that massive accordion, ready to burst out a lethal version of “Lady of Spain.” And the crazy thing is the back of the card details Jim youth league exploits and never once mentions his apparent musical skills. Most fans would have agreed that the accordion was a better pitcher than Ryan in 1971. Even fans today: WHIP: 1.586, increasing every year he pitched. K/BB: 1.18, becoming worse every year he pitched. ERA+: 86 0 shutouts, 0 complete games (more important back then). Averaging just over five innings a start. -0.2 WAR Everybody knows that accordion folded third time around through the order. Would start to squeeze the ball too tight...

RealityChuck Nov 23 2010 07:00 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

True, but an accordion could always go to the Eye of Argon. (And that's probably the most obscure joke anyone could possibly make.)

metsguyinmichigan Nov 23 2010 07:59 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Here's the next 10 in the countdown, with discussion on the blog. [url]http://metsguyinmichigan.blogspot.com/2010/11/counting-down-topps-all-time-top-60.html No. 30, 1994 Stadium Club Ryan Thompson No. 29, 1987 David Cone No. 28, 1974 Rusty Staub No. 27, 1981 Lee Mazzilli No. 26, 1969 Cleon Jones No. 25, 1985 Davey Johnson No. 24, 1993 Stadium Club John Franco No. 23, 1978 Felix Millan No. 22, 1990 Keith Hernandez No. 21, 2005 Heritage Mike Piazza

Edgy DC Nov 23 2010 09:00 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

That Staub card has a lot of good elements. The hip swagger, the bozac, the short sleeves, his refusal to wear undershirts, his cute pursed lips... but that shadow from his brim (and, to a lesser extent, the same with Mazzilli's in the next card) is just something that the guy who shot the Cleon Jones card would have been embarassed by. That's merely a two year gap on those cards, but there's a cultural watershed moment in there, from the end of the great-society optimism to the harsh realism of Vietnam fatigue. The cardmakers are, of course a few years behind the cultural vanguard, but the differing values of the passing era are summed up right there. To the Jones photographer, art has a nobility in the composition. To the Staub guy, it's about keeping it real. One guy is a craftsman and the other is a guerilla journalist.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 23 2010 09:23 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Altamont is the scapegoat for everything.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 23 2010 09:35 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

metsguyinmichigan wrote: No. 30, 1994 Stadium Club Ryan Thompson "My sixth tool is my relaxed, musky sexiness."

metsguyinmichigan Nov 23 2010 09:59 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I think the Rusty card was shot on Helmet Day, based on the people in the box seats.

seawolf17 Nov 23 2010 10:04 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

metsguyinmichigan wrote: I think the Rusty card was shot on Helmet Day, based on the people in the box seats. That's a nice catch. You're probably right; I love when you can peg card photos to specific events.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 23 2010 10:15 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

seawolf17 wrote: I think the Rusty card was shot on Helmet Day, based on the people in the box seats. That's a nice catch. You're probably right; I love when you can peg card photos to specific events. UMD Memories: April 21, 1973 Shea Stadium Mets 5, Montreal Expos 0 Jay Tysver January 29, 2002 This game was helmet day. The first game I ever attended. I was 8 years old and it was with my cub scout troop. It was a weekend day game. I believe Matlack started and Milner hit a home run. I was happy to say that I did get to see Willie Mays play. He flied out to right- center field to Mike Jorgensen who made a great play on the ball and was also injured in some manner. Warm April day for Rusty to be going gloveless and sleeveless but he was that kinda player. 0-for-1 with 3 walks and 2 runs scored that day.

metsguyinmichigan Nov 23 2010 10:16 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

That could be a whole new tangent! Figuring out the day a card photo was taken.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 23 2010 10:53 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Topps Mets trivia question: During the period 1962-1980, when Topps was the only company producing large baseball sets, three players appeared in games as a Met in three separate seasons, yet never appeared on a Topps card as a Met. Who are they? (Wise-ass preemptive strike --- these three Mets might have appeared in a Mets team picture card. I really don't know. But if so, those appearances don't count).

metsguyinmichigan Nov 23 2010 11:04 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Dave Schneck?

batmagadanleadoff Nov 23 2010 11:11 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Dave Schneck? Schneck is one of the three. Staub and Milner aren't.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 23 2010 11:15 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Don Hahn

seawolf17 Nov 23 2010 11:18 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Bob Heise is one. Hahn has a couple of Mets cards.

seawolf17 Nov 23 2010 11:19 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Les Rohr?

batmagadanleadoff Nov 23 2010 11:19 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Don Hahn

batmagadanleadoff Nov 23 2010 11:20 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

No on Rohr:

batmagadanleadoff Nov 23 2010 11:22 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

seawolf17 wrote: Bob Heise is one. Hahn has a couple of Mets cards. Heise is right. One more to go.

seawolf17 Nov 23 2010 11:23 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Forgot about that one. I just remember I sent him a custom card using a photo I found of him with his "69 METS" license plate for my autographs collection.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 23 2010 11:26 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Damn, I even have this one in trips

Edgy DC Nov 23 2010 12:03 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Tim Skala Tim Foli.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 23 2010 12:09 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Edgy DC wrote: Tim Skala Tim Foli. There are others, too.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 23 2010 02:33 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Give up? I'll post the third Met sometime before this evening.

metsguyinmichigan Nov 23 2010 04:29 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

The reason I remembered Schneck was because as a Mets obsessed 11-year-old, I couldn't figure out why Schneck was in the yearbook but didn't have a card, while a guy I had never heard of -- Bill Sudakis -- had two of them.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 23 2010 04:38 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I remember Schneck as one of the Mets involved in a three-way uniform # swap, along with Felix Millan and Teddy Martinez. The third answer to my Topps Mets trivia question is Jim Gosger.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 24 2010 09:38 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

batmagadanleadoff wrote: I remember Schneck as one of the Mets involved in a three-way uniform # swap, along with Felix Millan and Teddy Martinez. The third answer to my Topps Mets trivia question is Jim Gosger. The record for most seasons as a Met without ever appearing on a Topps card as a Met appears to be three. I believe that in addition to Heise, Schneck and Gosger, there are also three Mets from the post 1980 multi-baseball card company era that never appeared on a Topps card as a Met despite playing for the team in three separate seasons. I say "I believe" because I'm kinda sure about the three post 1980 Mets but not 100% certain -- as I am of Heise, Schneck and Gosger. Because who the hell can completely keep track of these things post 1980? I can't. Anyway, who are the post-1980 three? My hunch is that this branch of the trivia question won't generate as much interest, mainly because of the unmanageably large number of cards produced post 1980.

metsguyinmichigan Nov 24 2010 09:53 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Well, the focus of the hobby changed, too. For a while there, sets shrunk so the companies could pander to the investment people. If a player wasn't a star or a rookie, they were often left out of a set. (A company rep told me that as the pack prices raised, they wanted to make sure every pack had a card that someone would see value in, and that would be a star or a rookie, or a parallel version of one of those.) Not my idea of a good pack or set, and look how the hobby tanked. And as an aside, looking through all my Mets binders, none of the cards from a fringe, insert-driven set came even close to making the cut. The base cards in those sets were clearly an afterthought, something there justify the jersey swatch or numbered insert card. But I both rant and digress...

batmagadanleadoff Nov 24 2010 09:57 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

metsguyinmichigan wrote: But I both rant and digress... Not really. I agree with everything you wrote. David Wright cards get boring and lose their effect after about the 100th Wright card for the same season. My favorite sets are the largest ones, that include the largest number of players. I'd rather see one Frank Catalanotto Met card before I see three Johans.

Edgy DC Nov 24 2010 11:05 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

We should just produce our own set.

seawolf17 Nov 24 2010 11:09 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I'd love a "team history" set, featuring each player in team history in the card style of their debut year. Topps tried "Topps Total" a few years back to handle those folks who wanted every middle reliever, but it was so bloated that nobody bought it. Pedro Feliciano's first Topps card appeared in the 2010 Update set, although Upper Deck had him in 2008.

Edgy DC Nov 24 2010 11:46 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Seriously, we have graphic designers, photographers, a database guy to produce stats, illustrators, writers, editors, contempt for rules... Let's go nuts.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 24 2010 05:25 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

batmagadanleadoff wrote: The record for most seasons as a Met without ever appearing on a Topps card as a Met appears to be three. I believe that in addition to Heise, Schneck and Gosger, there are also three Mets from the post 1980 multi-baseball card company era that never appeared on a Topps card as a Met despite playing for the team in three separate seasons. I say "I believe" because I'm kinda sure about the three post 1980 Mets but not 100% certain -- as I am of Heise, Schneck and Gosger. Because who the hell can completely keep track of these things post 1980? I can't. Anyway, who are the post-1980 three? My hunch is that this branch of the trivia question won't generate as much interest, mainly because of the unmanageably large number of cards produced post 1980. The three post 1980 Mets who played for the Mets in three different seasons without ever appearing on a Topps card as a Met are, (I believe): Mike Howard, Jorge Velandia and Mike DiFelice.

Ashie62 Nov 24 2010 08:27 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

The only licensed manufacturer of MLB cards is Topps. Print runs are limited to what they can sell. The old school "set collector" is a thing of the past. So are "Mom and Pop" card stores. The younguns of today don't spend their dough on sportscards..they spend the money on.. Gaming issues. I have my own online store and most customers are adults..Yikes.

metsguyinmichigan Nov 27 2010 10:00 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I'm back to the countdown, and really closing in on some special cards:[url]http://metsguyinmichigan.blogspot.com/2010/11/quirky-players-and-quirky-sets-in.html No. 20, 1974 George Theodore No. 19, 1971 Bud Harrelson No. 18, a tie between the 1974 Tug McGraw and the 1974 Harrelson No. 17, 2008 Johan Santana No. 16, 2009 Heritage Carlos Delgado No. 15, 2003 Todd Hundley No. 14, 1989 Darryl Strawberry No. 13, 2001 Heritage Edgardo Alfonzo No. 12, 1992 Stadium Club Howard Johnson No. 11, 1964 Casey Stengel

G-Fafif Nov 28 2010 09:22 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I'm psyched to see the damage HoJo is about to do to Three Rivers.

batmagadanleadoff Dec 01 2010 01:20 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

metsguyinmichigan wrote: I have all the Mets managers cards in the blog post, but didn't know if I'd be pushing the limits by posting all 40 of them here. [url]http://metsguyinmichigan.blogspot.com/2010/11/will-history-repeat-terry-collins-can.html I remembered a Topps Bobby Valentine manager card that you left out. I can't find an internet image. What card am I referring to?

metsguyinmichigan Dec 01 2010 01:47 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Sweet, because I could find only: Now that I think of it, I bet there was a Bobby V card in the special Subway Series set -- the one with the amazing inserts with the subway tokens. I'll look tonight!

batmagadanleadoff Dec 01 2010 01:49 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Sweet, because I could find only: Now that I think of it, I bet there was a Bobby V card in the special Subway Series set -- the one with the amazing inserts with the subway tokens. I'll look tonight! That's the one. In that set, Valentine has his own card, and also appears in a card with Benitez, captioned: "Bobby Valentine and Armando Benitez hug after Game 1 of NLCS."

batmagadanleadoff Dec 01 2010 03:14 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

2001 Topps Combos

Edgy DC Dec 01 2010 05:48 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Did they do one with Yogi Berra and Dallas Green?

batmagadanleadoff Dec 01 2010 11:17 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

One more Topps Mets manager: Topps 1988 Glossy All Stars

metsguyinmichigan Dec 02 2010 04:29 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

That Davey Johnson card is neat! Here are two non-Topps Davey cards, from the 1988 Donruss All-Star game packs. I love the pop-out cards! And here are the two Valentines from the Subway Series set.

G-Fafif Dec 02 2010 04:50 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Bobby and Armando appear to be looking past each other, as I guess will happen in the victory lane. Subway Series set was great. Half of it, anyway.

dgwphotography Dec 02 2010 07:14 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Damn, I even have this one in trips I have this one too. Never realized he looked like a such a stoner...

batmagadanleadoff Dec 02 2010 10:50 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Here are two non-Topps Davey cards, from the 1988 Donruss All-Star game packs. I love the pop-out cards! If you're opening the floor to non-Topps cards, here's an ASA card from a Yogi Berra subset:

Edgy DC Dec 02 2010 10:52 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I like how they treat Yogi like Bono and don't bother with a last name.

batmagadanleadoff Dec 02 2010 10:56 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Here are two non-Topps Davey cards, from the 1988 Donruss All-Star game packs. I love the pop-out cards! If you're opening the floor to non-Topps cards, here's an ASA card from a Yogi Berra subset: And here's the nutty perfesser on Glavine's 2008 Upper Deck card. Why the Mets bothered with either of those two is beyond me. I bet Willie thought that Glavine would win another 300 games.

G-Fafif Dec 02 2010 12:01 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

That last card made me look it up: Randolph was 0-for-4 with a walk as a Met against Glavine.

metsguyinmichigan Dec 05 2010 08:51 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Back to the countdown! I'm going one at a time here, with back stories on the blog. [url]http://metsguyinmichigan.blogspot.com/2010/12/countdown-of-top-topps-cards-continues.html No. 10, 2003 Mike Piazza I like this one from 2004, too, but went for a great action shot.

metsguyinmichigan Dec 06 2010 09:54 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

No. 9, 1972 Ed Kranepool With the explanation: [url]http://metsguyinmichigan.blogspot.com/2010/12/topps-top-60-countown-ed-kranepool.html

batmagadanleadoff Dec 07 2010 10:27 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card? Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Dec 08 2010 09:16 AM

batmagadanleadoff wrote: The third answer to my Topps Mets trivia question is Jim Gosger.... I believe that in addition to Heise, Schneck and Gosger ... Here's a spinoff trivia question. [crossout]Three[/crossout]Four members of the 1969 Mets never appeared on a Topps baseball card as a Met. Heise and Gosger are two of the Mets. Who's the third [and the fourth]?

Edgy DC Dec 07 2010 10:37 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Bobby Pfeil.

Edgy DC Dec 07 2010 10:39 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Nope, he had this beauty.

batmagadanleadoff Dec 07 2010 10:41 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I gather that you were too young to be collecting baseball cards during the manager Gil Hodges era, right?

Edgy DC Dec 07 2010 10:47 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Pretty much. I probably have that one somewhere though.

batmagadanleadoff Dec 07 2010 11:02 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

My early memories of that 1970 Pfeil card are indelible. 1970 was the first year that I collected cards, and because Pfeil's card was included in the first series, his card received more of my attention than many of the other Met cards of that year. Plus, there was an urban legend circulating in my neck of the woods that attributed the end of Pfeil's Met stint to the "fact" that during the 1969 WS celebration, Pfeil's batting helmet was stolen. "How could Pfeil play without a helmet?" went the legend. I was sensible enough to question the logic of this tall tale which I nevertheless believed to be true. Whenever the Pfeil card was displayed among a group of boys my age, someone would inevitably repeat the legend of Pfeil's helmet which, as far as I can remember, was never challenged. I suppose that we all eventually outgrew the legend of Pfeil's helmet.

Ashie62 Dec 07 2010 11:53 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Amos Otis.

batmagadanleadoff Dec 07 2010 11:55 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

seawolf17 Dec 08 2010 05:09 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

One-gamer Jessie Hudson.

G-Fafif Dec 08 2010 05:25 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Jack DiLauro, whom I met as an Astro in the 1970 set.

batmagadanleadoff Dec 08 2010 07:00 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I screwed this one up. There were two other '69 Mets who never appeared on a Topps card as a Met. Dilauro was one of them

batmagadanleadoff Dec 08 2010 08:12 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I'll put up the answer within the hour. In keeping with the theme of this thread, here's one of my modern favorites: Carlos Delgado's 2006 Bowman Heritage card The image used for this card is a detail of the image used for Delgado's 2007 Topps Heritage card:

batmagadanleadoff Dec 08 2010 09:28 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card? Edited 2 time(s), most recently on Dec 08 2010 09:55 AM

The other '69 Met is Bob Johnson who, with Amos Otis, was traded for Joe Foy. New question: Ten years after the miracle of '69, the 1979 Mets were, perhaps, the worst team in Met history that didn't play their home games at the Polo Grounds. Yet all but one 1979 Met appeared on a Topps card as a Met. Who's the one?

Edgy DC Dec 08 2010 09:45 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Jose Cardenal.

batmagadanleadoff Dec 08 2010 09:46 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 08 2010 09:48 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Hebner?

batmagadanleadoff Dec 08 2010 09:52 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Edgy DC Dec 08 2010 09:55 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

The late Wayne Twitchell.

batmagadanleadoff Dec 08 2010 10:00 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

As if the 1980 season wasn't enough torture, Met fans who collected baseball card were constantly reminded of Hebner even after he'd gone away. Twitchell's the one! at Shea:

metsguyinmichigan Dec 12 2010 06:51 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card? Edited 2 time(s), most recently on Dec 12 2010 10:05 PM

No. 8 -- 1993 Bobby Bonilla: It wasn't entirely his fault. OK, the card-playing in the clubhouse with Rickey during Game Six was horrible. In fact, all of 1999 was horrible. But I'm talking about Bobby Bonilla's first go-around with the Mets. which ran from 1992 to part of 1995. The Mets put him into a role -- as "the Man" on a high-profile team -- that Bonilla just wasn't suited for. The Mets, of course, have a history a doing this type of thing, chasing the biggest free-agent of the off-season because the player is, in fact, the biggest free agent of the off-season, appeasing the media beast that will never give its approval no matter what the team does. Fresh off Bonilla's success with the Pirates, where he was surrounded by Barry Bonds and other stars, the Mets threw at him a 5-year, $29 million deal and annointed him the star on which the team would build upon. He certainly wasn't terrible. Bonilla hit 34 homers in 1993, and hit .290 the following season. But those just aren't the numbers required to be a mega-star in New York. Fans were disappointed and Bobby Bo became Bobby Boo, which was just blood in the water for Met-hating Yankee hacks like Bob Klapisch, who egged Bonilla into a much-publicized confrontation. Bonilla told Klap he could "show him the Bronx," and I don't think he meant an afternoon at the Cloisters and the Bronx Zoo. As if a Yankee hack like Klap didn't know the Bronx. Cast out of the New York spotlight, Bonilla actually mounted a resurrection in Baltimore in 1996 and with the Marlins the next season, earning a World Series ring. He was traded to the Dodgers in the fire sale of 1998, part of the mega-package that included Gary Sheffield and brought Mike Piazza to the Fish for a five-game layover before his ascension to the Mets. And Bonilla came back, too, in a swap of bad contracts and players needing a scenery change, with the Mets booting Mel Rojas to the Dodgers. Mets 2.0 was a disaster, with Bonilla becoming bummed about playing time, feuding with Bobby Valentine and, apparently, forming a card-playing malcontents club with Henderson. Alas, Bonilla did get one really great baseball card. I love his 1993 card with the magnificent New York skyline rising in the background and Bobby flashing a confident smile.

batmagadanleadoff Dec 12 2010 09:10 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

These might be the kindest thoughts ever expressed by a Mets fan about Bobby Bonilla in almost 18 years. I dissent.

G-Fafif Dec 12 2010 09:26 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Great card, subject notwithstanding. Goddamn, I was excited when we signed him.

metsguyinmichigan Dec 13 2010 09:28 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

No. 7, 1968 Jerry Koosman [url]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RJnZXOek6bo/TQbxbmZcYnI/AAAAAAAAE58/TWilPRez6Ok/s1600/68%2BKoosman%2BRyan.jpg It’s a remarkable rookie card to be sure. One of the two players is in the discussion as the second-best Mets pitcher. The other guy was traded for an accordion player. And check this out. Between the two pitchers on this card, there are 546 wins, 8,270 strikeouts, seven no-hitters – and not a single Cy Young Award. How is that even possible? One of them joins Tom Seaver with a beautiful plaque in the Hall of Fame -- the one in Queens. The other is in Cooperstown with Tom, but he’s wearing the wrong cap. In all seriousness, the gulf between Jerry Koosman and Nolan Ryan isn’t that great. Ryan’s career winning percentage is .526, Koosman’s is .515, and pitched for some far worse teams, I might add. Ryan’s ERA is 3.19, Koosman’s is 3.36. Koosman got just four votes when he was on the Hall ballot in 1991, and Ryan somehow got 98.79 percent of the ballots in his first year, and even swiped what was rightfully Tom Seaver’s slot on the All-Century Team. Let’s look at the post-season. Koosman is 4-0, including two wins in the World Series, even taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Ryan is 2-2, and his only World Series appearance is 2.3 innings of Agee-aided relief. One more cool Koosman fact: He was discovered by the son of a Shea Stadium usher who caught Koosman when he pitched in the Army at Fort Bliss Texas, he had written to his dad about Koosman. The Mets offered Koosman a contract after his discharge. So, yeah, Jerry Koosman’s rookie card is pretty special, the seventh-best Topps card of all time. Nolan Ryan is on it, too.

Ashie62 Dec 18 2010 07:23 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

A couple of 2004 Topps Finest Moments refractor Autographs of our namesake and nails.

batmagadanleadoff Jan 20 2011 09:21 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

metsguyinmichigan wrote: No. 7, 1968 Jerry Koosman [url]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RJnZXOek6bo/TQbxbmZcYnI/AAAAAAAAE58/TWilPRez6Ok/s1600/68%2BKoosman%2BRyan.jpg It’s a remarkable rookie card to be sure. Did your wife throw out all of your baseball cards in the last 30 days?

G-Fafif Jan 20 2011 10:08 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Why, that rascal's been updating the countdown on his blog!

metsguyinmichigan Jan 20 2011 10:14 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Well, we have Doc Gooden at No. 6: Jose Reyes at No. 5: Willie Mays at No. 4: Mookie Wilson at No. 3: Any guesses or suggestions for the final two?

batmagadanleadoff Jan 20 2011 10:22 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I know the answer(s) because you've probably written at least ten posts over the years telling us what your all-time favorite Topps Mets card is. The guy on your #1 card is smiling even wider than '85 Mookie.

Edgy DC Jan 20 2011 10:26 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Unless I missed it and you already counted it, number two's got to be sassy-hipped Rusty scoffing at the pitches from the on-deck circle.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 20 2011 10:41 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Well, we have Doc Gooden at No. 6: took about 5 seconds to find this game. But where is the scorecard? [url]http://ultimatemets.com/gamedetail.php?gameno=4542

Benjamin Grimm Jan 20 2011 10:45 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

That feature's not "live" yet.

Edgy DC Jan 20 2011 10:47 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

That's quite the Metly Dodger squad. Hubie sure stunk up the joint that day.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 20 2011 10:57 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Mackey had hisself a day, though. Speaking of which... no Mackey Sasser cards in there, MGiM? He always made good board.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 20 2011 11:02 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

So it looks like that was a bases-loaded triple for Doc in the third inning. Looks like that photo is of him rounding first (correct?) but if so, the scoreboard has already tallied all three runs.

batmagadanleadoff Jan 20 2011 11:04 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Doc rounding first would place the old foul territory corner oufield Shea bricks in centerfield.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 20 2011 11:07 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Actually, if that was first base, then the outfield bricks would be closer to home plate, which is clearly wrong. So that must be third base. (Which would explain why the runs were already on the scoreboard.) But knowing that it's third base, it looks like Gooden had thoughts of going for four.

Edgy DC Jan 20 2011 11:11 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Suggested minor scorecard tweaks: [list:3vu7gb7l][*:3vu7gb7l]Putting new pitchers at the top of the box for their first batter is golden, but probably is redundant and un-necessary for the first pitcher.[/*:m:3vu7gb7l] [*:3vu7gb7l]You might want to align those pitchers center instead of left.[/*:m:3vu7gb7l] [*:3vu7gb7l]You might also want to include the records for the pitchers of record as well as the savior.[/*:m:3vu7gb7l] [*:3vu7gb7l]Can the number of a homerun appear beneath HR in parentheses?[/*:m:3vu7gb7l] [*:3vu7gb7l]Can you include dots or hashmarks symbolizing the number of RBIs a player got in a plate appearance.[/*:m:3vu7gb7l][/list:u:3vu7gb7l] None of which is mant to suggest that those cards represent anything less than the glorious fulfillment of you asking what you can do for your country.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 20 2011 11:20 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Some of that is more easily done than others. (Centering text is actually much tougher than you'd guess.) I can do the season totals stuff (win-loss, homers, etc.) for Mets players but not for opponents. The one thing I still want to do before I go live is have the ink color change when there's a pinch runner. I can do that, I just haven't yet found the time. There are other flaws that I know of. Sometimes a player gets a play of 5-0-0-0-0 on the basepaths. I haven't figured that one out yet. But I'm not going to wait until it's perfect before I reveal it to the world. I don't think I'll live long enough to iron out all the quirks.

metsguyinmichigan Jan 20 2011 12:08 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Not only was I at that Doc game, it was the last time I saw them win in person until 2008! The infamous streak of shame.

metsguyinmichigan Jan 20 2011 12:31 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card? Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jan 20 2011 12:45 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Unless I missed it and you already counted it, number two's got to be sassy-hipped Rusty scoffing at the pitches from the on-deck circle. Alas, this Rusty was No. 28. In hindsight, there are a couple great cards that I was holding off on to get them into the top 10, and when I got around to actually counting them, well, there were more than 10. I expect to get pounded on for a couple omissions. Perplexed by BatMad's guess.

batmagadanleadoff Jan 20 2011 12:43 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

The 1970 World Champs team card is my guess for #2.

metsguyinmichigan Jan 31 2011 09:00 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

batmagadanleadoff is, of course, correct that the 1970 team card is No. 2 in the Topps countdown. I posted the whole postseason subset, and I'm having trouble identifying some of the players: OK, from the right, I see we have Wayne Garrett, Nolan Ryan, Tommie Agee and ... is that Tug? Any guesses? Then, on the Mets Whoop it Up card, I see: Kranepool, Tug and Ed Charles, but who is the guy hamming it up in the foreground? Swoboda? I was thinking Grote, but he doesn't seem like a giddy kind of guy. Note, in the background, the all-too-serious reporters interviewing some off-camera Met.

Edgy DC Jan 31 2011 09:09 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

That's Tug on the right. And I guess, Nolie's got the only Mets nipple in Topps history.

metsguyinmichigan Jan 31 2011 10:55 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

[url]http://metsguyinmichigan.blogspot.com/2011/01/topps-countdown-at-no-2-with-1970-card.html Here's the blog link to the rest of the playoffs and World Series cards. Any guesses on what will be Topps card No. 1 of all-time?

Benjamin Grimm Jan 31 2011 01:10 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I see you got a link from Matt Cerrone on MetsBlog.

seawolf17 Jan 31 2011 01:25 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Yay! 2011 Topps is out! Bad: Fourth and fifth cards out of my first pack, back to back: Jeter and A-Rod. Bad: Only two Mets. Good: The two Mets were: http://twitpic.com/3v941n Back of the Mets team card features four "season highlights." Quiz time.

metsguyinmichigan Jan 31 2011 07:24 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

The Dickey and Niese one-hitters?

metsguyinmichigan Feb 06 2011 08:22 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

And the No. 1 Topps card of all time? Was there any doubt? [url]http://metsguyinmichigan.blogspot.com/2011/02/its-true-tom-teriffic-atop-topps-top-60.html And the contenders: Note the autograph! I love this card!

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 06 2011 08:46 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I wonder if Seaver still has his Topps All-Star Rookie trophy. I wonder if Topps even gave them out. I also like that they capitalized Homered.

bmfc1 Feb 07 2011 06:20 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I bought a 36-pack of the new Topps set. Very nice, even though I didn't get any Mets and got 4 MFPs.

seawolf17 Feb 07 2011 07:26 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Get any of the sparkly inserts? I'm thinking about working on that set.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 07 2011 07:59 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Where does one buy baseball cards these days?

metsguyinmichigan Feb 07 2011 08:03 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Target has them. Walmart, usually. Meijer out here, which is like if you merged the best Target and the best food store into one giant store. They are one of the best things about the Midwest. Anyway, I bought a couple packs. I'm underwhelmed. The foil makes the cards nearly impossible to read. I did pull RA Dickey, and one of those sparkly cards.

seawolf17 Feb 07 2011 08:23 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I will likely have extra Mets team sets very soon, if anyone wants one. I bought into a case break, so I should have a bunch of doubles. The Series 1 team set, for what it's worth, is: 15 David Wright 56 Johan Santana 66 R.A. Dickey 119 Jason Bay 129 Lucas Duda 147 Jon Niese 156 Josh Thole 157 Mets team card (features Reyes/Pagan in flight) 203 Dillon Gee 207 Angel Pagan 290 Ike Davis I'll trade for anything you have no need for, especially sparklies.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 07 2011 09:32 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card? Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 07 2011 11:05 AM

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Where does one buy baseball cards these days? I have a collection of Mets cards and here's how I maintain my collection: Once or twice a year, I'll go an an ebay binge where I search out all the new sets for Mets cards. Sellers commonly break up their cards into team sets. I can figure out what cards are in the sets by comparing listings -- many sets for offer aren't complete even though they're listed as such. I see the cards for sale in many stores, especially Duane Reade and Rite Aid. Last week, I noticed cards for sale in that chain store that sells DVD's and CD's and electronic supplies -- but I forget the store's name metsguyinmichigan wrote: Anyway, I bought a couple packs. I'm underwhelmed. The foil makes the cards nearly impossible to read. I did pull RA Dickey, and one of those sparkly cards. I don't know why the card companies continue to make foil cards. Nobody, I mean nobody likes 'em. Upper Deck used to make the largest sets, and had some of the coolest photographs. You could count on UD to include, for example, Pedro Feliciano in its set. But that foil they used year in and year outi was impossible to read. You have to manipulate the cards to catch the light at just the right angle to read the face of those cards. I know that you know what I'm talking about. I thought that the '72 Seaver In Action was your #1. You'd once written that it was your favorite card.

metsguyinmichigan Feb 07 2011 10:52 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

An awesome card to be sure, but I've always had the 1972 base card as a favorite.

seawolf17 Feb 07 2011 11:05 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Dear God! He's enormous! They make the foil layer on the cards more or less because they've done it for so long (since 1992) that they have to keep doing it. Maybe I'm just used to it, because it doesn't bother me at all; I like the look.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 07 2011 11:06 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Last week, I noticed cards for sale in that chain store that sells DVD's and CD's and electronic supplies -- but I forget the store's name. Best Buy.

metsguyinmichigan Feb 07 2011 12:27 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

[url]http://www.flickr.com/photos/njbaseball/5419340879/ awesome! [url]http://www.flickr.com/photos/njbaseball/5419944682/ Dooh! Flicker won't let me post.

themetfairy Feb 07 2011 02:37 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

michigan - I always upload to Image Shack when I want to post here.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 07 2011 02:48 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card? Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 07 2011 02:51 PM

You can't post images from your links. Click on "Actions" .. "View all Sizes".. Pick a size and link that image.

seawolf17 Feb 07 2011 02:50 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

The problem is that you know that ball bounced off the heel of his fucking glove, allowing the runner on second to come all the way around third and score. Fuckin' hell.

Ashie62 Feb 07 2011 03:43 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

2011 R.A

G-Fafif Feb 07 2011 05:19 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Outstanding choice for No. 1 (and No. 2 and No. 4 -- those are my personal Top Three). Outstanding series. Thank you, MGIM for showing us the tops of Topps.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 07 2011 05:21 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Indeed. Also... very, very good and Metly, this year's batch.

G-Fafif Feb 07 2011 05:31 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Dickey appears ready to hurl himself out of his card and into our dreams.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 07 2011 06:35 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

These modern cards, to me, have better production values, but no magic.

Ashie62 Feb 07 2011 08:22 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

seawolf17 wrote: I will likely have extra Mets team sets very soon, if anyone wants one. I bought into a case break, so I should have a bunch of doubles. The Series 1 team set, for what it's worth, is: 15 David Wright 56 Johan Santana 66 R.A. Dickey 119 Jason Bay 129 Lucas Duda 147 Jon Niese 156 Josh Thole 157 Mets team card (features Reyes/Pagan in flight) 203 Dillon Gee 207 Angel Pagan 290 Ike Davis I'll trade for anything you have no need for, especially sparklies. We all want sparklies lol..10 bucks a pop now

Ashie62 Feb 07 2011 08:24 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Benjamin Grimm wrote: These modern cards, to me, have better production values, but no magic. Some would say the magic ended in 1970 with 1964-68 as the golden years.

G-Fafif Feb 07 2011 09:13 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Benjamin Grimm wrote: These modern cards, to me, have better production values, but no magic. Same could be said of these dadgum modern ballparks. One of them anyway.

metirish Feb 11 2011 09:09 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I happened upon a few dozen cards recently , mostly from the late 80's. Topps Dream Team and some 90/Score cards No idea if these are considered good or crap but some are pretty cool looking.

metsguyinmichigan Feb 11 2011 09:51 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

My philosophy is that if you like them, they are good! Very, very few of the cards from that era have monetary value, just way over-produced. But that doesn't mean they aren't fun to have. And, for the record, I think the Topps golden age was 1970-1974, with a second semi-golden age from 1983-1989..

seawolf17 Feb 11 2011 10:27 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Got those team sets in; I think I probably have about four or five more if anyone's interested. Michigan's right on the value, but he's also right on the fun. None of the four guys I collect most heavily have any "value" on the secondary market (except maybe Keith Hernandez), but I do it for myself.

metirish Feb 11 2011 10:37 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Something about the Mike Greenwell card that I like, never heard of the guy yet when I go to his BR I see not only had he a good career but it was all with the red Sox.

G-Fafif Feb 11 2011 10:49 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

metirish wrote: Something about the Mike Greenwell card that I like, never heard of the guy yet when I go to his BR I see not only had he a good career but it was all with the red Sox. Went to the same high school as Deion Sanders and Mrs. Fafif, though not at the same time.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 11 2011 11:39 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

How many of your personal golden ages of baseball cards coincide, for sentimental reasons mainly, with the same years when you first discovered baseball and baseball cards? A strong case can be made for the end of the golden age occurring in the early '60s, when Topps' dirty tactics ran its last competitor, Fleer, out of business. "But no child could believe that having just one set of baseball cards to choose from was a good thing. As the Topps monopoly became impenetrable, kids saw a decline in the quality of the cards. This institutional complacency first appeared in the mid-1960s, when designs started to lose their pop and Topps became comfortable with cutting corners. When a player was traded to another team during the production process, rather than pay for a photo of him in his new uniform, the company simply had its artists superimpose new logos on the old hat and shirt. (This tweak may have curried favor with tobacco-card collectors in the 1880s, but by the 1960s and '70s it was considered a cheap cost-cutting move.) Most of these airbrush jobs were hopelessly cheesy-looking.... Topps also had no reservations about running the same photo on certain players' cards year after year, which its adolescent customers discovered with annoyance. Such shortcuts were indicative of a sameness that would settle into Topps baseball cards for years to come, and the outcome of the FTC case didn't help ... finding that there was nothing "inherently unfair" about the company's lock on exclusive contracts with players." From Mint Condition I read this book last December, when I had the flu and I was practically bed-ridden for about two days. I sought some light reading to pass the time and settled on Mint. From Fleer's last set for almost 20 years:

seawolf17 Feb 11 2011 11:52 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I have that card, and one other from that set. (Kanehl, I think.)

Edgy DC Feb 11 2011 11:55 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Dumb question: how did these other card producers survive through the decades-long Topps exclusive period to put out cards on the other end? Were they scrapping by, producing NHL cards or Wacky Packages or ALF cards? Or were their names just adpoted by different entities later?

seawolf17 Feb 11 2011 12:09 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Pretty much, yes. Fleer brought a lawsuit in the late 70s against Topps, which broke the monopoly and created two new sets (Fleer and Donruss) for 1981. Then in the late 80s-early 90s, all sorts of other brands popped up (Score and Upper Deck, most notably), eventually killing the market. "Only" Topps and Upper Deck remain, although Panini -- known for their stickers back in the day -- are back. Donruss- and Fleer-branded cards are out there again, but they're produced by Panini and UD, respectively.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 11 2011 12:10 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Wacky Packages was Topps. By the '50s, every Topps competitor was scraping by. In 1956, Bowman succumbed and sold its assets to Topps. The intense competition cut into Bowman's profit margins so deeply, that it could no longer operate. It was Bowman that first produced cards with color photographs, and first included the players' stats on the back of the card. Its' 1955 TV cards are classic.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 11 2011 12:58 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Sweet paneling!

metsguyinmichigan Feb 11 2011 02:22 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

How many of your personal golden ages of baseball cards coincide, for sentimental reasons mainly, with the same years when you first discovered baseball and baseball cards? A strong case can be made for the end of the golden age occurring in the early '60s, when Topps' dirty tactics ran its last competitor, Fleer, out of business. From Fleer's last set for almost 20 years: There are only about three Mets in this set. I think Fleer was shut down after one series. The cards came with a cookie, with the theory that Topps had rights to produce "bubble gum cards" but not cookie cards. I have three or four of them, and can post them later if interested. I had one of every Met card from 1962 through when the companies went nuts with inserts and short prints. I have a company from Iowa that builds team sets without the inserts and short-prints and sends them to me. So, instead of saying I have every Met card, I now can only say I have every Met base set card. As far as a complete series, I have a run from 1973 to present, and I'm very close to finishing the 1971 set and about 50 short of the glorious 1972 set. I'm within spitting distance of finishing the 1970 set -- which is as far as I'll ever get.

G-Fafif Feb 11 2011 04:07 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Gotta love those backdrops -- Craig and Jackson at the Polo Grounds, Kanehl at Citi Field, apparently.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 12 2011 03:20 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Wrung a quicky blog post outta this card today for this man's birthday: [url]http://mbtn.net/caught-act

Rockin' Doc Feb 12 2011 03:30 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Wacky Packages was Topps. By the '50s, every Topps competitor was scraping by. In 1956, Bowman succumbed and sold its assets to Topps. The intense competition cut into Bowman's profit margins so deeply, that it could no longer operate. It was Bowman that first produced cards with color photographs, and first included the players' stats on the back of the card. Its' 1955 TV cards are classic. I have some of those cards in my card collection. I need to get them organized and post some of the interesting ones someday. It's been so long since I have actually looked at my card collection.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 12 2011 04:42 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I got these:

batmagadanleadoff Feb 12 2011 04:56 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Wrung a quicky blog post outta this card today for this man's birthday: [url]http://mbtn.net/caught-act It looks like Prince put the pressure on you with his CPF inspired Jerry post. That's one of my favorite Met cards of the '70s, and my favorite '70s set. Here's another great action shot card from the '78 set: ... better than the typical Topps action shot that often compromises detail for motion and results in green pea-sized players' faces.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 12 2011 07:01 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

It was fortuitous timing more than anything. but whatever works. Someone actually posted that Randle card on fb today, that's what got it going, but once I figured out the play I had to follow through.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 12 2011 09:27 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Gotta be [url]http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1977/B07172NYN1977.htm PIRATES 1ST: Garner reached on an error by Randle [Garner to first]; Stennett doubled to right [Garner scored (unearned)]; Parker singled to left [Stennett scored]; Robinson was called out on strikes; Oliver grounded into a double play (third to second to first) [Parker out at second]; 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, 1 E, 0 LOB. Pirates 2, Mets 0.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 12 2011 09:51 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Gotta be [url]http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1977/B07172NYN1977.htm PIRATES 1ST: Garner reached on an error by Randle [Garner to first]; Stennett doubled to right [Garner scored (unearned)]; Parker singled to left [Stennett scored]; Robinson was called out on strikes; Oliver grounded into a double play (third to second to first) [Parker out at second]; 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, 1 E, 0 LOB. Pirates 2, Mets 0. And there's your next MBTN post.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 13 2011 09:01 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

batmagadanleadoff wrote: And there's your next MBTN post. Even better than the last if I may say so. [url]http://mbtn.net/his-bag-tricks

metsguyinmichigan Feb 13 2011 09:36 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: And there's your next MBTN post. Even better than the last if I may say so. [url]http://mbtn.net/his-bag-tricks I'm in awe that you can pinpoint those dates! Outstanding.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 13 2011 10:21 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Sweet work, JCL.

G-Fafif Feb 13 2011 10:27 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

This may be the Topps photography version of cell phone cameras catching athletes when they're not looking. "I know what you were doing on July 17, 1977, and I have proof!"

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 01:54 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card? Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 13 2011 02:12 PM

Let's turn this thread (once again) into a trivia contest. This one's only semi-trivia. I have a collection of Mets baseball cards and I keep track of the number of Mets cards in my collection according to player. My Mets card collection is large enough (though definitely not complete) so that my "player list" is probably a credible proxy for determining which Mets appeared on the most baseball cards. By combining your expert knowledge on Mets, baseball and baseball cards, see if you can guess the 15 Mets that appear on the most baseball cards (in my collection). One guess per post.

metsguyinmichigan Feb 13 2011 02:01 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Mr. Kranepool, I suspect, is one that list if you started collecting early.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 13 2011 02:05 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

John Franco. Probably appeared in more sets than Kranepool did, since he played in the Fleer/Donruss era.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 02:08 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Mr. Kranepool, I suspect, is one that list if you started collecting early. Kranepool doesn't even sniff my top 15. His entire career took place when Topps had the bubble-gum/card market to itself* and produced only one set per year. Kranepool baseball card trivia: Ed Kranepool was card #1 in Kellogg's inaugural !970 set. *But, see, Fleer 1963, supra.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 02:10 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. John Franco -- Grimm 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 02:16 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Mr. Kranepool, I suspect, is one that list if you started collecting early. I was scratching my head and wondering how you, of all people, could make that mistake. You probably thought that this exercise was limited to Topps cards only, I'm guessing.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 13 2011 02:17 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Seaver

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 13 2011 02:18 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Strawberry

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 13 2011 02:18 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Stengel

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 13 2011 02:18 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Piazza

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 02:26 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card? Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 13 2011 04:25 PM

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. John Franco -- Grimm 7. 8. 9. Darryl Strawberry -- JCL 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Seaver is #17 on my list, but with a bullet. A recent trend in baseball cards is to include cards of retired players in the current sets. So, for example, Topps' base set, in addition to including the two dozen or so current Mets that are deemed most card-worthy, might also include a Nolan Ryan or a Tom Seaver in a Mets uniform and under the same design template as the other base cards. Seaver is on pace to break into my top 15, probably this year. Seaver 2010 Topps Seaver 2010 Topps National Chicle

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 02:31 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

1. Mike Piazza -- JCL 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. John Franco -- Grimm 7. 8. 9. Darryl Strawberry -- JCL 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. There might be a small margin of error attached to my list, due to faulty record keeping or that my collection isn't complete --- but there's not an iota of doubt that Mike Piazza appeared on more baseball cards as a Met than any other Met. Nobody else is close. And so long as the current status quo remains, with Topps the only official licensee authorized to produce cards with MLB's logos, nobody's gonna catch Mike.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 13 2011 02:57 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Edgardo Alfonzo. Bobby J. Jones.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 03:14 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

1. Mike Piazza -- JCL 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. John Franco -- Grimm 7. 8. Edgardo Alfonzo -- Grimm 9. Darryl Strawberry -- JCL 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Bobby J. Jones -- Grimm 15.

Edgy DC Feb 13 2011 03:17 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Al Leiter

Edgy DC Feb 13 2011 03:18 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Rick Reed

Edgy DC Feb 13 2011 03:18 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Sid Fernandez

Edgy DC Feb 13 2011 03:19 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Howard Johnson.

metsguyinmichigan Feb 13 2011 03:21 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Gooden! As for Kranepool, I thought you were an older collector. Gary Carter, despite being a Met for a fairly short time, is in a bunch of sets.

metsguyinmichigan Feb 13 2011 03:26 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Loving that 2010 Seaver, and it's been elusive for me so far. Great card!

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 03:26 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Gooden! Yes! If Straw makes the top 15, then Gooden, who was still a Met four years after Straw signed with LA, has to be on that list. metsguyinmichigan wrote: As for Kranepool, I thought you were an older collector. I am. ????? metsguyinmichigan wrote: Gary Carter, despite being a Met for a fairly short time, is in a bunch of sets. Gary's got that Seaver/Ryan veteran card thing going on, too. Carter, 2008 Donruss Threads

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 03:28 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

1. Mike Piazza -- JCL 2. 3. 4. Dwight Gooden -- Mich 5. 6. John Franco -- Grimm 7. 8. Edgardo Alfonzo -- Grimm 9. Darryl Strawberry -- JCL 10. 11. Al Leiter -- Edgy 12. Howard Johnson -- Edgy 13. 14. Bobby J. Jones -- Grimm 15.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 13 2011 03:33 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Todd Hundley. David Wright.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 03:37 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card? Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 13 2011 03:41 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Rick Reed Reed had the bad timing to play for the Mets when the card companies reduced the size of their larger sets. During those years, it was unlikely for the third or fourth guy in the rotation to get a card. Reed deserved better treatment from the card makers: he's one of the 20 or 25 best starting pitchers in franchise history. I have only nine Rick Reed (97-01) Mets cards. By comparison, I have 34 Anthony Youngs (91-93) and 30 Pete Schoureks (91-93). The early '90s saw the most large sets per season.

Edgy DC Feb 13 2011 03:38 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Kevin Elster.

Edgy DC Feb 13 2011 03:39 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Gregg Jefferies.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 03:40 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

1. Mike Piazza -- JCL 2. David Wright -- Grimm 3. 4. Dwight Gooden -- Mich 5. Todd Hundley -- Grimm 6. John Franco -- Grimm 7. 8. Edgardo Alfonzo -- Grimm 9. Darryl Strawberry -- JCL 10. 11. Al Leiter -- Edgy 12. Howard Johnson -- Edgy 13. 14. Bobby J. Jones -- Grimm 15. Wright looked like he had a shot at catching Piazza -- until last season. But he won't catch Mike so long as Topps is the only company printing cards.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 13 2011 03:41 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Reyes

Edgy DC Feb 13 2011 03:41 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Rick Reed Reed had the bad timing to play for the Mets when the card companies reduced the size of their larger sets. During those years, it was unlikely for the third or fourth guy in the rotation to get a card. Reed deserved better treatment from the card makers: he's one of the 20 or 25 best starting pitchers in franchise history. I have only nine Rick Reed (97-01) Mets cards. By comparison, I have 34 Anthony Youngs (91-93) and 30 Pete Schoureks (91-93). The early '90s saw the most large sets per season. Perhaps Reed's scabbiness also hurt his case.

Edgy DC Feb 13 2011 03:43 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Kevin McReynolds

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 13 2011 03:43 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Ordonez

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 03:49 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card? Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 13 2011 04:02 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Edgy DC wrote: Rick Reed Reed had the bad timing to play for the Mets when the card companies reduced the size of their larger sets. During those years, it was unlikely for the third or fourth guy in the rotation to get a card. Reed deserved better treatment from the card makers: he's one of the 20 or 25 best starting pitchers in franchise history. I have only nine Rick Reed (97-01) Mets cards. By comparison, I have 34 Anthony Youngs (91-93) and 30 Pete Schoureks (91-93). The early '90s saw the most large sets per season. Perhaps Reed's scabbiness also hurt his case. I doubt it, but that would be a shame if it was true. Reed deserved better all-around, not just from the card companies. It always bothered me that Reed was shunned by some. I could see scabs being mistreated in other industries where the employees and skill sets are more fungible, and there is a real risk of losing your job to a scab. But the idea that those replacement players, collectively, ever posed any threat to the established major leaguers, I thought, was ignorant and mean-spirited.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 03:51 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

1. Mike Piazza -- JCL 2. David Wright -- Grimm 3. Jose Reyes -- JCL 4. Dwight Gooden -- Mich 5. Todd Hundley -- Grimm 6. John Franco -- Grimm 7. 8. Edgardo Alfonzo -- Grimm 9. Darryl Strawberry -- JCL 10. Rey Ordonez -- JCL 11. Al Leiter -- Edgy 12. Howard Johnson -- Edgy 13. 14. Bobby J. Jones -- Grimm 15.

Edgy DC Feb 13 2011 03:54 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Bonilla.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 03:57 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

1. Mike Piazza -- JCL 2. David Wright -- Grimm 3. Jose Reyes -- JCL 4. Dwight Gooden -- Mich 5. Todd Hundley -- Grimm 6. John Franco -- Grimm 7. 8. Edgardo Alfonzo -- Grimm 9. Darryl Strawberry -- JCL 10. Rey Ordonez -- JCL 11. Al Leiter -- Edgy 12. Howard Johnson -- Edgy 13. Bobby Bonilla -- Edgy 14. Bobby J. Jones -- Grimm 15.

metsguyinmichigan Feb 13 2011 04:09 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Reed being a scab actually hurt a lot. He wasn't a part of the union, and cared companies needed to negotiate with the union for licensing. There were a couple players caught up in that. Topps, I believe, signed individual contracts with players, so he could still appear in sets -- and you're right, he was hampered twice when the set sizes were reduced. Stumping on that last spot. Has Beltran been guessed?

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 04:16 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

1. Mike Piazza -- JCL 2. David Wright -- Grimm 3. Jose Reyes -- JCL 4. Dwight Gooden -- Mich 5. Todd Hundley -- Grimm 6. John Franco -- Grimm 7. Carlos Beltran -- Mich 8. Edgardo Alfonzo -- Grimm 9. Darryl Strawberry -- JCL 10. Rey Ordonez -- JCL 11. Al Leiter -- Edgy 12. Howard Johnson -- Edgy 13. Bobby Bonilla -- Edgy 14. Bobby J. Jones -- Grimm 15.

metsguyinmichigan Feb 13 2011 04:22 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Inspired by this discussion today, I bought a rack pack of 2011 Topps. Decent pack: Johan, Dillon Gee, a sparkly card of David Price, Strasburg, a mini retro card of Justin Upton, a faux Piazza rookie -- a double, actually -- a jersey card of Carlos Marmol, a 1933 Goudey of Mel Ott and, finally, a sweet card of M's outfield Michael Saunders going Endy.

Edgy DC Feb 13 2011 04:47 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Pedro Martinez.

SteveJRogers Feb 13 2011 05:00 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Keith Hernandez

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 05:05 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

1. Mike Piazza -- JCL 2. David Wright -- Grimm 3. Jose Reyes -- JCL 4. Dwight Gooden -- Mich 5. Todd Hundley -- Grimm 6. John Franco -- Grimm 7. Carlos Beltran -- Mich 8. Edgardo Alfonzo -- Grimm 9. Darryl Strawberry -- JCL 10. Rey Ordonez -- JCL 11. Al Leiter -- Edgy 12. Howard Johnson -- Edgy 13. Bobby Bonilla -- Edgy 14. Bobby J. Jones -- Grimm 15. Pedro Martinez -- Edgy Martinez 2006 Topps Wal-Mart Jones 1968 Topps Martinez 2008 Upper Deck Goudey Durocher 1934 Goudey

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 05:16 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

SteveJRogers wrote: Keith Hernandez Keith is #23 on my list. But have some Keith cards. They're on me. Happy Birthday, kid. Hernandez 2005 Topps All Time Fan Favorites Hernandez 1984 Topps Hernandez and best buddy BFF Wade Boggs 1987 Fleer World Series. What's so funny, guys? Only one team gets to win.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 06:47 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Reed being a scab actually hurt a lot. He wasn't a part of the union, and cared companies needed to negotiate with the union for licensing. There were a couple players caught up in that. Topps, I believe, signed individual contracts with players, so he could still appear in sets -- and you're right, he was hampered twice when the set sizes were reduced. You must be right. I went through my cards, and discovered that all nine of my Rick Reed Mets cards are Topps cards. This can't be due to chance alone, given the large number of companies that produced cards when Reed was a Met. Also, I flipped through a few large-sized sets produced by Fleer, Upper Deck and Pacific and could not come up with any plausible explanation for Reed's omission from those sets given the number of Mets that were included, other than a scab/union issue. Reed was always a key Met and would be more deserving of a card than, say, Rich Becker or Tim Spehr.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 13 2011 07:12 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Post more Met action photos where we can determine the actual game from clues in the photo. That's fun!

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 07:21 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Post more Met action photos where we can determine the actual game from clues in the photo. That's fun! Boswell 1971 Topps, (in the style of Millan, '78 Topps) Is that Vic Davalillo, sliding into 2nd?

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 07:25 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

batmagadanleadoff wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Post more Met action photos where we can determine the actual game from clues in the photo. That's fun! Boswell 1971 Topps, (in the style of Millan, '78 Topps) Is that Vic Davalillo, sliding into 2nd? 2010 Gary Matthews, Topps

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 07:31 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Post more Met action photos where we can determine the actual game from clues in the photo. That's fun! Ryan Thompson 1995 Pinnacle

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 13 2011 07:33 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Must be. How many Mets cards show the Whitestone? That's sweet. The 78 Koosman is an action shot I'd bet was taken the same day (and by the same shooter) as the Millan one but there's no way to know for sure. That set had a nice mix of tight candids around the batting cage in addition to a few real action shots and your requisite Spring Training fake-poses.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 07:33 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Post more Met action photos where we can determine the actual game from clues in the photo. That's fun! Bonilla 1995 Topps Stadium Club; "Best Seat in the House"

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 07:36 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Must be. How many Mets cards show the Whitestone? That's sweet. The 78 Koosman is an action shot I'd bet was taken the same day (and by the same shooter) as the Millan one but there's no way to know for sure. That set had a nice mix of tight candids around the batting cage in addition to a few real action shots and your requisite Spring Training fake-poses. I noticed of the same thing as soon as you discovered that Koosman started the game against the Pirates where Millan was pictured. I'm looking for cards with enough context so that you have some chance to figure out the specific details.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 13 2011 07:49 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Post more Met action photos where we can determine the actual game from clues in the photo. That's fun! Boswell 1971 Topps, (in the style of Millan, '78 Topps) Is that Vic Davalillo, sliding into 2nd? May 28, 1970 CARDINALS 6TH: KOONCE REPLACED KRANEPOOL (PITCHING); Hague singled to center; Shannon flied to right; Maxvill singled to right [Hague to third]; Gibson singled to center [Maxvill to second, Hague scored]; Davalillo reached on an error by Garrett [Gibson to second, Maxvill to third]; Javier grounded into a double play (shortstop to second to first) [Davalillo out at second]; 1 R, 3 H, 1 E, 2 LOB. Cardinals 6, Mets 0.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 13 2011 07:59 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

The Matthews one is fooling me. There were only 2 road games where Matthews played the field and the Mets scored as many as 6 runs, but doesn't look like a match for either. Maybe that's not the score of this game (I guess knowing the park would help but they look all the same to me now).

metsguyinmichigan Feb 13 2011 08:10 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: The Matthews one is fooling me. There were only 2 road games where Matthews played the field and the Mets scored as many as 6 runs, but doesn't look like a match for either. Maybe that's not the score of this game (I guess knowing the park would help but they look all the same to me now). It's fooling you because it's Photoshopped. That's in the first series -- issued before he played a game as a Met -- and he's actually wearing an Angels uniform.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 08:22 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

metsguyinmichigan wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: The Matthews one is fooling me. There were only 2 road games where Matthews played the field and the Mets scored as many as 6 runs, but doesn't look like a match for either. Maybe that's not the score of this game (I guess knowing the park would help but they look all the same to me now). It's fooling you because it's Photoshopped. That's in the first series -- issued before he played a game as a Met -- and he's actually wearing an Angels uniform. I thought there was something odd about GMJ's uniform. The front uni # looks too small, and too high up ... like one of those knockoffs that resembles an official Met uniform, but isn't quite there.

Edgy DC Feb 13 2011 08:23 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Quite the ripoff, I tells ya.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 08:26 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

But give Topps credit for improving their photo-altering methods.

metsguyinmichigan Feb 13 2011 08:30 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Cleon out at the plate against the Braves!

batmagadanleadoff Feb 13 2011 08:39 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Here's a competent example of Topps photoshopping -- no more tacky cap airbrushing: Johan Santana -- 2008 Topps Heritage ('59 style Topps) -- two versions I've seen the rarer Met non-refractor Heritage card sell for over $100.00. I don't own it. I'll pass.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 13 2011 09:06 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

batmagadanleadoff wrote: metsguyinmichigan wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: The Matthews one is fooling me. There were only 2 road games where Matthews played the field and the Mets scored as many as 6 runs, but doesn't look like a match for either. Maybe that's not the score of this game (I guess knowing the park would help but they look all the same to me now). It's fooling you because it's Photoshopped. That's in the first series -- issued before he played a game as a Met -- and he's actually wearing an Angels uniform. I thought there was something odd about GMJ's uniform. The front uni # looks too small, and too high up ... like one of those knockoffs that resembles an official Met uniform, but isn't quite there. I thought that too, about the number.

G-Fafif Feb 14 2011 02:27 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card? Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 14 2011 02:51 AM

Post more Met action photos where we can determine the actual game from clues in the photo. That's fun! Ryan Thompson 1995 Pinnacle Ryan Thompson was hit by a pitch four times at home in 1994 (note the Miracle Mets patch), twice in day games. Given the agony on display and the lack of long sleeves, I'm going with May 4, 1994. The other HBP came in the Home Opener of the season, when it was too chilly for all but the hardiest souls to go sleeveless. Plus, Thompson had to leave the May game when he was hit in the eighth inning and was absent from action for several games directly thereafter. From the Times two days later: Thompson, hit on the hand by Dave Burba, did not play in St. Louis Thursday night. Although X-rays were negative on Thompson's hand and he is listed as day to day with a contusion of his right index finger, he is worried that he may have cracked a bone higher up in his hand, near his wrist. The Home Opener HBP was more lighthearted, by George Vecsey's reckoning: Thompson does have a persuasive way. With 12 of his relatives, including his grandparents, up from Maryland, he figured in the day's most hilarious episode, when an inside pitch bounced off something, maybe his bat. However, Thompson displayed both hands to the umpire, Charlie Williams, who inspected them and awarded Thompson first base. The Cubs' manager then made brassy anguished noises from the well known Fugue for Tom Trebelhorn, but to no avail. Later Thompson insisted the ball had hit his right thumb and left knuckles, no easy task.

G-Fafif Feb 14 2011 02:39 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card? Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 14 2011 02:49 AM

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Cleon out at the plate against the Braves! The Fourth of July, 1971 (a Sunday, but not a holiday doubleheader), Cleon cut down trying to score from second on a fourth-inning Bob Aspromonte single. Seaver has, for him, an off outing (6 IP, 9 H, 2 R), while Niekro scatters nine hits for the shutout. Both uniforms indicate it wasn't a 1972 game despite it being a 1973 card. The Braves had switched to the so-called softball tops in 1972 (plus Didier didn't play at Shea that year). Jones, meanwhile, would have been wearing a jersey with a black armband for Gil Hodges if it had been 1972.

G-Fafif Feb 14 2011 02:48 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Bonilla 1995 Topps Stadium Club; "Best Seat in the House" May 15, 1994, second inning, Rafael Belliard attempting to take third on a second-inning RBI double that scores Mark Lemke. Braves go on to beat Eric Hillman rather handily the day after John Cangelosi and Charlie O'Brien inadvertently posed for the cover of the May 23 issue of Sports Illustrated.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 14 2011 10:13 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Here's an easy one. I scoped out the answer. Pecota 1993 Topps Stadium Cluib How come Prince didn't solve the GMJ card?

batmagadanleadoff Feb 14 2011 10:17 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Charlie O'Brien 1994 Topps Gold

seawolf17 Feb 14 2011 10:19 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Sumbitch. That's Pete Harnisch grounding out on the Pecota. I need that in my collection.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 14 2011 10:20 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Kent 1994 Topps (JCL's a wizard on the pivot)

batmagadanleadoff Feb 14 2011 10:22 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Kent 1994 Score -- another pivot pic

Edgy DC Feb 14 2011 10:23 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

batmagadanleadoff Feb 14 2011 10:27 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

two 1994 Pinnacles: Kent & Burnitz

batmagadanleadoff Feb 14 2011 10:31 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Kevin Baez 1994 Topps Stadium Club

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 14 2011 11:05 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Great picture on the Baez. TERRIBLE card design. (It looks like the lettering that they'd plaster on fake TV shows/movies in '90s satires about cheesy, "corporate", mock-"edgy" pop-cultural product.)

G-Fafif Feb 14 2011 12:25 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Here's an easy one. I scoped out the answer. Pecota 1993 Topps Stadium Cluib Of course it's easy. It's Bill Pecota Surrender Day. Look at him giving up. Third inning, July 5, 1992, the more conventional answer.

G-Fafif Feb 14 2011 12:32 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

batmagadanleadoff wrote: 2010 Gary Matthews, Topps May 2, 2009, MFYS III, Matthews settling under a fly ball in right from Hideki Matsui for the final out of the bottom of the eighth. Roger Cedeno wants to know what GMJ is doing with his kid's shirt.

seawolf17 Feb 14 2011 12:44 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Edgy DC Feb 14 2011 12:53 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

two 1994 Pinnacles: Kent & Burnitz July 15, 1993, Mark Carreon hits a fourth inning double against the Mets in a home game with Jeff Kent playing second, but that hit went to left, and it looks here like Kent is fielding a thrown from right field. What he's probably doing, however, is follwing through on a sweep tag that has twisted his body around. The torque in his body seems right. Another guess is that Vince Coleman overthrew the bag and Kent is looking behind him to the backup.

G-Fafif Feb 14 2011 12:57 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

seawolf17 wrote: April 29, 2009, bottom of the first. Alex Cora would bring Reyes home, but the Mets would lose when Jerry Manuel decided Omir Santos needed to be called in from Douglaston to take the final swing of the game. Irritating end to what had been a lovely afternoon at brand new Citi Field. Met Swan Swan H that day.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 14 2011 08:41 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Alfonzo 2000 Topps Stadium Club Chrome

batmagadanleadoff Feb 17 2011 09:03 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I know how Coney would've voted. David Cone 1992 Pinnacle: The Idols

Benjamin Grimm Feb 17 2011 09:46 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Wait... what?? Why is David Cone sharing a card with Jackie Gleason??? This is probably why I stopped liking baseball cards. They just got too contrived.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 17 2011 09:58 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Back of the card:

metsguyinmichigan Mar 06 2011 05:32 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I realize there is a chance that I'm beating this topic right into the ground, but I wanted to acknowledge some of the cool non-Topps Mets. Part one... [url]http://metsguyinmichigan.blogspot.com/2011/03/wait-companies-other-than-topps-made.html

DocTee Mar 06 2011 06:12 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

That Strawberry card is heartbreaking. To see that confidence, and that smile, and yet know how it ends. ugh.

G-Fafif Mar 06 2011 09:28 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I wanna know what Ken Griffey, Jr., says about Tom Seaver. "I was tearing around the Reds clubhouse when I was nine and Seaver gave me such a look because I interrupted his concentration on the Cincinnati Enquirer crossword -- which only took him three minutes anyway"?

batmagadanleadoff Mar 18 2011 01:25 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Topps 2011 Heritage Set (1962 style) is coming. Here's a preview of some Mets, photgraphed close-up and hatless, just like most of the Mets appearing in the '62 set:

G-Fafif Mar 18 2011 04:33 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Shouldn't some of them be indicating sleeveless Red or Pirate jerseys?

The Second Spitter Mar 18 2011 04:41 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Also, I don't think the conditioner Dickey uses was invented in 1962. But they're awesome, I may try to get my hands on some.

Willets Point Mar 18 2011 04:47 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Pelfrey looks like he could be a GI in WWII. Just photoshop a helmet on his head.

Edgy DC Mar 18 2011 06:03 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Look how they all still have welts from their hatbands.

G-Fafif Mar 18 2011 06:12 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

George Weiss just ordered haircuts and shaves for the lot of them.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 18 2011 08:37 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Willets Point wrote: Pelfrey looks like he could be a GI in WWII. Just photoshop a helmet on his head. Pelf and Thole both look straight off of a recruiting poster. If that hippie Davis would square his burns off like a real man, you'd have three. Dickey... well... let's just say that he seems like he'd be more comfortable in a turtleneck, listening to jungle music in some Greenwich Village basement, junior.

seawolf17 Mar 18 2011 09:04 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I did a quick checklist analysis in the old baseball card thread when the set was first announced over the winter; most of the Mets in this year's set have corresponding card numbers with their Mets counterparts in the 1962 set. Cannizzaro and Thole are both card #26, Stengel and Collins are both #29, etc. Classy but subtle move by Topps.

seawolf17 Mar 18 2011 09:05 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Minor issue: their "flashback" insert card celebrating the 1962 Mets has a b/w photo of Shea.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 19 2011 08:25 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Minor issue: their "flashback" insert card celebrating the 1962 Mets has a b/w photo of Shea. That's because the stadium was featured on the cover of the Mets 1962 scorecard -- the subject of the Mets 2011 Topps Heritage insert card. In 1962, The Mets were targeting 1963 as the grand opening date for Shea Stadium (Flushing Meadows Stadium then).

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 19 2011 05:18 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

That Collins card looks like a photoshop job. Something's off on the jersey. It Topps was truly retro, they'd recreate the crappy paintjobs of the past.

The Second Spitter Mar 19 2011 11:27 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: That Collins card looks like a photoshop job. Something's off on the jersey I'm not convinced that's the current pinstripe jersey.

Ashie62 Mar 20 2011 11:53 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Mail in 36 Topps Chrome Wrappers and you get a redemption Refractor Rookie serial number to 599 like this..

Edgy DC Mar 20 2011 12:27 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Got to give them some degree of credit for not photoshopping fans into the first two rows.

metsguyinmichigan Mar 23 2011 09:38 PM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

We've seen the BEST Mets cards, now here are the WORST! Reasons why these suck are in the blog: [url]http://metsguyinmichigan.blogspot.com/2011/03/youve-seen-best-now-look-at-worst-mets.html

Benjamin Grimm Mar 24 2011 04:30 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

WTF????[/bigpurple] .

seawolf17 Mar 24 2011 04:36 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Clark was eaten by a dragon in 1995.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 24 2011 04:38 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Some of these later cards are so stylized that they seem... masturbatory.

Willets Point Mar 24 2011 07:53 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

I remember that time that Mark Clark pitched a five-hit shutout while a fire-breathing dragon attacked the mound. He was never the same afterward, what with the third-degree burns on his pitching arm.

Edgy DC Mar 24 2011 08:07 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Jim Beauchamp was a neighbor of ours in 1972, and, well, this is how we remember him.

seawolf17 Apr 13 2011 09:40 AM Re: What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

Looks like Capuano, Emaus, Nickeas, Beato, and Young all will make their Mets Topps debut in Series 2 this summer.