What's your favorite Topps Mets card?

[Methead]

There are a ton of really cool cards in that '52 Bowman set.

http://www.vintagecardtraders.com/virtual/52bowman/52bowman.html

[stevejrogers]

Centerfield wrote:

I was at that game!

[batmagadanleadoff]

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]

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?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

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]

Mets Maulers only one without a HoFer, too.

[batmagadanleadoff]

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

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

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]

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

[Guest Edgy DC]

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]

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]

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]

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

[G-Fafif]

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]

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"?

[Guest Edgy DC]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Look at that great head of hair on Andy Messersmith!

[G-Fafif]

HahnSolo wrote: Look at that great head of hair on Andy Messersmith!

Imagine what that will get on the open market.

[Guest themetfairy]

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.

[Guest Edgy DC]

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]

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.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

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:
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

[G-Fafif]

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]

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]

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.

[Guest Edgy DC]

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."

[Guest Edgy DC]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cCmOg5NKJ8

That clip is printed backwards for some reason, so everybody is lefthanded.