User Lists

August 2021: big changes on the team, not too much on this list, though. Once I like a guy, I usually keep liking him.

September 21, 2020. Yu moves in. Hamels never made it. Kimbrel doesn't look like he has much of a chance.

I've been a Cubs fan all my life. The conscious-of-baseball part of my life starts in about 1970. I've watched some pretty bad teams, but there were always players -- some great, some just fun -- whom I loved to watch. This is my attempt to compile my favorite 75, roughly in order of preference. (It started as 50, expanded to 91, then I cut it back to 75 -- so many players I remember). As you can see, it's not just about stats. There are some odd choices in here. Some, I just liked their grit. Some just had great nicknames. The deeper you get into the list, the more they blend together in order of preference. And I'm probably forgetting quite a few....

The representative cards are the the oldest card I have of each player as a Cub. (Had to pick SOME criteria).
Hope you enjoy it. Feel free to remind me of players I probably loved but left off the list.

6/14/21
Well, I'm way over budget for a month or two but it was worth it because I immediately fell in love with the 1909 Ramly T204s when I discovered them and finally got one. Sorry 1964 Bob Gibson, you must go back to the binder.

Anyway....

Here's a list of the cards that are out of the binders, in cases, and on display on a shelf in our office (I also have my three display cases of Last Topps Card of Hall of Famers, The Merkle's Boner Collection, and the T207 Cubs Team Set (partial) -- I don't include those here.

This display used to be only Hall of Famers (and autographed 1970 Pete Rose) until sometime in 2016, when I opened it up to cards and players I just liked, and I expanded more fully into non-Topps. Now I label each card carefully, explaining why its on display and/or some history of the player. Making it more personal to me and finding players with interesting histories really made it fun for me. I love these cards. Hope you enjoy it.

v3

The History --

Looking at my displayed vintage baseball cards, I became disturbed that three of my four displays were virtually all white players, because I mostly display cards from the pre-Topps years, i.e., before 1951. So there just weren't many black players on cards. This bothered me.

So after a post here that became more controversial than it should have, I decided to make another display of all the first black players on every team, using the 16 teams that existed before expansion (credit to kcjays for the idea). This is now my highest priority set of cards to get.

This is the list of players. I am either picturing the card I have at the moment that will go into the display when it's ready, sometimes to be replaced by an older card if I ever get it, or I am picturing the card I think would be ideal for the spot. I'll update, of course, as I get the cards.

As always, it's never quite as easy as it should be. John Kennedy, the first black player on the Phillies, has no cards at all. That actually works out perfectly, as I have 15 slots in the display case I intend to use/create (from an old wall-mounted cassette holder). Hank Thompson, the first black player for both the Giants and the St. Louis Browns, has no card of him with the Browns. But I'll use a Giants card in the St. Louis slot and use Monte Irvin, who debuted for the Giants on the same day as Thompson, for the Giants. And Nino Escalera, the first black player on the Redlegs, has no vintage cards. But Chuck Harmon debuted for them the same day, so I'll go with him. It's complicated, but actually works out very well for my purposes.

As soon as I threw away most of my cassettes, I looked at the holders and thought "baseball card display!" I intend to put a color picture of each teams logo from the year behind the player. Except for Chief Wahoo. The irony there would just be too much, so I'll go with a generic "Cleveland." I might put logos of various negro league teams around the edges, but maybe not. I will post a picture of the display when it's up if I can figure out how to do that. It will have some holes for awhile and some cards will eventually be replaced, but I have a critical mass of the cards, so I can put this up as soon as I fix up the case. For now they'll all go into a binder.

My intent here, is not to create controversy or debate. I just want to honor these (sometimes forgotten) pioneers of baseball. Also, note that these are NOT the first 16 black players in baseball after 1947. Some teams, like the Dodgers, had more than one black player pretty quickly. They're also not all rookie cards -- the Robinson because I can't afford it -- the Virgil because he played for other teams before he became the first black Tiger, for example.

Enjoy.

V3

Players committing penalties.

These are the funniest baseball cards ever printed. Silly pictures, oddball scenes, and bloopers. Which hilarious moment caught on cardboard is your favorite?

Apparently, Topps Canada was extremely lazy and cheap. They couldn't be bothered to send a photographer(s) to cover the CFL games. And were too cheap to buy current photos.

There were so many reused photos used across the years and brands I decided to make a separate list just for the CFL.

I used "blanks" to keep sets of same photos together on the same page; for ease of viewing.

Also, see my Same Photo list.

To quote Yogi Berra, "It's like déjà vu all over again." Same photos used across the years and brands.
Does not include same photos used by the same company in the same year.
For ease of viewing, I used "blanks" to keep groups of same photos together on the same page.

Also, see my Same Photos CFL

For 1969 Topps baseball cards that used previous years' Topps photos,
see Dave Sosidka's 1969 Topps Cards from the MLBPA Boycott of 1968

This list tracks the modern era of Topps All-Star Rookie (ASR) Team cards from 1987-present.

Each year, since 1960, Topps selects a team of notable first-year players to their Topps All-Star Rookie Team. These annual teams are usually composed of eight position players and two pitchers, but relief pitchers and a designated hitter have been included more recently. A trophy graphic on the players' cards commemorates their selection. Between 1979 and 1986, Topps continued to name an ASR Team but left the trophy graphic off the cards. In 1987, the ASR Trophy returned and has been on cards since.

In 2006, Topps introduced individually packed team sets. These blister carded sets include between 14-18 uniquely numbered cards that are usually the same as their base set counterparts. However, in some instances, Topps uses a different player photo, places the ASR Trophy in a different location, or removes elements from the cards that are included in the base set cards (e.g. "Future Stars" text). At other times, Topps didn't include the ASR Trophy on a base set card, and the team set is the only way to get a player's card with the ASR Trophy. Starting in 2014, team set cards don't include the metallic silver and gold foil elements that appear on base cards. (this list will not count those as variations if the card is otherwise identical).

This collection list captures the variations, short prints and distinctive team set cards for the All-Star Rookie Teams. It does include base set parallels; Opening Day, Chrome, Heritage, Topps Now or other sets; although they are referenced when a player's cards are missing the ASR Trophy in the base and team sets. Since 1987, there are 10 All-Star Rookie Team selections that did not have an ASR Trophy on their base or team set cards: Dale Sveum (1987), Alexei Ramirex (2009), David Murphy (2009), Tommy Joseph (2017), Ryan Schimpf (2017), Trea Turner (2017), Kenta Maeda (2017), Julio Urias (2017), Seung-Hwan Oh (2017). Charles Johnson was slected to the 1995 ASR Team, but Johnson did not have a card in the 1996 set due to a licensing rights dispute with Topps.

I have been collecting Topps ASR Team cards since I spotted the trophy in a pack I opened in 1987. This list is inspired by and evolved from the Topps All Star Rookie Trophy Cards maintained by FASportscards, which covers base set ASR cards from 1960 onwards.

Hoping that a set might come out for the team at some point. Here is the 2021 US Baseball Olympic Team. I tried to pick cards of the players in a US Jersey if an option. Team won silver and finished with a 4-2 record only losing twice to gold medal winning Japan.

Countries I've sent to/received from via a trade, sale, or buy.

Cards with Kobe on an opponent's player card

Just a list of cards that I found amusing or are milestones in my collection

One of my dad’s friends works for the Clippers, so whenever he gives us tickets to games I bring some cards to try to get signed!

Any cards that I have that are signed that are not that way originally. I will try to recount how I got them.

A list of players who played on the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and in the Major Leagues. Each player's MLB debut date is included.

(Renamed for Ted Williams in 2002)
1962-
Multiple Winners:
2 Willie Mays, Steve Garvey, Gary Carter, Cal Ripken, Mike Trout

No Award in 2002 (Milwaukee, WI, Miller Park) due to 7-7 Tie after 11 innings

No Award in 2020, Game (Los Angeles, CA, Dodger Stadium) cancelled due to COVID-19 Crisis

First and Second Teams 2019-
50% Fan Vote, 50% Expert Panelists

BBWAA 1983-
Multiple Winners:
4 Tony LaRussa, Bobby Cox
3 Dusty Baker, Jim Leyland, Lou Piniella, Buck Showalter, Joe Maddon
2 Sparky Anderson, Tommy Lasorda, Joe Torre, Jack McKeon, Mike Scioscia, Davey Johnson, Bob Melvin, Terry Francona

BBWAA 1956-
Separate Leagues 1967-
Multiple Winners:
7 Roger Clemens
5 Randy Johnson
4 Steve Carlton, Greg Maddux
3 Sandy Koufax, Tom Seaver, Jim Palmer, Pedro Martinez, Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer
2 Denny McLain, Bob Gibson, Gaylord Perry, Bret Saberhagen, Tom Glavine, Johan Santana, Tim Lincecum, Roy Halladay, Corey Kluber, Justin Verlander, Jacob deGrom

Baseball players who have committed one, or even 3 cruel & un-cruel crimes. Suggestions wanted.

A collection of the funniest sports trading cards and card photos ever.. Suggestions of cards to add to this list are always welcomed.

I'm Not Who You Think I Am! ... Names that will deceive you ... A work in progress ... (Suggestions are welcome)

Noteworthy individual games in recent Reds history.

Jake and Elwood can be found on a few cards in other sets, but the outstanding cast of The Blues Brothers really deserves its own set. Many great musicians appeared in the film but don't appear on cards. But there are enough here to make a nice set.

A League of Their Own featured a fantastic cast, including many Hollywood veterans, bit players, and some former AAGPBL players in cameo roles. Here's the unofficial set, checklisted in the order in which the actors were credited (per IMDB).

The 1998 film The Big Lebowski, directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, featured a terrific ensemble cast. With some notable omissions (Flea, Dom Irrera, and Ben Gazzara, to name a few), the unofficial Big Lebowski trading card set.

All of my certified autographs from the respective card companies

The 1981 action comedy film The Cannonball Run featured one of the great ensemble casts of all time. Presented here, the unofficial Cannonball Run card set, checklisted in the order that the actors were credited (h/t IMDB).

Cards I got signed by meeting the driver or sending a SASE to the driver

Single cards needed to complete an insert set.

Players currently under contract with MLB teams who are playing in alternate leagues due to the cancellation of the 2020 Minor League season. This list is not complete. Ranked prospects will also feature FanGraphs Preseason 2020 organizational rankings.

Players with no cards:
Jayson McKinley Lightning/ARI
Nick Belzer St. Paul/MIL
Matt O'Neill Somerset/NYM
Ed Baram Rockland/OAK
Nick Dalesandro Joliet/ARI
Cyrillo Watson Chicago/LAD
Ashton Creal Nerds/CIN
Terence Doston Nerds/MIL
Jiorgeny Casimiri Curaçao/TOR
Donny Breek Amsterdam/MIN
Marc Civit Bologna/TOR
Cesar[r]e Astorri Bologna/OAK

Baseball's land of the little scrappers and "Umpa Lumpa's" ... Guys 5'8" (173 cm) and under.

All hilarious names of baseballers, hoopsters, footballer, etc. throughout history.

Sports stars and professional athletes who missed their calling and should have been a member of the Italian mob. Perhaps some on the team actually were! ... Now I need you guys to help me add more to the team! Suggestions welcomed

Players who probably could have had a lead or supporting role in all of the 80's Revenge of the Nerds flicks. Basically guys we can categorize as "Nerd Nimbus". The ultimate nerds of baseball.

The best of Burger King through the years. BK's most awesome, memorable, hilarious, errors, outrageous, classic and greatest cards of all time... Feel free to post suggestions of particular BK cards that should be added to the list - all sports apply !

Baseball's best defensive players of all time... Add your suggestions!

Cards I've managed to obtain that only ten or less were produced.

just a list of dream cards.

Statues located in plaza outside Progressive Field

Located inside the outfield plazas

Retired numbers located along the grandstand walls

Inducted 1988
SP 1967-1977, 1983
Broadcaster 1986-1995
#41 Retired 7/24/1988
Stadium Statue Located outside Citi Field entrance 2022
HOF (Main & Plaque) BBWAA 1992 (1st)
RIP 8/31/2020

Inducted 1988
SP 1967-1977, 1983
Broadcaster 1986-1995
#41 Retired 7/24/1988
Stadium Statue Located outside Citi Field entrance 2022
HOF (Main & Plaque) BBWAA 1992 (1st)
RIP 8/31/2020

Inducted 1988
SP 1967-1977, 1983
Broadcaster 1986-1995
#41 Retired 7/24/1988
Stadium Statue Located outside Citi Field entrance 2022
HOF (Main & Plaque) BBWAA 1992 (1st)
RIP 8/31/2020

Inducted 1988
SP 1967-1977, 1983
Broadcaster 1986-1995
#41 Retired 7/24/1988
Stadium Statue Located outside Citi Field entrance 2022
HOF (Main & Plaque) BBWAA 1992 (1st)
RIP 8/31/2020

Inducted 1988
SP 1967-1977, 1983
Broadcaster 1986-1995
#41 Retired 7/24/1988
Stadium Statue Located outside Citi Field entrance 2022
HOF (Main & Plaque) BBWAA 1992 (1st)
RIP 8/31/2020