Hall of Fame - Frank Thomas

Frank Thomas was my favorite non-Brave player in the '90s. The Braves selected Tyler Houston one pick before Frank. Can you imagine if Frank Thomas was the Braves' first baseman in the '90s? I can. It's my reality now. Frank Thomas has always played for the Braves. My doctors keep telling me to take my meds but I'm really much happier like this.

I spent so damn much money in the early '90s buying overpriced 1990 Score packs chasing this card and I never pulled it from a single pack ever. Ben McDonalds I pulled. Chuck Knoblauchs I pulled. Even Tyler Houstons I pulled. Not. One. Frank. Then a couple years ago I bought the complete 1990 Score set for $5. In a binder. Selah.

Unless you collected cards in the '90s you have no idea how amazingly cool Studio Heritage inserts were. This one from 1994 showing Frank in a Sox uniform from the '30s with the sepia photo of Comiskey in the background on textured paper stock with a touch of foil for class is almost too amazing for words.

I have a Thomas autograph, but this bizarre Upper deck insert that combines a see through acetate window with a super thin layer of printed wood all glued together and threatening to curl up like some 2010 Chrome is just so incredibly neat. It's also one of the few cards I can distinctly remember where I was when I pulled it from the pack. (at a Kroger in Marietta with my grandmother, to be exact)