Baseball Card Tournament: First Round - Denver

It's tourney time, so let's have a tournament. Here are 64 random cards from my archive of scans. I will seed them and match them up into brackets. Each card that advances to the next round gets more written about it. If you want to know more about a card, vote for it - your votes determine the winner. Feel free to vote for the other first round matchups as well. Voting is open until Wednesday or so so we can start the second round on Thursday. This is the last bracket so get in your votes!

First Round - Denver

East Region

#5 2007-2008 Topps Chrome Larry Bird
Larry Bird absolutely ruined my Hawks on many occasions, but for some reason the thing I most associate with him is an episode of Night Court where Judge Stone heaves a basketball at the end of the show and says "Thank God for Larry Bird!"
vs.
#12 2004 Fleer Ultra Scott Rolen
You could put together a nice little collection with all the cards with Aardman's Chevron Cars ad from the left field wall of Pac Bell in the background.



#4 1978 Topps Carl Yastrzemski
Yaz? Yaz. Yaz?? Yaz... Yaz!
YAZ.
vs.
#13 2000 Pacific Private Stock Richie Sexson PS-2000
Mini cards are great, but why did Richie have to go and mini his stats too? Of course now he'll go out and hit 50 dingers this year just to show up all the geniuses who passed on him in their fantasy draft.


South Region


#5 2001 Bowman Jose Reyes
I ripped about 18 thousand packs of 2001 Bowman and didn't pull one stinking Pujols. I got a few of Jose's rookie though.
vs.
#12 1974 Topps Rich Hand
This card reminds me of the Bugs Bunny cartoons where Bugs runs completly off the film and you see the sprocket holes on the side of the screen.


#4 2002 Playoff Absolute Memorabilia Terrence Long
I pulled this card when I lost my mind and bought one of those "Fat Pack + a Memorabilia card" things from Target. I not only beat the odds and pulled an autograph, but it's an amazing looking one at that. I never knew Terrence signed in Elvish.
vs.
#13 1977-1978 Topps Dan Bouchard
Dan was my absolute favorite player on the Flames when I was a kid. I think it was because the goalies looked so cool with the big-ass stick, huge pads and Jason masks. To this day though, I don't know how to pronounce his name. BOW-chard? Booo-SHARRd? No clue.

Don't forget to vote for the other ones too!

Final Scores:

Larry Bird 5, Scott Rolen 1
Carl Yastrzemski 6, Richie Sexson 0
Jose Reyes 0, "Mr." Hand 6
Terrence Long 1, Dan Boo-sharrd 6

Baseball Card Tournament: First Round - Birmingham

It's tourney time, so let's have a tournament. Here are 64 random cards from my archive of scans. I will seed them and match them up into brackets. Each card that advances to the next round gets more written about it. If you want to know more about a card, vote for it - your votes determine the winner. Feel free to vote for the other first round matchups as well. Voting is open until Wednesday or so so we can start the second round on Thursday.

First Round - Birmingham

East Region

#6 2005 Upper Deck Origins Travis Hafner Old Judge
It amazes me how Pronk always manages to look Pronky on his cards. One of these days I am going to find a cheap set of UD Origins on eBay, pull out a sharp pair of scissors, and cut off all those ugly green borders so the set can be enjoyed the way it was supposed to be.
vs.
#11 1991 Conlon Collection Honus Wagner
The Flying Dutchman is looking particularly crotchety on this card. I love the Conlon set, I don't love how eBay scam artists try to sell them for 5-10 bucks a pop as a card from "1939" or whatever date is on the card. Lousy rip offs.



#3 1992 Upper Deck Tom Selleck Mr. Baseball
Frank Thomas in a Yankees uniform is one of those things that scared me to death about 10 years ago. Magnum PI is the bomb though, so I'll let it slide.
vs.
#14 2001 Upper Deck Rafael Soriano
I found this card out of nowhere looking for Steve's St. Patty's day contest prize. I still can't believe we got him for Horacio Ramirez.



#7 1976 Topps Marvel Howard The Duck sticker
Ok, ok. HEAR ME OUT. I know what you're thinking, but Howard the Duck is GOOD. No, seriously. It's that idiot Lucas who screwed him up so badly. The moron should have stuck to Star Wars. The actual comic from the 70's is pure genius. Here's a cool interview from his creator, Steve Gerber, who recently passed away. Somebody please back me up on this... Thorzul? Anyone?
vs.
#10 1987 Topps Jay Howell
I unexpectedly got this guy's autograph at the Braves Fan Fest this winter. The guy big-timed me while he was signing, but oh well. Everyone loves '87 Topps so poor Howard is doooomed.



#2 2005 Donruss Studio Portraits Mark Teixeira #22/30
I love love love these old retro inserts from Donruss, even though the byzantine serial numbering system that depends on the border color, color or sepia photo, ad back, phase of the moon and player's I Ching reading make the Moments and Milestones checklist look positively obvious. The design is ripped off from the Honest Cabinet series from Duke cigarettes, ACC designation N142. I probably shouldn't have told you that since you guys are killing my Nineteenth century cards.
vs.
#15 1981 Fleer Football Halftime
Fleer Action football sets are a neat obscure 80's set for the football fans out there. I chose this one because of the dudes playing tuba on the card.

Final Scores:

Travis Hafner 4, Honus Wagner 3 (ot)
Tom Selleck 2, Rafael Soriano 4
Howard the Duck 5, Jay Howell 2
Mark Teixeira 4, Halftime 3 (ot)

Baseball Card Tournament: First Round - Washington D.C.

It's tourney time, so let's have a tournament. Here are 64 random cards from my archive of scans. I will seed them and match them up into brackets. Each card that advances to the next round gets more written about it. If you want to know more about a card, vote for it - your votes determine the winner.

First Round - Washington D.C

West Region

#6 1994 Upper Deck Fun Pack Greg Maddux/Roger Clemens
I love this card for the way Greg Maddux's greatness almost totally eclipses that other guy. He's only 7 wins behind so more eclipsing will be done this year.
vs.
#11 2006 Upper Deck All Time Legends Jimmie Foxx

X is the first
Of two x's in Foxx
Who was right behind Ruth
With his powerful soxx. — Ogden Nash

#3 1888 Duke N133 State and Territorial Governors Florida
These beautiful triple folder cards make up my absolute favorite nineteenth century set. Bar none. The backs are just as fascinating as the fronts.
vs.
#14 1980-1981 Topps Rudy Tomjonovich, Eddie Johnson and Doug Collins
The other half of the triple card bracket features Eddie Johnson in a coach sandwich. I bought a vendor's box of this stuff for 7 bucks back in the 80's. I got a complete set out of it, too bad it's a separated complete set.




#7 2000 Fleer EX Jose Canseco
Anyone who remembers the outstanding 1998 and 1999 EX sets will understand how disappointed I was to open five packs of this stuff and find this. At least this Canseco I recently picked up didn't peel off the front like my Jeter did.
vs.
#10 1993 Upper Deck Robin Yount Glow Stars
What a beautiful, beautiful mess this card is. Back when companies actually put some effort into the cards they marketed towards kids.



#2 2002 Fleer Greats of the Game Tony Oliva Autograph
Tony was one of the absolute best hitters of his time, but since he hasn't made the Hall yet no one knows who he is anymore. Thank goodness for ignorant collectors chasing rookie 'graphs looking for the 'next big thing' that allow me to pick up an auto like this for 5 bucks.
vs.
#15 2006 Topps Chrome Declaration of Independence Stephen Hopkins Refractor
One of the funniest characters in 1776. "Give her a flourish for me, young feller!"

Final Scores:

Maddux/Clemens 2, Jimmie Foxx 3
Governor Perry 2, Tomjanovich/Johnson/Collins 3
Jose Canseco 2, Robin Yount 4
Tony Oliva 3, Stephen Hopkins 2

Baseball Card Tournament: First Round - Omaha

It's tourney time, so let's have a tournament. Here are 64 random cards from my archive of scans. I will seed them and match them up into brackets. Each card that advances to the next round gets more written about it. If you want to know more about a card, vote for it - your votes determine the winner. Feel free to vote for the other first round matchups as well.

First Round - Omaha

Midwest Region


#1 2006 Bowman Chrome Cory Rasmus Auto Refractor

This is one of the cards that I got in that big trade with Chris Harris that I haven't gotten around to writing about yet. Cory missed last year with shoulder problems, but he should be back this year and it's a freaking refractor auto. Even if he bombs it shore is purdy.
vs.
#16 1991 Upper Deck Domino's Chris Miller
This is the guy that made Brett Favre expendable. When I think how much bad pizza I ate for these cards...



#8 2007 Turkey Red Jimmy Rollins
A great looking painting, an amazing action scene, an all around wonderful card, and all I can see is the Turkey Hill ad on the wall. What, no love for Wawa?
vs.
#9 1987 Drake's Big Hitters Jim Rice
Now this is a proper oddball food card. Cut right off the box.


#6 1995 Fleer Sticker Cal Ripken Jr.
I didn't even know Fleer had a sticker set in 1995. Well, it's actually Panini, but it's got the Fleer logo on it.
vs.
#11 1961 Topps Danny Kravitz
Venkman: Nimble little minx, isn't she?
Spengler: We're gonna go full stream.
Stantz: Aim for the flattop!


#3 1981 Donruss Yogi Berra
Yogi! Everybody loves Yogi. Plus this card has a special seecrit power.....
vs.
#14 1992 Topps Kids Albert Belle
GRAAAR! BELLE SMASH!

Final Scores:

Cary Rasmus 6, Chris Miller 1
Jimmy Rollins 5, Jim Rice 2
Cal Ripken Jr. 2, Danny Kravitz 5
Yogi Berra 6, Albert Belle 1

Baseball Card Tournament: First Round - Raleigh

It's tourney time, so let's have a tournament. Here are 64 random cards from my archive of scans. I will seed them and match them up into brackets. Each card that advances to the next round gets more written about it. If you want to know more about a card, vote for it - your votes determine the winner. Feel free to vote for the other first round matchups as well.

First Round - Raleigh

East Region

#1 2007 Moments And Milestones Derek Jeter #3/10
This card was the big hit from an inexplicable Moments and Milestones pack ripping binge.
vs.
#16 1972 Topps Checklist
Whoever filled out this checklist was very similar to myself - meticulously filling in the squares completely, messing up on a couple and putting a little scribble next to the name to note the goof and having mostly lousy cards. The guy even had the Chris Chambliss rookie card.



#8 2002 Topps American Pie Statue of Liberty
This is one of the nicer non-sports cards in the now utterly forgotten American Pie sets.
vs.
#9 2002 Donruss Studio Paul Lo Duca Spirit of the Game
For some reason there were a whole lot of American Flags all over 2002 sets. Paul LoDuca wasn't on every card in 2002, but it seems that way to me.


Midwest Region

#7 1995 Gil Elvgren Prototype Fire Bell
I really really like this card, can ya tell? Anyone know where I can find a set of this stuff?
vs.
#10 1987 Classic Yellow Joe Niekro
To be fair, knuckleballers do need emery boards because their fingernails are very important in gripping the ball correctly. The sandpaper, Vaseline, exact-o knife and cordless belt sander were a bit of overkill, however.


#2 2008 Topps Heritage Eddie Mathews Relic
I didn't even know Eddie was in the set, let alone had a relic card. The fact that Don Newcombe gets a mention is an even more pleasant surprise.
vs.
#15 2003 Bowman Chrome Quincy Carter
Wasted Opportunity, thy name is Quincy Carter. Seriously guys, if you have to smoke the weed, wait till your damn career is over and you've made your money at least.

Final Scores:

Derek Jeter 0, Checklist 6
Statue of Liberty 5, Paul LoDuca 1
Gil Elvgren 5, Joe Niekro 1
Eddie Mathews 5, Quincy Carter 1

Baseball Card Tournament: First Round - Tampa

It's tourney time, so let's have a tournament. Here are 64 random cards from my archive of scans. I will seed them and match them up into brackets. Each card that advances to the next round gets more written about it. If you want to know more about a card, vote for it - your votes determine the winner. Feel free to vote for the other first round matchups as well.

First Round - Tampa

Midwest Region

#5 2003 Topps Fan Favorites Monte Irvin No Sig Variation
Monte Irvin is one of my favorites and this not-scarce variation card eluded me for years. (Thanks, Andy)
vs.
#12 2007 Topps Heritage WWE John Cena Allen & Ginter
I don't even know who this guy is, but it's an A&G mini, which is all that counts. What the heck is on that shirt? It looks like a bulldog with a cabbage for a hat.


#4 2006 Topps Co-Signers Tim Hudson/Andruw Jones Duo
I'm sorry, but Co-Signers is not an attractive set. This card has Huddy and Druw on it though so it's all good. Well, not all good... Tim doesn't need extreme close ups on his cards. Very few baseball players do, actually.
vs.
#12 2006 Grandstand Southern League Joey Votto
Another neat card from a reader in Alabama. The set this came in is freakin' loaded, I chose Votto for the cool Chattanooga Lookouts logo.



West Region

#5 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft Yunel Escobar Refractor
Watching Yunel in Spring Training is giving me Rafael Furcal flashbacks. Oh yes, this is a good thing. A very, very good thing.
vs.
#12 2002 Donruss Super Estrella Mariano Rivera Nacion De Origen
So who else bought up a few boxes of this Spanish-language Donruss product when it was dirt cheap at Wal-Mart? Let me guess, you didn't finish your set either.




#4 1995 Score Don Mattingly Platinum Team Set
This is my second-favorite Score set and it kills me that it's totally ignored. I got this redemption-only parallel card out of a dollar grab bag. No respect. No respect at all.
vs.
#13 1995 Topps Royce Clayton Cyber Stats
Between the glowy foil, bullet-time and cyberstats, Royce Clayton is apparently playing in The Matrix. Take the blue pill, Royce, the blue one!

Final Scores:

Monte Irvin 6, John Cena 1
Hudson/Jones 1, Joey Votto 6
Yunel Escobar 6, Mariano Rivera 1
Don Mattingly 5, Royce Clayton 2

Baseball Card Tournament: First Round - Little Rock

It's tourney time, so let's have a tournament. Here are 64 random cards from my archive of scans. I will seed them and match them up into brackets. Each card that advances to the next round gets more written about it. If you want to know more about a card, vote for it - your votes determine the winner.

First Round - Little Rock

South Region


#1 1959 Topps Hank Aaron
David from Indians Baseball Cards. Always. found this for me, and I'm still a little weirded out that I actually have it. I could actually complete the team set now if it weren't for those dang high series cards.
vs.
#16 2007 Something or other A-Rod Waste of Space
These cards all look the same so what's the point of taking them out of the wrapper. One in 800 billion packs has an autographed card in it, but for some reason I'm not feeling lucky today.


#8 1988 O-Pee-Chee Derek Bell
Other than a couple of minor league sets, this is Derek's lone rookie card.
vs.
#9 1993 Ted Williams Gene Benson
In 1945 Gene hit .370 and was Jackie Robinson's teammate on a touring team, but he just missed being able to play in the Major Leagues.


#7 1981 Topps Rickey Henderson
If you were Rickey, you'd talk about Rickey in the third person too.
vs.
#10 1992 Stadium Club Dome Jason Giambi
This great looking card was hotter than hell a few years back, but I just picked this one up in a four dollar junk box.


#2 2008 Topps Heritage Ad Panel Smoltz/Power/Jones
I was pretty much going to completely ignore the 08 Heritage boxtoppers this year until Russ pulled a real beauty. I've got the Andruw version now while he has Tex.
vs.
#15 1985 Topps Boardwalk Baseball Owen Wilson

No, not that Owen Wilson, I'm talking 'bout Chief. You know, the guy who is the all time single season leader in triples.

Final Scores:

Hank Aaron 9, Waste of Space 0
Derek Bell 3, Gene Benson 6
Rickey 8, Jason Giambi 1
Ad Panel 4, Owen Wilson 5