willie stargell is in my hall of famer collection

willie stargell is in my hall of famer collecton with this 2000 upper deck legends legendary signatures card:

here's the back:

i needed stargell's card in my collection to feature him in his later years, and the color inset photo definitely achieves that goal.

like most kids my age, i became keenly aware of stargell during the 1979 season when the pirates won the world series and 'pops' shared the mvp award with keith hernandez. i had attended a pirates game at dodger stadium in 1978, but stargell didn't play that day. we were back at the ravine in 1979 to see the pirates again (it was batting glove day), and as usual, my dad got us there early and we were able to watch the visiting team take batting practice. my dad pointed out stargell to me, and i watched as he destroyed the baseball. while i was young and impressionable, i still count him (along with willie mccovey, jose canseco, albert belle, and carlos delgado) having hit a ball the hardest that i have seen in person.  too bad exit velocity wasn't a thing back then. in the game, stargell was just 1 for 5, but the pirates beat the dodgers (bert blyeven over don sutton) 6-2.

as far as i can recall that was the only time i saw stargell play in person, but he was a part of my youth beyond that game. not just in my card collecting, either, as i used him and mccovey as examples when participating in a 5th grade discussion on the speed of sound vs. the speed of light (the crack of the bat lagged behind the visual of the ball hitting the bat). in addition, stargell's bat pump was a favorite of mine to imitate during my at bats in the neighborhood wiffle ball games.  and, last but not least, my friends and i were stoked when our little league team in 1981 adopted the pill box hat style that stargell and the pirates made famous.  we wore those hats with pride.

here's my hall of famer collection as its been documented so far:

babe ruth - 2003 topps tribute world series edition world series tribute relic 351/425

honus wagner - 2001 topps tribute relics

george sisler - 2004 topps tribute hall of fame tribute relic

dizzy dean - 2001 topps tribute relics

bob feller - 2001 topps archives

jackie robinson - 2004 topps clubhouse collection clubhouse relics

roberto clemente - 2005 donruss greats hall of fame souvenirs relic

warren spahn - 1999 upper deck century legends epic signatures

mickey mantle - 2000 upper deck legends legendary game jerseys relic

willie mays - 1997 topps willie mays reprints autograph

al kaline - 2001 fleer greats of the game autographs

duke snider - 2003 upper deck sp authentic chirography hall of famers 144/250

bob gibson - 2001 fleer greats of the game autographs

hank aaron - 2004 topps originals 1979 topps all-time record holders rbi 03/32

frank robinson - 1995 upper deck autographs

harmon killebrew - 2000 upper deck legends legendary signatures

pee wee reese - 2001 topps tribute relics

jim hunter - 1998 donruss signature series significant signatures 0736/2000

willie stargell - 2000 upper deck legends legendary signatures

gaylord perry - 2003 topps finest finest moments autographs

rollie fingers - 2018 topps archives signature series 1978 topps buyback 1/3

reggie jackson - 2018 topps tier one tier one talent autographs 19/60

steve carlton - 2018 topps five star career year autographs

mike schmidt - 2002 topps archives autoproof 1980 topps buyback 048/147

don sutton - 2001 fleer greats of the game

tony perez - 2004 fleer national pastime 2002 fleer greats authentic autograph buyback 30/59

dave winfield - 2003 upper deck sp authentic chirography hall of famers 121/350

gary carter - 1999 fleer sports illustrated greats of the game autograph collection

dennis eckersley - 2017 topps archives signature series 1984 topps buyback 47/99

paul molitor - 2016 topps museum collection archival autographs 021/125

bruce sutter - 2003 topps all-time fan favorites

jim rice - 2005 upper deck past time pennants past time signatures

andre dawson - 2000 fleer greats of the game autographs

alan trammell - 2001 fleer greats of the game autographs

pete rose* - 2018 panini flawless legendary signatures 15/25

barry bonds* - 2001 bowman heritage autographs

you can find the full list of hall of famers (and some not - yet) that i aim to include in this collection at my want list site.

*not currently a member of the hall of fame