get back

if you are looking for beatles content, this is not the post for you, although i did start watching the beatles documentary on disney+ a while back but haven't got back to it, no pun intended. no, today is the day that i share most of the cards that are in my often mentioned "name/number on the back" mini-collection.

i'll start by showing a card that would fit in to the collection, but it's not there (yet).

that's a 2013 panini hometown heroes yasiel puig short printed card. it's a fairly recent addition to my collection, and sits in my dodger collection. i don't really plan to track down another one for the mini-collection, but who knows.

the idea for this mini-collection was spurred by the existence of some cards that i liked aesthetically, but didn't necessarily "fit" anywhere in my collection. i have always liked photographs that show a subject from behind, giving viewers a glance at what they are looking at. another reason for this mini-collection is that when one goes to a baseball game in person, players have their backs to you much of the time, especially if you sit in the outfield seats or behind home plate. as a result, these cards often mimic the views that i enjoy at the ballpark. 

the first card that struck me in this way was paul molitor's 1998 topps card

molly was my favorite non-dodger for awhile, but what drew me to this card was the vantage point of the photographer. i was playing baseball in an adult league when the card was issued, and i saw similar scenes every time i was in the on deck circle. i really really like this card.

the second card that made me consider starting this mini-collection was vladimir guerrero's 1999 topps gallery card

i had a vladdy pc going at the time this card came out, so it fit in my collection, but again, the point of view of the photographer put me on the field or in the dugout. two years later, i found this 2001 topps stadium club mo vaughn card

and i knew i had to start a specific mini-collection. i even referred to this card as "perfect" in this post. still, it took me a long time to commit, and in the meantime, more cards were produced that fit the bill. i also found some older cards that i added to the collection. 

i've listed out all of the cards that currently sit in this collection here (there are over 90), and i'll show about half of them below:

there are some historic baseball moments that resulted in cards that fit this collection. like this 2007 upper deck masterpieces babe ruth card

and from the same set, a carlton fisk card

fisk's home run "trot" was also featured on a 1999 upper deck century legends memorable shots card

and a year later, upper deck included a card of "the catch" 

in the defining moments insert set to their 2000 legends release. "the catch" may have been the first baseball highlight that i took a strong liking to. i remember coming home from little league practice after catching a fly ball in the outfield with my back to the infield and telling my parents that my catch was just like willie mays'. so, i am always looking for cards that feature the play for this collection, and nick sent me one awhile back - this one is from 2016 topps

the vladdy up above is one of the rare baserunner cards in this collection, but there are a few others, like this 2015 topps evan longoria 'til it's over insert

and rickey henderson's 1999 upper deck century legends card

sometimes the baserunner makes it to home plate, as on this 1999 topps gallery mark mcgwire card

sometimes fielders make the cut as is the case with andy van slyke's simply fantastic 1992 topps stadium club card

this is one of my favorite cards thanks in a large part to the third base coach cameo.

matt williams' 2001 topps stadium club card 

is another "fielder" example.

on denard span's 2014 topps card (target red parallel)

we get the rare on-field camera man view as opposed to the specator view, but i like it! this card shows span tipping his hat to the crowd after making a game saving and game ending catch against the giants in 2013.

sometimes, there are pitchers that make the cut for the collection, such as jeff lahti's 1984 donruss card

david cone's 1993 upper deck card

and hideo nomo's 2001 topps card

pregame lineups also provide an opportunity for images to be used for cards that fit in this collection. such is the case with this 2002 topps card

and this 2018 topps update card

this 2017 topps stadium club willie mccovey card

features a photo i absolutely would have taken had i been there at the giants' spring training venue to do so.

there are a couple of "on deck" cards in the collection, including this one of david dahl

from 2019 topps stadium club. by far, however, the greatest number of cards in this collection feature players at bat.

2021 topps heritage dick allen baseball flashbacks

2007 topps moments & milestones joe mauer black parallel

2001 upper deck rickey henderson

sometimes, the vantage point shifts closer to the seats behind home plate, which is great. here are a few of those types of cards

1985 topps stickers steve garvey

1994 topps george brett gold parallel

2009 upper deck o-pee-chee chone figgins

2017 topps stadium club nolan arenado

2007 upper deck first edition vladimir guerrero

2002 upper deck vintage sammy sosa/cubs checklist

1992 topps stadium club tom pagnozzi

here's one that features the scene as it appears from behind the batting cage

that's a 2003 topps stadium club j.d. drew card and darn if it doesn't make me feel like a batting coach.

most of these batter cards use photos from the camera wells near the dugouts. here are some more:

1995 select mark mcgwire

mcgwire's 1993 select card features a centerfield camera shot of him at the plate - i've thought about creating a mini-collection of those cards, too, but so far i've resisted.

2000 upper deck gary sheffield

love this card!

1982 donruss duane kuiper

1999 upper deck ultimate victory shawn green

1999 upper deck victory ken griffey jr sweepstakes

2000 upper deck and upper deck gold reserve magglio ordonez

2002 topps total jeff bagwell

2012 topps frank robinson 1987 mini

sometimes it's a nickname on the back

but the card still fits, like this 2019 topps big league juan soto card

the camera well next to the visitor's dugout at target field is a great place for photographers to capture aesthetically pleasing images. joe mauer's 2011 topps chrome (and refractor parallel) cards

are a great example of this, however, the wider shot used for his factory team card

is all kinds of fantastic.  from the same set, we get denard span's card

with a similar image used.

and then there is the 2008 upper deck manny ramirez card

which tells the story from behind the subject. great card!

this 2010 topps allen & ginter nick markakis card

features a shot from a higher vantage point in the stands, which is fairly uncommon i would say.

the most recent card to enter this collection actually hasn't arrived yet. i ordered three of this 2022 topps now freddie freeman card

one for the dodger collection, one for the dodger stadium collection, and one for this one.

i'll finish with this 2016 topps gypsy queen jackie robinson walk-off winners insert

i love seeing number 42 on cardboard.

it is a bit subjective as far as what card makes it in to the collection, but if it makes me feel present i am all too happy to add it. this is for sure one of the odder mini-collections i have, but i really do like seeing all the cards together.