50% of not quite 50th anniversary cards

a few years ago, i told myself that it was likely that the first steve garvey topps heritage buyback i would own would be from 2022 heritage - his 1973 topps card. that's because 1971 is his rookie and 1972 his card is a high number. i didn't think there would many (if any at all) of those cards bought back and stamped for the heritage releases.

i don't recall seeing either of them on ebay in 2020 or 2021, although at least the 2020/1971 card shows up in the beckett checklist for garvey. i have seen two of his 2022/1973 cards, however, and i bought the second one

the first one sold before i saw it, so i was pretty sure i wasn't going to let the second one to come up get away. it's dumb and weird and confusing, but i like the buyback idea for heritage. i also really like the 2015 topps originals buyback effort. the other years - 2014, 2016, 2017 - not so much. i am already looking forward to next year's heritage which will feature garvey's fantastic 1974 card in buyback form (hopefully).

2022 marks the third year that i've obtained a bill russell buyback

his 1972 card is also a short print, and like the garv, i don't recall seeing any offered for sale at any time. i've previously added russell's 2019/1970 and 2020/1971 buyback cards to my collection.

this is the first year that, in theory, all four dodger infielders would have buybacks available, but ron cey shares his second year card with mike schmidt (and topps should be ashamed if they stamped one of those cards). dave lopes is also on a multi-player rookie card, but i would expect one of those cards to show up at some point - maybe with high numbers. for now, i'll settle for having half of these 49th anniversary cards of the dodger infield of my youth.

i actually bought a blaster of heritage from amazon of all places. i haven't opened all the packs yet, but i did find a real one auto of diamondback (of course) tyler gilbert and a dodger i needed - gavin lux

yes, that's the same background as most of the other dodger cards. i also found one of enrique "kiké" hernandez' cards 

for my double play collection.

finally, i am not sure yet what i will do with this card

but i couldn't leave that sweet, sweet buyback sit around with a low buy it now.