Great Rookie Cards (Part 1)

I have always said that sports card whether it baseball,basketball or football cards are like cardboard time machines. You can always just pick one up and its like you are there in that exact time period on the card. Rookie cards are a huge deal in the hobby especially if they are older rookie cards. For the older generation the very sight of guys they grew up watching can stir up memories from long ago. For the younger generation of sports fans rookie cards can be a history lesson. So with that said I bring you the 1st of 4 installments of “40 Great Rookie Cards”.

#40 1986 Topps Brian Bozworth RC

Brian Bozworth never lived up to the hype in the NFL but he was a 2 time all-american at Oklahoma. Bozworth was drafted #1 overall by the Seattle Seahawks and was signed to the biggest rookie contract ever at 10 years/11 million$. This card represents disappointment and unfulfilled hype.

#39 1991 Upperdeck Dikembe Mutombo

Recognized for his trademark finger wag after blocked shots Dikembe Mutombo is the 2^nd best shot blocker in NBA history behind only Hakeem Olajuwon. He is also responsible for one of the biggest upsets in NBA history as the #8 seeded Denver Nuggets upset the #1 seeded Seattle Supersonics. He recorded 31 blocks in that series which is a record for 5 game series.

#38 1990 Fleer Shawn Kemp

When you talk about the NBA in the 90’s you got to talk about those Sonics teams with Gary Payton&Shawn Kemp. They never captured an NBA title but they are arguably the greatest team to never win the title and had it been any other team than the 96 Chicago Bulls they would probably have a ring. Shawn Kemp though was a very fun player to watch and a productive one at that making 6 all-star teams.

#37 1991 Fleer Larry Johnson

“Grandmama” was one of the most productive forwards in the NBA during the early 1990’s. The 2-time all-star captured the rookie of the year award in 1991-1992 averaging 19 Points and 11 Rebounds. Many wonder how much greater his career would have been had he not had knee problems. When healthy though LJ and Alonzo Mourning were one of the best frontcourts in the NBA.

#36  2003 Topps Dwyane Wade

Its been a great decade and some change for Dwyane Wade he is a 3 shooting guards. It was in his rookie season when he hit the game winning shot over Baron Davis to win game 1 of the eastern conference quarter finals over Hornets that we know he would be special.

 

#35  2003 Topps Carmleo Anthony

Fresh out of Oak Hill Academy Carmelo Anthony was heading to the Nuggets with the burden of now being the franchise player. He didn’t disappoint leading the Nuggets in scoring at 21 points per game and back to the playoffs for the first time in 2 seasons.

#34 1990 Upperdeck Sammy Sosa

Pre Chicago Cub days Sammy Sosa had a stint with the Whitesox. Sosa remains one of the preeminent figures in the steroid era but is still the only player in Major League history 3 seasons of 60+ home runs.

#33 1986 Fleer Dominique Wilkins

Known as one of the greatest dunkers in NBA history and for his battles in the dunk contest with Michael Jordan Dominique Wilkins was an accomplished basketball player. The 9 time all-star remains to this day the best player in Atlanta Hawks franchise history.

#32 1984 Topps John Elway

John Elway to this day is Denver Broncos football whether its speaking about the past or right now. Elway led his team to the super bowl 5 times but didn’t capture his 1^st until 1998 against the Green Bay Packers in his 4^th appearances. The Broncos repeated in 1999 as champions and Elway cemented his place in football history.

#31 2005 SP Authentic Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby since he stepped foot in the NHL has been the face of it and in some ways revived the game and has been responsible for its growth. In 2009 Crosby helped the Pittsburgh Penguins win the Stanley Cup over the Detroit Redwings.

#30 1990 Fleer Isiah Thomas

Isaiah Thomas was the leader and best player on the “Bad Boys” Pistons teams who won back to back titles and gave Michael Jordan problems early in his career. Thomas is recognized as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history.

It's Time For Some Baseball

Now that basketball season is over and I don't have to focus on the media circus that is the Miami Heat the blog will now be changing its focus to baseball. I will still write things about basketball with the draft and summer league coming out but it's time to focus on Americas past time the way I should be. Outside of the Marlins who I follow because they are my team I was very oblivious to most things going on in the MLB this season. I'm very happy my Marlins are playing better baseball winning 5 out of their last 8 against the Cardinals,D-Backs and Giants.

I'm excited to see if Miguel Cabrera can repeat and win the triple crown again as he currently leads in the batting average and RBI categories he is still chasing Baltimore Orioles slugger Chris Davis who has 27 homeruns to Cabrera's 20. I think Miggy who is one of the most consistent hitters we have ever seen in baseball history will be right there when it's all said and done for the repeat.

I'm definitely excited to see if Giancarlo Stanton will be in the home run derby this season. As most baseball fans know his batting practices alone are a homerun derby and he posses once in a life time power that most people aren't really accustom to seeing so him at an event like the homerun derby would be nothing but a treat for the fans of the MLB.

Of course I will still have my card posts but I'm going to incorporate other pieces of exclusive memorabilia that I feel would be cool to share with you guys. So far all my guys here who collect baseball memorabilia /Cards and all that good stuff you will love all the stuff coming up.

Still love my baseball and can't wait to show you guys some of these great posts and videos I'm have coming up.

Five Random Cards #1

Recently I Got a PWE from my main man Kevin from “The Diamond King” as part of graduating from high school. I also completed a trade with my man Dustin from Cootveal and Vealtones so they're are cards all around my house. So I decided to start a new series of posts called “5 random cards” where I will randomly grab 5 cards and just put them in a blog post. So here we go.

Card #1 Score 1991 Ken Griffey Jr.

Ken Griffey Jr. in 1991 was in the process of starting one of the greatest careers in baseball history in his 3^rd season in the show hit 327. banged out 22 home runs along with 100 RBI's. Griffey was on his way to becoming one of the most feared players in the game along with collecting his 2^nd gold glove and silver slugger awards in 1991.

Card #2 Topps Gold Label 1999 Cliff Floyd

Going to my 1^st Marlins game in the same year this card was manufactured I got a chance to see Cliff Floyd live in person and he was a big guy 6 foot 5 inches tall along with 220 pounds and a vicious left handed swing. Cliff never became the star that most people thought he had potential to be but still put together is fair share of nice seasons. Like in 2001 where he hit 317. along with 31 home runs and 103 RBI's earning the only All-Star appearance of his career.

Card #3 Fleer 1990 Eddie Murray

Eddie Murray had a long 21 year career many his best years with the Baltimore Orioles. People forget though he had some solid years in LA with the Dodgers. In 1990 the same year as this card Eddie hit 330. with 26 home runs and 95 RBI's which earned him a silver slugger that year. So remember Eddie as an Oriole but don't forget the Dodger version either he was pretty good.

Card #4 Topps 1994 Jeff Conine

In 1994 Jeff Conine had already earned the “Mr.Marlin” mantle and wore it proudly playing the game the right way. Conine was apart of both Marlins World Championship teams in 1997 and 2003 . In 1994 though he earned his 1^st of 2 all-star appearances and hit 319. that season which was the highest of any season in his career.

Card #5 Upperdeck SPX 2002 Juan Encarnacion

Not the best player on the 2003 world championship team but certainly an overlooked part of it. People like to focus on Miguel Cabrera, Josh Beckett, Dontrelle Willis and many others but Juan Encarnacion was a very valuable piece. In 2003 he had a career year when in 2003 hit 270. with 19 Home runs and 94 RBI's. He was also solid on defense with a perfect 1.000 in 156 games he played and didn't win the gold glove that year.