Die-cuts are back! The question is did they ever really go out of style. Well, they most likely did at some point. Everything in this world is cyclical, and that mostly includes bicycles, tricycles, and octocycles.
One of my favorite sets of the '90s was 1994 Flair. It had a certain je nai sai quas, nom de plume, no je parle francais style to it. The ultimate wrappings, the breathtaking thickness of the cards, and then to top it off as a one per box insert, ze HOT GLOVES.
What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of hot gloves? ....oven mitts? laser hands? matchstick fingers?
Well, in 1994, it was none of the above. It were players with gloves so hot they were beyond golden; the ball was smokin' when it became entrapped within their leather.
Below is all 10 cards of the insert set shown in no particular order (though I'm sure an order can be created). Behold!
Barry Bonds: Glove so hot he made the ball a mini-sun.
Ken Griffey: Glove so hot it burned down an outfield wall
Will Clark: Glove so hot the desert was an oasis.
Matt Williams: Glove so hot there was a fireball thrown to the dugout.
Don Mattingly: Glove so hot melted the spine off the nearest runner.
Kenny Lofton: Glove so hot left a scorching streak in the centerfield grass.
Cal Ripken Jr: Glove so hot the harbor turned to steam.
Kirby Puckett: Glove so hot they had to enclose it in a dome for protection.
Greg Maddux: Glove so hot it blinded the umpire with its glow.
Tim Salmon: Glove so hot that it became a special attraction at Disneyland.
Thanks for reading as the summer burns us all......