Mini A&G Back 76 Joakim Soria (+3, +2)
337 Joe Nathan (+2)
120 Nick Swisher (-1)
298 Jorge Cantu
119 Dan Uggla
249 Alfonso Soriano
199 Summer Sanders (swimmer)
Pack 11 Total: 9
Pack 12
TDH26 Jose Reyes (+1)
127 Albert Pujols
Mini MM11 Diplodocus (+3)
126 Chipper Jones
184 Jake Peavy
97 Zach Duke
201 Pablo Sandoval
105 Nicolaus Copernicus
Pack 12 Total: 4
Box Total: 82
Mini SSS9 Sailors of the Seven Seas Francisco Pizarro (+4)
AGHS4 Mariano Rivera (+3, -1)
287 Drew Brees
183 Tommy Manzella
270 Max Poser (Most Dominos Toppled)
175 Tim Lincecum
177 Pedro Feliz
Pack 9 Total: 7
Pack 10
TDH9 Pablo Sandoval(+1)
Mini A&G Back Jeff Francoeur (+2)
20 Sacajawea
216 Jordin Sparks
279 Curtis Granderson (-1)
252 Matt Garza
225 Mark Teahen
326 Aaron Rowand (+2)
Pack 10 Total: 5
Box Total: 69
Mini 217 James Shields
94 Luke Hochevar
185 X Rays (+1)
245 Michael Dunn
268 Brad Kilby
47 Drew Stubbs
318 Carlos Gonzalez (+2)
Pack 7 Total: 6
Pack 8
TDH41 Aaron Hill (+1)
Mini 57 Jacoby Ellsbury
56 Shin-Soo Choo
38 Tiago Della Vega (fastest guitar player)
147 Christian Guzman
154 Juan Francisco
27 Brad Hawpe
89 Joel Pineiro
Pack 8 Total: 1 (Ouch!)
Box Total: 57
Don't let the scan fool you. But this card in its subject (Richie "Whitey" Ashburn) and its tonal aspirations creates the best card of 2010 for me. The placid green of the background evokes summer memories and shouts of glee. Also, the background echoes a baseball diamond in spirit as the incremental changing of the green gives notice to the outfield, infield, and foul territory differing grass heights.
Deron Johnson: Spring training photo with a classic batting glove. Led the 1970 Phillies in HR, TB, RBI, BB, 2B, and hits.
Tony Taylor: This is a unique pose for this era. Is he putting a bat away or picking it up inspection. The sun must have been bright that day. Led 1970 Phillies in SLG, OBP, OPS, and 3B.
Larry Hisle: It amazes me how many Phillies have received the Topps All-Star Rookie designation. He's better known as a Twin and Brewer than a Phillie. Somehow, he was traded to the Dodgers after the '71 season, did not play in the majors in '72, was traded to St Louis and Minnesota before '73 and then went on to have a 114 OPS+ in '73.
Lowell Palmer: Has sunglasses in the harsh Florida sun. He did have an eye condition that necessitated this. He was also very wild; he had 14 wild pitches in 1970.
Chris Short: Decided to go with the stare in the distance look. Was 3rd in the league in losses in 1970 with 16.
Don Money: Excellent, another Topps All-Star Rookie, waiting for a ball that would never come. 1970 was his best year in a Phillies uniform, hitting .295/.361/.463 (122 OPS+) with 14 HR and 66 RBI.
Jim Bunning: The first Phillies pitcher with a perfect game.
Grant Jackson: Seems to be smirking at the photographer. He did not have a fruitful year in 1970, going 5-15 with a 5.29 ERA and 1.54 WHIP, it would be his last in Philadelphia.
Robinson Cano is looking sleepy and Aaron Boone is looking smug.
David Price has gone from a rookie star to an all-star starter and he's pushing the Rays to the top with the effervescent Evan Longoria
Derek Jeter is still the face of the Yankees, Alex Rios is having a renaissance this year with the White Sox, and Jay Bruce is always swinging for the fences.
This is a Geovany Soto All-star SP, Corey Hart has decided to remain with the Brew Crew, and Gavin Floyd is enjoying a breakthrough season in 2010.
As for the cards, I love the varying designs of the subsets (all-star, all-rookie team, rookies, managers, World Series, team) and though the photos are mostly portraits, nothing looks washed out or is too bright for the homage like it has in past Heritage editions (such as 2007).
Of course, I only have 4 out of 71 SPs. So those are welcome in any future trades, though I will not pursue them with much vigor.
