Canadian Cardboard

Card: 1992 Nabisco #15 Obtained: July, 2012 From: Tour du...

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 23:56:05 -0400

1992 Nabisco #15

1992 Nabisco #15

Card: 1992 Nabisco #15

Obtained: July, 2012

From: Tour du Chapeau Card Show, Rooby Foo’s Hotel, Montréal

Comments: The back of this card says it all. 31 years ago today Nos Amours won the east.

Card: Brett Lawrie 2012 Topps Allen & Ginter A&G Back...

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 10:27:23 -0400

2012 Topps Allen & Ginter A&G Back #122

2012 Topps Allen & Ginter A&G Back #122

Card: Brett Lawrie 2012 Topps Allen & Ginter A&G Back #122

Comments: I’m not a fan of card back variations. If it were just regular backs vs. A&G backs I could handle it, but Ginter insists on adding things like no-name backs and hand-numbered backs and red backs. The problem is that when I collect these cards and display them in my Brett Lawrie binder, it looks like I just have four of the same card. At least with parallels there is some noticeable distinction between the cards (albeit sometimes a very slight one).

But in honour of Brett being back from the DL and playing his third post-stint game tonight, I’m going to try and look on the positive side of things. The card back variations, at the very least, force people to look at the backs of their cards—even if it is just for an extra three seconds before filing them away in a box.

Card: Joey Votto 2012 Topps Allen & Ginter...

Sat, 08 Sep 2012 10:11:01 -0400

2012 Topps Allen & Ginter #WIN87

2012 Topps Allen & Ginter #WIN87

Card: Joey Votto 2012 Topps Allen & Ginter #WIN87

Comments: Before he went down with a torn meniscus Joey Votto was on pace for a record breaking season. He could have legitimately taken a run at Earl Webb’s 81 year-old doubles record. Even with the two missed months he’s got 36.

But the most “Votto-Matic” (thank you A&G for making the world aware of one of the greatest nicknames in sport) part of his game is not the double. It’s the BB. He walked three more times last night, and leads the league in .OBP for a third straight year.

He’s easily the best Canadian ballplayer in the game right now. The only question is whether or not that sentence remains true if we remove the adjective from in front of ‘ballplayer’. He’s certainly in the discussion.

Card: Brett Lawrie 2012 Bowman Platinum Cutting Edge Stars...

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 10:00:33 -0400

2012 Bowman Platinum #CES-BL

2012 Bowman Platinum #CES-BL

Card: Brett Lawrie 2012 Bowman Platinum Cutting Edge Stars #CES-BL

Comments: I’m not a huge fan of die-cut cards. It’s not that I believe that all cards must be 3.5” x 2.5” and made of cardboard — I actually happen to like some of the newer innovations like minis and wood and printing plates and bordered cards. But I have never liked weirdly shaped cards. I think that somehow in my mind a trading card is not defined by material or size or frame but instead by shape. Plus, die-cuts are hard to scan.

And while I’m ranting about new innovations, do we really need to photoshop every single card to death? It looks great on Allen & Ginter and retro/arty sets, but it seems like just about every product that releases nowadays is desperately trying to one-up the last when it comes to who can apply the “burn” tool more liberally to each photo. Look at those jersey-wrinkles pop! More burn!

Card: Erik Bedard 2009 Topps Allen & Ginter...

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 23:27:19 -0400

2009 Topps Allen & Ginter #NP19

2009 Topps Allen & Ginter #NP19

Card: Erik Bedard 2009 Topps Allen & Ginter #NP19

Comments: The Pirates released Erik Bedard last week. Granted, he has been terrible for much of the season, but he strikes out about 9 batters per 9 innings with his left hand. Guys who strike out 9 batters per 9 innings with their left hands will always find work in baseball. Personally, I’d love to see the Jays take a shot at him and let him show off some of that National Pride.

Card: Fergie Jenkins 2004 Donruss Classics Membership...

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 18:59:06 -0400

2004 Donruss Classics Membership #10

2004 Donruss Classics Membership #10

Card: Fergie Jenkins 2004 Donruss Classics Membership #10 2123/2499

Comments: As the back of the card states Fergie was the 7th member of the 3000k club, which has since admitted 9 members. Fergie is now 12th overall.

After the flurry of admittance in the ’80s and ’90s we have likely entered a drought period as, much like with 300 wins, the next closest guys with a shot are probably C.C. and Roy, both of whom are still 5+ years away in a best-case scenario. After that? It could be a while, but my money would be on Verlander.

Card: Raghib Ismail 2012 Upper Deck Football #38 Comments: My...

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 10:01:03 -0400

2012 Upper Deck Football #38

2012 Upper Deck Football #38

Card: Raghib Ismail 2012 Upper Deck Football #38

Comments: My 2012 college football predictions, brought to you by 1991 Grey Cup champion Rocket Ismail. The first team listed is who I want to win, the second team listed is who will win.

SEC: Mississippi (Alabama)

BIG10: Wisconsin (Michigan)

Pac12: Stanford (USC)

ACC: Clemson (Florida State)

Big12: West Virginia (West Virginia)

National Champs: Notre Dame (USC)

It’s not that I’m a huge N.D. fan, although the Irish and Michigan were the only games I got to see as a young lad growing up in southern Ontario. I’d just like to see them—and the mid-west in general—return to relevance. But, sorry Rocket, it’s not gonna happen, that schedule looks way too tough.

Card: Brett Lawrie 2012 Topps Archives Gold Foil #97 Comments:...

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 09:57:06 -0400

2012 Topps Archives Gold Foil #97

2012 Topps Archives Gold Foil #97

Card: Brett Lawrie 2012 Topps Archives Gold Foil #97

Comments: This is a scheduled post as I’m currently at the family cottage enjoying a beer on the deck. But do me a favor; if by the time this card is posted Brett Lawrie has still not returned from the disabled list, please freak out a bit on my behalf.

I’d do it myself, but these loon calls are way too soothing.

Card: Justin Morneau 2009 Topps Allen & Ginter...

Sat, 25 Aug 2012 11:49:24 -0400

2009 Topps Allen & Ginter #NP13

2009 Topps Allen & Ginter #NP13

Card: Justin Morneau 2009 Topps Allen & Ginter #NP13

From: Trade with Nachos Grande

Comments: I sent Nacho’s Grande a couple of cards and in turn he sent me a pair of Fergies that will be featured in forthcoming posts. He was also able to help me chip away at my National Pride insert set.

The last couple of years have been tough for Morneau, but he has had a bit of a bounce back 2012. The most impressive stat he has put up this year is in the Games Played column, where he has reached 100 for the first time in 3 years.

His 201 career dingers put him in a not-very-heated battle with Jason Bay (209) for 3rd on the all-time Canadian home run list. Perhaps both of them are showing that famous Northern politeness by reducing their pace in an attempt to let the other one in.

Card: John Axford 2012 Topps Allen & Ginter...

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 10:00:37 -0400

2012 Topps Allen & Ginter #187

2012 Topps Allen & Ginter #187

Card: John Axford 2012 Topps Allen & Ginter #187

Comments: We talked about the all-time Canadian saves leader yesterday. Today ‘12 Allen & Ginter brings us a (by his standards) clean-shaven John Axford, who sits third on that list:

Eric Gagne, 187
John Hiller, 125
John Axford, 91
Ryan Dempster, 87
Claude Raymond, 83

The Ax Man will get a chance to move up the list, now that he’s got his job back.

Card: Éric Gagné 2003 Fleer Tradition #466 Comments: We try to...

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 11:39:51 -0400

2003 Fleer Tradition #466

2003 Fleer Tradition #466

Card: Éric Gagné 2003 Fleer Tradition #466

Comments: We try to stay topical here on Canadian Cardboard. And what’s hot right now? Testosterone! Melky, as you know, just felt the 50-game wrath of Bud Selig’s banstick, as did Bartolo Colon (we should have known he was juiced just based on his chiseled physique).

Éric, in his prime, was one of the best closers the game has ever seen. From 2002 to 2004 his save totals were as follows: 52, 55, 45. His ERAs were as follows: 1.97, 1.20, 2.19. His K/9? 12.5, 15, 12.5. He was an all-star all three years and won the CY in 2003.

He was also, of course, linked to steroids via the Mitchel Report. He kind of faded out of sight after his 2008 retirement, signing on to play with the Québec Capitals of the Can-Am league in 2009. He would later confirm that he had taken HGH to recover from an injury.

Card: Wendel Clark 2012-13 O-Pee-Chee Marquee Legend Retro...

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 19:25:35 -0400

2012-13 O-Pee-Chee Marquee Legend Retro #546

2012-13 O-Pee-Chee Marquee Legend Retro #546

Card: Wendel Clark 2012-13 O-Pee-Chee Marquee Legend Retro #546

Comments: I’ve already mentioned how much I love this year’s O-Pee-Chee Hockey, but I had to do up a second post just to show off Wendel in all his glory. These Marquee Legend Retro cards are the best insert in the set, and compliment the base design nicely. I’m still on the fence as to whether or not I’ll collect all 600 cards, but I know for sure that I’ll be picking up every different version of card number 546.

Card: Brett Lawrie 2012 Topps Gold Sparkle #462 Comments: Lawrie...

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:58:00 -0400

2012 Topps Gold Sparkle #462

2012 Topps Gold Sparkle #462

Card: Brett Lawrie 2012 Topps Gold Sparkle #462

Comments: Lawrie is eligible to return from the DL tonight in Detroit. He has not appeared in a game since August 4th, and although he does look happy in his Minor League gear we’ll be happy to have him back with the big club.

Card: 2012 Topps Olympic #OH-XXI Comments: I bought a few stacks...

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 09:49:18 -0400

2012 Topps Olympic #OH-XXI

2012 Topps Olympic #OH-XXI

Card: 2012 Topps Olympic #OH-XXI

Comments: I bought a few stacks of these Topps Olympic cards, but this is probably the only one that I will keep in my personal collection. I wasn’t alive to watch the ‘76 Olympics, but I do reside in Montréal, so the legacy of the games is inescapable. Specifically, these three things are still talked about to this day:

Card: Tim Brent 2012-13 O-Pee-Chee #489 From: Tour De...

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 19:26:07 -0400

2012-13 O-Pee-Chee #489

2012-13 O-Pee-Chee #489

Card: Tim Brent 2012-13 O-Pee-Chee #489

From: Tour De Chapeau Card Show, Montréal

Comments: ’12-13 O-Pee-Chee hockey came out this week, and it is officially a fantastic set. First of all, the cards are made of cardboard (I don’t know what most modern cards are made of, but it aint cardboard). Secondly, it’s got a sweet retro-looking design and has a comprehensive checklist with a few legends sprinkled in. And finally, in customary OPC fashion, the cards are written in both French and English.

I chose Timmy Brent to show off the base design because he’s from my hometown of Cambridge, Ontario. I remember when Tim signed to play for Toronto in the ‘10-11 season, and then went on to score the first goal of the season for the Leafs. He hasn’t received too much coverage over the course of his six-year NHL career, but for those two days between the first and second game of the season he was the most talked about player in the country.

Card: Christine Sinclair 2010 Upper Deck World of Sports...

Sat, 18 Aug 2012 17:26:45 -0400

2010 Upper Deck World of Sports #116

2010 Upper Deck World of Sports #116

Card: Christine Sinclair 2010 Upper Deck World of Sports #116

Comments: I already posted this card on thetickr.com, but I wanted to post it again over here as a segue into my thoughts regarding Canada’s performance in London.

The final tally was a gold, five silver and a dozen bronze. Many were disappointed with this outcome, and Canada fell just short of their stated goal of a top 12 overall finish.

But if you watched the games then you know that there was far more elation than disappointment. Maybe the bar was set just a bit too high, because those of us who tuned for the entire two weeks are sure of one thing: we did not under perform, we over performed.

From Heymans & Abel to Weinberger we took a bunch of medals that we simply were not supposed to win. Women’s soccer had never finished third, anywhere, ever. Oldershaw seemed shocked to cross the line medal position. Drouin came out of nowhere to take that high-jump bronze. The announcer who called Hayden’s 100M freestyle final was in disbelief, as was Valois-Fortier when he won his last fight.

So if you listened to the predictions, and then read the papers, you might have been disappointed with the results. But if you had actually seen the heats and matches and races and dives you would have seen that for every Whitfield and Findlay there was a Benfeito and Filion.

Oh, and Christine Sinclair is an absolute superstar.

Card: Jason Bay 2009 Topps Allen & Ginter #NP3 Comments: The...

Sat, 18 Aug 2012 12:12:41 -0400

2009 Topps Allen & Ginter #NP3

2009 Topps Allen & Ginter #NP3

Card: Jason Bay 2009 Topps Allen & Ginter #NP3

Comments: The Little League World Series is underway, and Canada got off to a great start yesterday, beating Mexico 13-9. Canada has never won the event, but they did finish second once, in 1965, and third once, in 1990.

That team that finished third in 1990 was from Trail, B.C. and featured, you guessed it, Jason Bay. He’s the only Canadian to have played in the Major Leagues and the LLWS.

Canada plays again this Sunday at noon.

Card: Rich Harden 2009 Topps Allen & Ginter #NP32 Comments:...

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 09:40:30 -0400

2009 Topps Allen & Ginter #NP32

2009 Topps Allen & Ginter #NP32

Card: Rich Harden 2009 Topps Allen & Ginter #NP32

Comments: The Olympics are over, but we’re going to stay patriotic here on Canadian Cardboard for a few more days. Here’s probably the most talented Canadian prospect I’ve ever seen, Rich Harden, showing his National Pride.

Card: Jose Bautista 2012 Topps Allen & Ginter #WIN36 From:...

Sat, 11 Aug 2012 19:56:00 -0400

2012 Topps Allen & Ginter #WIN36

2012 Topps Allen & Ginter #WIN36

Card: Jose Bautista 2012 Topps Allen & Ginter #WIN36

From: Nacho’s Grande group break

Comments: According to this “What’s in a Name” insert from ‘12 Ginter there have been two major league ballplayers named Jose Bautista from the town of Bani in the D.R. This would be a massive coincidence if it were true. The problem is that it isn’t. Every source that I have checked thus far (and I even checked places not named Wikipedia) has Bautista the Blue Jay hailing from Santo Domingo.

So subtracting the same hometown thing from the equation we are left with a rather less impressive coincidence. It’s like finding out that there have been two John Smiths to have played in the bigs (there have been three, in fact).

Update: To be fair, I have discovered that Jose did grow up in Bani, even if he was not born there as the card states. A bit coincidental after all.

Card: Ryan Dempster 2009 Topps Allen & Ginter...

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 15:28:12 -0400

2009 Topps Allen & Ginter #NP5

2009 Topps Allen & Ginter #NP5

Card: Ryan Dempster 2009 Topps Allen & Ginter #NP5

From: Sportlots.com

Comments: Slowly but surely I’m working towards completion of this National Pride insert set from ‘09 Ginter. Card number 5 shows proud Canadian Ryan Dempster in his Cubbies blue. Now in Ranger blue, Dempster continues his consistent march towards the top of the Canadian record books. At the time of writing he is:

Second all-time in wins, with 118
Second in IP, with 2158
Second in SO, with 1860

If you’re wondering who’s first in all of these categories…well he’s been featured on the blog once or twice already.