Joe's Random Die Cut Red No. 5

1992 Seven-11
No. 13 Barry Larkin
Linticular Motion Card

A genuine die cut card that shows young Mr. Larkin as both a happy smiling chap and ending a swing to drive in a run. And yes. This is considered a die cut card by no less an expert on collecting than me.

Joe's Random Die Cut Red No. 4

For today's viewing pleasure we have:

2000 Crown Royale
No. 37 Barry Larkin
Platinum Blue

I am a fan of almost anything Pacific. They have cool die cuts. So much foil you can use them to tan with. Low serial numbering. 4,237 parallels per each base card. Corked bat relics from Planet Man Ram. They just had it going on.
This die cut is problematic in a way. Not easy to store in pages as it slips around easily. The crown can crimp or chip if not handled properly. But it shows that the Reds are the royalty of baseball.

Joe's Random Die Cut Red No. 3

Just another Donruss Elite Die Cut.

Or is it?

2002 Donruss Elite
Barry Larkin
Status 2 / 5

If you look closer at the card you will notice it has an embossed 2002. This is because it was a give away at the 2002 Chicago National Card Show. The Donruss people gave away cards in a pack redemption program and all cards given away were numbered to 5 and were embossed with the show name and date. How many of theses cars actually made it to collectors? Who knows.

Odd-Doll Card

The card that started the Starting Lineup Craze. 1988 Starting Lineup Talking Baseball. This card is about 2" x 2" in size and is unnumbered. These were incuded with the Starting Lineup dolls. The art work is cool. But even Kenner had to airbrush the Reds logo off of a painting. But why a yellow undershirt?
As you can see, Brads55 is faking injury to avoid posting. I cannot believe a Reds Super Collector is embarrassed by the riches I have to offer for display. Either that or Steve at White Sox Cards has turned him to the South Side.

Drink Coaster or Collectable?

This is the question I pose to you on day 4 of Oddball week.

1994 King B Disc
Barry Larkin
No. 17 of 24

What makes this card an oddball you ask?
No corners? Check
Airbrushed out logos? Check
Unnatural card colors? Check
Clip art graphics? Check
Collector Edition? Check

But hey. How many teams were honored by having their players on these non linear cutouts?
There is a Phillie. A White Sock. A Red Suck and even a Cub. But no BRAVES! Yes. I am still mad about 1982.

No good deed goes unpunished.....

A little over a week ago I contacted a fellow Reds collector about working on the blog with me. It has been great seeing his cards. It was great that he answered the Cubs Suck question with enthusiasm. But he crossed the line when he tried to out Larkin this collector. I was the guy who watched Larkin help the Reds to the 1990 World Series. I was the guy who stated collecting Larkin in the 90's. Then he tries to show up a Barry Larkin collector.

Brads55
(His trade page is the top link on the right)

You have been called out onto the REDS carpet.

I shall start of with this little cardboard treasure:
2004 Leaf Certified Materials
Card No. 17 Barry Larkin
Mirror Red Parallel
011 / 100

That's right! The parallel is numbered to Barry's jersey number. And if you look over the jersey number you see the Captain's C. And the card is the RED parallel. This card shows Mr. Larkin beating out a fielder's choice of of Ben Sheets on July 11, 2003 in Brewerland. Yep. But I ask you Brads55 - What is missing from this photo on shiny cardboard?

2004 Leaf Certified Materials
No. 17 Barry Larkin
Mirror Emerald Bat
1 / 5

That's right Brad. The bat he used to hit that screamer to Center Field is what I was talking about. Well here is a piece of that bat. And it is 1 of 5. Another question Brads55. What is the cleanest part of the photo on the card?

2004 Leaf Certified Materials
No. 17 Barry Larkin
Mirror Gold Fabric
22 / 25

Barry Larkin's uniform. He is still fast enough to need not slide in the dirt. Smooth enough in the field to not need to dive. And as a reminder. He is No. 11 in your program.

Well Brad. Does Barry Larkin sign off on this post about what he did on July 11, 2003? Let us see.

2004 Leaf Certified Materials
No. 17 Barry Larkin
Mirror White Autograph
08 / 10

It seems Mr. Larkin has signed off on this posting. He agrees you should never try to out Larkin a Larkin collector.

Just kidding man. I am enjoying your postings and everyone else is also. Keep up the good work and remember what happens when you try to out Larkin me :)

I Gots Some Reds Cards

And You Aint Got None!

At least none from Cardboard Junkie. I contacted Ol' Dayf (as his closest friends know him) about a certain card. I wondered what it would take to pry it from his warm, live fingers and we swapped auto cards. He also included this smorgasborg of extras.

A near complete Team Set of 1988 Topps Big
If anyone has card 167 Nick Esascky let me know.
I like this set. Just a smidge bigger than normal but cool back and good photos of both portrait and action shots on front.

No. 20 Eric Davis
No. 48 Kalvoski Daniels
No. 74 Barry Larkin
No. 96 Tom Browning
No. 144 Dave Concepcion
1982 All-Star Game M.V.P.
No. 214 Jeff Treadway
No. 232 John Franco

2 Holgram Stickers from Upper Deck

2003 SP Legendary Cuts
No. 40 Ernie Lombardi
Ernie was a Hall of Fame catcher before there was such a thing. A good hitting catcher who was great defensively. Runner did not run on him often and he was known as a great game caller. A key member of the Reds 1940 World Series team and 1938 M.V.P. The card itself shows Ernie warming up before a shutout of the Chicago National League Team on July 9, 1938 at their own field. 11 - 0. The card itself is ho hum and too dark for my liking.

1989 Topps Sticker Cards
No. 65 John Franco
No. 47 Eric Davis
Both cards have no stickers on the back.
They must be on Junkie's English notebook next to the I love (Wife's name) drawing.

A 2002 Bowman Heritage of
NOOCHIE!
Man I wanted Noochie Varner to make the big leagues. The name alone would have made him a star. Alas it was not meant to be. He was traded in 2002 to the Tigers I think and has not made it. Plus I have a friend who everyone calls Nootchie because he says Nootchie Rats instead of Nutria rats.

You down with O-Pee-Chee?
Yeah you know me!

A Hockey Stick Set Card
No. 427 Ron Oester

1983 Topps No. 554 Mike Vail.
This guy is one of the variation cards in 1981 Donruss. Good luck finding both versions.

Vintage 1987 Woodgrain Set
No. 412 Eric Davis
Is it just me or he have a look of "Who the heck does this Larkin kid think he is? Autograph a ball for is Mom?

1997 SP
No. 54 Hal Morris
Hal was born in Fort Rucker, AL.
I once drove through there. On my way to someplace nice.

1988 Topps
No. 282 Pat Perry
What kind of career have you had when after 4 seasons in the majors the highlights on the back are that you played Little League and American Legion ball, Has a wife and 2 daughters and was traded by the Cardinals?

1994 Leaf
No. 426 Erik Hanson

1994 Pinnnacle
No. 510 Bret Boone

1990 Topps
No. 176 Luis Quinones

2001 Topps
No. 570 Sean Casey
No. 593 Ken Griffey
How much does Topps dislike Griffey to give him No. 593?
Isn't that kind of card number reserved for a Cub?

Eh? You want more Canadian cards?
1986 Leaf
No. 179 Tom Browning

2003 Topps
No. 18 Jason LaRue
No. 30 Ken Griffey Jr.

2003 Game Face
No. 33 Aaron Boone

2000 Stadium Club
No. 30 Barry Larkin
Gaze in awe at the effortless Larkin Leap over Barry Bonds to complete the double play.

2004 Donruss
No. 251 Ken Griffey Jr.
I miss Donruss. They may have had 200 parallels per card but they made some nice ones

2005 Topps Cracker Jack
No. 49 Adam Dunn
Look at Dunn as he shows just how bad the Cubs sluggers are. Notice that it seems they barley get it to the outfield? OOOOOOO. It looks like Adam fears them about as much as facing Kerry wood fresh out of rehab. Again.

1986 Topps
No. 54 John Franco
Who was writing card backs for Topps in 1985?
This is the third card I have come across that says someone walloped a Home Run.
What up with that?
Might have to do an All-Time Wallop card countdown.

1996 Pinnacle Aficondio
No. 177 Steve Gibraltar

I like these cards. They are like an early 2000 Fleer Gamers with the silver textured foil and a good smooth photo on the front together. They could have done a better job of making his name fit on the front. Looks out of place and off center. Like a Cubs fan.

For Austin Kearns Cards click here. I am enjoying this blog. I have met plenty of great people. Made some good trades to rebuild the Reds collection and have had a lot of fun writing this. Thanks to all who check me out and feel free to contact me about ant trades or offers. Especially if you play for the Reds or live in the Cincinnati area. I would like to hear from you.

And now

For Game 4 of the 1990 Baseball World Series

From Your Cincinnati Reds

Batting Lead Off

1991 Donruss
No. 471
Shortstop Barry Larkin
Barry was 4th in hits in the N.L. in 1990 with 185. Barry scored the tieing run in game 4 of the World Series.
The card shows him squaring off for a bunt against Mike Scott of the Astros. One of the teams who were behind the Reds for the whole season. The card front has the typical early 90's fashion of bright lines and speckly things. Not that I ever wore anything like that. Something I did not realize is that if you put two cards next to each other the name line and position line have no break on the right side and flow into the next cards picture.

How cool is that? I never noticed that until I started scanning them. If you know of any other sets that do this let me know.