MY DALE MURPHY COLLECTION-2

2 0 0 0

FLEER/SKYBOX:

Greats of the Game is a 107-card set released by Fleer in late March, 2000. Fueled by a now-legendary collection of autographs, the Yankee Clippings game-used jersey cards, and the superior design of the base set, the product turned out to be one of the most popular releases of the 2000 calendar.

GREATS OF THE GAME # 100

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 0 0 1

TOPPS - AMERICAN PIE:

American Pie 150-card set released June 15, 2001.

The brainchild of Florida Hobby store owner and Topps consultant Alan Narz, American Pie was a hybrid baseball/non-sports set designed to capture the essence of America at the height of the Baby Boomers Era of the '60's and '70's.

#18

TOPPS - ARCHIVES:

REPRINT # 415 of 450 ('93 Topps Card # 455)

TOPPS - ARCHIVES RESERVE:

# 18 of 100 (ROOKIE REPRINT # 476 (1977 Rookie Catchers)

TOPPS - TRADED & ROOKIES:

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT # WWHT # 16

UPPER DECK - DECADE 1970'S:

# 104 (Rookie - 1970's Flashbacks)

2 0 0 2

DONRUSS:

ROOKIE CARD REPRINT # 1 of 20

DONRUSS - ORIGINALS:

AQUEOUS Parallel # 9 (Donruss 1978)

POWER ALLEY:

# PA 15 - Numbered 1238/1500

FLEER - GREATS OF THE GAME:

# 80

TOPPS - TRIBUTE:

MILESTONES MATERIALS JERSEY # MM-DM - Materials

UPPER DECK - SP LEGENDARY CUTS:

# 13

LEGENDARY CUTS # B-DMu (Bat)

UPPER DECK - SWEET SPOT CLASSICS:

ALL TIME CLASSIC UPPER DECK TEAM # 69

2 0 0 3

DONRUSS - CHAMPIONS:

NEED THESE PARALLELS - The April 2003 of Beckett Baseball Card Monthly contained a randomly inserted Donruss Champions promo card paralleling the first 100 base cards in the set. Each card has "SAMPLE" stamped in silver or gold foil on the back, with about ten percent of the production run stamped in gold.

# 20 (1983 Most Valuable Player - NL)

DONRUSS - CLASSICS:

DRESS CODE - BAT + JERSEY # DC33 - Numbered 203/300

DONRUSS DIAMOND KINGS:

# 167

FRAMED - White # 167

TEAM TIMELINES # TT2 - Numbered 269/1000 (with Chipper Jones)

DONRUSS - ELITE:

ALL TIME CAREER BEST MATERIALS - BAT # AT 22 - Numbered 263/400

DONRUSS - TEAM HEROES:

# 28

LEAF:

MVP WINNERS # MW-7

TOPPS - ALL TIME FAN FAVORITES:

# 19 (1991 Topps Card)

VINTAGE EMBOSSED BUYBACK:

Vintage Embossed is a buy-back program, with each card bearing a special All-Time Fan Favorites stamp. Cards from before 1957 were seeded as exchange cards.

1988 Topps # 90

TOPPS - ARCHIVES:

2003 Design # 241 - RAINBOW - Numbered 101/199

UPPER DECK - SWEET SPOT CLASSIC:

CLASSIC GREATS AUTOGRAPH # CG-DM

GAME-USED JERSEY:

# SJ - DM

2 0 0 4

DIAMOND KINGS:

# 159 - SP (Legends)

# 159 - BRONZE FRAMED PARALLEL (Legends)

# 159 - SEPIA PARALLEL (Legends)

GALLERY OF STARS:

# G-13

HERITAGE COLLECTION:

# HC1

TEAM TIMELINE:

# TT - 4 (with Chipper Jones)

DONRUSS - CLASSICS:

LEGENDARY LUMBERJACKS # LB 15 - Numbered 264/1000

TEAM COLORS JERSEY # TC8 -Numbered 05/50

DONRUSS - ELITE:

# 184 - Numbered 187/1000 (Retired Players)

PASSING THE TORCH:

BLUE # PT9 - Numbered 236/250

RED # PT9 - Numbered 0717/1000

DONRUSS ELITE - EXTRA EDITION:

ROUND NUMBERS # RN 44 - Numbered 016/500

DONRUSS - LEATHER & LUMBER:

# 14

JERSEY # 14 - Numbered 087/250

DONRUSS - STUDIO:

# 20

STUDIO HERITAGE # SH 7 - Numbered 184/999

DONRUSS - TEAM HEROES:

# 40

DONRUSS - THROWBACK THREADS:

# 201 - SP - Numbered 208/1000

# 201 - GOLD PARALLEL - Numbered 89/100

CENTURY STARS:

# CS 12 - Numbered 907/1500

DONRUSS - TIMELESS TREASURES:

# 88 - Numbered 641/999

DONRUSS TIMELINES:

BOYS OF SUMMER:

# 7 - Game Used Bat

FLEER - GREATS OF THE GAME:

# 124

LEAF:

E X H I B I T S:

This has GOT to be one of the most confusing and convoluted inserts ever made!

Leaf Exhibits is a 50-card set with FORTY-SIX different variations of each card - each variation has the same player photo,

but each has some minor differences.

Done in the style of the cards produced by The Exhibit Supply Company from 1921-1966, each different variation is serial numbered from as few as 21 to as many as 66 copies.

The Exhibits inserted into Second Edition packs have a blue tint and are not serial-numbered.

# 11 -LEGEND CODE: 1939-46BWR - Best Wishes Right - Numbered 19/46

# 11 - LEGEND CODE: 1947-66PSIG - Made in USA Signature - Numbered 44/66

# 11 - LEGEND CODE: 1962-63NSNL - No Stat/Name Left - Numbered 05/63
# 11 - LEGEND CODE: 1947-66MSCR - Made in USA Print - Numbered 59/66

MVP WINNERS:

# MW 7

LEAF - CERTIFIED CUTS:

STARS # S7 - Numbered 336/599

LEAF - CERTIFIED MATERIALS:

# 218 - RED MIRROR COMBO - Numbered 127/250 (Bat + Jersey)

PLAYOFF - ABSOLUTE MEMORABILIA:

# 18

ABSOLUTELY INK - AUTOGRAPH/JERSEY # A. I. - 33 - Numbered 064/100

Authentic Signatures SPECTRUM # 18 - Numbered 091/100

TOOLS OF THE TRADE:

# TT 36 - Numbered 031/150

PLAYOFF - HONORS:

# 19

NL MVP AWARDS:

# A 18 - Numbered 0177/1982

PLAYOFF - PRIME CUTS 2:

# 93 - Numbered 365/699

TOPPS - ALL TIME FAN FAVORITES:

# 129 ('91)

TOPPS - RETIRED SIGNATURE EDITION:

(On my mantle)

Each Autograph comes encased in a plastic holder - however, over the years some collectors have cracked open the plastic holder in order to get the cards professionally graded - GROUP G: 1:2/packs, 1350 copies...

CERTIFIED AUTOGRAPH ISSUE # TA-DMU (encased)

UPPER DECK - SP LEGENDARY CUTS:

SIGNIFICANT SWATCHES:

Bat # SS-DM

2 0 0 5

DONRUSS - CHAMPIONS:

# 147

IMPRESSIONS - GREEN PARALLEL # 284 - Numbered 12/25

DONRUSS - CLASSICS:

STARS OF SUMMER:

# SOS 4 - Numbered 084/1000

DONRUSS - DIAMOND KINGS:

# 280

GALLERY OF STARS:

# GS6 - Jersey - Numbered 076/100

HERITAGE COLLECTION:

# HC 4

DONRUSS - LEATHER & LUMBER:

# 140

GOLD PARALLEL:

# 140 - Numbered 34/50

DONRUSS - STUDIO:

Each Heritage is serial-numbered to 1000 copies and available in the following parallels.

Die-Cut (serial-numbered to 200 copies)
Die-Cut Gold (serial-numbered to 50 copies)

HERITAGE # SH 9 - Numbered 394/1000

DONRUSS - TIMBER & THREADS:

BAT/JERSEY # TT-9

DONRUSS - THROWBACK THREADS:

GENERATIONS # G-3 (With Fred Lynn/Red Sox & Jim Edmonds/Cardinals)

PLAYER TIMELINES # PT1

DONRUSS - ZENITH:

# 248

# 248 - Z SILVER PARALLEL

Z-COMBOS:

Jersey/Bat # ZB 91 - Numbered 024/100

LEAF:

Structured similarly to the '04 Leaf Exhibits, Sportscasters is a 50-card set with 140 different variations of each card. Each variation has the same player photo, but each has some minor difference. Done in the style of the cards produced 1977-79, each different variation is serial numbered from as few as five to as many as 70 copies. Sportscasters - Orange/Running-Glove # 9 - Numbered 22/30

# 9 - ORANGE/RUNNING GLOVE - Numbered 22/30

LEAF - CENTURY COLLECTION:

# 190

PLAYOFF - ABSOLUTE:

ABSOLUTE HEROES # AH 30 - Numbered 005/250

PLAYOFF - PRESTIGE:

CHANGING STRIPES # C 24

PLAYOFF - PRIME CUTS 3:

Prime Cuts 3 was released by Donruss-Playoff in October 2005. Each four-card Hobby box contains two base cards serial-numbered to either 399, 449, or 499 copies, one parallel or insert, and an autograph or game-used card -- which comes packaged inside a sealed magnetic case.

CUSTOM NUMBERS MATERIALS (ON THE MANTLE)

NL MVP's: 1266 (2 bats + 2 Jerseys) # T-1 - Numbered 3/50

TIMELINE MATERIAL:

BAT # T1 - Numbered 29/50

TOPPS - ALL TIME FAN FAVORITES:

# 62

TOPPS - FINEST:

# 164

# 164 - GREEN REFRACTOR PARALLEL: Numbered 171/199

TOPPS - PRISTINE LEGENDS:

2005 Topps Pristine Legends is a 140-card chromium-stock set released in October 2005. This would be the only Pristine Legends product, and the final Pristine product overall. It would also be the only Pristine set released to both Hobby and retail outlets. As the name suggests, the set consists exclusive to retired players.

VALUABLE PERFORMANCE - BAT # VP DM

TOPPS - RETIRED SIGNATURE:

SLABBED - ON THE MANTLE

2005 Topps Retired Signature is a 110-card set. As with previous iterations of this product the base set borrows from that year's Topps Baseball design, and each pack contains one encased autograph.

For the first, and only, time, Topps released a limited number of Retired Signature packs to retail outlets.

# TA DBM (Group F)

UPPER DECK - PAST-TIME PENNANTS:

Past Time Pennants is a 90-card set. Each 18-pack Hobby box will yield two autographs and one wool

Mitchell & Ness pennant.

PAST TIME PENNANTS # 17

UPPER DECK - PORTRAITS:

SIGNATURE PORTRAITS - 8x10 Auto # SP - DM

UPPER DECK - SP AUTHENTIC:

# 25

UPPER DECK - SP LEGENDARY CUTS:

GLORY DAYS JERSEY: (Blue) # GD-DM

UPPER DECK - TRILOGY:

Generations Past Signatures # PA - DM

2 0 0 6

2 0 0 7

2 0 0 8

DONRUSS THREADS:

# 2

2 0 0 9

2 0 1 0

TOPPS:

LEGENDARY LINEAGE # LL-52 (w/Matt Kemp - Dodgers)

TOPPS - NATIONAL CHICLE:

The first, and only, Topps National Chicle Baseball set is a 329-card, all-painted, set inspired by the 1935 football card set of the same name, and consists of 205 current players, 50 retried players, and 20 rookies all in an Art Deco design. The set also includes three, somewhat controversial, subsets: Retired Stars Revisited, Vintage Veterans and Rookie Renditions.

Retired Stars Revisited has 25 Hall of Fame-caliber players, painted in the modern uniform of the respective teams. This includes Babe Ruth in an Atlanta Braves uniform, and Lou Gehrig in a current Yankee batting-practice shirt with sideburns, a soul-patch, and a titanium necklace.

Vintage Veterans features ten current players painted into "throwback" style unis. Among the images include an Ichiro in a Seattle Pilots shirt, Albert Pujols wearing St. Louis Browns gear, and Ryan Howard in a Philadelphia A's uniform.

The Rookie Renditions have nothing to do with the 1935 National Chicle set. Instead collector's are treated to 20 different 2010 rookies painted into vintage Topps rookie cards of the past. For example, Chicago White Sox rookie Tyler Flowers is painted to resemble Frank Thomas on his 1990 Topps "NNOF" rookie, and Madison Baumgartner appears on a card inspired by Gaylord Perry's 1962 Topps rookie.

To say that Retired Stars Revisited, Vintage Veterans, and Rookie Renditions cards were not well received by collectors would be an understatement. The subsets, coupled with overall poor quality of the artwork led to National Chicle being discontinued after only one year.

This Murphy card, obtained by my friend and Braves afficionado, Jack Downs over in Georgia, is a cool oddity!

DIAMOND STARS # 220

TOPPS - UPDATE:

THE CARDS YOUR MOM THREW AWAY # CMT-144 (Topps '79 Set)

TRISTAR OBAK:

2010 Tristar Obak is a 136-card set released August 11th, with attendees of the 2010 National Sports Collectors Convention getting it a week earlier. Each six-card pack will contain one T-212 mini card. Each 20-pack Hobby box will yield: three base short-prints, two parallels serial-numbered to 50 copies or fewer, one T-212 parallel serial-numbered to 50 copies or fewer, one T-4 Cabinet boxtopper serial-numbered to 75 copies or fewer, and four autographs serial-numbered to 125 copies or fewer.

Each 24-box case should yield: One "Hot Box" containing a minimum of ten autographs, an autographed T-4 Cabinet serial-numbered to 25 copies or fewer, a T-212 autograph serial-numbered to ten or fewer, and a Cut Signature.

3000 boxes were produced.

T-112 MINI SET:

# 11 A

Each T-212 has a regular mini + a "slogan" variation...

They're also available in the following parallels.

Black (serial-numbered to 50 copies)
Green (serial-numbered to 25 copies)
Red (serial-numbered to five)
Purple (one-of-one)

2 0 1 1

TOPPS:

60 YEARS OF TOPPS - ORIGINAL BACK PARALLEL - Reprint 1988 Topps # 90

TOPPS 60 SET:

A 100-card set of legends and current stars noting the statistical category in which each places in the top 60 all-time or among active leaders. Cards 1-50 appeared in Series One, while 51-100 appeared in Series Two. An additional 50 cards appeared in Topps Update...

# T60-17 (Most Home Runs, 1982-87 = 218)

KIMBALL CHAMPIONS # KC-91

A recreation of the 1888 Kimball Champion cards (ACC Catalog: N-184), this 150-card mini-sized (1 15/32" X 2 11/16") set spanned all three series of 2011 Topps baseball. The first 50 cards highlighted legends of the game and current stars and appeared in Series One. The next 50, which are only cards of retired players and Hall of Famers, appeared in Series Two. The final 50 cards appeared in 2011 Topps Update.

For a product designed to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Topps Baseball, the inclusion of a 19th Century reprint set was somewhat curious.

2 0 1 2

2 0 1 3

When Dale retired in the summer of '93, he stepped aside as a member of what was then a newly minted Colorado Rockies franchise, missing the 400-homerun milestone by just two.

Despite his impressive on-field accomplishments, Murphy’s numbers among eligible voters for selection into the Hall of Fame have consistently fallen far short of the minimum 75% required. Several of his contemporaries (Eddie Murray, Ozzie Smith, Dennis Eckersley, Paul Molitor, Bruce Sutter, Andre Dawson) have already been enshrined, but Murphy’s voting totals peaked at 23% in his first season of eligibility (2000), and his numbers have continued to shrink in subsequent years.

In the most recent Hall of Fame balloting (January 2013), Murphy received 18.9% of the votes. Because 2013 was his final opportunity to gain the necessary votes for election on the regular Hall of Fame ballot, the road to Cooperstown must now go through the Veteran’s Committee.

Why is he so popular? Besides his easy-going, down-to-earth nature and his talent, Murphy was the first superstar of the cable era. Fans across the country got to watch him play every night on “The Superstation” back in the late 1970s through the late 80s, as the Braves became—justified or not— ‘America’s Team’.

The card companies have recognized his fan base over the years, as is obvious by his inclusion in various sets in the years following his retirement - and as long as there are fans/collectors like me, Dale will live on in perpetuity.

PANINI - GOLDEN AGE:

2013 Panini Golden Age is a 150-card set, released in June, 2013. Each pack will contain one mini-sized parallel, and each 24-pack Hobby box will yield one Autograph, one memorabilia card, and one over-sized Exhibit box topper.

# 143

PANINI - HOMETOWN HEROES:

# 57

2 0 1 4

2 0 1 5

TOPPS - STADIUM CLUB:

# 24

2 0 1 6

2 0 1 7

2 0 1 8

2 0 1 9

HERO DECKS:

GO BRAVES!

The inside flap of this box of regulation-sized US playing cards says: www.HeroDecks.com - Hero Decks and Baseball Heroes are trademarks of Parody Productions LLC."

"The Atlanta Baseball Hero Deck playing cards for Atlanta Braves fans feature fifty-two of the greatest players by position and era in Atlanta Braves baseball history. Thoughtfully organized by position using baseball numerology, the face of each playing card is colorfully illustrated with a different hero ... this deck is sure to be a HOME RUN with Braves fans of all ages!"

I ran across this box of 52 cards while searching for Braves memorabilia one afternoon. Cool!

The box contains charactered cards of all of my Braves heroes and will remain one of my all-time favorite collectibles. My only complaint? They've put my boy Maddog on the Queen of Hearts. What's THAT about???! I hope it indicates the heartbreaking anxiety batters felt when they tried to figure out where his pitches were going...

KING OF DIAMONDS - THE MURPH (1976-1990)

PANINI - PRIZM:

# 298 - RED PRIZM PARALLEL

TOPPS:

1984 TOPPS BASEBALL SET # T84-54

1984 ALL-STARS SET # 84AS - DM (Series 2)

TOPPS - ALLEN & GINTER:

# 135

TOPPS - STADIUM CLUB:

# 98

2 0 2 0

DONRUSS:

# 234

TOPPS:

1985 TOPPS BASEBALL:

These "inserts" mimic the 1985 Topps set - Inserted in Series One Packs)

# 85-8

All Stars # 85AS-28

TOPPS - STADIUM CLUB:

# 61

# 61 - RED Parallel

TOPPS - UPDATE:

2020 TURKEY RED # TR-35

2 0 2 1

DONRUSS:

# 255 - (Retro 1987)

# 255 - BLUE HOLO Parallel

# 255 - PURPLE HOLO Parallel

TOPPS - ARCHIVES:

# 207 - (2001 Design)

2 0 2 2

TOPPS:

1987 Topps Baseball # T87-48 (35th Anniversary)

1987 Topps Baseball - CHROME MOJO REFRACTOR # T87C2-17 (Series 2 Packs)

Similar to previous year's promotions, 1987 Topps Baseball Chrome Refractors is a 100-card set distributed as premiums at participating Hobby stores. Each card is a Chrome "Tire Tread" Refractor done in the style of the 1987 Topps set, but it is NOT a parallel of the 1987 inserts seeded in packs. Collectors who purchase a full Hobby box will receive a four card pack and those buying a Jumbo box will receive two packs. Randomly seeded in packs are "colored" Refractors and autographs, also done in the "Tire Tread Mojo" pattern.

TOPPS - ALLEN & GINTER:

# 343 (SP)

TOPPS - ARCHIVES:

# 24

TOPPS CHROME - PLATINUM ANNIVERSARY:

# 234

TOPPS - STADIUM CLUB:

# 294

# 294 - RED FOIL Parallel

TOPPS - STADIUM CLUB CHROME:

# 294

# 294 - XFRACTOR Parallel

2 0 2 3

PANINI - CHRONICLES:

CERTIFIED # 16

LEAF LIMITED # 7

OBSIDIAN # 47

PANINI - PRIZM:

# 198 - GREEN ICE Parallel

PANINI - SELECT:

THIS IS ONE BUSY SET...

The 300-card base set is fractured into 3 levels:

Concourse Level - 1 thru 100

Premier Level - 101 thru 200

Diamond Level - 201 thru 300

All 300 base cards are available in the following Prizm parallels.

Blue
Silver Prizm
Tri-Color Prizm
Blue Prizm
Scope Prizm
Elephant Prizm
Tiger Prizm
Zebra Prizm
Orange Flash Prizm
Green, White, & Purple Prizm (Concourse: serial-numbered to 199 copies; Premier Level: serial-numbered to 149 copies; Diamond Level: serial-numbered to 25 copies)
Tie-Dye Prizm (serial-numbered to 25 copies)
Neon Orange Pulsar Prizm (Concourse: serial-numbered to twelve; Premier Level: serial-numbered to eight; Diamond Level: serial-numbered to three; exclusive to 1st Off the Line packs)
Gold Prizm (serial-numbered to ten)
Gold Flash Prizm (serial-numbered to ten)
Pink Prizm (serial-numbered to ten)
Green Prizm (serial-numbered to five)
Black Snakeskin Pulsar Prizm (one-of-one; exclusive to 1st Off the Line packs)
Black Finite Prizm (one-of-one)
Gold Vinyl Prizm (one-of-one)

The first 200 cards in the base set are available in the following Prizm parallels.

White Prizm (Concourse Level: serial-numbered to 149 copies; Premier Level: serial-numbered to 75 copies)
Neon Green Prizm (Concourse Level: serial-numbered to 75 copies; Premier Level: serial-numbered to 60 copies)
Teal, White & Pink (serial-numbered to 49 copies)

CONCOURSE:

# 76 - PRIZM

TOPPS - ALLEN & GINTER:

# 200

# 200 - FOIL FILLAGREE PARALLEL

TOPPS - ARCHIVES:

2003 DESIGN SET:

# 241

# 241 - RAINBOW Parallel - Numbered 101/199

TOPPS - STADIUM CLUB:

# 40

# 40 - RED PARALLEL

2 0 2 4

EDWARD VELA:

Vela is a sketch card artist with over a decade of experience in the collectible industry, creating limited edition prints and art cards featuring sports legends, movies, music icons, and other pop culture subjects...

His work includes cards signed and numbered in limited editions - like this beauty below...

# 11 - LIMITED EDITION - Numbered 49/50 (Signed by Edward Vela)

TOPPS - STADIUM CLUB:

# 65

# 65 - BLACK FOIL Parallel

# 65 - PINK Parallel

# 65 - RED FOIL Parallel

TOPPS - STADIUM CLUB CHROME:

# 65

2 0 2 5

In recent years, I've seen bans lifted for both Shoeless Joe Jackson (caught up in the infamous Black Sox Scandal), and Pete Rose - both of whom should go into the Hall for their baseball achievements. They made mistakes, yes, but America is a forgiving nation, and baseball should be as well.

Dale Murphy had absolutely no controversy attached to his name - he was simply a fan favorite who helped bring legitimacy to a franchise with his workingman's ethos and positive attitude...and along the way set some pretty awesome records for the Braves. Perhaps this will be the year that this amazing player will finally get the recognition he so richly deserves.

LEAF - OPTICHROME:

ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PROOF CARDS...

Truth be told, I discovered these on eBay, and bought them from a reputable dealer I'd dealt with in the past - unfortunately, at the current time, I'm unable to find a comprehensive listing from Leaf on the particulars of each set/variation, so stay tuned for updates when available.

AQUATIC # AB 40 - Numbered 1/1

The Aquatics feature different sea life in the backgrounds, including Orca, Turtle, Coral Reef, Jellyfish, Clownfish, Koi Fish, Crab, Shark, Octopus, and Tuna versions - I can't figure out which fish is in the background of this one though...

AQUATIC # AB 40 - Numbered 1/1 - SHARK BACKGROUND

TEMPEST # TB 14 - LAZER - PLATINUM BLUE

TEMPEST # TB 14 - LAZER - PURPLE

TIME MACHINES PRIZMATIC

TOP 10 - DRAFT HISTORY - BLACK SHIMMER

TOP 1- DRAFT HISTORY - SILVER LAZER

TOPPS:

1990 TOPPS BASEBALL - Chrome Silver Pack Mojo # T90C-46

TOPPS - ALL STAR GAME:

HOMEGROWN HEROES # HH-5

TOPPS - SHOEBOX TREASURES:

A frequent collaborator in the card world, 2025 Topps Shoebox Treasures Baseball by Andy Friedman puts his unique spin on past Topps cards - The online set is billed as the "spiritual successor" to 2024 Topps Spotlight Baseball.

# 8 (1982 Topps # 668)

Thanks much for lookin' over my Murphy list...

I've noted a trend between Dale and the card companies - between the end of the '93 season (his last), and 2001, I have MANY gaps to fill - and filling these gaps is NOT an easy thing.

I've had to resort to eBay for recent cards, but most are outrageously priced.

I'm a collector, yes - but my pockets are not so deep that I can go without the basics of life (you know...food, utilities, making my Medicare payments). It's a shame, really...the ones who crank out this new generation of card collectibles are the same ones who won't join a petition to have this good man inducted into the Hall.