Top 100 Cards of My Collection #11 1989 Perez-Steele Post Cards Mickey Mantle Autograph PSA/DNA Certified

 

It's not technically a card (though it is a postCARD, so technically it's a variation of a card) and since it's the my top 100 favorite cards of my collection (not specifically trading cards, loophole!!!) I feel like it's warranted to be included in my countdown. Oh yeah, and it's a PSA/DNA certified autograph of one of the greatest Yankees ever to play the game, Mickey Mantle. Yeah, that last part, put it over the top for sure. The postcards are numbered to 10,000 (Mine being 9,382), and on the front is nice Mickey Mantle artwork by renowned sports artist Dick Perez. But it's the nice large legible on card autograph of Mickey Mantle that shoots this in the #11 slot. The only reason, and a minor nitpick, is of course it's a not a certified autograph by a major card company, but PSA/DNA is pretty reputable when it comes to authenticating autographs. So for this postcard, I think it was OK to make an exception to the rule!

Cowboys vs Redskins: My First Game

My dad won season tickets off a Texas Lottery scratch off second chance drawing and for us, this was HUGE NEWS. We are HUGE die hard Cowboys fans, yet had never been to a game before, and now we'd have the chance to go to multiple games. We won't be able to make every game, but we'll get to go to a couple which is good enough for me! And what a way to start off the season than a Monday Night Football game against the hated Washington Redskins!! The stadium is AWESOME. I've never seen anything like it, TV doesn't do it a justice. To say it's huge would be an understatement. The game itself, was not an offensive shootout like I thought it would be, in fact we didn't score one TD, but Dan Bailey hit 6 fg's and we won 18-16. The game ended with a Anthony Spencer sack on Grossman which caused a forced fumble and we recovered. Excellent way to end the game!! It was an amazing experience, one I'll never forget. The crowd was amazing, it was so loud, over 91,000 people were there! Can't wait to go to the next one! Here are some pics from the stadium and before the game.

Top 100 Cards of My Collection #12 2004 Playoff Prime Cuts MLB Icons Ted Williams Patch

 

Teddy Ballgame has been shocking non-existent in this countdown, but he makes a big debut here at #12 with this beautiful 2 color patch card out of 2004 Playoff Prime Cuts. The 2nd card in the last 3 to come from this set. This card is numbered to 9 (mine is 8/9) and is not a card you see pop up very often, if at all. Patch cards from Hall of Famers of Ted Williams caliber are that much more desirable. I think it was definitely worth the wait to see a Ted Williams card on this countdown.

Top 100 Cards of My Collection #13 2007 Topps Triple Threads John F Kennedy 6 Relic Card

The only non sport subject on the countdown. This amazing 6 relic card features pieces of a sweater worn by JFK himself. JFK is one of the most popular and influential presidents in American history. The sweater relics are inserted into each letter window that spells out "Ask Not" part of JFK's famous  "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country" line from his inaugural address. The card is also numbered to 36 copies (this one is #10/36).  Not only an amazing card, but to me an amazing piece of American history.

Top 100 Cards of My Collection #14 2004 Playoff Prime Cuts MLB Icons Babe Ruth Jersey

It's one thing when I had an bat card that had an actual piece of a bat used by the immortal Babe Ruth, I mean I thought I would never top that in my collection. A piece of a jersey though?? No way, that would be way too out of my price range and would be a mere pipe dream to ever own such a treasure. Well, not so fast cause as you see, card #14 is indeed a Babe Ruth jersey card. This card is from Playoff's super high end Playoff Cuts brand, contains a swatch of a jersey worn by The Great Bambino himself. This card was my #1 card for a very long time, and there was a time I used to think there would be no way I could top it. Numbered to a mere 25 copies (mine is 13/25), the only thing that I can nitpick about this card is the size of the swatch. It's fairly small, but it's still a nice looking card and definitely was a white whale of mine that I was able to check off with a big grin on my face when I won it.

Top 100 Cards of My Collection #15 03-04 UD Legends Legendary Signatures George Mikan

We're down to the final 15 and to start us off is this beauty. I honestly believe George Mikan is one of the most underrated sports pioneers of all time. Mikan was the NBA's first true superstar, yet when comparing him with not only legends of other sports, but even just legends in the NBA, I don't believe Mikan gets his due. It wasn't till he passed away that Mikan autographs picked up some steam. In fact I picked this up for $50 bucks, which even at the time I thought was a steal, since there really aren't many Mikan certified on card autographs out there. This comes from one of my favorite autograph sets of all time. It's such a simple yet effect design and the crisp on card signature of Mikan makes this that much better. Sure, Mikan autographs have become a little more available thanks to Panini and their god awful cuts, but that's why I appreciate this card so much more, cause owning an on-card autograph of a great basketball pioneer is just that much sweeter.

Top 100 Cards of My Collection #16 1991 Pro Line Portaits Autographs Walter Payton

 

At first look at this card, you think "why the hell would a cheap Pro Line Portraits card of Walter Payton be on the countdown much less 16"? And then you flip to the back and see the reason why. Yep this is the certified autographed version that was inserted in to packs of 1991 Pro Line Portraits. This was one of the earliest sets to featured pack in autograph cards and the 91 and 92 sets pack some pretty heavy hitters. You'll see some guys that don't have many autographs (and some infamous guys like O.J. Simpson) also non footballers like Payne Stewart and even Muhammad Ali. Not bad for a basic set that's basically considered junk to most. I don't know the reason why it's signed on the back of the card, and I'm not familiar enough with the set to know if all signers did this, but nonetheless it's a nice certified autograph of one of the greatest running backs every to play the game. Oh, and by the way for those wondering how you can tell if this card is authentic, look at the bottom right of the 2nd scan and you should be able to see the Pro Line Certified Seal. Only the autograph cards carry this seal.

Top 100 Cards of My Collection #17 02-03 SP Game Used Authentic Patches

Why it's Mr. Jordan again! This Wizards patch is arguably one of the best Wizards patch cards out there, it's definitely my favorite and best MJ game used card out of my collection. Unlike my other MJ Wizards Patch card which was earlier on the countdown, this is a true 3 color patch. It's nice and big and I love the design of the card too. The card comes from the then revolutionary SP Game Used product where you would get 1 game used jersey card a pack (when that was a big deal). It's also numbered to 100 copies (mine's 31/100).

Game Used Greatness: Dwyane Wade Autographed Game Used Jersey

This came in the mail today and to say I'm stoked is probably the understatement of the year.

Top 100 Cards of My Collection #18 09-10 UD Exquisite Collection Extra Exquisite Michael Jordan

Even regular jersey cards can still hold some attention as evidenced by this MJ Bulls Jersey card at #18. Sure regular jersey cards have lost a lot of luster, hell even MJ jersey cards can be had for less than $50 bucks, but there are many factors that make this one a little bit more special. It comes from the super high end Exquisite set and is numbered to 50 copies (mine being 30/50) and the swatch is huuuuuuuge compared to what we see today. An oversized jersey swatch (Bulls away red to boot, not boring white) of the greatest athlete of all time from a super high end set? Definitely a regular jersey card worthy of top 20 status.

Top 100 Cards of My Collection #19 2003 UD Premier Collection Premier Signatures Wayne Gretzky

I've stated numerous times, my Hockey knowledge is limited as is my hockey collection. I probably have maybe a little more than 10 cards give or take and here on this countdown only two other hockey cards have  charted. This one at #19 is hands down my favorite and best hockey card out of all of them. Wayne Gretzky passes the mom test. My mom doesn't know a lick about hockey but she knows who Wayne Gretzky is. The best hockey player ever to play the game, Gretzky is not only a hockey icon but a sports icon. He helped put hockey on the map. He's a guy that I had to get an autograph of and I was more than happy to snatch this one off Ebay. An on card autograph of The Great One, this isn't just a great hockey card, it's a great sports card and earns its rightful place here in the top 20.

Check out my New Blog! Chronicling our Fantasy Football Season!!

Get an in-depth look at the Wayne McGarrity Bowl, our fantasy football league, and see who'll win the ultimate prize!! (That sounds intriguing and important right??)

http://waynemcgarritybowl.blogspot.com/

My EBay Auctions Ending Tonight: Old School Iverson inserts, Adrian Peterson autograph

I have a few EBay Auctions Ending tonight. They Start ending around 7, mainly Allen Iverson and Vince Carter stuff with a few nice low numbered Vince Carters in the mix. Also have a 8X10 Adrian Peterson up for auction. For those interested here's the link to my stuff http://www.ebay.com/sch/aircp/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686