Objects in this relic card may appear FREAKIN HUGE!

I know I don't post often but I had to share this. This is one of those awesome things I've discovered since returning to the hobby.

Here are two 2003 Flair Greats Sweet Swatch Classic cards. I got these off eBay thinking the gimmick here is that the relic on the card was larger than normal. The image didn't give any hint to the cards' actual sizes. I got the package in the mail with a bunch of other packages. I had no idea what the heck it was until I opened up the package and exclaimed "Holy crap! Look at the size of these cards."



I posted normal cards so you can see the size difference. These cards are impressive looking in person. If your favorite player has one of these cards I suggest hunting them down and getting them. I was able to pick up the pair for less than $20. The bat card is #ed to 490 and the jersey card is #ed to 880.

I love the 90's

This is one of my favorite cards. I was a big fan of Pinnacle and all their products in the 90's. I have tons of Score cards. I was a big fan of Select Certified's thick card stock and foil finish. I like the shininess of the Mirror Gold Parallel. I already had the base from this set but it took me some time to track this card down on eBay but I finally was able to find it.

Another thing I love about this card is that Mattingly is sporting a goatee. You may ask, "But Peter, don't the Yankees have a strict policy against facial hair below the upper lip?" Why yes reader, they indeed do. But back in 1995 (1996 Donruss also has a goatee wearing Mattingly photo), when Jack McDowell joined the Yankees he begged Steinbrenner to let him wear his goatee. So Steinbrenner allowed him to wear his goatee but soon after that others on the team began growing goatees including the Captain. Well after going 1-8 on road trip the no facial hair policy was reinstated as punishment (although the Boss denied that). Here's the story.

More Yankee goodness

I picked up this little gem on eBay. I was gunning for the Mattingly but for the price people normally pay for just the Mattingly I got 9 other cards (an auto of Danny Cater isn't pictured here but was on the back of the page)


I was extremely excited about the Jimmy Key and David Cone autos on top of the Mattingly. Cone and Key were starters on the 1996 World Championship team. Jimmy Key pitched in Game 6 of the 1996 World Series and took the win over Greg Maddux. 1996 will always be my favorite season. We had just moved to North Carolina that summer and I have to be honest I wasn't following the Yankees too closely at the time. I don't remember much about the summer or days before the postseason but I definately remember the postseason. I remember the Yanks beating Texas and then those memorable games against the Orioles. Then those crushing first two game losses to Atlanta and then marching back four straight games to take the Series. Being in the south where I presumed everyone was a Braves fan really makes you feel out of place. I was beyond elated when they won. I remember jumping or shouting (both of which I continued to do for all the other World Championships we won).

You never forget your first postseason (1995, that Mattingly home run will probably rank pretty high, close to a wedding and childbirth) and the first time your team actually wins it all. I was hoping to recapture that with Dave's Rays this year. You're not supposed to root for the enemy but seyeariously, if your team wasn't in the postseason how couldn't you root for the Rays?

Anyway, these cards are awesome. I have a Ralph Houk and Al Downing autograph. Al freakin Downing, I can't believe it! I look at the cards, look up the players on wikipedia to learn things I never knew or completely forgot and it's just amazing. It may be corny but I get a feeling I can't describe when I look back at Yankee history or baseball history for that matter. Well, baseball history that isn't "unpleasant" in my opinion, there are certain events in history I would (and do) block out. But homerun chases, walk off home run game winners, Game 7 winners, pitchers that win over 25 games in a season, larger than life players (I know I'm describing the 60's). I just love it.

Damn, I love this game.

Yankees I Collect

These are cards that have a special place in my collection or that I actively persue on eBay. This list is in order from most interested in to least interested in.

Don Mattingly cards (I have over 400 Mattingly cards)

Phil Hughes cards (I have some but not a whole lot)

Xavier Nady Yankee cards or Autos (I have very few)

Joba Chamberlain (I have some but not a whole lot)

Phil Coke cards (I have none, looking for some)

Other Yankees I collect (Jeter, ARod, Mussina as Yankee, Rivera, Joba)

Yankee Stadium Legacy cards(I'm on page 2 of the collector list @ Upper Deck with 180 cards)

I'll probably have to create a trade or purchase disclaimer soon just to set up some ground rules. My rule of thumb is if you're interested just ask. I'll try to be as accommodating as possible but if a trade doesn't fit or the price is too high then both parties have a right to say so and either reorganize the deal or walk away. No use cryin' over spilled Brien Taylors.