Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Cardboard cousins: 1961 Topps/2010 Topps Heritage American Heroes
I have a lot of cards from a 2010 set called Topps Heritage American Heroes. It's a non-sport set with various political, social and military heroes, as well as some heroic historical events. I wanted to try to link up a baseball card with a card from that set. Here is the best I could come up with, card #123 in each set.
The Heroes set uses a variety of older card designs, but they managed to get a 1961 event onto a 1961 design. On May 5, 1961, when Alan Shepard became the first US astronaut in space, Billy Gardner went 1-for-4 with an RBI as the Twins downed the visiting Red Sox, 5-1.
Ooh, I need one of those rocket cards for my space binder! Good to know
ReplyDeleteCool idea!
ReplyDeleteClete Boyer had arguably the best May 5th, 1961, going 2 for 4 with a double and a home run. The home run being a two run shot with one out in the top of the 9th to put the Yankees ahead 5-4.
I also like the same color combo match of the Juan Marichal card .
He twirled a 7-hitter complete game victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Tough to argue a Hall of Famers rookie card!
There were definitely some opportunities here. One they really shouldn't have missed: #9 in the set is Bud Day, the most decorated living Air Force member according to the card, on the 1960 design. #8 in the 1960 set was Bud Daley. Switch Day with another military hero, Gordon Roberts, at #8, and it would have been a great "cousin". They could have maybe played with some things so that, say, the Boston Tea Party card was a "cousin" of a Red Sox care, or Gettysburg paired with a Phillie.
ReplyDeleteLove that Topps Heritage American Heroes set. Lots of variety. I'd love to one day own its sister set... Topps American Heritage. It's weird that they released two sets the same year that were so similar. Not complaining though, because both are awesome.
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