Topps Cards That Should Have Been: The Hall of Famers of 2008

Topps SHB #7: 2008 Frank Thomas, Oakland Athletics

 As I do this project, I enjoy finding the players who've fallen through the cracks, the middle relievers, the once-strong infielders, the players who Topps figured they'd be alright without, but...sometimes, Topps, for one reason or another, makes a big omission and tries to rectify it with no avail.

In 2008, two Hall of Famers, both definite first-ballot HOFers for sure, were playing their final seasons, and ended the year in uniforms different from the one on their Topps flagship card. In both cases, Topps would make a 'sunset issue' the following year in 2009 Topps, one being genuine and the other being greatly airbrushed for some reason, but the 2008 Update set didn't feature this sort of finality.

It's most jarring in Frank Thomas' case. Thomas was released by the Toronto Blue Jays in April 2008, as his Topps card on the Jays was heading to shelves. Four days later he signs with the Athletics, a team that gave him a monster comeback season in 2006, with 39 homers and 114 RBIs...at age 38. The A's remembered what he did for them, how he led them into the postseason, and they re-sign him. In return, Thomas, now 40, gave them 55 games, 5 home runs, and a .263 average.

How Topps didn't put him in Update boggles the mind. Even if they did a 2009 Topps A's card, he's still Frank Thomas, he was still contractually on Topps' docket, and he still could have used a Topps Update card. But Topps was more interested in giving a card to Yamid Haad, a veteran minor league catcher who was about to take over as catcher for the Indians before they signed Sal Fasano.

Yamid Haad played 0 games in the 2008 season and got a Topps card. Frank Thomas played 55 and didn't.

And before you go 'oh, they wanted to reward a career minor leaguer', Mike Hessman never got a Topps card with Atlanta, New York or Detroit. He's on my list, for the record. Wladimir Balentien is also on my list. Yamid Haad is a fluke.

Anyway. This next one actually has a reason to not be in 2008 Update:

SHB Topps #8: 2008 Greg Maddux, Los Angeles Dodgers

Greg Maddux was traded by the Padres to LA on August 14th 2008, after the cutoff date for Topps Update. So he at least has an excuse.

But his 2009 Topps card is badly filtered, slightly airbrushed, and not a great final sendoff for the landmark, legendary starter.

So I made this one, which is more indicative of Maddux's second half for the Dodgers, where he pitched into the postseason and helped this team stay alive amidst series' with Chicago and Philadelphia. In the regular season, Maddux went 2-4 with a 5.09 ERA in 7 starts. In the postseason, Maddux worked in a relief role with a 0.00 ERA over 4 innings, and 3 strikeouts. Not bad for a 42-year old.

Maddux and Thomas deserved better final releases, and even if Thomas got a good one in 2009, they still needed their 2008 chapters marked by Topps. Which, I guess, is what I'm here for now.

They Deserved it

I hit it nearly on the head this morning in saying that Maddux, Glavine and Thomas would be headed to the Hall of Fame, all three getting in indefinitely today. I was a bit pissed that Craig Biggio lost out by two votes, but what are you gonna do.

That's the thing. I really have nothing to argue about the picks, because all three are definitely legends. Usually, one of them is wrong, like Bert Blyleven might not have deserved it, or last year it shouldn't have been nobody getting in, or I still don't think that Bruce Sutter's a Hall of Famer.

This year, aside from the Biggio thing, there was no controversy. Hideo Nomo, in my opinion, deserved to at least stay on the ballot, but I'm not picky.

Next year's going to be very interesting, because Randy Johnson, John Smoltz, Gary Sheffield and Pedro Martinez will all be up for it, and I imagine all will eventually land in the hall, with the exception of maybe Sheffield.

So yeah. Very nice Hall of Fame day.

Card Show- Sweet Swag

A few days ago I went to a Card Show down at the somewhat-local mall. I was stunned. Being that this was my first in a while, I simply looked first, THEN gorged! There were a lot of hot products- 2009 Topps, all the inserts, Numbered, Turkey Red, you name it- and a lot of products that were hot back in the day- tons of random Early 00's packs-.

In fact, my dad (Who came with me) answered a Trivia Question about Ron "Louisana Lightning" Guidry (He went to Guidry's first game. Talk about a Yankee fan) and we won a free Guidry card! I chose one of the only ones we didn't have:1983 Topps #440 (Above)

If that wasn't enough, I got a few packs of older stuff. 1995 Topps was a dead end, no need to show it (Dave Henderson and Ruben Sierra were the only ones I knew). But I ended up getting 2 packs of 2003 Topps, which I started back in the day but couldn't finish.

Pack One-

Lance Berkman- #230 Awesome! Still no Yankees though...

Frank Thomas #109 Great player, close to retirement, but cool. Where are my Bronx Boys

Hideo Nomo #93 Boooo! Former Red Sock! Get him out of here!

Hobby Masters Kazuhisa Ishii HM2 Who? Never heard of him! And how is he a Hobby Master then?

Tony Armas Jr. #149

Ruben Quevedo #111

This pack is beginning to smell- wait!

Greg Maddux- #105 NICE! Retiree! That is getting better

Jason Giambi #356 DINGDINGDINGDINGDING! Yankee in the house!

Not the best Yankee, but a Yankee nonetheless

Mike Mussina #190 Wow, another Retired Yankee. Now let's end it strong!

Brent Butler #241 The exact opposite of strong

Pack 2-

Geronimo Gil #131

Carlos Baerga #45

John Halama #280

Art Howe Manager #282

Fernando Vina #223

All except Baerga- who? I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THESE PEOPLE!

Add the fact that I already have a Vina in my basement from 6 years ago.

League Leaders NL HR #345

Sosa, Green, and ANOTHER BERK! This pack wants me to move to Houston.

Future Stars Philly Marlon Byrd/ Jorge Padilla #322

Huh? A rookie of a kid who'll never get anywhere? Nah!

Future Stars Twins Michael Cuddyer/ Michael Restovich #329

Huh? A rookie of Michael Cuddyer? Things are looking up!

Future Stars Rangers Hank Blalock/ Mark Texiera #324

Huh? A ROOKIE OF A CURRENT YANKEE? This is bound to be my hit, right?

Future Stars Devil Rays Josh Hamilton/ Carl Crawford #325

(Jaw slowly drops)

Oh my god, this is the best pack EVER!!!! Aside from all those nameless people at the beginning, this ROCKS!

End with a checklist, something 09 Topps doesn't have!!

Wow, that pack blew my mind back then. That means that there are plenty more Card Shows to come!!!