With MLB in-person autographs not really a serious thing for me the past 5 or 6 years, along with COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 - I wanted to see if I can track down former MLB players from the junk wax years [1986-92], who've ended up being scratch the itch curiosities for me.
Balboni's Kansas City royals record for home runs hit in a season [36] was surpassed by Mike Moustakas - who ended up hitting 38 in 2017.
Maybe the cards from Topps Archives is what the finished product would look like - if the people putting together the original cards [whether in 1953, 1979 or even in 1991] would have been able to use current day photo editing software, print on cleaner card stock and in the case of 1953, print in the standard trading card size.
1953 Topps design - I see these as more of an extension of the 2002 Topps Heritage set, rather than the original 1953 Topps cards; maybe my favorite design because of the vintage Topps aesthetics, particularly for the guys that are playing right now.
1979 Topps design - I have an idea of the look and feel of late 1970s Topps cards and while 'old-school cool,' the original cards were a little grimy with the backs a little too drab.
1991 Topps design - I've collected my share of 1991 Topps and while I don't expect these cards to exactly mimic the originals, these remind me more of the cards from various mid 2000s Topps Fan Favorite products, than the junk wax era [some jazzy images, but low definition quality] originals.
Pack one
#105 Max Kepler
#70 David Robertson
#138 Curtis Granderson
#69 Collin McHugh
#142 Dellin Betances
#85 Joe Mauer
#172 Joey Votto
#269 Adrian Gonzalez
#292 Andrew Miller
#224 Hunter Pence
Pack two
#164 Jacob deGrom
#86 Alex Rodriguez
