Richards was Mike Trout's best friend on the Angels and it might have been nice if he could have stayed healthier - now he looks to rehab and make a comeback from Tommy John Surgery sooner than never, even if it takes a couple of years to be back on the mound.
Certified autograph cards of MLB players seem to be a dime a dozen and within a product like 2015 Topps Triple Threads - maybe there one too many variations of basically the same type of card, with just a different color scheme and serial numbering.
These cards will never be worth more than what I paid for them since they are not considered big hit pulls from the product - however, for about the price of a blaster box, I like the idea I was able to pick up a pair of nice looking cards featuring a couple of pitching aces.
Though the Angels find themselves likely playing out the string, Richards has actually had a respectable season - especially after coming back from a gruesome injury in 2014.
For what it's worth, I only realized I had this other first-year autograph of Richards from this break - maybe after Richard's second or third year with the big league team.
As is, I'm probably stuck to loose Angels inserts and base I may end up with like this Garrett Richards card I found - I can't get into high end cards, because it's all about Mike Trout, I kind of missed the boat on him, but now everyone is into him as the hot, young superstar.
I don't like the idea of trying to complete team sets [too tedious, especially when it comes to junk wax years], but want a collection of different, Angels cards - I think I do have to de-emphasize my interests somewhat because while I covet Angels cards, but I don't want it so I'm held hostage by the need to have all Angels related cards [even if the player pictured aren't really favorites].
An idea would be to scour for cards of prospects, so I have some better cards of guys who maybe future Angel stars - though guys anointed as top prospects turn into busts, guys who seem like future stars are disappointments and guys get traded or even find themselves cut prematurely.
I've had no problems with Topps card designs from the last five years - though I think the designs have been a little too conservative and bland.
#197 Glen Perkins
#289 Matt Joyce
#255 James Russell
#166 Jenrry Mejia
#134 Brett Lawrie
#344 Manny Parra
#279 Coco Crisp
#1 Derek Jeter
#122 Corey Kluber
#269 Jordy Mercer
#10 Cole Hamels
#136 Manny Machado
#126 Detroit Tigers team card
#283 Chris Johnson
#123 Ben Revere
#190 Zach Britton
#288 Chris Parmelee
#50 Yu Darvish
#111 Trevor Bauer
#312 Kyle Lobstein - Rainbow Foil parallel
#A-18 Ted Williams - Archetypes insert
#H-4 Bob Feller - Highlight of the Year insert
#JR-10 Jackie Robinson - The Jackie Robinson Story insert
#R-7 Ryan Ludwick - Robbed in Left insert
Babe Ruth's Call Your Shot Game card - $0.50 off coupon
#I-15 Willie Stargell / Andrew McCutchen - Inspired Play insert
Richards doesn't look to be back this year, so I just hope he can bounce back and be an effective pitcher at some point - maybe it's just me, but with the fragility of pitchers' careers, sometimes the guys on the mound just don't make it back.