Topps Project 2020 Mike Trout #142

I got this card in-hand the same day Trout broke the Angels franchise record for home runs, hitting his 300th to pass Tim Salmon - oddly, as much as Trout has been anointed the best player in the game, once in a while, I still tend to think of him as a boy wonder who first came into the league.

Though speculating can be a waste of time, it will be interesting to see if Trout can hit another 300-400 home runs and beyond - where he puts himself position to challenge the all-time home run record.

As far as Topps Project 2020, the values of individual cards have mostly settled below what they initially have sold for on Topps.com - I have two more Trouts [Naturel and Grotesk] I'm waiting on from purchases made at least a couple of months ago and decided to actually pass on picking up the last two Trouts released [Vides and Efdot].

Topps Million Card Giveaway - the Card Buzz collection #8

1973 Topps Bill North #234

From the Million Card Giveway, I think I traded a 1972 Topps Ivan Murrell for this card - while the Murrell was a 'high number' card, North's 1973 Topps card was his rookie card, so it made it easier for me to accept the offer.

As for the player, it looks like North was a 1970's version of Juan Pierre - a fast top of the lineup type hitter with no ability to hit for any power. To North's credit, he did have the ability to collect his fair share of walks during his 11 year career.

Topps Million Card Giveaway - the Card Buzz collection #7

1979 Topps Brian Downing #77

Brian Downing was an Angels mainstay throughout the 1980s and while I want to say this card means a little more, than the other cards I had delivered from the Topps Million Card Giveway - I think I've leafed through my share of Downing cards, particularly from the junk wax era [1986-1992], so I had this card delivered just because I want to say I had an Angel card delivered.

I think I ended up trading a 1978 Topps Don Baylor #48 for the Downing - another former Angels star who was otherwise a common / minor star at best when it came to baseball cards.

Topps Million Card Giveaway - the Card Buzz collection #6

1961 Topps Ted Lepcio #234

Topps Million Card Giveaway - the Card Buzz collection #5

1969 Topps Nate Colbert #408

I already have a 1971 Topps card of Colbert in my A-Z archive of cards - but I had his 1969 Topps card delivered from the Topps Million Card Giveaway because it has a nice image of the player pictured smiling.

I didn't know much about Colbert beforehand, but it looks like he had his best years with the San Diego Padres through the 1970s - he wasn't a star or anything but there was a six year period where Colbert was likely the Padres' best player and he also hit five home runs in one game.

It might not be visible through the scan - but it looks like someone or something 'scrunched' the left hand side of the card by border, causing a crease. It maybe some sort of therapy going through these cards and trying to discuss the little imperfections as I see them.

Topps Million Card Giveaway - the Card Buzz collection #4

1969 Topps Max Alvis #145

Topps Million Card Giveaway - the Card Buzz collection #3

1972 Topps Cubs Rookie Stars #61 - featuring Burt Hooton

Topps Million Card Giveaway - the Card Buzz collection #2

1969 Topps Larry Shepard #384

From the time I started collecting [just about 20 years ago], I've never liked manager cards - if a baseball card doesn't picture a player, then it means there is one less collectible card out there for an actual player.

I think the only reason I had this card shipped was because it was 42 years old - I just love the three OK looking corners and the rounded top left corner sticking out like a sore thumb.

As for the subject of the card, it was ironic that Shepard passed on at the age of 92 earlier this month - his Baseball Reference Bullpen page gives a more in-depth look at his playing, managerial and coaching careers in professional baseball. It looks like his four pennants during his 18 years as a manager were captured as a minor league skipper.

Topps Million Card Giveaway - the Card Buzz collection #1

1969 Topps Joe Horlen #328

Like everyone seems to have been blogging about lately, the Topps Million cards have finally been making its way to collector's hands - I got my shipment of eight cards in on Monday and my first reaction was I paid about $7 to have these cards shipped to me?

Assuming everything costs much more these days, I may understand the fact it only cost exactly $1.73 to ship these cards to me - the cards were sleeved and put into top loaders; an invoice was enclosed listing the cards I had delivered.

However, flipping through the eight cards I received, I was a bit underwhelmed since these cards ended up being the ones your mom threw away, left in someone's attic, otherwise discarded, et al - there were layering, creases, rounded corners, stains and probably other defects.

I suppose all the imperfections makes the cards more 'authentic,' but kind of wonder if Topps could have taken an extra step in making sure the cards met a certain condition - instead of random, junky condition fillers to fulfill the requests from the Million Card Giveaway.

Collectors may not have liked it but I think a Topps Million Card Giveaway 'buyback' stamp of sorts would have been nice addition to the cards requested to be shipped - like how the various Topps Heritage vintage buyback cards are stamped to signify their status as such.