Coming Back Around...Slowly...

So taking a week away from all things card-related (all things computer related too for that matter) was really nice.  In fact, it was so nice that when I got back from Ireland I decided to take another week away from cards.  No blog posts, no card purchases, no browsing eBay, nothing.  It was long overdue.  I think the fact that the Red Sox totally suck, combined with what seems like a certain lengthy delay (at best) to the start of the 2012-13 NHL season, has made this break relatively easy to bear.

Plenty happened while I was gone, though.  One of my favorite Red Sox personalities of all-time, Johnny Pesky, passed away.  The team also shed more than $250 million in payroll in one of the more remarkable "trades" I've seen pulled off in my lifetime.  I'm starting to feel my interest towards the hobby slowly creep back, but I'm still not all the way there yet, so for today I'm going to wade back into the blogging waters with a simple, one card post.  Continuing my recent trend of acquiring 1964 Topps baseball cards, here's the latest addition to my collection from that set:

This card is one that has been on my most wanted list for quite a while.  I've wanted a copy since I first laid eyes on the card this past winter.  Aside from my love of 1964 Topps, this one filled a longtime want for my collection; a vintage Berra card.  The 1963 season was Berra's final year playing for the Yankees, so this is a manager card, but I like it nonetheless.  I think the portrait that Topps selected is just perfect.  Weathered face, sweat-stained cap, bat resting on his shoulder...classic.  Besides, it fits quite nicely with my Johnny Pesky manager card from the same set.

After months of searching I decided on this copy, which I am really happy with.  Any vintage baseball card collection worth its weight in salt should have a Yogi Berra.  After all, he is one of the greatest (some say the greatest) catchers to ever play the game.  If his personality and one-liners aren't enough to get you to appreciate him, his 10 World Series titles as a player should be.

At some point I'd like to add a vintage Berra from his playing days.  1953 Topps would be the obvious choice since I'm working on that set, but I've seen a couple of other great ones as well, most notably 1950 Bowman.  Any suggestions?