The Buyback Franken-set Grows By Ten

Let's take a look at another ten buyback cards to see if they make the cut for my newly formed Buyback Franken-set. Spoiler alert, this set is so new for me that all ten cards made the cut since they have no competition yet.  It won't be long before multiple cards start competing for a single slot in the binder, but for now these are all safely tucked in their respective spots...

#23 - 1965 Bob Tiefenauer

Pitcher Bob Tiefenauer represents the first 1965 Topps card in my set, and is also the oldest card in the set at this point.  This is one of the 50th Anniversary buybacks that are included in the Topps Heritage set each year.  These seem to demand somewhat of a premium when compared with the buybacks from Topps flagship.  I think this is just because people go nuts for Heritage, and also because every one of these released to date is a '67 Topps card or older...

#125 - 1978 George Scott

I've shown this one on the blog in the past, but it's getting another day in the sun to commemorate its inclusion in my set.  I love George's infectious smile in this photograph, it's fitting that this is the first Red Sox card to be included.  I really don't envision this one being bumped from the #125 slot any time soon. 

#251 - 1969 Ron Herbel

Here's another one I've shown on the blog before, as I pulled this one myself in my lone hobby box of last year's Update set.

#274 - 1978 Freddie Patek

Never knew anything about Freddie Patek before acquiring this card.  Apparently he was like the Dustin Pedroia of the '70s, known around baseball for his "diminutive stature" (he was listed as 5' 5").  He was no slouch either, as he was named an All-Star three times over the course of his career, and even garnered some MVP votes in 1971!

#19 - 1973 Tim Foli

Tim Foli was the very first player taken in the 1968 draft, by the Mets.  A few years later he was dealt to Montreal in the trade that brought Rusty Staub to New York.  Love the glasses and powder blue uniform on this one, which is the first Expos card to make the binder.

#439 - 1975 Ed Brinkman

With Ed Brinkman's '75 card we have a great example of Topps' practice of tilting the photographs on their cards.  Brinkman had finished his career long before I was born, so again I don't know a whole lot about the guy.  He did win a Gold Glove at shortstop in 1972, and was named an All-Star in '73.  Later in life he spent a long stretch of time with the White Sox in various coaching and scouting roles.

#218 - 1969 John Roseboro

John Roseboro put together an impressive resume over the course of his baseball career.  6 All-Star appearances, 3 World Series championships, multiple Gold Gloves, and he also has the distinction of being the only player to be hit in the head with a bat by Juan Marichal!  I'm not sure how long this card is going to stick around in my franken-set though, because I'm not a huge fan of hatless portraits on my baseball cards.  Besides, I'd rather get Roseboro into this set as a Dodger if at all possible.

I've actually got a second copy of this particular buyback if anyone wants to trade?

#642 - 1979 Wilbur Howard

Wilbur Howard didn't do a whole lot of note in professional baseball, but he did play 6 MLB seasons more than I ever will.  This card will probably be safe for a while, only because I don't anticipate running across too many other buybacks that are #642.  Plus that '70s Astros jersey is just great.

Believe it or not I have an extra copy of this one as well, more than happy to trade it for another buyback...

#333 - 1978 Jim Todd

With a set that's going to be largely composed of cards from the 1970s, you had to know there was going to be some airbrushing, and we certainly have that here!  I guess this was the best the Topps artists could muster in the late '70s, but it most definitely does not stand the test of time.

#136 - 1979 Jim Kaat

We'll close it out for today with a star from 1979 Topps, starting pitcher Jim Kaat.  Arguably the best player to make my set so far at this early stage, Kaat's MLB career lasted an impressive 25 seasons.  He ended up winning a World Series at the tail end with the Cardinals, and is probably most known for winning an impressive 16 straight Gold Gloves between 1962 and 1977.

Still a long ways to go here, but I have to say this project is turning out to be a ton of fun and is providing me with a much-needed burst of hobby motivation!

Franken-set Progress:  20/792 (3%)