Buyback Franken-set: Shlabotnik Coin Toss

I've got just a small window of free time here before Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals starts.  Certainly nowhere near enough time to scan and post the entire package of cards I received recently from my longtime hobby friend Joe Shlabotnik.  Instead, let's wade in slowly with a mini Buyback Franken-set post featuring the pair that were included with the delivery...

1968 Topps #512 - Grant Jackson

A classic pose, bright vibrant colors, and just enough background mystery to keep things interesting make this '68 Grant Jackson a very compelling card.  I really, really like this one.  As soon as I thumbed across it in the stack I got a big smile on my face.  This card has to make the binder, right?

Not so fast, says Dalton Jones.  A tough call here, as I'm certainly a fan of the quirkiness that is 1973 Topps, and this tilted beauty is a fine example from that release.

At the end of the day though, there's just something about that Grant Jackson card that speaks to me.  Jackson wins out!

1993 Topps #215 - Pat Howell

Pat Howell played well over 1,100 games in the minor leagues, including stints in Mexico and Taiwan.  He did briefly appear with the Mets in 1992 (thus this card in the '93 Topps set), but it amounted to just 31 games, and would wind up being the entirety of his MLB career.  Pat's got some competition for the franken-set as well...

...with Mark Langston's '87 release.  Rough match-up for Howell, as Langston enjoyed a successful 16-year MLB career with multiple All-Star appearances and Gold Glove awards.  Plus, how 'bout that uniform?

That was an easy call.

One card that lost in a route, another that fought its way into the binder.  50/50 is actually good odds at this stage of the project.  Thanks so much for this pair Joe, and sorry it took me so long to post them.

Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy the Cup Finals game tonight hockey fans!

Franken-set Progress: 649/792 (81%)
1990 Topps Buyback Set: 118/792 (14%)
"Rejected" Buybacks: 588
Total Buybacks in Collection: 1,355