Buyback Franken-set: Brett Completes Another Pair of Pages!

Time for the penultimate post to come out of the large lot of buybacks that my friend Brett sent my way recently.  Let's dive right in and not waste a moment!

2006 Topps #547 - Derek Lowe

While I'll always associate Derek Lowe with the Red Sox team that broke the curse, this is a nice bunting card from his post-Red Sox days with the Dodgers.  Derek actually had a solid year on the mound for LA in 2006, posting 16 wins against just 8 losses with a 3.63 ERA.  Can this pitcher-at-the-plate buyback make the binder?

Well, if it hopes to it will have to unseat this '86 Roger McDowell buyback.  As much as it pains me to admit this as a Red Sox fan we all know what the Mets did in '86 so...

McDowell sticks around in the binder for now.

1990 Topps #363 - Dan Petry

Sweet, I'm never going to turn down a '90 Topps buyback.  My secondary project of attempting to complete an entire 1990 Topps set in buyback format is really picking up some steam as of late.  I found a seller on eBay with a significant number of them, we're going back and forth now and if I can work this out I'll be a good chunk closer.

In this case I already had this '93 John Smiley buyback in slot 363 of the franken-set, which is perfect because...

...Dan Petry moves right into the '90 Topps binder.  Just how I'd prefer it!

1990 Topps #511 - Clay Parker

Speaking of 1990s...here's little-known pitcher Clay Parker, whose MLB career lasted just four seasons.  Like the previous card, this one has some competition for the franken-set binder:

Love this Lee Smith buyback, simply awesome.  Clay Parker has no shot against this one...

...so off to the '90 Topps binder with him as well!

1990 Topps #430 - Pete Incaviglia

Keeping it rolling with the '90s here, we have slugger Pete Incaviglia of the Rangers.  Pete recorded 24 home runs and drove in 85 in 1990, despite batting just .233.  He also struck out 146 times, which amazingly isn't even anywhere near his career high, so he seems like one of those classic "swing for the fences" guys.  What I love about this buyback is that it's my first #430 and...

...it completes a page!  Couple of all-time great managers here in Joe Torre and Tony LaRussa, and you have to love that dusty '73 Topps Gerry Moses at bottom center.  Speaking of managers...

1991 Topps #609 - Jeff Torborg

...here's a 1991 Jeff Torborg.  There are a lot of fantastic cards in the '91 Topps set, but I'm not sure this is one of them.  Torborg enjoyed a lengthy career as a manager, and had actually just won the AL Manager of the Year award the year before this card was printed up.  He was a catcher in Major League Baseball back in the '60s/'70s and is probably best remembered for catching a Sandy Koufax perfect game in September of 1965.

Best thing about this one...

...another completed page!  A couple more managers on this page, but my favorites are the Galarraga in the lower left (courtesy of Joe Shlabotnik) and the Tom Gordon posed shot right next to it.

1991 Topps #579 - Roger Craig

I guess manager cards are the unofficial theme of today's post.  I'm particularly drawn to this one due to the great shot of chiseled baseball lifer Roger Craig paying his respect during the national anthem.  This is more along the lines of what I was referring to when I said there are some great cards in the '91 flagship release.

Rich Dauer's 1983 card has been occupying slot 579 for a while now...

...but I'm ousting him in favor of that fantastic Roger Craig card.

1984 Topps #535 - Bo Diaz

Another new buyback here of the longtime catcher who shares my surname, Bo Diaz!  Being a catcher, Bo has some great cards out there that were released during the course of his career.  1984 was a rough year for Diaz, as knee injuries limited him to just 27 games played that year.  He'd end up having two surgeries in the off-season.  This one makes the franken-set as my first #535 buyback!

1988 Topps #687 - Mickey Brantley

Next up, an '88 Mickey Brantley.  1988 was the best of the four seasons in Mickey's unremarkable MLB career.  This card isn't exactly an eye-opener, however...

...I already had this 1990 Tim Birtsas in slot 687...

...which allows me to slide the Brantley into the franken-set binder and shift Birtsas into the 1990 Topps binder.  Awesome.

1989 Topps #265 - Kent Hrbek

Here's Kent Hrbek, who appears to be enjoying a cheek full of "chaw".  I'm sure if Kent got a look at this one he might wonder why Topps went with this particular photograph.  1989 saw Kent reach the 25 home run plateau for the fourth consecutive season.  As far as the franken-set goes though Hrbek has a tough draw...

...in the form of smilin' Willie Davis!

It's not going to be easy to boot Willie from the binder, and Hrbek comes up just short in this case.

1990 Topps #452 - Luis de los Santos

Last card for today, and yet another 1990!  If you're not familiar with Luis de los Santos don't be too hard on yourself.  He played just three seasons of Major League ball, appearing in just 55 total games for the Royals and Tigers.  #452 is a new number for the franken-set, so into the binder this one goes, and I'm one card closer to completion.

Four new numbers in today's batch of ten, with two of those completing new pages.  Add to that a trio of new cards joining the 1990 Topps buyback set and this batch was a definite winner!  Next up, the conclusion of Brett's stack of buybacks...

Franken-set Progress:  590/792 (73%)
"Rejected" Buybacks:  498
Total Buybacks in Collection:  1,088