Happy Birthday to Me! Another Pack of 2005 Helmar

A while back I ripped a pack of these 2005 Helmar mini cards, and absolutely loved them.  Well, my dad reads this blog and picked up on the fact that I liked these cards.  For my birthday earlier this month, he and my mom were kind enough to send me four packs of these!

I've got the first one to feature here today.  In case you missed it the first time around, each pack contains three cards.  The cards all contain original artwork by the artists at Helmar, and as you'll see the quality is fantastic.

The best part about the set is that it covers many subjects who are relatively obscure in the annals of baseball history.  Aside from the beautiful artwork, I enjoy the fact that each card is an opportunity to learn about a lesser-remembered name from baseball's past.

Let's see how I did in this pack...

First card out is Negro League great Rube Foster.  I'd seen this card on COMC previously, and it was the card I wanted to pull the most out of the limited number I'd seen.  This is my very first card of Foster, and I couldn't ask for a better one.  I love the imagery here, particularly that great uniform.

This pack is already a win, regardless of what the other two cards are.

Next card is a dupe for me, although a beautiful one.  I haven't been able to find much of anything about Goto here since encountering this card for the first time a few weeks back, anyone have a lead?

If any of my trading partners is interested in this one just speak up and I'll toss it in your next outgoing package.

A really interesting card to close out the pack.  Arnold "Chick" Gandil was a member of the famed Black Sox team, and consequently banned from baseball.  The first baseman was actually the leader in the scheme, and admitted later in life that he deeply regretted it.  As with Rube Foster above, this is my very first card of Gandil, and the artwork is quite interesting as well.

I'm really loving these cards so far, and I'll be sure to feature each of the three remaining packs from my birthday present when I get around to opening them.  Thanks for stopping by, and if you're reading Dad thanks for the great cards!