I am reaching the end of my stockpile of Tony Gwynn cards and seem to have ended up with a few odd ones that don't really fit into a themed post, like these Upper Deck cards.
Card Number 543: Upper Deck Collector's Choice Special Edition, 1995; #140
Collector's Choice was Upper Deck's other main set, and Special Edition was a smaller additional set of Collector's Choice, like a spin-off of a spin-off.
The stat leaders card is relevant to this blog because it commemorates Tony's .394 score in 1994. The blue foil SE logo marks this out as part of the Special Edition set.
Looking down the list of other players, it feels very odd seeing Wade Boggs listed as a Yankee, but he spent five seasons and won the World Series with them in 1996.
Card Number 544: Upper Deck UD3, 1997; #35
UD3 was a high end card range brought out by Upper Deck that went heavy on emphasising its use of "unique technologies" on its cards. Tony's card was a PROmotion [sic] card that featured "Light-FX" - an effect that doesn't scan very well.
There were only 60 base cards in this set, which sold at $3.99 for 3 cards. If we adjust for inflation, the retail price for packs of three cards would be $6.47 in 2020.
Card Number 545: Upper Deck Past Time Pennants, 2005; #76
This set from Upper Deck was composed of retired players. There were 90 cards in the set and 69 of them were Hall of Famers, or have been elected since the set was released. Tony was included in the set two years before he was elected.
Boggs with the Yankees is weird... but there are a bunch of guys who seem out of place on that leaders card.
ReplyDeleteMolitor w/Blue Jays
Clark w/Rangers
Palmeiro w/Orioles
Mitchell w/Reds
And Jefferies w/Cardinals
I don't know how I would feel if Tony had ever played a few seasons somewhere else.
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