The old saying “A picture is worth a thousand words” is definitely an accurate axiom. And while some pictures are just mere images to some viewers, they almost always hold a deep and personal meaning to the right person. And that’s where the saying above really comes in to play for me. I like when I can look at a picture and see a meaningful story or a person that belongs in the photo that isn’t there. The photo itself evokes a memory. The picture is just an image; but man, it can certainly tell a story too.
Take this photo of an old building with no real distinguishable features. It’s just a building to you, right? Well, to me, this is the old 5th Grade wing of Mitchell County Middle School. It’s not a school anymore but in 1988, this was a bustling structure with a big sandy playground out in front of it. It was where I played marbles, ran from girls, and traded WWF action figures for my first baseball cards. When I see this photo, I see Jason, BJ, Corey, Joe, Josh, and all of my other buddies; getting ready to make a run to the snack shop to grab our rainbow pops. You see an old building; I see a pillar of my youth.
Not far from that 5th grade wing, is this equally old looking gymnasium. This was the middle school gym where I did my first pull-up, first shuttle run, and had my first stinky gym locker. I once hit four 3-pointers in a youth basketball game here. Later, in an adult city league game, I had to guard someone who played with the LA Lakers in the late 80’s. If I was keeping count, I would wager that I have played more basketball in this gym than any other gym in my life. I can still smell it; it’s not a great smell but the memory of it sure is.
Here is an old tiny softball field. This is actually still in use, though it looks pretty worn. This is the first softball field I ever played on. This is where I played 2nd base and my friend “Buggy” played SS. I haven’t seen Buggy since about 8th grade but that is the one player I always remember when I think of this field. Our high school played football just beyond left field and I always wanted to hit a softball onto that field. I never did but it’s weird when I go back now to see just how small a feat it would’ve been. I could probably hit a brick over that fence at this point in my life. It really puts a lot of things in perspective when I think about my kids and what they can’t do for themselves just yet. Yeah, this little softball field makes me think of how precious my kids are.
Here is a unique one. This looks like a green space that has some various decorations on it. But in reality, that fence used to be the front gate to my great grandmothers front porch. She had a big house that sat right behind that fence and we spent every Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas there with extended family. We played football, hunted Easter eggs, and took what seems like a million pictures in front of her big fancy bushes in our church duds. The house was moved several years ago after she passed away but when I ride by, I can still see it sitting there. I’d love to walk through that gate onto her screened in porch and swing one more time on her bench swing.
When you look at this one, you are probably thinking I’ve gone too far. How can this possibly be a photo that has any relevance? Well, this is the end of the paved road in front of my paternal grandparents home. They had a dirt driveway that went all the way around their house and you can see where it hit the road just in the left of this photo. We raced bicycles around the house every day of every summer and that transition from dirt to pavement was the start/finish line. My Uncle Greg usually won but he was about 10 years older than the rest of us. My little brother rode his bike as fast as he could toward the trees one time and slammed on his brakes to skid sideways. Only when he went into his skid, he fell off and cracked his head on the pavement. It was the second worst head injury that ever happened at that house, but I’ve written about the worst one before.
Here is a photo of a single closet door, ajar. Well, that may be what you see. I see the spot where I sat every day and sorted cards, read my Beckett, and opened packs. My monster box and binders were in the closet so I would just plop down in that spot and lose all track of time. I still go to this spot occasionally when I’m at my parents house to open a pack of cards of just stand there and stare. I never said I was all that normal.
Finally, here is another basic yard photo. But this isn’t just a basic yard. This is my parents yard. This was a baseball field, football field, kickball field, slip-n-slide location, and kiddie pool hangout. This is where I chased my brother and pushed him down that one time it snowed. This is where I hit my first home run (there used to be a bush line where the white pickup was and I’m standing at home plate). This is where my dad taught me to change the oil in my first pickup. This is where I picked peanuts off the vine when my dad brought home a truck-bed full. He usually stood around talking while me and my brother did the heavy lifting. The school bus dropped my off right here and it’s where I watched my friend Brewer get chased all the way to his house by our vicious neighbor dog that wasn’t supposed to be out. Yeah, this isn’t a basic yard. This is the greatest yard in the history of mankind!
Photos are meaningful in a lot of ways. Sometimes they tell a story. Sometimes that capture a specific moment in time. And sometimes they are just beautiful to look at. And nobody does photos that are beautiful to look at in the Sports Card Industry quite like Topps Stadium Club. Ever since 1991, I have looked forward to their release because of the pictures that I would be able to unwrap. Every year I think that it can’t get any better; and every year it does. So here we are in 2019 and I’m about to take my very first look at this year’s release. A hobby Box has 16 packs with 8 cards per and promises 2 on-card autographs; though I have seen some stickers.
This year is the first year TSC has introduced a box topper. This oversized Bob Gibson is an unbelievable photographic start to this box!
Seriously, look at this Clayton Kershaw!
Come on, this really isn’t fair. There is no way a card company can compete with this Murph imagery!
The Captain!
If you have The Captain, you have to have The Sandman as well!
I don’t even collect Dereck Rodriguez but I can certainly appreciate this card!
I could literally take a photo of a card in every pack! Look at this Johnny Bench!
My cousin used to say “Home Run for George Brett” every time we played RBI Baseball…..no matter who hit it.
Tell me you wouldn’t want to go back in time and hang out with Rod Carew!
This Mookie Betts is one of the most popular photos from the set so far, except among Yankees fans.
The Iron Man is always a fun add!
How else would we ever find this Ted Williams if it weren’t for TSC?
Even this Shohei Ohtani, which could look like any other card in a set, is super high quality and a prime photo.
If this card doesn’t make you smile, then I don’t know what to do for you. Nolan Ryan in the old Astros uni!
Here is one of the rookies everyone is after in 2019!
Red Foils are found 1:3 packs.
Black Foils are found 1:8 packs.
Base Chrome Parallels are found 1:16 packs.
Chrome Gold Mint Refractors are found 1:257 packs! I happened to pull Lindor for both of my chrome cards.
Inserts are somewhat of an afterthought in Stadium Club except for one I’ll get to in a minute. But here is the first insert, “Emperors of the Zone”.
Another insert is “Power Zone”.
Then there is “Warp Speed”.
The one insert set that is NOT an afterthought is Beam Team! This one goes way back to the mid 90’s in the basketball set. These have always been a popular insert. And I pulled The Captain!
I also pulled a Red Foil Juan Soto Beam Team found 1:256 packs! What a box!
The first Auto was Jeffrey Springs of the Texas Rangers.
The second Auto was a bit better; Ramon Laureano of the Oakland A’s. Nice photo with “Rickey Henderson Field” in the background.
2019 Topps Stadium Club is a no doubter “5” on the Dub-O-Meter. The photos are simply unbelievable. The chrome cards are nice, the box topper is a fun addition and there is a chase for photo variations (of which I came up empty). Last but not least, in today’s market, TSC is surprisingly well priced for a hobby box with 2 on card autos. What say you about 2019 Topps Stadium Club?
J-Dub