Rod Carew was one of my early favorites as a kid. Those high batting averages were amazing to me then. And even though batting titles have kind of lost their luster over the years, with OPS and WAR taking over the stage, I still have a soft spot in my baseball heart for those .350+ seasons we just don't see many of any more. In the past 10 years, only 2 players have hit over .350 for a year, and both of them were in this year's shortened season, which doesn't quite count in my book. DJ LeMahieu (.364) and Juan Soto (.351) did it this year, and I guess that is something.
Rod Carew hit over .350 5 times, including his .388 in 1977. That's pretty impressive to me.
I have a decent number of Carew's in my collection. Most of the more valuable ones are older cards of him as a Twin. I love those, but none of them cracked my top 5. Strange. Thinking about it now, I am not sure why the 72 Topps didn't make it, but too late!
So, here are my 5 favorite Rod Carew cards in my collection!
1983 Topps #200 - This one might have you all shaking your heads, but in 1983, this card captivated my attention. Can't really say why, but the headband must have something to do with it. There are a few 'affordable' cards that I have on my
wantlists in a section specifying that I will take as many copies of the cards as I can get. This 83 Carew is in there, so it had to make my top 5.
1984 Donruss Rod Carew - Another 'cheap' Carew, and it looks like I am treating it like a cheap-o card! I need to get this thing in a better top loader! The crud on the card face is actually on the horrible top loader. But I do love the card. When I think of Rod, I think 'big smile' and 'Angels'. Looks like a fun guy to hang out with and talk hitting! The 84 set is held in high esteem by a lot of us middle aged guys. It was hard to come by in my neck of the woods.
1983 Kellogg's Rod Carew #1 -This one makes the list again because it is what I think Carew should look like. And as a lot of collectors have been saying recently, the Kellogg's sets are pretty awesome!
2005 Donruss Timeless Treasures Rod Carew Auto - This is my only Carew Autograph, and even though it is a sticker auto, I still treasure it. Solid looking card, but I wish the picture was a little bigger.
And the top Rod Carew in my collection...
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2004 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection #33 1/1 - My only 1/1 card! I also have the regular base of this set, and they look nice together. I like to think Rod is playing 2b here, back with Minnesota. Definitely the cornerstone of my Carew collection. At least until I find a copy of his (almost unattainable) RC!
Man, a 1/1 Carew. That's awesome.
ReplyDeleteBut if you don't have the iconic 1981 Fleer Carew, you need one. And if you do have it, how did it not make this list?
When I read your comment, I said to myself, of course I have the 81 fleer... But I went and checked, and no 81 Fleer!! I'm always finding holes like that in my collection. Add it to the list I guess!
DeleteThat 1983 Topps card brings back memories. Love the headband. As for Carew... I'm like you in that I have a deep appreciation for guys who hit for average. And that's exactly what Carew did throughout his career.
ReplyDeleteP.S. That yellow top loader cracks me up. I'm so OCD, whenever I know a card is going into my personal collection, I have to put it into a brand new one. And I keep the really nice used ones to store my extra cards... while tossing or giving away the rest. However... I have kept one particular top loader that is so yellow... it's gross. I'll have to dig it out and include it in a post.
I would love to run my collection like that, using only pristine stuff to store my cards. Sounds like we are similar that way. But my budget is sooo tiny for cards that it is really tough for me to but top loaders, especially these days when the prices have gotten so high. So I scrounge it up, but I will definitely find 'something' better for that 84 Carew!
DeleteIf I did this, all the cards would be Carew as a Twin. That '75 card is epic. And I've always loved the '77 and '78 cards. Of course he was an All-Star every year then, so that helped.
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