Every card collector has a few sets that they’ve looked through so many times they can remember the card fronts from memory. 1996 Topps baseball is one of those sets for me. A much younger version of myself spent lots of allowance money ripping packs from this set.

I recently bought this Rondell White refractor as a bookend to those memories. I might be a little older and my tastes more refined, but I’m still spending my money in the best way I know.

There are other ways to spend $2, but none are better.

I’ve been an overall fan of Rick Ankiel since 1999 and I appreciate his journey from pitching phenom to castaway to solid outfielder.

In 2013, which turned out to be Rick’s final Major League season, he had a blistering Spring Training with the Astros, going 19-46 with a 1.289 OPS. I attended one of the games in that session and saw him hit two dingers. When the manager replaced him late in the game and sent him back to the team training center, Rick walked up the third base sideline with his equipment bag over his shoulder and a giant smile on his face. That memory always brings me joy.

SLAM Score: 17

Eye Appeal: 100

I recently acquired this 2013 Atlanta Falcons game-used jersey of offensive lineman Ryan Schraeder.

I normally don’t collect gamers of offensive linemen, primarily because their on-field experiences aren’t as eye catching as a running back or wide receiver, but this one tells a fun story. Schraeder started his first NFL game in this jersey, which was played in Toronto against the Bills. During that game, Schraeder blew open a huge hole that enabled Steven Jackson to score completely untouched from 27 yards out. The Falcons went on to win in overtime and Schraeder built an impressive career in the years to come.

Ryan’s career trajectory also makes this one noteworthy. He played 0 high school football games, which means my year of freshman football gives me more high school experience than a multi-year NFL player (and for the record, I started all 7 games and logged 1 reception). Ryan was busy playing baseball and basketball through high school, plus he wasn’t that big. Luckily for him, he grew a foot after high school and got into football while at Butler Community College. He bulked up to bring his weight in line with his height, and his Wikipedia page states that he once “put a Valdosta IHOP on a temporary hiatus because of how many pancakes he was able to consume on ‘National Free Pancake Day’ in 2013.”

Lord, please don’t let that be lowbrow Wiki vandalism.

This jersey represents an unconventional rise to the pros and several years of hard work (and pancake consumption). Glad to have it in my collection.

Photomatch

Getty Image # 453940217