My vintage card of the week: The 1971 Topps Roberto Clemente. This semi-high-number card is my favorite Clemente card. I’ve always loved the black-bordered ‘71s, and the color match here between Roberto’s Pirates uniform and the black and yellow of the card borders just takes this card to the next level. Also, it’s nice to have Clemente’s full name and signature on this card after so many years of Topps saddling him with the anglicized “Bob.” Finally, Roberto’s determined look toward the barrel of his bat foreshadows the World Series championship he’d bring to Pittsburgh in 1971; he was named WS MVP in their 4-3 series win over the mighty Orioles.

The first dual sided Pittsburgh Pirates & Roberto Clemente piece to come out of the shop. Perfect for a card shelf.

A Pittsburgh Pirates flashback edition of #WhatsOnYourDesk.

“Judgment traps you within the limitations of your comparisons. It inhibits freedom.” —Willie Stargell

#BeTheGood

I really like the way these cards look. I had never seen them before. Also, they just so happen to be two of my favorite retired players. My dad would show me Clemente highlights when I was young, and his cannon of an arm is one of the things that got me liking baseball as a kid. Then, when I was in high school, Randy Johnson was tearing it up for the Diamondbacks, and I loved watching him as well, but I started becoming a Randy Johnson fan when he was with the Mariners. Anyway, I just thought y’all might like to see these cards. They’re not estimated to be very valuable, but I like the way they look.

Roberto Clemente – Panini Prizm Crusade By the Numbers Insert

Randy Johnson – Panini Prizm Crusade By the Numbers Insert

Pee Wee Reese & Roberto Clemente Wednesday #WhatsOnYourDesk.

How cool is this?!

April 17, 1955, in his first at-bat, 20 year old Clemente legged out an infield single on a ball that went off the glove of Brooklyn shortstop Pee Wee Reese.

#BeTheGood