1992 Topps #933 John Orton

John Orton played in the Majors from 1989-1993 with the California Angels. He only appeared on 1 Topps card, coming in the 1991 Topps set. He is missing cards from the 1990, 1992, 1993, and 1994 Topps sets. This card crosses off the '92 card, and I also made his 1994 Topps card while finishing that set.

As for the '92 card, John was left off of the 1992 Topps set, but got a card in the 1992 O-Pee-Chee set, which is the same design as the '92 Topps set, just with the OPC logo. O-Pee-Chee would always choose not to copy the All-Star and Record Breaker cards for their sets, instead choosing to add more Montreal Expos, Toronto Blue Jays, and random other players in their spots. Orton got a card in the '92 OPC set because of this, so all I had to do to make his card was to take off the OPC logo, and add a Topps one. The back was a little difficult, but I think I did ok. 

It has been a long while since I've posted on this blog, but having a 2-year old can take up most of your time. Probably since my last post here, I have finished the 1998 Topps set, started working on the 1984 Topps/Topps Traded sets, added a few checklists for '70's sets on my other blog, as well as start the 1993 Topps set until the '84 Topps set came up with a deadline of February. I will still keep posting on here every now and then, so check back, and you never know, you could see a new card up.

Thanks for checking out my latest post.

-Jeremy

1992 Topps #895 Lance Blankenship

Card #895 in the 1992 Topps set is Lance Blankenship. Lance appeared in the 1992 O-Pee-Chee set, and replaced the Will Clark All-Star card in the '92 Topps set. I don't see O-Pee-Chee didn't just copy the All-Star cards just like with the regular ones in the set. It's nice that they gave new players cards in the OPC set, but if they wanted new players in the OPC set, why not do it in the Topps set by expanding the set. That was 25 years ago, and now it's even worse.

Lance played his entire career (1988-1993) with the Oakland Athletics. He was part of the 1989 World Championship team. He was on the disabled list for the 1994 season, so without doing too much research, I would assume that the injury was the reason his career ended.

Lance appeared on his first Topps card in 1990. He was in the 1991 set, missed 1992, and got 1993-1995 Topps cards. It's interesting that he got the '95 card after being on the DL the whole year. The '95 Topps set was only 660 cards, so it's surprising that a player who didn't play in 1994 got into the set. Lance is missing just a 1989 Topps rookie to complete his career Topps run, and is in my 1989 Topps checklist of cards that need to be made (card #1002). The 1989 Topps A's template is up on the page if anyone feels like making it.

Thanks for checking out the latest card in my set.
-Jeremy

1992 Topps #891 Gene Harris

It's been awhile since I've posted, but I haven't forgot about my 1992 Topps set. Today's card is an O-Pee-Chee card that I made into a Topps issue. Topps chose to leave Gene Harris out of the 1992 set, but replaced card #390 with Gene in the 1992 O-Pee-Chee set. 

Gene got called up to the Majors in 1989 with the Expos. He was traded to the Mariners in the middle of the season in the Randy Johnson/Mark Langston deal. He stayed with the Mariners until May 11th of 1992 when he was traded to the Padres. Exactly 2 years later, he was traded to the Detroit Tigers in 1994. His final season was in 1995 when he played for the Phillies and Orioles.

Gene got his first Topps card in the 1989 Traded set, which pictures him with the Mariners (although it is airbrushed). The only Topps issue featuring him as an Expo is the his 1990 Topps debut card. Harris got a regular Topps issue in 1990, but is pictured with his new team, the Mariners. He recieved a 1991 Topps card, was left off of the 1992 set, and got a 1993 Topps Traded card. Gene's final Topps card was a 1994 card. He is just missing a 1995 and 1996 Topps card after adding my '92 Topps custom to his career Topps run.

I have finally finished the templates to every set from 1989-2001 on my other blog. Lately, I have been making customs, and also working a little bit on checklists, adding 2 teams to the 2016 set, and adding every coach and manager to the 1997 set. Making the checklist for the 2016 set is difficult, but with the ability to use the custom card maker on the Topps website for the 2016 set and having the cards look like pack-pulled 2016 cards, I think it will be worth the pain of cranking out the 2016 set.  Hopefully it will go faster than I anticipate. Thanks for checking out the latest card in my set.

-Jeremy

1992 Topps #873 Wayne Edwards

Wayne Edwards played in the Big Leagues for 3 years, all with the White Sox. He got into 7 games in 1989, 42 in 1990, and 13 in '91.  He spent '92 in AAA, and isn't shown to have played anywhere in 1993. He played in AAA in '94 and '95 before spending 1 final season in single-A ball in 1996. 

Edwards got into the '90 Topps Traded set, and appeared in the '91 regular set. He missed the 1992 set, but did appear in the 1992 O-Pee-Chee set. I used the front and back of the OPC card to make this one. This card completes Wayne's career Topps run.

It should also be noted that even though he didn't pitch in the Majors in 1992 that his name did appear on the back of a 1993 Topps card. On Jack McDowell's card back it says that McDowell, Edwards, and minor league pitcher Lee Plemel  were members of a rock band called VIEW. I found a little info about the band online. Apparently McDowell played guitar and sang lead, Plemel played bass, and Edwards was the drummer. They released 2 albums and disbanded in 1992. Here's the back of the '93 McDowell.

In 8 days, it will be full-on crazy in my household. We will hopefully have just closed on our first house, we will be 1 week closer to welcoming our first child in mid-November, and I will be lacing up my spikes again to play for my church's softball team. I did decent last year, going 9-29 (.310), scoring 5 runs, and driving in 7 RBIs and drawing 1 walk. I got better as the season wore on, and if not for a 2 game slump, I would probably have batted closer to .400. If I can just be consistent this year and keep improving with making contact and fielding, I think I can be a valuable player and maybe hit closer to .400 and play multiple positions in the field. Time will tell, and I will keep you updated. Thanks as always for checking out my latest post.

-Jeremy

1992 Topps Matt Young

Today's card is the first card that I "borrowed" from the 1992 O-Pee-Chee set. In 1992, the OPC set mirrored the 1992 Topps set except for the fact that the All-Star cards and a few select subsets were replaced with a Gary Carter tribute subset as well as a few cards of players who were left out of the '92 Topps set. Matt Young was one of those players. I chose to include the OPC cards because unlike players who got a card in the '92 Topps Traded set, the OPC guys didn't have a card with a Topps logo on it. I also did it with the 6 ToppsGold checklist replacement cards as well.

Matt Young had appeared in a few Topps sets over the years but was left off of the '92 set even though he appeared in 19 games. He would be left off of the 1993 set as well, even though he pitched a no hitter (allowing 2 runs and losing) in 1992. He accomplished just about all of the things you would hope to accomplish as an individual, appearing in the All-Star game, pitching the no-hitter, striking out 4 batters in an inning, and playing for a World Championship team. I was happy to add his autograph to my collection back when I was doing ttm signatures.

I basically just added the Topps logo to the front. On the back I made the background by the stats transparent enough that I could put the Topps logo behind it, added text where it was needed, put the Topps logo under the number and changed the number. Otherwise, it looks like the original OPC card. I think it looks like it belongs in the '92 Topps set though and wish Topps would've at least gave the OPC guys and ToppsGold checklist replacements a regular card. Thanks for checking out my latest card.
-Jeremy