Well, I wasn't expecting to like an unlicensed set so much. I saw a break on YouTube and thought I would pick up some of the product and I really liked it a lot. If you know me, you know that I'm a sucker for all things Cooperstown and Hall of Fame. I think the folks at Panini did an amazing job with the inherent restrictions they were facing. It also seems as though they were forced to use more "interesting" pictures to eliminate as much airbrushing as possible. As a result, there's a picture of Frank Robinson at the end of his swing, his helmet nearly turned from the camera. Tommy Lasorda is pictured as he's about to throw a batting practice pitch. Panini probably had an easier time using the photo as Lasorda wasn't wearing a jersey or a cap. (And the really old-time guys weren't wearing any branded clothing at all.)
I like/love the inserts, too. I would LOVE to collect all of the Bronze History cards numbered to 599. The cards depict the Hall of Fame plaques and they matched the wood grain in the Gallery very closely. The Crystal Collection cards kinda look like Topps' Atomic Refractors and are very attractive. The Ballpark cards spotlight the long-gone cathedrals of baseball and there's even a small insert set just about Cooperstown. These cards are full-bleed and are very sweet-looking.
I'm thinking about collecting the whole set, so I'm not sure what I want to trade. (The Crystal Collection for sure are fine.) I haven't been making a ton of trades this month, so feel free to comb my list if you're interested! Do let me know if you have some base lots or inserts to trade from this set.
Museum Pieces:
Lou Gehrig 14
Cooperstown:
The Village
Ballparks:
West Side Park, Chicago 8
Bronze History:
Chief Bender 7
Voices of Summer:
Denny Matthews 7
Harry Caray 2
Crystal Collection
Frank Robinson 051/299 111
Don Sutton 103/299 12
Base:
1 Ty Cobb
9 Alexander Cartwright
17 Eddie Collins
18 Roberto Clemente
25 Fred Clarke
35 Frank Chance
38 Tommy McCarthy
39 Mike Schmidt
43 Eddie Murray
59 Richie Ashburn
67 Dave Winfield
75 Satchel Paige
81 Frank Robinson
82 Tommy Lasorda
85 Duke Snider
96 Phil Rizzuto
119 Al Lopez
125 Monte Irvin
139 Harmon Killebrew
143 Catfish Hunter
149 Tony Lazzeri
163 Cap Anson
I like/love the inserts, too. I would LOVE to collect all of the Bronze History cards numbered to 599. The cards depict the Hall of Fame plaques and they matched the wood grain in the Gallery very closely. The Crystal Collection cards kinda look like Topps' Atomic Refractors and are very attractive. The Ballpark cards spotlight the long-gone cathedrals of baseball and there's even a small insert set just about Cooperstown. These cards are full-bleed and are very sweet-looking.
I'm thinking about collecting the whole set, so I'm not sure what I want to trade. (The Crystal Collection for sure are fine.) I haven't been making a ton of trades this month, so feel free to comb my list if you're interested! Do let me know if you have some base lots or inserts to trade from this set.
Museum Pieces:
Lou Gehrig 14
Cooperstown:
The Village
Ballparks:
West Side Park, Chicago 8
Bronze History:
Chief Bender 7
Voices of Summer:
Denny Matthews 7
Harry Caray 2
Crystal Collection
Frank Robinson 051/299 111
Don Sutton 103/299 12
Base:
1 Ty Cobb
9 Alexander Cartwright
17 Eddie Collins
18 Roberto Clemente
25 Fred Clarke
35 Frank Chance
38 Tommy McCarthy
39 Mike Schmidt
43 Eddie Murray
59 Richie Ashburn
67 Dave Winfield
75 Satchel Paige
81 Frank Robinson
82 Tommy Lasorda
85 Duke Snider
96 Phil Rizzuto
119 Al Lopez
125 Monte Irvin
139 Harmon Killebrew
143 Catfish Hunter
149 Tony Lazzeri
163 Cap Anson
