Cal Ripken Cardboard Appreciation #17

1986 True Value Superstars #22

This card is a true oddball through and through.  It is an odd shape so it doesn't fit into 9-pocket pages or regular sized toploaders.  The thing that strikes me most about this card is that Cal's position is listed as just plainly "infield".  I wonder if True-Value considered Cal's move to shortstop as only temporary and tried to cover themselves in the future in case he moved back to the hot corner or first base?

Cal Ripken Cardboard Appreciation #16

1985 Topps Super #48

I know this looks like the regular base card with one BIG difference.  It measures in at nearly 7 inches high by 5 inches wide.  1985 Topps really has grown on me in the past few years.  Actually a lot of different sets have as I have begun to "appreciate" cards more instead of just "collect" them.

Cal Ripken Cardboard Appreciation #15

2000 Upper Deck UD IONIX Atomic

As always, the scanner doesn't do this card any favors, it looks great in person.

Cal Ripken Cardboard Appreciation #14

2001 Stadium Club Diamond Pearls #DP8

The pink you see on this card actually has a pearlescent shine to it. It obviously brings the theme of Diamond Pearls together! This card does look better in person... I had never seen the pearl finish on a card before now.

Cal Ripken Cardboard Appreciation #13

2000 Bowman Chrome Metoric Rise #MR7

This is one of the my favorite cards that I got at the card show last weekend. As with most Chrome cards, the scan doesn't do it justice.

BTW, Cal did have a quick rise through the minor leagues. He made it in a little bit over 3 years. by today's standards, that is lightning quick for a player drafted out of high school.

Cal Ripken Cardboard Appreciation #12

1995 Pinnacle Red Hot #RH1

The back of the card says:

No matter what happens in the '95 season, Cal is on a steady course to Cooperstown. A two-time AL MVP and a 12-time All-Star, he has hit more home runs than any other SS in history.

I wonder if the card back writer was referring to the streak being broken later in the '95 season? Also, do you think without the accolades of the Streak Cal makes the HOF anyways?

Cal Ripken Cardboard Appreciation #11

1993 SP #8

It's been a while since I've done a Cardboard Appreciation, so here goes. I remember going to a card show way back in 1993 and getting this card. I think it was at The Showplace in Richmond, Va. Back when then I was 10 years old and getting to go to a card show 80 miles away was a big deal.... Now I live about 15 minutes down the road from venue! Anyways, I remember my dad and I going. He was searching for racing cards while I was searching for Cal. I distinctly remember buying this card. This was the first "premium" card of the Iron Man that I owned! I think I paid 50 cents for it and according to Beckett Baseball December 1993 it was worth 75 cents (The famed Jeter Rookie card booked for measly dollar!). This card has been quite an investment for me because in Beckett it goes for $6. Even more so, it is one of the great memories that I have of my dad and I going to a card show.

Cal Ripken Cardboard Appreciation #10

1992 Topps Gold Winner #400

It's been over a month since I last posted a Ripken Card. I just want to say that Topps got this card right. WINNER!

Cal Ripken Cardboard Appreciation #9

1998 Score Complete Players #4A

Why was Cal Ripken a Complete Player? Cal Excelled at all facets of the game. I think the only thing that he didn't do well is run. As the card says, Approach is one of the reasons he was able to play as long as he did. An astute student of the game, he knew where to stand in the field when each player came up to bat. He is at the top of most Orioles offensive and defensive categories. BTW, Cal had 36 stolen bases in his career and no more than on in a season after 1992.