I've received a few customs over the years, and I always make sure to include them in my number of unique cards for a player. It's part of the reason why my numbers will ever match on TCDB, but I don't care about that. The custom cards mean a whole lot to me. Whereas Topps puts no thought into many of their cards, the same can't be said for guys like Gavin of Baseball Card Breakdown, who makes awesome customs.
On Monday, I got a sopping wet envelope from him, but luckily the cards were perfect. Gavin told me I sent him some cards like a year ago and wanted to hit me back. I suppose that's true? I can't remember what I sent.
There were a few Tinos and such, but what really stood out - and this should come as no surprise - are the awesome customs Gavin made.
I loved them all, but I think my favorite is the Ty Hensley from his current team, the Utica Unicorns. Ty is battling his way back to affiliate ball (and deserves a shot...former first rounder with upper/mid 90s heat...someone take a shot!), and he's clearly working hard to get there. To my knowledge, the Unicorns did not issue any team sets while Ty was there.
I LOVED this custom in the look of 1987 Donruss. Tino in his Team USA gear, reminiscent of Panini Stars and Stripes. Tino led Team USA to a gold in the '88 games. Look at the metal Easton bat! That's the best part of the photo to me.
Neat cards. That rain Monday was NO JOKE! I don't include the customs I've received in my total counts. I don't even store them with the players! Rather, I store them with my vintage/valuable cards.
ReplyDeleteI count them too!
ReplyDeleteI would if I had any. I have a Michigan and White Sox deck of cards where each card has a player and I put them with my cards and count them.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a lot of customs, but certainly the ones I have count (or, well, would if I actually counted them). I do have a few Baseball Card Breakdown customs which are certainly more important to me than some of my other cards of those players. And I recently received some from Topps Cards That Never Were...the Willie Mays, for example, is right there in my Mays binder with the rest of the great Say Hey Kid.
ReplyDeleteThose are incredible customs!
ReplyDeleteI don't count customs towards official numbers, but enjoy the heck out of any custom cards. Those cards Gavin did are phenomenal.
ReplyDeleteFunny team names is something the minors do better than the majors.
ReplyDeleteI don't really count them... but I do treasure them. I keep all of the customs I've been sent by Gavin and other bloggers in a special binder.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like! Happy to take you off my "people I owe cards to" list. The Ty is based on a couple 1980 TCMA designs.
ReplyDeleteThat's right. I knew seen the red design but couldn't place it.
DeleteDamn, Gavin's getting better and better at these.
ReplyDelete