BASEically Awesome Part 14:1991 Classic 4-Sport

Well, this is the finale of the BASEically Awesome segment. I hope you have enjoyed its place here on Sport Card Collectors over the past 6 months. But, as I stated in an earlier one of these, I have decided to let go of segments and free blog.

So I thought to myself, what a way to end this segment by looking back at some 90's looking cards that are cheesy and contain many 90's trends. This product made the list because of it's quirkyness. 

Let's take a look.

Highly overrated Brien Taylor here posing but I dig the Maryalnd more. Got that Starter Jacket on.

Lots of players two-sporting it. We don't see a lot of that anymore unless you're Tim Tebow.

Rocketing it!

Showing off his "guns"

 

There are 230 cards in this set that are just as quirky as these above. However, there is a Favre rookie to hunt down and some random autographs to search for. Boxes go for less that $10 so it could be a just for fun break.

So how bout you guys? You bust any of this or own any still? What was your favorite quirky card from the set? Comment below!

BASEically Awesome Part 13:1994 Collectors Choice Baseball

Are you surprised to see another Upper Deck set on BASEically Awesome? Probably not. As I have discussed in prior parts Upper Deck=photography and their special photography makes their base cards stand out.

Even on a low-end brand such as Collectors Choice.

Where else do you see Larry Walker making a catch like this?

Or Kevin signing autos before a game

Or Nigel just smiling away

Or how Olson had this on the field

Or Phillips getting caught in midair and the ball being shown that way as well

And finally a focused stare by Dante

 

I only selected a few of my favorites. Most of the 600+ cards in this set look like this. 

What are your guys thoughts on this product and which one of the cards above is your favorite shot? If you wanna caption one as well, you are more than welcomed!

BASEically Awesome Part 12:2001 Topps Fusion Baseball

You wanna know what makes these BASEically Awesome.......you combine 5 of my favorite Topps sets and fuse them into one.

You have Finest

Gallery

Stadium Club with some action packed photography

Gold Label with all it's beauty

And Bowman's Best with lots of shinyness

 

What isn't there not to love? I actually still wished some of these designs and products existed today like Gallery.

There are 250 cards in the set and I would bet it is some challenge to put together and possibly one that set collectors who like a challenge may want to try.

So how many of you have tried to set collect this? Have any thoughts on a product like this combining many products? Let me hear them in comments!

BASEically Awesome Part 11:2000 Ultra Football

Out of this entire series I will post, I think there are 15 or 16 parts, today's is probably my favorite.

I have always liked Ultra, I obviously like photography based cards and things that are shiny. 2000 Ultra combines all three of those.

What really does it the most for me is the action packed photography. It's amazing all throughout the 220 card set. Of course the main card that everyone is chasing from the product is the Brady rookie but if you open any or want to chase any of the other cards from your team you will not be disappointed.

Look at this Robinson. Sweet!

James Stewart looking for extra yards

TD Poole!!

He plays football to...just kidding..but Karim can jump!

And my favorite card of them all, Freeman's leap!

 

If this didn't make you run to ebay to search for your favorite teams....I think you need to relook at these again. Cause these are BASEically Awesome.

Thoughts on your favorite card above and the set are welcomed in comments!

BASEically Awesome Part 10:1995 Pinnacle Football

By now you must be thinking....really....he did three of these posts in a row??!!

Yup. I am just trying to clean out my draft space as I have decided to no longer pursue segments on here. I would rather to free blog so you will be seeing lots of recurring segments over the next few weeks.

1995 had a ton of great base card set releases especially capturing the gridiron.

1995 Pinnacle not only had a solid base set design with the foil football at the bottom encasing the  name and position, but the photography throughout the 250 card set was amazing. You would have thought Upper Deck did it.

Great pic of Davis making a catch here

Kramer found on the ground. Something he did a lot of

Norton getting the recovery

Carter outrunning the defense

 

And this is only a sampling. I really want to chase down this set someday. It's on my bucket list but for now I am just focusing on my Ex and Spx projects.

So what do you guys think of this design and photography? Let me know in comments!!

BASEically Awesome Part 8:2009 Upper Deck Football

If you are a collector, well, you simply know you can't use the words Upper Deck without associating the words photography. They have always been the best at capturing moments on the field. Whether it's baseball, football or on the court with basketball and even on the ice with hockey. Their photo's are the best.

One of my favorites comes from their last NFL product possibly ever. 2009 Upper Deck.

I have only chosen a few of the images from the set. But, I think it sets a great example of how simplicity of the design combined with the colorful pictures makes for cardboard bliss.

Kurt looks well protected in the pocket

Royal cutting up the field

Mendenhall looks untouched!

This Haynesworth photo is taken at a pretty cool angle as he prepares to take the field and the Redskins overpaid money.

 

Which set had your favorite Upper Deck pictures and what are your thoughts on these? Comments welcomed!

BASEically Awesome Part 7:1995 Fleer Football

I know, I know. I can feel your glares right now. How in the world could I consider Fleer 1995 to be BASEically Awesome?? I have seen the comments on the design from many who consider it to be done by a child, but, having been a bit younger when I purchased a ton of the product, it caught my eye and still does til today.

The set breaks down into 6 psychedelic twist designs that can be a bit trippy on the eyes.Each team has been assigned a design so not every team will be done in each in the 400 card set.

One design in the base set is blurry.

The next is straight up team color.

This one is part full color, then takes the front of the player and gives it a computer breakdown look.

then we get a bit trippy

We make sure to know the team name

Then we blur it out but re-position everything a bit.

 

I think a lot of my love for the product comes from reminiscence about opening it and the memories attached to it. I think maybe if that part wasn't involved I may not care for it as much. But maybe.

So what do you think? You yay or nay on the set? Is there one design to you that stands out over others? Let me know in comments!

BASEically Awesome Part 6:1996 Pinnacle Zenith Football

There is no other product, except maybe Spx, in the 90's that brings me back more memories than 1996 Zenith football.

I remember my father and I hitting up the LCS and the card show ripping open tons of packs of it. Not only because of the cool looking inserts, I hit a big card at the time in the Z-Team of Emmitt Smith from the card show I had multiple offers immediately for, but because of the base cards.

There was no denying I loved the base card design. It had a high-end gloss and appeal all around. I would almost call this the first version of UD or Panini Black. It combines the same black and gold elements that look outstanding together. The floating Wilson football in the background and full colored player in the forefront was so eye appealing.

The only thing I didn't like about the product was the rookie subsets. One, they weren't rookies. Two, it was off-base a little from the design. It wasn't bad, but I think the "moon" wasn't needed in the background.

 

I at one-point had the base set but since then it was misplaced over the years so I am trying to build it once again. As for the Emmitt I mentioned above, I traded that away soon after the card show. It may be one of my biggest regrets yet. The card isn't worth a ton and obviously I don't like the Cowboys, but the card looked great and it was a memory I wished I still physically had. 

The card is actually in my Top 5 on my overall Wantlist. Doesn't seem the pack version is as easy to find as the promo version which I don't want. If you have a 1996 Zenith Z-Team Emmitt Smith non-promo card and want to pass it along I would definitely make it a good home :) 

Thoughts on today's product are welcomed in comments!

BASEically Awesome Part 5: 2014 Topps Prime Football

(It seems my last BASEically Awesome post was out of order, so here we got back to Part 5 today and hopefully stay in order now)

If you are a fan of photography, look no further than Topps Prime. I wished the product was able to be carried on, but we know what those exclusive licenses do.....that's not a topic for today.

One of my favorite years of Topps Prime was 2014. There were some great shots taken all throughout the checklist.

Like this Thomas,

And Fitz breaking a tackle,

Don't miss on tackling LeVeon Bell or you will get burned. Cool throwback uni featured to.

Drew rolls out and continues to throw all over the Bears.

 

This is just a handful of cards from the 150 card set.  One of my favorites which didn't upload for some reason, was a Cowboys card, yes hard to admit, of Dez Bryant leaping up over Lions defenders for a sick catch. But the photo was done perfectly.

Thoughts on today's product or any of the Topps Prime line are welcomed in comments. Show me your favorite card from the product above.

BASEically Awesome Part 9: 1996 Action Packed Football

You wanna know what's awesome????

When you can combine embossing with action packed photography.

And there is one hard hitting product that did provide that, Action Packed.

One of my favorites came from 1996. The design led to crystal clear photography, the players on the field really stood out and not just because of the embossing, but because the background was a rough texture while the player was full gloss. Made for a beautiful combo.

All 115 base cards captured great photography like this....

and this....

and this...

and this.

The final 11 cards in the base set took a different approach with a subset called Eyeing The Storm. Which took a unique perspective showcasing an up close photo of the player in the background, then a full picture of them in the front.

 

I keep my fingers crossed every day that Panini will revive the product. So far the closest they have come was an insert set that wasn't embossed in Rookies and Stars. That was disappointing. But maybe it's a start. I even put a word in.

Thoughts on today's BASEically Awesome product is welcomed in comments.

BASEically Awesome Part 4: 1995 Sp Baseball

Collectors may differ when it comes to teams and what they collect, but one thing collectors can all agree on is Upper Deck's amazing photography. I haven't found a collector yet who hasn't agreed that they were the best.

Today's BASEically Awesome segment shows just why.

I must also mention before continuing on, even the design is nice. I dig the holographic appeal of blue and red that run down the sides of the cards.

Even Mark agrees with me and is giving them a hand for a job well done.

 

Ray is flipping over the photography and Heathcliff is all smiles.

 

The unique perspective they had taking photos is something that is also catchy. It wasn't just baseball action, it also was the fun off the field or before the game they captured.

Alex is caught signing for fans while Roberto has his inner Richard Simmons coming out.

 

Phil Nevin is ready for lights,camera action while Rod Beck hopes to "punch out" the batters in relief.

 

Steve is snagging a catch to the wall while Doug is staring down the batter.

 

And these are only some of the 207 cards in the base set.

 

The set wasn't known for it's value/popularity like the previous years before it with 1993 and Jeter and 1994 with Rodriguez. But, what it should be known for is what you see above. Baseball fun at it's finest and a set that may be Upper Deck's most impressive for base cards.

What do you think? Where does this set rank to you when it comes to fun-baseball-loving photography?