The last post that I wrote was the 5,900th on Night Owl Cards. As I’ve written before, that doesn’t mean a lot except that I’ve been doing this for too long.
But it is a good prompt for a blog post … well, semi-good prompt. I thought about writing a Card Numbers for Commons post, using 590 (I won’t cover any set with a No. 5900 on principle). But the whole point of this series is to recognize numbers used for “common players.” Traditionally, card numbers ending in zero went to stars.
So how about 591 … for, uh, post number 5901?
Sure. You just want to see nifty cards anyway.
To go over the Card Numbers for Commons rules again, I show off five cards numbered 591 that I own and then five cards that I don’t own but would like to maybe someday.
So here are five that I have:
5. 1971 Topps: Jackie Brown
One of the first group of 1971 Topps cards that I owned after trading for them with a friend who would give up all those wonderful ’71s just for a few then-present-day 1978 Topps Yankees.
I liked this one instantly because of the “bright-on-black” look. Brown’s red Senators hat and sleeves positively glow against the darkness behind him. This is probably a night card, though I’ve never obtained an extra one to go in the night card binder.
4. 1992 Pinnacle Idols: Tony Gwynn and Willie Davis
The early ’90s was a great time for subsets and this is one of the better ones. Tony Gwynn doesn’t show up much in my Dodgers binders. I can think of only one other example besides this one (posing with his brother Chris Gwynn).
3. 1974 Topps: Sonny Jackson
Sonny Jackson is displaying the 1970s trifecta that defines a great card. He’s demonstrating a bunting pose, he’s wearing glasses and he’s wearing a helmet. Then there is the “SS-OF” position designation (which I’ve written about before) that puts this card over the top.
2. 1976 SSPC: Jerry Koosman & Duke Snider
“Why hello, Jerry”
“Hello, Duke, nice to meet you.”
Random cards like this is one of many reasons why the ’76 SSPC set is one of the greatest one-off sets ever made. The back contains a checklist and an advertisement for Collectors Quarterly, subscribe for $4 per year. Includes a Full COLOR card Insert.
1. 1966 Topps: 1966 Rookie Stars, Bart Shirley and Grant Jackson
Perhaps the most satisfying “I have it” card of the whole Card Numbers for Commons series. This card is in the top 10 of the most I’ve spent for a single card and I still don’t get why it’s so elusive. I’m just glad that it’s mine.
I should bust it out of its slab but I haven’t been able to do it yet.
OK, #591 cards that I don’t have:
5. 1994 Fleer: Pete Incaviglia
I don’t know if I’ll ever try to collect 1994 Fleer but I’ve always liked it. This card seems like an updated version of the 1971 Jackie Brown with the dark background. I have no idea if this is a night card, but sure is dark back there.
4. 2021 Topps Platinum Chrome Anniversary: Dave Parker
I still like this set a lot though have slacked way off on trying to add cards. Mostly I care about the legends players in the set and it’s distressing I don’t have the Dave Parker card yet.
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3. 2019 Topps Short-Print: Gary Carter
When I was collecting cards as a kid, you could pull a card like this out of a regular pack. So, you know, it’s neat, but I’m not paying extra for it.
2. 1965 Topps: Bob Skinner
No. 591 is high-number territory for 1960s sets, so of course I’d like to own it. I hear that the 1965 set ain’t all that difficult.
1. 1967 Topps: Ty Cline
What I said about the Bob Skinner card, that goes double for 1967 Ty Cline as those ’67 high numbers are certifiably insane. One day. Maybe?
I am always surprised by the interesting cards I can uncover by just randomly selecting a number, but it just shows what you can find when you look at all the cards.
One more thing before I sign off:
These are all 591 cards. Seems like a special number for managers!
I also looked through the cards for the other three major sports. There wasn’t a lot to choose, mostly because other sports’ sets don’t usually climb deep into the 500s. But here’s one, and he was a star, too:
Bo knows 591!
(Bo was also in the last Card Numbers for Commons post I did. Maybe he has card for every number?)