Topps All-Time Fan Favorites Favorites G-J

Topps put out 150 card sets of retired players in 2003-2004-2005. Players are pictured on card designs from their playing days but with different photos than were in the originals. Here are my favorites, alphabetically.

2005 #102

This is a sharp portrait shot of everyone's favorite fro wearing outfielder. His original 1976 card pictured Oscar with his previous team, the Indians. His "traded" card was airbrushed.

2004 #51

Politics aside I like Rudy. Anyone who was on Seinfeld gets points with me too.

2004 #127

This is an alternate Tony Gwynn rookie card from the 1983 set.

Like so many of these, I like the new one better. And was Tony ever any thinner than he was here? By the way, Gwynn is on my short list of admired ballplayers. Surely one of the great ones on and off the field.

2003 #107

I'm partial to the 1968 design. It's the earliest set I collected as a kid that I still have in quantity. I guess Topps chose 1968 for Ernie since the Tigers won the World Series that year.

2004 #142

Speaking of the Detroit Tigers, here's longtime Tiger oufielder Willie Horton on a 1969 design. I like the flash effect.

2004 #107

Here's a young Charlie Hough. Charlie played into the 1994 season and the uniform he's wearingis either from 1971 or 73. The knuckleballer finished his career with an even 216-216 record.

2003 #108

I don't know why, but the reprint is missing Monte's signature. Below is the original from 1952:

2004 #5

I like the Sporting News All-Star subsets. The 1970 original has Reggie in a batting stance.

2004 # 121

Two favorites here, Fergie and the 1967 set. It looks like Topps was off a bit on the team lettering (a little skinnier in the reprint). The original is below: