Top 10 Ray Lankford cards and a Contest Plug

I like to think I have a fairly complete player collection of Ray Lankford.  Since he played the majority of his career in the 1990s, there are not a lot of 1/1s or rare game used and autos to chase.  I do need a ton of printing plates and some lowered numbered parallels, but for the most part I have about every card that has seen the light of day. 

My collection pales in comparison to Collecting Cutch's Andrew McCutchen stash.  Autos, game used, buttons, bat knobs, nameplates, printing plates, 1/1s.  You name it, he has at least one if not multitudes of each.  He is running a contest challenging other player collectors to show off their top 10 cards.  I had a fun time going through my binders trying to figure out my 10 favorite Lankfords.

10. 1999 Finest Gold Refractor 68/100
     

I am a sucker for gold refractors.  These feature a deckle edge, although my scanner failed to show it.  I am on the look out for another copy so I can peel the film. 

9. 1998 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems 48/50

I love cards that use city landmarks in the background.  There are quite a few cards that feature the arch, but I have not seen another with the old St. Louis Courthouse.

8. 2001 Stadium Club

Horizontal cards usually feature great action shots.  This one features the brick wall at AT&T Park in San Fransisco.  I would guess from the flight of the ball this one did not leave the park, but Lankford did have great arm extension. 

7. 1995 Pinnacle Museum

I wish Topps or Panini would use the dufex technology like Pinnacle did.  These cards just jump out at you. 

6. 1998 Bowman's Best Atomic Refractor 47/100

This almost looks like a cracked ice parallel rather than an atomic refractor.  I was glad to see Topps brought back the Bowman's Best brand.

5. 1996 Select Certified Mirror Gold

Although these are not serial numbered, it is believed there were only 30 copies made.  Cards of big stars like Griffey Jr. and Jeter go for crazy high money when they surface.  Commons usually go for at least $30.

4.  1998 Score Rookie & Traded Showcase Series Artist Proofs 1/1

You do not see too many 1/1 cards with a huge stamp on the front.  When I first saw this card, I did quite a bit of research to make sure that is the way it was suppose to look.  This was my first Lankford 1/1 card.  I bought it off the Pit website (anyone remember that site) for around $25.

3.  1991 Fleer

Why do I have a junk wax era card as my #3 card?  Because it was my first ever Lankford card.  I remember buying this card on the school bus for 50 cents back in 1991.

2. 1998 Donruss Crusade Red 20/25

This card is just simply beautiful.  Enough said.

1. 1993 Finest Refractor

I was lucky enough to find this card listed as a Buy It Now for less than $15.  It is believed there are 241 copies of most cards, with some being more rare.  I have seen quite a few Lankfords listed over the years.  I have often thought about buying a second one because it looks so great in hand.