TCDB 2 for Tuesday #88

I laughed this morning when reading the headlines on the Cardinals' webpage about starting a key series with the Brewers tonight.  Even with a sweep, they will still be 8 games back in the division.  The sweep will not happen, and making the playoffs will not likely occur either.  After 2 years of disappointment, I sure hope changes will be made in management. 

On the bright side,  I have incoming trades with great cards to keep my attention elsewhere.  Today's first trade package came from fellow Cardinals fan StLMike.

These may look like regular 2007 Topps base cards, but a closer look at the back of the Carpenter card number shows they are from the Topps Pepsi set.  3 card packs were inserted into packages that year.  

You also have to look at the numbering on the back of these 2017 cards to see they are from the team set, not the regular base set.  

The second trade envelope card from member cr74.

My first 2024 Topps Chrome cards include a base Baker card and a nice Walker insert.  Poor Luken Baker has back to back 30 home run seasons in Triple A, but little chance of playing time in St. Louis with Paul Goldschmidt still around.  Walker was called back up last week but has not seen much playing time.  It is crazy to me why the Cardinals call up young players only to have them sit on the bench.    

My first 2023 Platinum anniversary inserts include a Gibson refractor and a Hornsby blue prism refractor.  Hats off to any player collector who tries to complete the 20 plus different variations from the set.  The Musial is one of many base cards I still need.  My approach to this team set is slow and steady.

My last two Cardinals are a sweet-looking Winn insert and a metallic snowflake Molina. Many Cardinals fans want Marmol fired and Molina hired as the next manager. That would bring more people to the ballpark, but I am not sure that would work out. Just like Mike Matheny a few years ago, just because a player is a great catcher does not mean he will make a great manager.

My son also added a metallic snowflake to his Altuve collection, along with 2 other 2024 cards.  The Around the Horn card is pretty sharp for a standard Topps insert.  The rainbow background goes well with the Astros uniform.