Missing Topps Cards Part 5: Vladimir Guerrero (1995 and 2012)

Vladimir Guerrero played in the Majors from 1996-2011. He spent 1996-2003 with the Montreal Expos, 2004-2009 with the Anaheim Angels, 2010 with the Texas Rangers, and 2011 with the Baltimore Orioles. He finished his career with 449 Home Runs, and I think has a good case for the Hall of Fame. He could hit any pitch, had great power, a cannon arm, and I believe that he could've played for someone in the 2012 season, perhaps more, and that the owners colluded to keep players such as Jermaine Dye and Guerrero out of MLB for some reason. They were productive hitters, and I think they could've hit 15-20 Home Runs with a team, but never got a solid opportunity. 

Vlad got his first Topps card on a 4-player prospect card with Andruw Jones in the 1996 Topps set. He appeared in every Topps set through the 2011 set. He is in the 2012 Topps set, but it is a highlight card, and not a true sunset card. I chose to give Vlad the sunset card, as well as a 1995 Topps prospect card with Orlando Palmeiro, Alex Ochoa, and Mike Darr, Jr. to finish his career Topps run.

Work has been zapping my energy as well as life, so I haven't made a ton of customs lately, but I still am working on the 1994 set, and am finished through card 1004 now. I'm hoping to get a chance to work on more customs for a good while on Thursday night. Maybe I'll sleep too. Thanks for checking out my latest customs.

-Jeremy

Dick Pole Project Part 11: 2000 Topps Dick Pole coach

BIO: Dick Pole played in the Majors from 1973-1978 with the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners. He then went on to coach in the Bigs from 1988-1991 and from 1993-2009. His name has made him a hit with bloggers and fans alike.

YEARS PLAYED/COACHED: 1973-1978 (player), 1988-1991 and 1993-2009 (coach)


TOPPS SETS APPEARED IN: 1974-1978

TOPPS SETS MISSING FROM: 1979, 1989-1992, 1994-2010

WHY I MADE THIS CARD: Just another card in the ever-growing Dick Pole Project. Only 9 more cards to go (including a '79 card) and Pole will have Topps cards for every year he played or coached in the Bigs.

NOTES:  The next few cards are going to be Pole cards and that will finish up his career Topps run, so I'll probably do one with all of his cards once they are all done. Thanks for checking out the latest card.
-Jeremy

2007 Topps Tim Salmon

PLAYER BIO:  Tim Salmon played for the Angels from 1992-2006. He was the 1993 AL Rookie of the Year and a member 2002 World Championship club. One of the most popular Angels ever.

YEARS PLAYED: 1992-2006

TOPPS SETS APPEARED IN: 1993-2005

TOPPS SETS MISSING FROM: 2006 and 2007

WHY I MADE THIS CARD:  Tim was one of the best players for the Angels during his career. There was a time in 1993 when he was probably just as hot as Mike Piazza in the hobby. He was nice enough to sign his 1994 Stadium Club Golden Rainbow card and 1996 Bowman's Best Refractor for me through the mail in 2005, and I've always been a fan of him since he came up in '92, even though I don't really go out of the way to get any of his cards. I can see why Topps left him off of the '06 and '07 sets since he was injured a lot at the end of his career and he missed the entire 2005 season, but he did play in 76 games in '06 and certainly deserved a sunset card, so I decided to make one of one of the most popular players for the Angels. Thanks for checking out the latest card.
-Jeremy