#63 - Steve Swisher

Card fact: This isn't the first card in the set to feature a player who had a son who played in the majors (Buddy Bell, Bobby Bonds). But Swisher is the first player in the set to have a son who is currently playing in the majors.

What I thought about this card then: Swisher belonged to the club of "Guys Whose Stats Suck," along with players like Gene Locklear and Pepe Frias. As children, we mercilessly mocked these guys.

What I think about this card now: I have found this card rather difficult to upgrade. I kept the card I pulled as a kid, but when I set out to complete the set, and upgrade the cards from my childhood, I had a heck of a time finding Swisher in good condition.

All I can think of is more people collect his card now because Nick Swisher is in the majors. I don't know why that would make a career back-up catcher more popular, but how else would you explain to me why I'm still not satisfied with my upgrade of this card? And I've upgraded it three times.

Other stuff: Swisher was the manager for the Triple A Buffalo Bisons in the late-1980s, just as I began following the team when I was in college. He just missed -- by a couple of years -- getting interviewed by me. Your loss, Steve. The stories you could have told.

Back facts: Did people really once call spitball pitchers "cuspidor curvers"? I know people talked funny in the old days, but that seems far-fetched for even then. ... Also, Topps has a rather broad definition of "fine rookie campaign," since in this case it includes batting .214.

Oldie but goodie: Here is the original Swisher card from when I was 9.

Not bad for a 34-year-old card, especially when it's from a time when no one knew what a penny sleeve was.

Other blog stuff: I'm going with "the lime design" for this color combo. It works for me.