Delivery Time! Top 9: Group Break Swag from Indians Baseball Cards

A few weeks ago (or maybe about a month ago now), I received a package containing a bunch of random stuff from a group break of odd ball sets and whatnot from David over at Indians Baseball Cards.

Now, I'm not a huge collector of the odd ball stuff, but I joined this in the hopes of landing some sort of unique Larkin card.  Unfortunately, there were no Larkins to be found, but I did end up with a bunch of other cool (and weird) stuff.  Here's the Top 9 from the group break!

#9:
A pair of Reds pins.

See, I told you this break had some crazy weird stuff in it.  I was a but a wee kid when the Dave Parker pin was made (I think it is from 1984) and so I wouldn't have been allowed to own sharp objects at the age of two.  However, even by the late 80s I think pins were still fairly popular - I distinctly remember having a small collection of pins around that time.  I don't believe I ever had any baseball player pins though, so these are a first.

#8:
Rod Carew

This is a portion of some sort of large panel that David cut up in order to mail out the individual players to each team.  He also ended up throwing in a few of the unclaimed cards into everyone's pile - that's how I ended up with Mr. Carew.  Should someone want this card, it's available for trade.

#7:
Johnny Bench

Here's another one of those large cut panels, only this time it is of a Red (and thus better)!  It's not as nice of a Bench card as the one I got in my recent group break that I held, but it's still pretty cool.

 #6:
 1986 Fleer Star Sticker:
Tom Browing

Browing is the first (of three) Fleer Star Stickers player cards to make my Top 9 for the break.  I guess I really have a soft spot in my heart for sticker.  Heck, I still have my old sticker album from when I was a kid - talk about a funny thing to look at now *shakes head*.  I'm guessing if I had this card in 1986 the 'ol sticker would have been slapped on something real quick - maybe a Trapper Keeper even.

#5:
1986 Fleer Star Sticker:
Alan Trammell

 Here's a player that I always sort of liked for no real reason.  And obviously that feeling holds true today as Trammell ends up in the middle of my Top 9 list!  I think it might be because one of my uncles is a big Tigers fan, so I sort of always had a little bit of a favorable feeling toward Detroit as a kid (which also holds true today).

#4:
Cincinnati Reds Stickers:

This card DEFINITELY would have ended up being used to decorate something.  I used all the Fleer (and later Upper Deck) stickers as a kid - something that I know I've mentioned on the blog before.  I think I'll be keeping this one pristine for now, but I make no promises that I won't just slap it on something someday when I'm feeling a bit rowdy.

#3:
1986 Fleer Star Stickers:
Pete Rose

Pete Rose is kind of a douche, but he was a good ballplayer.  Someday I may get into the whole Rose argument but not today.

#2:
Big Head, Suction Cup thing from 1990
John Franco

Hahaha!  I actually laughed when I saw this "card".  It's got a suction cup on top - who wants John Franco's creepy smile staring at you from your window all day?  Yeah, I don't know who does either ...  probably why this set isn't still around!  I wonder what would happen if Topps were to do a similar thing today in say a set like Lineage but use the suction cup cards as box toppers?  Would it be a hit or a total flop (my money's on flop but I'll wait and see what you guys think).

#1:
1985 Topps Baseball Rub Down

Here's another "card" set that I never knew existed (which was what made the group break so much fun).  These are rub down cards that you peel, and then use a pencil to scribble on the backside in order to rub the actual image on the paper (or wallpaper) of your choosing.  It bothers me a bit that the baseballs in the image are different sizes (and why is the bat so freaking big compared to the players)?

Thanks for hosting the group break David!  The cards make an interesting addition to my Reds collection, that's for sure!