UD Past Time Pennants Countdown: Have You Heard of the Whiz Kids?

Today marks the beginning of another week - but for most of us it's a short work week.  For me, I actually only have to go in to work today as I cancelled my Tuesday labs (and the college where I work is closed Wednesday - Friday).  What better way to celebrate a one-day work week than to continue our month long 2005 Upper Deck Pennants Countdown?

#18:  Frank Howard

Howard averaged about 34 home runs per season while playing in Washington (a span of seven years).  Considering the times, that's a huge home run total!  For me, this card is almost perfect...if it were zoomed in just slightly I'd have a hard time not including it in the Top 10.  Of course, we are now at #18 (and counting) so all the remaining cards are awfully swell.

#17:  Al Rosen

I don't know all that much about Rosen.  He played during the 1950s which was a full three decades before my birth so I guess I can be forgiven...but still, I hate not knowing about the legends of the game!  As for the card, I love the old uniform, I love the pose, and I even love how smooth the grass looks (despite it being a black and white image).  Good stuff!

#16:  Richie Ashburn

The back of Ashburn's card says that the 1950s Phillies were known as the "Whiz Kids."  I've never heard of that nickname so hey, if nothing else I learned something new today!  The card itself is a masterpiece of color composition...and a great angle for what is otherwise a boring posed shot.

2005 Upper Deck Past Time Pennants - Best Cards, In Order (so far).
Note:  The card number is the number in parenthesis after the player.
#90.  Ron Guidry (74)
#89.  Paul Molitor (62)
#88.  Will Clark (87)
#87.  Kirby Puckett (50)
#86.  Carl Yastrzemski (14)
#85.  Mike Schmidt (57)
#84.  Keith Hernandez (49)
#83.  Jim Rice (43)
#82.  Gary Carter (32)
#81.  Bill Mazeroski (4)
#80.  Catfish Hunter (16)
#79.  Tony Gwynn (76)
#78.  Cal Ripken Jr. (13)
#77.  Jack Morris (39)
#76.  Ozzie Smith (61)
#75:  Graig Nettles (37)
#74:  Dale Murphy (17)
#73:  Goose Gossage (36)
#72.  Bucky Dent (12)
#71.  Jim Palmer (42)
#70.  Robin Yount (70)
#69.  Willie McCovey (88)
#68.  Dave Parker (18)
#67.  Billy Williams (5)
#66.  Don Mattingly (20)
#65.  Steve Carlton (79)
#64.  Gaylord Perry (33)
#63.  Sparky Lyle (77)
#62.  Jim Bunning (40)
#61.  Eddie Mathews (24)
#60.  Tommy John (82)
#59.  George Kell (35)
#58.  Monte Irvin (58)
#57:  Bert Blyleven (3)
#56:  Early Wynn (23)
#55:  Larry Doby (51)
#54:  Joe Morgan (45)
#53:  Nolan Ryan (59)
#52:  Lou Brock (52)
#51:  Rico Petrocelli (68)
#50:  Bob Lemon (8)
#49:  Fred Lynn (31)
#48:  Bobby Doerr (9)
#47:  Robin Roberts (69)
#46:  Johnny Podres (47)
#45:  Maury Wills (55)
#44:  Pee Wee Reese (63)
#43:  Luis Aparicio (53)
#42:  Warren Spahn (85)
#41:  Ernie Banks (27)
#40:  Tony Perez (83)
#39:  Mickey Mantle (56)
#38:  Eddie Murray (25)
#37:  Wade Boggs (84)
#36:  Bob Feller (6)
#35:  Orlando Cepeda (60)
#34:  Don Larsen (19)
#33:  Luis Tiant (54)
#32:  Willie Stargell (89)
#31:  Duke Snider (22)
#30:  Tom Seaver (81)
#29:  Rick Ferrell (80)
#28:  Whitey Ford (86)
#27:  Phil Niekro (64)
#26:  Ron Santo (75)
#25:  Rollie Fingers (73)
#24:  Rocky Colavito (71)
#23:  Juan Marichal (48)
#22:  Rod Carew (72)
#21:  Fergie Jenkins (28)
#20:  Frank Robinson (30)
#19:  Carlton Fisk (15)
#18:  Frank Howard (29)
#17:  Al Rosen (2)
#16:  Richie Ashburn (67)