UD Past Time Pennants Countdown: Pure Cardboard Gold!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  I hope you all have a great day filled with good food and family.  I know that's certainly my plan for the day.  However, before getting to the turkey, let's look at the next three cards in the ongoing 2005 Upper Deck Past Time Pennants Countdown.  Since the end of the month is almost here, so is the end of the countdown.  In fact, today we look at numbers 9, 8, and 7 in the list.  After today?  Only two more days worth of cards!

#9:  Phil Rizzuto

I've said this a few times throughout the countdown but I have to say it again:  Cardboard Gold.  Oh sure, Rizzuto didn't finish #1 in the countdown but that doesn't mean it's not a great card - in fact, it's almost perfect.  Unfortunately for Phil, there were simply other cards that I liked better (through no fault of Rizzuto).  I have no complaints about this card - nor could I see how it could be improved.  Simply wonderful.

#8:  Ralph Kiner

As you can see, now that we've reached the Top 10 cards of the set it's simply masterpiece after masterpiece on the part of Upper Deck.  This is another card that I can't see how it could possibly be improved - I love it!

#7:  Al Kaline

You might be surprised by Kaline's final position in the countdown.  For many people, I would imagine that this card would be lucky to crack the Top 75.  Why do I like it so much?  For starters, it looks like Kaline was photographed in front of his house (though that can't be true since he was born in Baltimore and that's certainly not Baltimore in the background).  I love the quirky backgrounds that many cards in the set have - and nothing exemplifies that quite like the Kaline card and the family farm!

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)
#15:  Harmon Killebrew (38)
#14:  Enos Slaughter (26)
#13:  Stan Musial (78)
#12:  Bob Gibson (7)
#11:  Don Newcombe (21)
#10:  Bruce Sutter (11)
#9:   Phil Rizzuto (65)
#8:   Ralph Kiner (66)
#7:   Al Kaline (1)