Yesterday, I posted what I thought was the worst card of 2011 Topps. And yes, Dayf, I was serious. The choice of a white-gray background on a card that has a white border is an inexcusable decision on Topps' part. Had the series featured full-bleed photography, or a colored border, then the background might have looked good, because I agree that there are too many generic shots in cards today. But the hoodie is still a deal breaker. Call me crazy, but I like to have the players on my baseball cards wearing, oh, I don't know, baseball uniforms!

But today I am not here to bury Topps, but to praise it. Because I have found one of the better cards in the series. It's certainly good enough for inclusion in the Uniform Back Series. I present card #650, Josh Hamilton:

The photographer captured Hambone in mid-stride, and I can say with absolute certainty that this picture was taken a split-second before he made the catch. I mean, look at that ball - there's no way it didn't go in the glove. Sure, we're talking about the Rangers, but this isn't a Jose-Canseco-ball-off-the-melon situation.

That it's an action shot instead of a "just-standing-around" picture is just one way that this card succeeds where the Fred Lewis card fails. Another is the colors. The predominantly black (with a touch of dark blue) background contrasts well with the white border. You don't get the feeling, if only for a second, that the card is horribly miscut or a printing flaw. And speaking of contrast, look at how well Hamilton's uniform, particularly his bright white pants, stand out from the outfield wall. Even the "404" marking the center field distance complements, rather than competes for attention.

Of course, this is a Uniform Back card, and a fine example at that. You can clearly see the player's name and number. The fact that uniform number and the distance on the outfield wall are in the same font ties it all together nicely. A big thumbs up to Topps for this card.

In other business, I don't know if I got a 60 Years of Topps "hot box" or if I'm just uncovering my allotment early, but I like the results so far. In eight packs, I've gotten four 60YOT cards, which is a good return for someone collecting the set. The best of the bunch? Well it's really no contest:


A 1965 Frank Robinson, in his last season with the Reds. I'll be back again tomorrow with some more from Series 2. Please be sure to vote in my poll if you haven't already. How do you organise your player collections?

It's late, and I don't want to re-size all of the scans from the ninth jumbo pack and type up a full-blown post. But I do want to post something this weekend, other than comments on other people's blogs. So here's a preview of my next pack break post, featuring one of my favorite cards from that pack. And it's a uniform back card, so I get to revive this series. It's a win-win!

Jose Bautista may turn out to be the first clean 50-home run hitter baseball has had in a while. Of course, there are still the skeptics out there who think that there's no way his unexpected power surge can be legit, that it has to be performance-enhanced (which would make him either the ballsiest or stupidest juicer, cheating at the time when baseball has the most scrutiny placed on its drug-detection process).

Personally, I think that Bautista's 2010 power surge is for real. Players can still improve thanks to hard work and new training regimens. Plus, some players just have a switch flip one year, and it's not a medically-enhanced flip, either. Yes, Bautista's career year happened at age 29, which is a couple of years after the magical Age 27 mark when so many players have their best season. But I'm happy to give him the benefit of the doubt. Let's see what happens this year.

(By the way, Brady Anderson, whose 1996 season is perhaps the most comparable to Bautista's 2010 season, is in the Orioles' camp this spring as a special instructor. He had his career season at age 32. Wanna feel old? He's now 47.)

Not even Allen & Ginter is immune from the uniform back phenomenon. You would think that a set based on artwork, not photography, wouldn't have shots of people's backs. You'd be wrong. Allen & Ginter, after all, is artwork based on photography. Here's some examples from the 2010 set:

Nick Markakis from my beloved Orioles gets the back treatment. This card isn't one of a batting stance, but rather, it looks like a follow through. However, his face is still obscured, and there's a good view of his back. Plus, with it being Allen & Ginter, there's a field of verdant green in the background, with just a touch of basepath.

This is Matt Wieters. At least, I have to take TriStar's word for it. Many, many uniform back cards show a batter at the plate, ready to load up on a belt-high fastball or hanging curve. (See Part 1 or Part 2 of this series for more examples). I guess that the batter isn't set up on the correct side of the plate for the photographer, but the shutterbug snaps the picture anyway.

I still don't understand why card companies insist on using the pictures for their cards, however. Is it a lack of options? Matt Wieters was a heralded draft pick. In fact, that's what this card is all about. Why use this picture?

I do like, however, that the uniform back evokes the Orioles without actually saying "Orioles". Of course, TriStar can't say the word "Orioles" because they don't have the license to do that. But the font and colors on Wieters's uniform are very reminicient of a certain Baltimore team.

Finally, what's up with the one dude in the stands? Is he a scout? Somebody's grandpa? Matt Wieters's grandpa, maybe?

So you're a young ballplayer. Say you're like Pat Neshek, and you used to collect baseball cards yourself when you were a kid. Now, all that hard work is about to pay off. You've been invited to the big league camp for spring training, and every indication is that you'll make the club if you don't stuff it up. You've even already had a cup of coffee at the end of last season, but this is your first experience at spring training with the big boys.

One of the things you find out about early on is Photo Day. Man, does that take forever. It seems like everyone wants to take your photo - the team, the league, the newspapers, Associated Press, ESPN, everybody. Even the baseball card companies, Topps and Upper Deck, get into the act. But that's cool because, like I said, you used to collect baseball cards yourself. And now there's a very real chance you'll get to be on one.

Most of the photos are a pain in the ass. Literally - you're sitting on a wooden stool while they take headshots of you. But the baseball card company shoots are different. Sure, there's the standard "stand here with a bat on your shoulder if you're a batter, or pretend you've just thrown a pitch and show us your follow through if you're a pitcher" shots. Those seem to be in every set of cards. But there's also some staged action shots, and even some clowning around. Plus, the photo shoot takes place outside.

The card companies also tell you that they've got some footage from last year - mostly spring training, with some other stuff thrown in as well. Not to worry, though - they'll pick the best shot, and use that for the card. They're pros, you think. They know what they're doing. Man, I can't wait for the card to come out. My own baseball card! My very own baseball card!

Then Upper Deck releases Series One of its 2008 set. You look at the checklist, and...YES! Your name is on it! You're going to be on a baseball card! Kids will want you to sign your name on little pieces of cardboard with your face on it. Your mom - you'll have to get a bunch to send to your mom. She's going to love it. You call up Upper Deck, explain the situation, and ask if they could send you some copies of your card. "Sure," they say, "no problem. We're happy to do it - and by the way, congratulations. We hope you have a great year in the bigs."

Finally, after a few days, a package arrives in Mesa from North Las Vegas, Nev. It's the cards! You haven't seen them yet, you just know you're on the checklist. You open up the parcel, pull out a card, and see this:

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is Rich Thompson's rookie card from the 2008 Upper Deck set. It was taken at the 2007 All-Star Futures Game, where he was a member of the World team (he's an Aussie, so he probably didn't grow up collecting baseball cards. Footy cards, maybe). It's a great picture...of his back! Are you telling me, Upper Deck, that this is the best you can do? What if he had bombed, and this had been his only baseball card? Isn't he at least entitled to a card with his face on it? Something to show the grandkids in 50 years? C'mon Upper Deck...no wonder you lost your license.

New rule - rookie cards must show a player's face on them. No uniform numbering. Sorry, Rich.