Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Complete sets: 1996 Upper Deck V.J. Lovero Showcase

I've said this before, but sometimes it really pays to sift through your collection, whether it's to compile a list of your complete and incomplete sets--as I've been doing the past few days--or just for the fun of reminding yourself of what you've put together and how cool it looks.  Also, sometimes you find a hidden gem you didn't realize you had!

Anyway, as I was flipping through my couple monster boxes of baseball complete sets to work on said list, I started looking at some of the insert sets I compiled during my collecting days.  One I hadn't seen in quite a while (since it sits in a large plastic case in a monster box that's usually piled under other boxes in my card closet) was the 1996 Upper Deck V.J. Lovero Showcase insert.

Lovero was a very talented photographer whose work graced the cover of SI, among other places.  Sadly, he passed away due to cancer a few years after this set was produced, but his legacy and skill live on in this wonderful set that features both his expert photography and some interesting (and even sometimes funny or insightful) comments about the players and their photo shoots.

As with many sets I collected way back then, I don't quite remember the genesis of my collecting this set (possibly a hobby box or two) or even completing it, but I do know I have each of the 19 cards.  Because the photos themselves say so much, and the backs provide an interesting look inside the process of an amazing artist, I'll refrain from commentary below and let you enjoy the cards as they are (blown up to make reading the backs easier).  But here I'll state my obvious love for this forgotten set, featuring many of my favorite players (Jim Abbott!), some photos that make me laugh at player antics and feel wistful for the 90s (backwards-hat Griffey, anyone?) and a gorgeous full-bleed photo design AS GOD INTENDED.  That and the Buhner is simply one of the greatest baseball cards you'll ever see, not to mention one that captures his essence perfectly.

So whether you're an aspiring photographer, someone more advanced (holla at Derek), or just like looking at pretty pictures, please share my joy in rediscovering this set and take in the perfection of the 1996 Upper Deck V.J. Lovero Showcase!




 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

10 comments:

  1. Totally cool set! I wasn't collecting back then, but I have run across 1 or 2 of these cards. I need to get a hold of the McGwire and Buhner!!

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    1. I think everyone should own that Buhner for sure. The Clark/McGwire is one of the ones that was an SI cover, which is pretty cool. I bet these are really, really cheap now!

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  2. Awesome, awesome, AWESOME insert set. Thanks for showing them all, there are some I've never seen before.

    It's my goal one day to complete this, and that's saying something because there isn't much from the mid-to-late '90s that I want to complete.

    My personal favorites (of course) are the Nomo and Karros-Piazza-Lasorda cutout cards. Those two and the Randy Johnson card are the only ones I have so far.

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    1. Thanks for lookin'! Yeah, pretty Dodger-heavy here when you include the Mondesi too. I hope you do pick up the rest. They're all up for grabs on SportLots, with Jeter ($2) and Griffey ($1) being the only "expensive" ones. COMC has all except for the triple Angels card, for whatever reason, and at decent prices as well.

      The Karros/Piazza/Lasorda is great, but nothing in this set could possibly top Buhner and his kid!

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  3. Beautiful set. The Piazza is one of my favorite cards in my entire collection, but all of these are really cool. I actually like the Caminiti a lot, with that crazy spintered bat. And the back of Canseco's card cracks me up so much.

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    1. Yeah, the broken bat shots are pretty sweet. Canseco manages to look like a douche on pretty much anything in which he appears at this point. And I bet the Piazza ends up being the most popular among people who comment here since I know so many Dodgers fans.

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  4. OMGosh, I've never seen those Angels cards before. I must find them for my collection. Nice set.

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    1. You know what's fun is that's one of the few multiplayer cards showing off the future of a franchise where the guys actually DID become the nucleus of a championship-winning team, and just a few years later, too. And the Abbott is awesome too, even if the back shows him in a Yankee uni.

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  5. Replies
    1. Agreed. I'm definitely glad I accidentally dug it up again since it's getting so much love now!

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