COMC haul #14: IHAS Freehan

(Note:  all COMC haul posts can be accessed here)

I'm getting pretty near the end of any COMC haul cards relevant to this blog, so I'm not sure how many more posts I'll have.  In any event, here's the last of my IHAS (in-hand and scanned) Bill Freehan cards (along with those I also posted over at TMM this evening):

Bill Freehan 1986 Sportflics Decade Greats #49 (with Torre and Howard)

I'm very happy with how this one scanned since you never know what you're gonna get with Sportflics.  As luck would have it, I got a pretty clear shot of Freehan's portion of the trio, which features a sweet play-at-the-plate (not that I know anybody that enjoys those) with Frank Robinson.  Also, at this angle it kind of looks like Shredder is looking over Bill's right shoulder, which is pretty cool.  Nice choice of catchers including Joe Torre and Elston Howard, too.

Bill Freehan 2005 SP Legendary Cuts Classic Careers (#032/399)

Bill Freehan 2005 SP Legendary Cuts Glory Days Gold (#68/75)

Bill Freehan 2005 SP Legendary Cuts Legendary Lineage Gold (#22/75)

Bill Freehan 2005 SP Legendary Cuts Legendary Lineage (#397/399)

Here's four more '05 Legendary Cuts inserts I needed.  The Glory Days design is still my favorite, and maybe that's because I really like the red border.  Including autos and relics (but not 1/1s) Bill has 32 different cards in that year's set; I now own eight of them.  Yep, I've got a ways to go, but someday I'll get there!

Bill Freehan 2005 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites Refractors (#145/299)

For someone that complains about Topps so much, I sure do like sets like All-Time Fan Favorites.  This is my fourth version of that card--besides this one I have the base, autograph, and a plate.  In terms of stuff other than the plates, I still need his Rainbow autograph and Gold Refractor.  Those are gonna be pretty tricky to come by, but I'll keep an eye out for those as well.  Anyway, 2005 Topps ATFF + Refractors = So Much Win.

Bill Freehan 2005 Topps Retired Signature Gold (#137/500)

Here's another set I thoroughly enjoy, despite most of its cards being way out of my price range.  I already had the regular ("Gold") autograph, and there's three more signed versions I'll need at some point.  I can certainly appreciate what I have here right now, though--this was a nice design from the days where Topps actually stamped serial numbers.

Add those to the two I showed off over on TMM and my new Freehan PC total stands at 55, plus a plate and an IP autograph.  The 55 count puts me nearly halfway to the total of non-1/1s I came up with.  As a reminder, here's my current checklist/have list and the album that contains his PC.

It may be time again soon for me to try to come up with original stuff, which is a scary thought.  In the meantime, please head over to Too Many Manninghams for a couple other fun pickups.

COMC haul #12: eight (minus one) Greats

(Note:  all COMC haul posts can be accessed here)

Well, having posted that Darrell Evans the other day, I'm back with more Freehan stuff, so let's get right to it!  Today's an all Fleer Greats of the Game kind of day, as you'll see while poring over these seven new members of Bill's PC:

Bill Freehan 2004 Greats of the Game Battery Mates (With Denny McLain) (#1018/1968)

Bill Freehan 2004 Greats of the Game Blue (#099/500)

Bill Freehan 2004 Greats of the Game

Bill Freehan 2006 Greats of the Game Pewter

Bill Freehan 2006 Greats of the Game Tigers Greats

Bill Freehan 2006 Greats of the Game

Bill Freehan 2004 Greats of the Game auto

Never let it be said that GOTG wasn't a very classy-looking set, and that's enough of a reason to bring Fleer back into the card business in a perfect world.  Even the base cards are very cool and have a special, high-end sort of feel to them in a way.  

The Freehan/McLain is my favorite insert of the group despite the fact that I loathe Denny McLain for being an utterly unapologetic jackass.  I just love that Fleer numbered the card to the World Series year.

My favorite overall, of course, is the autograph.  Fleer knew what they were doing when they made these sets as they practically beg for signatures.  Who wouldn't want a beautiful framed card with a classic shot of your favorite player, and, oh, by the way, it's autographed?  Who cares about the barely-noticeable sticker? These sets are simply fantastic.

And now, because I love bringing numbers into the picture despite my dislike of math, here's some stats:

• This is my 10th Freehan autograph
• I now have 16 hits of him overall (four relics, one patch, one plate)
• His IHAS (in-hand and scanned) count is 46 cards, 45 of which are non-1/1s

I have some Freehans yet to be posted, so it won't be too long until I'm celebrating 50!  I'll probably be back within a day or two with some more Barry Larkin stuff, so stay tuned.