The Greatest Photo in the History of Baseball

There are two things I'd love to see happen in terms of new applications of current technology:

1. Historical map overlays for Google Maps.

2. 3-D webcam projections for older Topps products, specifically Topps Attax: 1982 Topps Stickers

I can't believe that I've been alive for almost 31 years and didn't know that this photo of Mark Clear existed. His hair is breaking the dimensional plane at such an angle that it's almost like you could reach out and feel its sweaty, greasy split ends. Incredible. Right, onto the packs.

Pack 37: NL All-Star Andre Dawson, Kirk Gibson, George Brett, Milt May, Bob Forsch

Pack 38: Doug Flynn, Leon Durham, NL All-Star Steve Carlton, Mike Norris, Gary Gray

Pack 39: Steve McCatty, Steve Henderson, Warren Cromartie, Danny Darwin, Dwight Evans

Pack 40: Alan Trammell, Fred Lynn, Julio Cruz, Mickey Hatcher, Billy Almon

Pack 41: George Hendrick, Jerry Mumphrey, John Mayberry, Steve Rogers, Gary Matthews

Pack 42: Len Barker Highlight, John Castino, Don Baylor, Pete Rose Highlight, 1981 World Series Game 6

Pack 43: Greg Luzinski, AL All-Star Carlton Fisk, Terry Puhl, Bob Knepper, Tony Armas

Pack 44: Willie Wilson, Bob Grich, Steve Garvey, Bruce Sutter, Tony Bernazard

Pack 45: Tim Raines Highlight, Otto Velez, Carl Yastrzemski Highlight, Carney Lansford, Mark Clear

Pack 46: Glenn Hubbard, Craig Reynolds, Ken Forsch, Mike Hargrove, Bill Buckner


Well, I'm back down on earth at 16/50 after going 50/50 on new stickers. That's to be expected, I guess . . . What's more interesting is that I still haven't received a Padre in a pack yet, nor a League Leader . . . I finally got a World Series sticker, and I'm decidedly underwhelmed, especially after the silver and gold foil of the AL and NL All-Star stickers . . . Are Ken and Bob Forsch twins? They are so similar it's hard to believe they're not the same person.

Stickey 2: Stickey's Revenge

Pack 21: Paul Molitor, Amos Otis, Manny Trillo, Bob Horner, Rich Dauer
0/5 New!

Pack 22: Al Bumbry, Scott MacGregor, Larry Parrish, Nolan Ryan, Sixto Lezcano
0/5 New!

Pack 23: Ben Oglivie, Willie Randolph, Ron LeFlore, Carl Yastrzemski, Bo Diaz
0/5 New!

What the heck is going on here? Three packs in a row and all doubles?


Pack 24: Alan Ashby, Pat Zachry, Pat Putnam, Doug DeCinces, NL All-Star Pete Rose
1/5 New!

Pack 25: Carlton Fisk, NL All-Star Bruce Sutter, Bruce Bochte, Rich Dotson, Stickey Henderson
1/5 New!


Total New: 2(!)/25
Total Doubles: 23/25
Total Stickeys? And then there were two.

Honestly, I'm shocked and at the same time not surprised. Collation was bad, and at the same time pretty good. Here's what I mean. The possibility of someone buying up the entire box of stickers in 1982 was not very high, so if you bought one or two packs you have a fairly decent shot of getting all different stickers. And if you and your friend bought sticker packs at the same time, pulling them one after another from the box, well, you have a good chance at getting many of the same stickers, (with one or two different ones to trade).

But looking at the whole-box collation... jeez, it's not doing too great right now.

You know what? I'm gonna keep going on this post til I get a pack of all-new stickers. I mean, I've barely cracked the 20% complete mark, and I feel like my doubles pile is already in danger of toppling.

So here we go.

Pack 26: Glenn Hubbard, Craig Reynolds, Ken Forsch, Mike Hargrove, Bill Buckner
5/5 New!

There, see? Didn't have to go so far to get all new stickers. And good thing, too. That Ken Forsch looks like one mean little Gelfling.