August 2009
1959 Topps 478 Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente joined Major League Baseball at the age of 20 in the year 1955. The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted him in November 1954. Born in 1934 in Carolina, Puerto Rico, he would first begin his professional career on his native island where he played in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League.
Clemente would spend 18 years in the MLB ranks (1955-1972). His entire career was played with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he was quite successful. He earned the Most Valuable Player Award for the National League in the year 1966, was voted to the All-Star Game 12 times and won that many Gold Glove Awards. Four seasons he had the league’s best batting average.
Clemente worked with a number of charity organizations throughout various Latin American countries and Puerto Rico. He delivered food and baseball equipment. He would later die in an airplane crash while attempting to deliver food to help earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
As a Latin baseball player in Major League Baseball, Clemente was responsible for many of the league’s firsts. He was the first Latino player to be elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame, to start in the World Series, win the World Series MVP and league MVP award.
A Roberto Clemente baseball card is a great one to have in one’s collection. Many hobbyists would love to have a Roberto Clemente baseball card and other baseball cards featuring many of the game’s best players. Trading cards are fun to get involved with even if you have a small budget. To get a good baseball card at cheaper prices, check at auction sites and be willing to purchase those that are not in mint condition.
1976 Topps 220 Jack Lambert
Jack Lambert, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, was born in 1952. He spent his college years playing at Kent State. He was named to the All-Conference team two times. He would go on to play with the Pittsburgh Steelers where he participated in four Super Bowls and played 11 years. His play and tenacity would make him one of the best middle linebackers to ever play in the National Football League (NFL).
The Steelers’ Jack Lambert pick was made in 1974, in the 2nd round. There was not a lot of hype or great expectation for Lambert. He was considered too small to be a linebacker at the professional level. In his first year in the league he was 6’4 and around 200 pounds. He would later gain around 20 pounds and played at roughly 220 pounds. Though he was considered undersized, he was quick, tough and could successfully ward off blockers.
Once in the league, Jack Lambert would go on to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award and was a major contributor on the defensive side of the ball. The Steelers would have a fantastic year and win Super Bowl IX against the Minnesota Vikings. Jack Lambert NFL career was quite successful and many might say that overachieved.
If you are interested in purchasing one of his football cards, check with local sports collecting stores. You can also check online. There are many great websites that sell a good number of trading cards, including Topps football cards.
1952 Topps 407 Eddie Matthews
The Eddie Mathews baseball card is a great one to add for a serious hobbyist. The 1952 Topps 407 Eddie Matthews rookie card was the last card in the storied 1952 Topps set. This card is Matthew’s only recognized rookie card. It is so valuable because Eddie Matthews had such a wonderful career.
This third base slugger was very good at bat. In his rookie season (1952), he would hit 25 home runs and bat .302. In 1953, he would improve that number significantly. He hit 47 homer runs following his impressive rookie year.
Mathews would be voted the NL MVP runner up, the All-Star team 9 times and would lead the league in homers twice. For 9 years in a row, he would hit at least 30 home runs. In 1978, he would be voted into the Hall of Fame.
If you are looking for trading cards, specifically, baseball cards you will be able to find a good number of them online. If you are looking for the 1952 Topps 407 Eddie Mathews rookie card, you may have a hard time. It is not one that is easily available. When you do find one of these Topps cards, be prepared to pay a pretty penny. It is unlikely that you will find it dirt-cheap. However, if you have the money and decide that you really want this baseball card, then it would be an excellent addition to your collection.
