Ramon Hernandez, 2007 Upper Deck Goudey #132

The 2007 Upper Deck Goudey set is an example of the retro craze done right, but it still can't compare to its source material. With its 2 3/8" X 2 7/8" size and its bright, basic ballpark scene backgrounds, the base set is clearly inspired by the 1934-1936 Diamond Stars cards. Today I made a long-overdue trip to the Baseball Card Outlet, armed with a coupon for 20% off the price of any vintage ungraded card. (The coupon appeared in the monthly Clipper Magazine that showed up in my mailbox last week. It's the first time I've ever come across a coupon from a hobby shop, and I think it's brilliant.) After a few minutes of careful consideration, my eye was drawn to an assortment of Diamond Stars cards in one of their display cases. At $15 ($12.72 after the discount), I couldn't pass up this 1935 Wally Berger card:

It really has it all - the incredible pre-WWII Boston Braves uniform, the stylized dugout scene, and the featured player himself. In 1930, Berger set a rookie record (since broken) by hitting 38 homers for Boston. He also tripled 14 times and drove in 119 runs, with a batting line of .310/.375/.614. He was an All-Star from 1933 through 1936, representing the Braves in each of the first four Midsummer Classics. Shoulder and hand injuries helped bring a premature end to his career, but he retired with career marks of .300/.359/.522 and an OPS+ of 138. He totaled 242 home runs and 898 RBI. I don't often limit myself to a single purchase when I go card shopping, but when I find the right card, it can be pretty satisfying.

Cal Ripken, Jr., 2007 Upper Deck Goudey #244

This card is part of the "Heads Up" subset from Upper Deck's first Goudey retro issue. It borrows the design of a set originally released by the Goudey Gum Company in 1938 that featured stars like Joe DiMaggio, Jimmie Foxx, Hank Greenberg, and Bob Feller. If you can look at this card for at least two minutes without having nightmares, you are a stronger person than I am.

Aubrey Huff, 2007 Upper Deck Goudey #193

This Day in Orioles History: August 14, 2007

Orioles 12, Yankees 0 at Yankee Stadium

I just can't overlook a good thrashing of the Yankees, especially in the oh-so-hallowed House That Ruth Built. Aubrey Huff put the game away early, crushing a grand slam off of Jeff Karstens for four of his five RBI on the evening, and Daniel Cabrera continued his occasional dominance of the Bronx Bombers, working around two hits and six walks to combine with Paul Shuey and Rob Bell on a whitewash.

The Birds came out swinging against New York, totaling thirteen hits and six walks in the game. The big blow was Huff's homer, which buried the Yanks in a 5-0 hole in the third inning. But Yankee Killer Kevin Millar had a perfect night, going 3-for-3 with a home run, two walks, and an RBI and scoring four of the dozen Baltimore runs. Nick Markakis added two doubles and an RBI, Jay Payton drove in a pair, and Brian Roberts swiped his 35th and 36th bases on the year. The O's went 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position, a .417 average. They seemed to take a special joy in clobbering former teammate Jim "Bulldog" Brower, who offered a reminder of why he lasted just a month with the 2006 team: six runs (four earned) on five hits and a walk in two innings. He allowed each of the four batters that faced him in the sixth inning to reach base.

Of course, it wouldn't be an O's-Yankees game without some hit batters. After falling behind, the pinstripers plunked Miguel Tejada and Nick Markakis - the team's two best players - in separate innings. Baltimore did not retaliate. You stay classy, New York.

Brian Roberts, 2007 Upper Deck Goudey #19

After yesterday's bout of card collecting remorse, I wanted to post a card that made me happy. I wanted to talk about a card that made me smile no matter how often I looked at it. This is the card that came to mind.

One of the things that both Topps and Upper Deck do right is retro. This set is based on the 1933 Goudey gum cards, and features striking player portraits with colorful semi-abstract backgrounds. It's funny how sometimes less is more: there's no glossy finish, no foil stamping, no chrome or refractors or whatever the hell else makes me feel like an old crank at the age of twenty-five.

Most importantly, look at Brian Roberts. He just looks so unabashedly filthy in that picture! The long, scruffy hair, the unshaven face, the satisfied smirk. It's a very different image from the smurfish, clean-cut second baseman that drives the girls wild in Charm City, and there's something about it that just makes me laugh. I would guess that the original photo was taken in Spring Training 2007, when Brian reported to Fort Lauderdale a little shaggier than usual. Of course, team owner Peter Angelos is known for his draconian grooming policy. When the O's signed the second baseman to a contract extension a few weeks later, he opted for a trim and a shave, indicating that he wanted to make Mr. Angelos happy. No wonder he's one of P.A.'s favorites; he knows how to play the game on and off the field.

I'd been saving this card for a "goodbye" of sorts to Brian Roberts, but I needed it in a pinch. It still seems more likely than not that he'll be in a Cubs uniform before Opening Day, but you never know. I do want to say that of the three stars the Birds have dealt or will probably deal this offseason, I'll miss Brian the most. He's one of the best second basemen in the game and has done a hell of a lot for the Baltimore community. So here's to you, #1.