1996 Mike Piazza Summit "Ballparks"

Fact of the Day:

A baby Puffin is called a Puffling

*adorable*

This had been one of those cards that everyone has. You know, one of those "I should pick this card up already." It's not rare and I don't need it to finish anything off, but I just kept seeing copy after copy on ebay never to actually bid on it. Usually I was after something else specifically or it was priced too high, etc. I was finally able to bring it home as a throw in with another card.

 Not as over the top as many mid '90's cards, especially as far as inserts are concerned, but it does still have that qualitative time stamp on it. The unnecessary and boarder line excessive use of foil on the right, the "larger than life" image of Piazza over Dodger Stadium and the the huge serial numbering on the back. Any insert or parallel today #'d/8,000 wouldn't even bother to have the print run stamped. In '96 however, this was pretty exclusive.

I'm always happy to pick up an insert like this, and I do like the design. It's fun, it's '90's, it's Piazza! As I get to obtain more and more of his cards, the goals begin to shift a little bit. Or perhaps new goals begin to arise would be a better way to put it. There are a few sets now where I can look at the master checklist and say "Hey, I only need one or two more Piazzas from this set!". And then there's always the prospect of world domination. There's always that.

(...Joe)