This one is bittersweet. Kirby Puckett cards all remind me of my late father-in-law. He collected Minnesota Twins and Kirby Puckett cards the most. This 1989 Upper Deck was a favorite. My father-in-law wasn't a card collector when I first met him, but he did follow the Twins closely, listening to them on the radio whenever he could. He took up card collecting because he knew I was avid about it. It was his way of connecting with a college kid who was getting more and more serious with his daughter and with whom he wanted to have something in common. I'll always appreciate that and love him for it. A couple weeks before his passing, he gave me all his cards. He was trying to get a complete base set card run of all Pucketts from the main set brands; Topps, Donruss, Fleer, Score, Upper Deck, Stadium Club, Pinnacle, Ultra, Bowman and Leaf. He had about 10-15 to go when he passed away. I posthumously completed the set for him. Whenever I am at his grave, I leave a Kirby Puckett card there.
One of your favorite cards from the 1950s
All my favorite 1950s cards are my Ted Williams. I have to go with the classic 1956 Topps card. I, like many of you, just love the sleek, simple look with the head shot along with action shot.
One of your favorite cards from the 1960s
If the truth be told, I don't really like many cards from the 1960s. Most years the card designs are plain and boring, lacking originality. I'm going with the 1968 Topps Carl Yastrzemski because on the back are the stats for his excellent 1967 season.
That story with your father-in-law is quite touching. It's funny how a simple scrap of paper with a famous face on it can come to symbolize so much more in our lives.
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