The Main All-Star Course, 1980s Style
Or do you prefer your Midsummer bling to be mere garnishment?
(Welcome to the second day of our All-Star week celebration. Check out yesterday’s post here.)
This is it! The big night we’ve been waiting for all year …
When the brightest stars in the National League suit up against the brightest stars in the American League. The ONLY time all season we might get to see a Cincinnati Red bat against a New York Yankee, outside of the World Series, at least.
Oh, right — interleague play sort of dashed that scenario.
But the All-Star Game is still fun, and it’s tonight!
So now is the time to pull out those All-Star cards from your shoe boxes and get them lined up, ready to help illustrate the play-by-play that will unfold when Doc Gooden rears back and delivers a blazer to George Brett.
Oh, right again.
But that reminds me of a question that I need to ask you. It’s important, because the answer says a lot about you as a collector, fan, art connoisseur, and all sorts of other things.
Here goes …
Do you prefer your All-Star cards like this?
Or like this?
Which is to say, do you prefer to see All-Stars celebrated within the confines of their base cards (like Schmidt) or on standalone All-Star cards?
Think carefully, because, like I said, this is a very, very important matter.
If you want some more fodder to help you make your choice and seal your cardboard fate, check out this article I did a few years back. Therein, I pick the All-Time 1980s Topps All-Star team, complete with the requisite eye candy.
Enjoy the festivities tonight. You know I will — I’m rooting for another Fred Lynn grand slam, after all
Play ball!
—Adam