Rey Rey 2K1 and 2K2

For the sake 1) Completing it 2) Using scanned cards 3) Doing a baseball card post -

Here are the last of the Rey Ordonez cards from Jim @ GCRL.

Here are the 2001 issue cards and some quick commentary.

2000 Fleer Platinum - If this is Fleer's version of platinum, I would hate to be their mistress because I bet she gets a washing machine on her birthday. This is an awful take on "classic" design. Just plain boring. Also, if you are going to gloss a "retro" card - ... dont. It doesnt work. Not Impressed.

2001 Topps - Wow - another ugly card. I really don't know what focus group (if any) looks as the 2001 card design and says yup - that will get me back into collecting. The back is ugly too.

2001 upper Deck - Finally a card that I'm not ashamed to own. Full bleed photo - always a plus - decent shot - nothing ground breaking, but at least its not just a portrait. The logo on the bottom left is kinda blurry and tough to read - does Upper Deck ever make an easy to read product? The card back has about an inch of blank unused space on it.... Really? just make the font bigger? do something.

2001 - not a good showing.

Now moving on to the 2 2002 issue cards.

2002 Topps - You cannot say that topps was not consistent in the early 2000's because here is another ugly set with a poorly thought out design. I have nothing good to say. The border is the color of baby shit when they are on the squash and pumpkin diet. This is not good.

2002 Fleer Tradition. Nice cardboard stock, no gloss, Goudey design, photo of Rey in a Throwback uniform, still too much wasted space on the back, but this is a set I would consider collecting. Finally, the early 2ks come up with something good.

Rey Rey 2K

Back from the NYC fresh off watching 2 Mets wins @ Citi Field and birthday celebration with best friend. Good Times good times....Here goes year 2K from GCRL with Rey Ordonez.

2000 Pacific Crown Collection - I think this is the fries Pacific card that I own. I dont ever recall seeing these cards before in my life. It's an okay card - clean design, white border, full color backs.... dont think this is a set I would ever pursue.

2000 Upper Deck Victory - Another first for me. Victory - more like non failure - the design is okay -using the head shot form the main pic in the corner is over done. I like to have different photos on my card. Demanding, I know. I like the back design, should use another photo on the back instead of the Mets logo though.

2000 Fleer Tradition - I am usually a sucker for these kind of cards but this is boring and uninspired. Pass

2000 Upper Deck - Is it me or does Upper Deck always come through with a nice design? They may not always be great, but they are rarely bad (see topps 07/08). The back has a lot to say - I think of the year 2K lot - this is my favorite.

2000 Topps (base and gold) - Nice actionish shot of Rey in the field tagging Ellis Burks - Looking further, one of these is actually the Opening Day variety - not base/gold - my bust ya'll.

Rey Ordonez - 1999 Edition

There were only a few 99 Rey's included in the huge package from GCRL . Lets run through them.

1999 skybox Thunder- Everything about this card is ugly. The weird border on the top of the card is like a little boys bedspread. The blue/green/ tarp background is nasty. The back says something really stupid. "Man, your skillz on defense are intense. You'd be a better fielder with your bare hands than most are with a glove. Much Love" really fucking stupid - if you don't believe me, check out the small scan below. Oh - yes that is the way the spelled skills.

1999 Upper Deck - Now this is better - reminds me a little of the Topps Finest design without being too gaudy - straight lines, nice photo, clear back with photo - kudos.

1999 Upper Deck collectors Choice - This card strays from the designs of the last few years - this almost looks like they tried poorly for a retro look. Nice card, not remarkable.

Rey Ordonez - 98

At this point in his career everyone knew who Rey was - an all field no hit shortstop who had a severe propensity for multiple web gems per game. Not sure when in his career it happened, but he also punched teammate Luis Lopez in the face on the team bus. I always hated Lopez so I was still cool with Rey after that.

1998 Score - I love the picture on this card with Rey turning the double play while being taken out. As much as Score had done wrong, they certainly did a few things right. Clean design and a great photo. No photo on the back, but lots of stats/splits and a long paragraph about ole Rey Rey. ++

1998 Fleer sports Illustrated World Series Fever - Well - we all know by the time this card was printed, the Mets hadn't made any world series since Rey had hair on his crotch, so I am curious why the chose him in a World Series Fever set... This is super glossy and really boring. SO is the back.

1998 Upper Deck - Ahh, upper Decks legacy of hard to read card fronts will always live o and here is another example. Sure, the design is nice and the player name on the banner on the left is very easy to read, but the team on the bottom is not. Almost makes the card look like an error in that it was printed dark enough - its like someone forgot to fill in the letters. Back has a large action photo. I don't know about you guys - I like a portrait on the back and action on the front... like a reverse mullet of a card if you will.

1998 topps - Gold. Ugly

1998 Score - yup another one, but this one is different. It looks like ray is playing pepper or getting ready for BP. I still like the design, but this shows you what the picture means to a card. The earlier card shown is much better because the photo shows a very exciting point in a play or ball game - this shows us that Rey practiced a bit before games. Boring.

1998 Upper Deck Collector's Choice - Did you know Rey signed with the Mets in 1993 after defecting from the Cuban National Team? Well thanks to UD Collector's Choice you do now! another "classic" or should it be expected design from Ud CC - nice but not exceptional by any means.

Rey Rey - 97 Edition

Here are a few more of the Rey Ordonez cards from GCRL - these are the ones from 1997 that were in the package. Again, I don't know a lot about many of these cards since I was too busy with power chords and getting my first blow j than little slabs of card board. Here they are.

1997 Topps - A fairly basic design sharing time with Brian McRae it looks like. Nothing special here design wise. The back of the card only mentions his fielding - which is really the only thing you can say good about Rey

1997 Donruss - This design I like much more than the Topps - I like the small borders that fade on the bottom and left of the card leaving a full bleed effect - I like full blood a lot - borders are for countries not cards. Another card with Binghamton on it, so I am pleased all the more along with comparisons to Ozzie Smith - I wish it worked out that well - I am happy with Reyes now though.

1997 Upper Deck Collectors Choice - Here we have Rey getting thrown out at first (put out by Joyner). This is your standard Collectors Choice design. I seem to remember these cards always being nice... but kinda boring - that remains true here. The back of this card makes mention of Rey giving Jeter a run for his money for NY SS supremacy - didn't really work out that way did it?


98 Tomorrow!

Rey Ordonez - The Mets Years - 1996

Rey Ordonez was featured a lot in the box that Jim @ GCRL sent over - so I will be taking you through a bunch of Rey Rey cards from his time with the Mets, year by year. First up is 1996 - The Rookie Cards! Keep in mind I was not collecting at all at this time - so I may not be too keen on what set is what - they may be base cards, they may be weird other sets I've never seen before - please don't judge me!

1996 Topps Rookie Prospects - Card shared with Tim Harkrider, Neifi Perez, and Enrique Wilson. A couple of these guys (Perez and Wilson) went on to have nice careers - I kind of like the multiple prospect cards - am I the only one?

1996 UD SP Premier Prospects - I really think this is a sharp card - I like the green/blue theme, the foil is there, but not gaudy at all. One of my favorite cards of the bunch.

1996 UD Diamond Destiny - Easily the ugliest card of this years lot. The circle in the upper right is a see through portrait of Rey's face. what the hell was Ud thinking when they designed this card? Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

1996 Ud Collectors Choice Rookie Class - Just a nice looking card - This card gets bonus points for name checking Binghamton on the back!

1996 Ud Global Impact (Special Report) - another great looking card - I would not mind seeing more like these - There is always a fine line between really neat and really ugly - This card fell on the right side of that debate.

1996 UD Defensive Gems - meh - its nice.

1996 Upper Deck Major League Debut - This card is great because it has a caption on the front "Shows intensity as he scores vs Astros 7/14/96" Wouldn't it be sorta neat if all cards had a short note somewhere on the front or back of at least the date or game the photo was from?


Well, that is all of them. I have a feeling that 1996 is going to be a tough year to beat in the battle for Rey Ordonez supremacy! Don't forget to play for the 24 body Count contest above this week!