This week over on the Wax Pack Gods website, we ran down the full list of Cal Ripken, Jr., rookie cards. Here is that post, in case you’re interested …
Now, Cal didn’t have all that many different RCs, not by modern hobby standards. But Ripken’s rookie cards remain some of the most popular pasteboards ever.
As it turns out, Ripken also appeared on some other pretty special cards during his career. Some cards with a certain family flair.
And, given the date on the calendar, Ripken’s bloodlines seem a fitting segue to a quick celebration of some … yes … Father’s Day baseball cards.
1985 Fleer Cal Ripken & Cal, Jr. (#641)
This Super Star Special wasn’t the only one to feature the Cals Ripken, but it was the first (I think). And it’s a great shot of father and son, behind the net, pondering the same unseen development on the field.
It’s as good a card as any to bat leadoff here.
1982 Fleer Pete & Re-Pete (#640)
OK, this is the real star of the father-son show for me, and a card that prompted me to … 1) become a Pete Rose fan, 2) where a plastic Phillies helmet as an alternate to my plastic Reds helmet for years, and 3) not completely hate 1982 Fleer
If you were a kid popping wax packs in 1982, there was no better pull than this one.
1985 Topps Yogi & Dale Berra Father-Son (#132)
This one was hard to reconcile as a kid.
Yogi Berra was a legend, and he had played in the dark ages. So, how could he have a son in the majors when we had the 21st century in our sights?
A shortstop son who wore a mustache and played for the also-ran Pittsburgh Pirates, no less.
Beats me.
But it was a cool card just for Yogi alone. Dale’s pillbox and ‘stache helped, too.
1989 Bowman Ken Griffeys-in-a-TV (#259)
In 1989, Topps dusted off the old Bowman brand, and also the old school box full of art supplies.
A couple of hours with the rounded scissors and construction paper later, they whipped out this masterpiece.
Yes, it’s cheesy as all get-out, but still very cool to see young Griffey under the watchful gaze of old Griffey.
1976 Topps Gus & Buddy Bell - Father & Son (66)
Big Leaguers.
And Cincinnati Reds, eventually.
You didn’t think you’d get through this list with just one (or two, if you count the Petes) Reds cards, did you?
Nah.
Buddy was one of my favorite mid-1980s Reds, especially on the base paths. My family had a nickname for him — “Flash!”.
Sarcastic, yes, but he gave full hustle. And Gus gave us that big, broad smile on his cards. Full Gus-tle, if you will.
—
So … happy Father’s Day, no matter where you fall in the dad spectrum — son, dad, daughter, mother, wife, crawdad, admirer of baseball dads.
Hope you enjoy the day and get a chance to dig through some cardboard memories!
Take care.
— Adam