1955 Topps "Spook" Jacobs

I don't know a whole lot about good ol' "Spook" except that he went 4-for-4 in his Major League debut.

He also apparently got into quite a fight after being beaned by future Hall-of-Fame manager Tommy Lasorda while both played in the Pacific Coast League. After he got through with pitcher Lasorda, he went after second baseman Sparky Anderson.

Spooky? Happy Halloween!

1971 Topps Brooks Robinson

From the back of the card:

"Brooks' superb fielding & .429 Average earned him the vote as MVP of 1970 World Series. Always a tough clutch-hitter, he has led AL 3rd basemen in Games 8 years, Fielding 9 years & Assists 7 years."

On the one hand, the folks at Topps pump up Robinson's clutch hitting, on the other, he is shown striking out. I don't get it.

As cards go, 1971 Topps has become a favorite set of mine: the crisp black borders (well they would be if this card weren't trashed), the vibrant color combinations, the action photos, and the simple classic design.

Even the back of the card is nice. The only thing I don't like is the fact that there is only one year of stats mentioned. I'd rather see the year-by-year numbers.

Oh, and there's that other thing: Topps used a photo of Brooks Robinson looking foolish.

1967 Topps 3rd Series Checklist (Willie Mays)

If you're going to get a checklist in your pack of cards, it may as well be one with a floating head of Giants superstar Willie Mays.

What I like the most about this card is that it is used. Someone in 1967 took the time to look through their cards and put a check next to those cards he/she was lucky enough to have.

Without an Internet, these checklists were essential in keeping track of what you had, and more importantly, what you didn't.

How else were you supposed to know that Ron Swoboda appeared on card #264?

1957 Topps Pee Wee Reese

If it weren't for that deep gash on the right side, this baseball card of Pee Wee Reese would be pretty nice.

This card has 1950s written all over it. From the classic baggy Dodgers uniform to the rehearsed pose, it's a classic.

Reese, real name Harold, was a fixture with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers from 1940-58. He finally became a World Champion in 1955, but was also a member of six World Series losers.

But what Reese is most notably known for is his support for Jackie Robinson. When Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, it was Reese who reached out, welcoming him to the team.

In 1984, Reese was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and in that same year had his No. 1 retired by the Dodgers organization.

Come to think of it, that gash isn't so bad after all.