Reds Opening Day Starting Nines 2016-2019

Third installment of the Opening Day Starting Nines binder, in which the starters are placed in their appropriate defensive spot in the page. We're now far enough back in the past that we don't have that pesky DH ruining the chi of it all.

Man, do I miss a lot of these guys. Here we go.

2016: April 4 vs. Phillies. Reds win 6-2 

1. Cozart SS

2. Suarez 3B

3. Votto 1B

4. Phillips 2B

5. Bruce RF

6. Mesoraco C

7. Duvall LF

8. Iglesias SP

9. Hamilton CF 

 

 

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2017: April 3 vs. Phillies. Reds lose 4-3

1. Hamilton CF

2. Peraza 2B

3. Votto 1B

4. Duvall LF

5. Suarez 3B

6. Schebler RF

7. Cozart SS

8. Barnhart C

9. Feldman SP 

 

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2018: March 30 vs. Nationals. Reds lose 2-0. 

1. Winker LF

2. Suarez 3B

3. Votto 1B

4. Gennett 2B

5. Schebler RF

6. Barnhart C

7. Peraza SS

8. Bailey SP

9. Hamilton CF 

 

 

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2019: March 28 vs. Pirates. Reds win 5-3. 

1. Winker LF

2. Votto 1B

3. Puig RF

4. Suarez 3B

5. Schebler CF

6. Peraza 2B

7. Barnhart C

8. Iglesias SS

9. Castillo SP

 Go Redlegs.

 

Reds IP Autograph Collection - E

E is a scarce first letter. But I have managed to acquire 22 autos of Reds. Edwin Encarnacion is the standout. Johnny Edwards is an Ohio State alum (Go Bucks). And Rawley Eastwick was credited with 2 wins and a save in the '75 World Series win over the Yankees.

 

Auto count: 22

Unique Reds: 10

Biggest name: Edwin Encarnacion

Current roster: Only choice is Kent Emanuel who just signed two weeks ago

Oldest Card: Johnny Edwards - 1962 Topps

Oldest Player: Eddie Erautt (Rookie Year 1947) 

Quantity champ: Phil Ervin - 5

Missing auto I want the most: Jim Edmonds

Crispest sigs: Sam Ellis, Seth Etherton 

Go Redlegs

1979-80 Topps Basketball Complete Set AKA May The Shorts Be With You

Just wrapped this set up with Julius Erving being the final card. This is a very obtainable set. Only 132 cards. But 33 Hall of Famers. Erving and Kareem are the standouts. Alex English is the only Hall of Fame RC, hence the getabilityness. 

I remember buying the Rick Barry for a dollar at a flea market in the early 90's. I thought it was so cool to have so old of a card. I realize now that that would've been only 15 years prior. "Oh wow, a 2011 Topps card! So vintage! Grab my top loaders!" But what a great homage to the granny-style free throw. Somebody must have the guts to do this now.

Here's the whole set. The shorts are short, yet plentiful. 

mm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And a peak at the rear... 

 

Go Redlegs. 

Some New Reds Autos

Always, always, always looking to bulk up the Reds auto binders. Middle relievers? Career Minor Leaguers? Players to be named later with 2 career at bats, cast off into the independent leagues? Gotta catch em all.

Hey, an actual 2026 release. First auto of Mr. Banfield, first auto from this calendar year, and possibly my first 2026 card outside of Topps flagship base. Will has only had 10 MLB at bats, all this season. Currently doing alright on our AAA team.

 

 

Chromy goodness from last year. Let's see, Kravetz pitched 2/3 of an inning in 2024, spent 2025 in AAA, and is nowhere in 2026. Career stats will remain a perfect 2 outs on 2 batters faced. Aguiar pitched 31 inauspicious innings in 2024 and is currently struggling in the Minors. And à la Banfield, Jordan has only 10 career at bats. Currently with the Nationals farm. All you chumps who spent hundreds on Chrome boxes are funneling these yuge autos to me, baby.

 

fff

 

Jeter Downs never made The Show as a Red, but has for other teams. Allen, Case, Naughton all are numbered <100, so worth the buck even though they never made the majors as a Red (though Packy has with the Angels and Cardinals). Floyd and Contreras are actually new names to the collection. Here's hoping for a couple unexpected meteoric rises out of the Minors.

 

Jose Barrero (formerly Garcia). Love these sweet spot autos. Four years of ok baseball for the Reds. Last seen with the Cardinals.

Jake Wong is a new name to the binders. Yet another Chrome auto of a dude with one big league game. 3 innings and 3 runs for Wong's career. I sold my only Rece Hinds auto for like 60 bucks when he was on fire for a bit, knowing I could get it back later for a couple bucks. Nice Bill Bray pajamas card courtesy of Leaf. And Connor Burns is not to be confused with Chase Burns. One of these names is affordable.

 

Lastly, a toss-in from a trade. Johnny Edwards signed 1962 Topps RC. My second of his, Edwards was a mainstay catcher for the Reds until the arrival of a slightly more heralded Reds catcher named Johnny. Also a Columbus native and Ohio State alum (Go Bucks).

Go Redlegs.

Single Card Post - 1963-64 York Peanut Butter Hockey #10 Billy Harris

 

 

It's an octagonal card! From a peanut butter jar! From the 60's! I had to buy it. 

 

The back throws some seriously salty shade at Mr. Harris, in TWO languages. Ouch. "He's scrawny and he can't score, but at least he shows up on time!" Hey, 126 NHL goals for Billy, you coldhearted nut butter copyeditor. And four All-Star selections. Legend.

 

Go Redlegs. 

Project Pick-Ups

What would a proper card collector be without 15 to 30 projects with no end in sight? Makes each card seem like a minor triumph, though.

 

 

 

1. Hayden Senger - First MLB player from my high school (Lakota East in Ohio)

2. Ke'Bryan Hayes - Opening Day Starting Nine Binder (2026 3B)

3. Charles Gipson, Eric Sabrowski - Columbus Clippers who made The Show

4. Deion Sanders - Completes my 1989 Fleer Update set 

5. Cole McCurry - Last name match (self-dox complete)

 

6. John Madden - NFL HoF Binder (shockingly few Madden cards, despite a billion with his name on them in some form)

7. Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard - Basketball HoF Binder (Kobe prices are nuts, kids)

8. Duane Washington Jr., Jamison Battle - Ohio State Alumni

9. MJ - biggest card needed for my 1991-92 Fleer set build 

 

10. Ickey Woods - Puts me over 100 for this PC

11. Anthony Munoz - No-License Topps makes him look like a Cleveland Brown. Barf. 

 

 

12. Gordie Howe, Guy Charbonneau, Allan Stanley - Hockey HoF Binder (Go Whalers!)

13. Max McCormick, Georgii Merkulov, Tanner Laczynski, Matt Tomkins - OSU Alumni

Go Redlegs.

Vintage Tradin'

TCDB success. The vintage binders bulge. An avalanche of cardboard, held in place by three-ring binders made on assembly lines for as little money as possible, waits for a victim. Woe unto those who dare stand beside, aside, or astride the colossus.

 

Hall of Famer. And such action!

 

 

The 1960 Topps set is so close to perfect. It's the alternating colors on the letters that kills me.

 

 

Chippin' away at the 60's sets. Rookies and SPs will continue to elude. 

 

Darell Evans RC, though, very attainable.

 

Mike Schmidt '75 Mini. If I were competent, I would've scanned this next to a full size. Alas.

 

 

A couple O-Pee-Cheesers. Always happy to snag these from the North.

 

And how 'bout a Hockey Hall of Famer here. Nice. An an unchecked vintage checklist, which looks kinda sad and naked. Speaking of sad and naked...

Go Redlegs.