2008 Topps Updates & Highlights Gold

DATA: 2008 Topps Updates & Highlights Gold

ACQUIRED: Gift from JayBee

PING: Another Joey Votto care from JayBee. Thanks, man! The base version of this Topps Updates and Highlights card was previously posted and now we have the Gold type embossed version of the card. Other than the gold emboss, I can tell no other difference between the cards. Hooray for parallels! Seriously, I do kinda dig them. I guess I enjoy endless repetition. Speaking of... there are still a few more parallels of this card I am still seeking. Just sayin'.

2008 Topps Heritage T205

DATA: 2008 Topps Heritage T205

ACQUIRED: Gift from JayBee

PING: vottoTRON has already seen posts about the Chrome and Mini version of the Joey Votto Topps T205. We finally round out the trifecta today with the base card. I'm pretty sure these cards were included exclusives in Topps packs/blasters purchased at Target. A big thanks to JayBee for the kind hookup! Check out his blog: bdj610's Topps Baseball Card Blog.

2008 Topps National Baseball Card Day

DATA: 2008 Topps National Baseball Card Day

ACQUIRED: At the Big Red Machine Reunion

PING: Coming soon...

2007 Bowman Gold

DATA: 2007 Bowman Gold

ACQUIRED: At the Big Red Machine Reunion

PING: Yet another Bowman parallel crossed of the list. The versions will never end will they?

2008 Bowman Chrome

DATA: 2008 Bowman Chrome (194)

PING: The 2008 Bowman Votto cards are starting to rack up. Here we have the base chrome - no refractor. Nice looking card, no complaints. One step close to "the rainbow," right?

2008 Upper Deck SP Authentic

DATA: 2008 Upper Deck SP Authentic (137)

PING: I'm truly geeked about this card - it's a beauty. Great modern design, well-done horizontal layout, jersey, autograph, silver foil embossing, great photo of Joey right right after he got sawed off, serial numbered... It's a card geeks dream, right? Pretty much.

The two things I would change are the same things any other card geek would - 1) Autograph on the card and 2) Jersey color matching the photo. But, really... I don't care all that much. I'm not going to be buying packs or boxes of SP anytime soon, so this will probably be the only one in my collection. Fine by me.

2008 Topps Updates & Highlights

DATA: 2008 Topps Updates & Highlights (UH185)

ACQUIRED: From a pack of Topps Updates and Highlights

PING: Awesome card of an awesome day for Mr. Votto. I was unfortunately at work that day (it was a businessman's special), where we can hear the fireworks that go off at the stadium after home runs. Needless to say, there were a lot of booms that afternoon. We kept checking in online to see what was going on and to notice a little history unfolding as the Reds hit seven homers against the Cubs that day, with Joey dropping three dingers himself.

2008 Topps Finest Chrome Refractor

DATA: 2008 Topps Finest Chrome Refractor (143)

PING: Topps Finest is a good looking set, but not one that I would seek out to collect. I like the nice balanced design, the subtle line-work in the background and squared off diamond shape that frames the photo. It definitely sets itself from other card designs, but I would get bored with it after cracking a few packs. Joey will probably be the lone representative of Topps Finest in my collection, but that's fine by me.

What I cannot figure out about the photo is where the game is being played. Joey is wearing the Reds 3rd jersey, normally reserved for Sunday home games and special occasions, couple with away pants. It's definitely not Great American Ballpark in the background. Some sort of exhibition possibly? I'm stumped.

vottoWAX

I'm humbled and honored to get a big fat link from Mario over at Wax Heaven. Thank you, thank you.

Like Mario, I'm hoping that Joey is able to win the NL Rookie of the Year award, but my hopes are not up. The Cubs Geovany Soto will likely get the award, as he was a catcher on a pennant winning team that shall remain nameless around these parts. It's tough to argue with Soto's performance, even if Joey's numbers are comparable, if not better. Maybe if the Reds would have put together a better season, things might be different. But hey, ya never know - we'll see tomorrow.

So, about vottoTRON for all you new visitors out there. Nothing fancy, really, just Joey Votto cards. Not much commentary, we just like to get down to business and talk about the cards, card by card. A little more about the blog can be found here too.

We've got a new few cards in the hopper that will be posted over the next few days. Stick around!

Seeking

A little break from the card posts to put up a list of cards I am looking for. As the year goes on, more and more Joey Votto cards are coming out and I'm trying to keep up with what's going on - it's hard. So many base cards, parallels, autos, chrome, etc. It's great, but hard to keep on top of. So, here's a list of thing I am on the lookout for:

2002 Bowman - All versions

2002 Topps T206 - base
2002 Topps T206 - mini

2006 Bowman Chrome - Blue Refractor
2008 Bowman Chrome - Orange Refractor

2008 Topps - Base
2008 Topps - Gold font version
2008 Topps - Factory Bonus

2008 Topps Allen & Ginter - Mini
2008 Topps Allen & Ginter - Mini Black Border

2008 Topps Chrome - Red (out of 25 - yikes!)
2008 Topps Chrome Heritage - Black Border (double yikes!)

2008 Topps Finest - Base

2008 Topps Heritage Update Rookie Performers

2008 Topps Opening Day - Base
2008 Topps Opening Day - White Parallel

2008 Topps Triple Threads - All Versions

2008 Topps Stadium Club - All versions

2008 Topps Updates & Highlights - Black parallel
2008 Topps Updates & Highlights - Gold parallel
2008 Topps Updates & Highlights - Auto

2008 Upper Deck Timeline - All versions

Any minor league cards


Now, there is still a lot more out there beyond this list. I'm seeking all that too... but this is the stuff that is on my radar.

2008 Topps Heritage Chrome Refractor

DATA: 2008 Topps Heritage Chrome Refractor (C165)

PING: I cannot get enough of this card design! The scan certainly does not show it, but this is a great looking card in person. Numbered out of 559... you know... because it's special. Joey's looking like a badass, as always.

2008 Topps Heritage Autographed

DATA: 2008 Topps Heritage Autographed

ACQUIRED: TTM

PING: An autograph - from the man himself! I'm stoked, for real. I sent this card to Joey c/o the Reds in early September and received it back on Monday, October 20. A nice way to end a Monday, for sure. A big thanks to Mr. Votto. Hopefully this will be the first of a few more.

2008 Bowman Chrome Blue Refractor

DATA: 2008 Bowman Chrome Blue Refractor

PING: Purty card right here. 2008 Bowman Chrome Blue Refractor numbered out of 150.

2006 Bowman Relic Card

DATA: 2006 Bowman Relic Card

PING: A Bowman "1st Bowman Card" for Mr. Votto. Nice little relic from the jersey he wore in the 2006 Futures Game in Pittsburgh. He went 1 for 2 in the game.

2008 Topps Heritage T205 Series Mini

DATA: 2008 Topps Heritage T205 Series Mini

PING: Yah! Mini! I love the modern cards that are based on old tobacco cards. Love the mini card too. I guess it's just the novelty of it all. As Bay Rat North West said, Joey is looking like a silent movie star in this series.

2008 A Piece of History

DATA: 2008 A Piece of History

PING: Nice card right here. Not sure that I would collect any more of this set, but it's a good looking design. Nice to see Joey in a Reds uniform for this '08 Upper Deck release. One thing I would have done differently - take the "ROOKIE" copy off of either side of the card. That's junking it up just a little bit. The silver emboss on this card is making up for that a little bit - nice touch.

2008 Bowman Chrome Xfactor

DATA: 2008 Bowman Chrome Xfactor

PING: One word for this card: FLY. Absolutely FLY. Chrome Xfactor from Bowman. It's the only one I own... and the only I will ever need.

2008 Topps Trading Card History

DATA: 2008 Topps Trading Card History

PING: I have to say, I am a little disappointed in this card. The card stock is very thin and the finish is glossy - cheap glossy. I guess they are just fun insert cards, but it just doesn't do much for me - and I love the Allen & Ginter sets that Topps has been putting out the past few years. Maybe that's it - maybe if it were another design ('73 Topps!!) it would have been a little better. I still would have been bummed about the physical attributes of the card, but the design would be unexpected. Since Joey already has a good looking Allen & Ginter card this year, it would have been nice to see something different.

2007 Bowman Chrome

DATA: 2007 Bowman Chrome

PING: Not a bad card right here. Chrome: Check. Votto: Check. All looks good from here. Sit back and enjoy the shiny card... Well, enjoy it if it's in your hands. These pretty much never scan for shit, do they?