DATA: 2002 Topps T206

ACQUIRED: ‘Bay

PING: I love the retro card designs, but at the full standard card size, this one falls a little flat for me. I have yet to get a hold of one, but I’m sure the mini tobacco card sized version of the T206 will be a little more successful. The photo is the same as the one used on his Bowman rookie, also from 2002.

DATA: 2008 Upper Deck Spectrum (123)

ACQUIRED: ‘bay

PING: What in the heck is Upper Deck Spectrum? I tell you what, there are way too many card brands/types to choose from. Funny thing – this scan looks nothing like the card. Instead of gold color, it’s really silver. Though the autograph looks to be on the card, it’s actually a sticker.

DATA: 2006 Bowman Chrome Xfractor (FG8)

ACQUIRED: ‘bay

PING: Shiny! Shiny! Shiny! You love it. Numbered out of 299, this card is bringing the brilliance. Don’t let it blind you while browsing vottoTRON.

DATA: 2008 Topps Redsfest

ACQUIRED: Redsfest XI (2008)

PING: This card was given away free at Redsfest this year as part of a promotion with Topps. It’s the basic 2008 Topps design on inexpensive card stock. The back includes 2008 stats and some some fun Q&A with the players. Other players in the Redsfest set include Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips, Aaron Harang, Chris Dickerson, Bronson Arroyo, Jeff Keppinger and Ryan Freel. There is also a fold-out binder to collect them in (photo).

Not the best photo of Joey on this card, but it’s a fun giveaway from the Reds… so it’s all good to me.

DATA: 2008 Upper Deck Premier Rookie Signatures – Silver (241)

ACQUIRED: ‘bay

PING: The silver embossed version of the 2008 Upper Deck Premier Rookie Signatures card. Nice lookin’ card numbered out of 299. The autograph is on a sticker instead of the card, but I’ll take it.

DATA: 2007 Bowman Sterling Refractor (BSP • JV)

ACQUIRED: ‘bay

PING: Ah yeah… great card right here. A sweet horizontal layout with a dual relic and autograph combination. Very nice card design with a great chrome finish – all ruined by the scan. Ah well… that’s what you get with scanning chrome cards, right? Bowman Sterling is a bit audacious design-wise, but it’s fun. That’s what it’s all about, right? Numbered out of 199, if you’re keeping tabs.

DATA: 2008 Upper Deck Premier Rookie Signatures Gold

ACQUIRED: ‘bay

PING: Finally found one of these at a decent price. These are nice looking cards in person, honestly. What I don’t get on these are the parallels. I do love some variation on the same card, but these are just too similar to justify picking up more than one or two. This card is numbered out of 99. I picked up another one at a great price that is numbered out of /299. The difference between the cards is minimal – slight background color variation and silver foil embossing instead of gold (above). I believe there’s another variation to this set out there – grey/charcoal maybe? Not sure what those are numbered out of. Unless one falls in my lap, I think I’m done with these. That said, the other one is coming soon.

Oh, and it’s always nice to have an autograph – even if it is on a sticker.

DATA: 2006 Bowman Chrome Gold (FG8)

ACQUIRED: ‘bay

PING: This card right here is NUCLEAR Chrome. How about that scan? Retina burning, huh? You love it though, don’t you? Yeah, I know you do. This sucka is numbered 31/50… so it’s a little on the rare side. Just the way I like it.

DATA: Upper Deck Timelines: ‘94 All-Time Heroes 20th Anniversary

ACQUIRED: ‘bayTRON

PING: Same card as the other ‘94 All-Time Heros care, but this one has the Gold 20th Anniversary embossing on it. Rad. Should have embossed that floating head instead.

DATA: Upper Deck Timelines: ‘93 SP (314)

ACQUIRED: ‘bayTOWN

PING: The scan is not doing this card much justice. It’s a decent looking card. Minimal design, but the shiney is what gives it some punch. This card design was first issued before chrome was big, I believe, so these must have been pretty fly back in the day. The background is black and white with a knock-out of Joey jumping off of it. Good looking photo… it must have been taken right BEFORE the photo they used in Joey’s 2008 SP Authentic card. Just sayin’.

DATA: Upper Deck Timelines: Base (84)

ACQUIRED: ‘bay

PING: Really, this is a nice looking card. An entire set of just this design would get old quick, but in context with all the other designs in this set, I think it works really well. The strong block type face couple with the silver embossing is working well for this design. Looks like Joey sliced a slider down the line for a single in this photo.

DATA: Upper Deck Timelines: ‘94 All-Time Heroes (177)

ACQUIRED: ‘bay

PING: The floating head is killing me. It’s so bad that it’s good. The black and white is nice though – a pleasant change from all the other cards out there. This is what make Upper Deck Timelines a fun set to collect for a player collector.

DATA: Upper Deck Timelines: ‘95 SP Minors (119)

ACQUIRED: lot of Timelines from the ‘bay

PING: Well, the die cut IS kinda fun on this card. Upper Deck was starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel on photos with this one. Joey is looking a little confused like… “Did I just steal a base? What?” That’s okay though, we all have those moments. As for the card design, it’s hard for me to have love for anything that was produced in the mid-to-late nineties.

DATA: 2008 Upper Deck Timelines: ‘04 Timeless Team (237)

ACQUIRED: in a vottoLOAD of cards from the ‘bay

PING: You know what, this is not a bad lookin’ card. Nice silver embossing, good photo. Not sure I am lovin’ the honkin’ “2008″ on the card, but I guess that has something to do with the “Timeless” theme. I do think it’s cool that they have Joey’s number, 19, on the card. You don’t see that too much in any card design. Nice touch.

Now, the issue I do have is with those damn camouflage jerseys. Ugh. I actually think I was at that game – and they are not much better looking in person. The interesting thing is, Joey was rocking the full-calf-stirrup look that day. I don’t think he did that much during the season. Guess he was feelin’ saucy that day and tried something new. Might as well if you have to wear those ugly-ass camo things. I digress…

DATA: Upper Deck Timelines: ‘92 Minors

ACQUIRED: A nice lot of Timelines on the ‘bay

PING: Now, this is what I am talking about. I don’t really remember this Upper Deck set, but it’s that old tried and true UD design from the early ’90s. Crisp white border, good photography… just solid. Mr. Votto looks like he just picked up a bunt down the 1st base line and is about the gun down the runner. It was a good bunt, so he didn’t have a chance at the guy at second. That happens sometimes. I will have to get on Joey a little for not gripping the ball across the seams, though. Tisk, tisk.