DATA: 2008 Upper Deck Timelines: ‘95 SP Premier Prospects Bronze (364)

ACQUIRED: From www.checkoutmycards.com

PING: With this card, I wrap up the entire set of Joey Votto cards in Upper Deck’s Timelines release from last year. Compared to the ‘95 in Silver, this is a bit of an upgrade. The photo is working well with whatever shiny technology Upper Deck is using on this. The blurred background (aka bokeh) really helps Joey pop off the card, letting the design settle into a secondary position. So, for Joey, a successful card. I’m not a fan of the bronze, but that’s okay, for the sake of nostalgia, it works.

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.

DATA: Upper Deck Timelines: ‘94 SP Premier Prospects (339)

ACQUIRED: In a fatty Timelines lot on the ‘bay

PING: Since I didn’t buy a single pack of baseball cards from ‘92-’04 and really nothing more than a pack or two until early in 2008, I missed a boatload of card designs. The way I figure, this product is aimed squarely at a collector like me who took a very long time off and has a recent renewed interest. The Upper Deck Timelines set catches collectors like me up with what happened. Those who have remained in the game will view these as classics and may an interest as well. In the end though, these are likely the only cards I will get from this set. I get my Votto card fix, and I get a design each from all of those available in the set. Plus, I get a good amount of fodder for ye ol’ vottoTRON.

Card review: kinda lame, actually. This card reeks of the mid-nineties design-wise. The one thing its got for it is the nostalgic factor, but beyond that, not much. At least not for me. Mr. Votto does his best to save the card. He always does. The fact that the card didn’t scan for crap isn’t helping its cause either.