vottoTRON

2008 Topps Allen & Ginter Mini

2009-01-03T09:19:00.001-05:00

DATA: 2008 Topps Allen & Ginter Mini (#129)

ACQUIRED: Trade from JayBee

PING: This A&G Mini comes courtesy of friendly card blogger and Cubs fan, JayBee. He's hooked me up in the past as well. A couple of Redsfest cards went his way for his generosity.

Ah, the Allen and Ginter mini. It's a beaut, eh? There is just something fun about these little modern day tobacco cards. Maybe it's the same reason why people love Baby Ruth minis or the Mini Cooper. Small is fun. The A&G happens to be the regular back, just fyi.

2002 Topps T206

2008-12-29T09:19:00.002-05:00

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.

2008 Upper Deck Spectrum

2008-12-24T09:03:00.000-05:00

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.

2006 Bowman Chrome Xfractor

2008-12-19T09:19:00.002-05:00

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.

2008 Topps Redsfest

2008-12-18T09:19:00.004-05:00

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.

2008 Upper Deck Premier Silver

2008-12-17T09:19:00.004-05:00

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.

2007 Bowman Sterling Refractor

2008-12-16T09:19:00.001-05:00

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.

2008 Upper Deck Premier Gold

2008-12-15T09:19:00.000-05:00

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.

2006 Bowman Chrome Gold

2008-12-12T09:19:00.000-05:00

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.

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

2008-12-11T09:19:00.000-05:00

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.

Upper Deck Timelines: '93 SP

2008-12-10T09:19:00.001-05:00

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'.

Upper Deck Timelines: Base

2008-12-09T09:19:00.001-05:00

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.

Upper Deck Timelines: '94 All-Time Heroes

2008-12-08T09:19:00.002-05:00

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.

Upper Deck Timelines: '95 SP Minors

2008-12-06T09:19:00.001-05:00

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.

Upper Deck Timelines: '04 Timeless Team

2008-12-05T09:19:00.002-05:00

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...

Upper Deck Timelines: '92 Minors

2008-12-04T09:19:00.000-05:00

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.

Upper Deck Timelines: '94 SP Premier Prospects

2008-12-03T20:57:00.004-05:00

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.

2007 Bowman Gold

2008-12-02T09:19:00.001-05:00

DATA: 2007 Bowman Gold (BDPP98)

ACQUIRED: Moeller Card Show, 2008

PING: Welcome to the Parallel City, where the grass is green and the girls are pretty! The gold version of the 2007 Bowman Joey Votto.

2008 Bowman Draft Pick & Updates

2008-12-01T09:19:00.003-05:00

DATA: 2008 Bowman Draft Pick & Updates (BDP9)

ACQUIRED: Moeller Card Show, 2008

PING: What the hell, Bowman? Tell me why you produced a Joey Votto card for this set. He's not a Draft Pick, nor have you done anything based off an update or even a highlight. Whatever. Like I said, it's cards like these that keep this website tickin'.

I do love the patience at the plate shown in this photo. Joey is just messin' with the pitcher right here - taking a quick time out to tweak with his game. It's guaranteed that Votto stroked the next pitch.

2008 Topps Opening Day

2008-11-30T09:19:00.004-05:00

DATA: 2008 Topps Opening Day (218)

ACQUIRED: Moeller Card Show, 2008

PING: See what I mean about repetitive? No biggie though, parallels like these are what keeps vottoTRON tickin'.

The best thing about Topps Opening Day this year? The cards are red. Nuge.

2008 Topps

2008-11-29T09:19:00.004-05:00

DATA: 2008 Topps (319)

ACQUIRED: Moeller Card Show, 2008

PING: Ah, the good ol' Topps rookie base card. Can't believe it's taken me this long to come up with one. No problem though, I knew it would come. Nothing too special about this card. Topps used the same photo on all it's paralells, so they kinda look cool when put all together in a binder. But, at the same time, it's pretty repetitive (obviously) and you really enjoy seeing the new stuff. Now that all the highlights and update sets are coming out, we finally get to see Joey out of the spring training duds and into the nice, crisp Reds regular season unis.

2002 Bowman Draft Picks

2008-11-28T16:45:00.005-05:00

DATA: 2002 Bowman Draft Picks (BDP44)

ACQUIRED: Moeller Card Show, 2008

PING: Ah, the actual Joey Votto rookie card. Finally have one. Probably overpaid a little bit at $4, but after a poke around eBay, I couldn't have done too much better after shipping. It feels good to have the Votto card that started it all - even has Joey listed as a catcher on the back. Speaking of the back of the card, this may be the only photo of Joey on a baseball card Joey where he cracks a smile. Check the photo to the right to see what I am talking about. He's dead serious in all the rest of his cards. I love it. Click here for a look at the full version of the back.

Also, why does this card have to be so damn ugly? For real, this is not a great design at all. Come to think of it though... it's pretty Tron-like... maybe I will grow to like it. Either way, it's in the collection now, where it will stay.

2008 Topps Updates & Highlights Gold

2008-11-19T09:19:00.003-05:00

DATA: 2008 Topps Updates & Highlights Gold (UH185)

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

2008-11-18T09:19:00.003-05:00

DATA: 2008 Topps Heritage T205 (TCP6)

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

2008-11-17T09:19:00.002-05:00

DATA: 2008 Topps National Baseball Card Day (7)

ACQUIRED: At the Big Red Machine Reunion

PING: Coming soon...