Cal Ripken Jr. documents Archives print card process
By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor
When 2012 Topps Archives arrives in hobby shops on Wednesday, some collectors will start getting their hands on a unique card that someone else already laid a hand on.
Cal Ripken Jr. to be exact.
As one of the inclusions in the multi-decade, multi-design throwback set, there will be 100 Touched By Greatness autograph cards that feature a signature from baseball’s ironman as well as an inked hand print from a Franklin batting glove that Ripken wore to do his “other inking.”
Ironclad Authentics was, well, on-hand to document the process. Check it out in a video after the jump.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ApoHlYwEKc[/youtube]
(Need a Cal Ripken Jr. checklist or OPG? Click here.)
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
those are pretty cool. is there gonna be a retail version of the topps archives????
Yes, Archives will be found at retail.
thats a great top loader
Cool idea … but I’m actually much less interested now that I know the ink is from a batting glove and not his actual hand.
This guy is the real deal…stood outside the bus at JFK after a Exhibition game back in the 80’s and signed everyone’s stuff (my boy’s glove) and was a gentleman. No other O stepped off that bus to do anything, and Ripkin stayed until forever. I will never forget that. I’m 5’10, and it’s nice to know that heroes come in regular six foot versions. Class all the way. I also think it’s cool in the video that his Dad is on the portrait behind his desk…his ego wall is about his Dad.
I though it was his actual hand too by still a great insert I would have not problem pulling. This product is loaded. They have added many more baseball contracts as box toppers that are not on the sell sheet.
Agree with Zotster about it not being his actual hand, BUT like anything else in this world, not everything can be original anymore. Some IDIOT would use his actual handprint to MURDER someone or do something ILLEGAL, then Cal would be getting arrested all across the country!!!
Cory: The contracts are case-toppers, not box-toppers.
come on guys that looks nothing like a hand print to begin with, and so what its Ripken Jr. thats one of the coolest things ihave seen in a while
I really think this will be a good product but why is it that those of us who can only shlep out a few bucks for a box are 2nd to the case breakers. Seems that a redenmption for 1 or 2 to the rest of us would be in order.SO the hobby shops and the high rollers get rewarded- this sucks but…. still gotta chance on the Ripken,
Can we get plaster casts of their heads please. Signed.