Collecting USA: 50 cards, 50 states … it’s your turn to choose who’s the most-collectable
It seemed like a simple idea — pick a sports card that is symbolic for each of the 50 states, a star who is known as the best of the best for that area when it comes to collecting.
It turned out to be a bigger challenge than I thought. Do you choose who is most collectable? Most memorable? Who comes to mind first? You know, it’s pretty hard picking cardboard icons.
Take Alabama, for example. Do you pick a coaching icon who still defines plenty in the football-crazed state — a Paul “Bear” Bryant? Or do you pick his modern-day equivalent in Nick Saban? Or do you pick one of the Crimson Tide’s star players — a list that includes a who’s who of NFL greats such as Joe Namath, Bart Starr, Ken Stabler, Ozzie Newsome, Don Hutson, John Hannah, Dwight Stephenson, Cornelius Bennett, Derrick Thomas, Shaun Alexander … and that’s just pre-Saban. (And that’s just the Crimson Tide.) Or, do you look at Bo Jackson or Frank Thomas at Auburn? Or maybe Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Satchel Paige and many others who don’t have school ties — but are all-time greats and from the state?
For the next Beckett Sports Card Monthly, The Collecting USA Issue, we’ll present our picks for a card representing every state. But, for now, it’s your turn to choose right here — pick from the greatest (focus on sports with cardboard) athletes with ties to each of the 50 states.
Picking a cool or memorable card after you pick a player? Well, that’s another story.
Make your picks and be sure to add any comments you may have below.
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I hate to be that guy, but the Royals are in Mizzouri, not Kansas.
For the most part, they were on both lists. It’s now fixed.
I think Wisconsin was actually the hardest one for me, pretty cool survey
Try thinking of the best anything from California and New York isn’t fair, too many greatest. Should do just the player’s college attended state survey. I’ll like to see best Texas or California college player of all-time. OJ for California and Texas is too tough, too many good football and basketball, and maybe a college baseball player too.
I know it’s impossible to include all the potential candidates on a list like this, but here’s some other thoughts for Connecticut, where I’m from:
Joey Logano
Mo Vaughn
Marcus Camby
Willie Pep (boxer)
Brian Leetch
Walt Dropo
Joan Joyce (softball legend)
Kristine Lilly
Ray Allen
Plus, former Hartford Whalers players: Ron Francis, Gordie Howe & more
Honestly, I don’t think I could pick … but for long-term lasting impact, I’d have to go with Jim Calhoun and his first card, from the 1990 Star Pics draft set, identifying him as the “Coach of the Year” after what is still know in these parts as UConn’s “Dream Season,” when it came out of nowhere to make a dramatic run into the NCAA’s Elite 8. UConn has been a big name in college basketball ever since.
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/JIM-CALHOUN-1990-Star-Pics-40-UCONN-/23/!BkRJVcQ!mk~$%28KGrHqMH-D0Es-TW%29p51BLW3Ivf5c!~~_12.JPG
Seriously, some run of the mill basketball player in Carlos Boozer is leading for Alaska versus a Calder Trophy (NHL ROY) and 2 time Stanley Cup Champion Scott Gomez. And I’m saying this as a Buffalo Sabres fan, I hate Gomez for running Ryan Miller a few years back!
Bonds on California and Arizona?
Bonds is from California and did big damage in MLB while with the Giants. He went to college in Arizona, playing for Arizona State.
Mike: College has little bearing on some sports’ biggest names — particularly baseball.
For Oklahoma, the top names are probably correct. Even though we don’t have a ton of history, Kevin Durant and maybe even Russell Westbrook should probably be on there as well.
I’d have put the Big Unit on Arizona not Seattle. 3 Cy Youngs and a World Series title for the D-backs, 1 and none for the Mariners.
Too many players appear in duplicate states. Hank Aaron shows up in three. I know the Braves moved during his career, but it screws things up to have the same guys appear again and again. Also, no Curt Shilling in Alaska?
I would have rather seen players listed only once by the home state, but otherwise cool survey.