Rookie Card Fever

Today we visit
1999 Topps Traded Autograph No. T51

This card is a good card.
Austin has that look of uncertainty as if he were a verrrry late round pick like Mike Piazza. But he should not. He was a first rounder. The bright, suuny sky behind him. The green grass of the outfield. The cool sand of the warning track? Why is he facing the outfield wall instead of trying to hit it over?
The overall Topps design on this one is good, not great. A crisp clean posed photo. Fresh looking practice jersey and cap. No goofy grin. Minimal add ons on front. Easy to tell who the player is. Actual on card autograph. And thanks to Mr. Kearns, a good looking signature you can actually read. But why he never adds an s to the end I do not know.

Card 2

USA! USA! USA!

Today's card is 2003 Upper Deck National Pride.
Card NP-AK w/ game worn jersey swatch from Team USA.



This card is part of an insert set in 2003 Upper Deck. The front lacks imagination and is a little plain.
Red faded to White to Blue? …Check
Clip art eagle in background? …Check
Bad font for insert name? …Check
Mediocre photo of Austin? …Check
Photo of Austin in Team USA uni? …Nope
Large swatch of jersey? …Check
Only difference between front and back is no jersey? …Check

Upper Deck really dropped the ball on this one. It looks like they gave it to a first week community college graphics student to design. I should know. I was one once.

What did Upper Deck mean when they say on back "We hope you enjoy this piece of baseball history as we at The Upper Deck Company continue to keep you as close as you can get."? They mention only that Austin was on Team USA. Nothing about when or what happened. No photo of him on Team USA. No Team USA stats. How is this getting me closer to the game?
And these guys were licensed by USA Basball to make this set. Couldn't find and intern to find some facts or photos?
I am not looking for full bio and careere stats. How about a Austin hit Game Winning Homer against Finland on 00 / 00 / 00.
Overall the design of the card is a diappointment but I am glad to have a peice of Team USA jersey on a card.

Card 1

Let's start off with a card I enjoy.
2003 Topps Autograph TA-AK
I am not sure if this is the 1st Series or 2nd Series auto card. But who cares? This card has greatness all over it.



Cool looking faded background? …Check
Silver Foil printing? …Check
On Card Auto? …Check
Clear, Crisp Auto? …Check
Classic pose? …Check
Goofy "I'm on a card and you're not" grin? …Check
Santa Claus stuffed pants on? …Check
Sunglasses on the wrong side of the hat brim? …Check
Hot dog neck rolls? …Check
Neil Chrisley 1958 Topps ears? …Check
Absoulutly nothing of intrest on the back? …Check

This card epitimizes what makes collecting Austin Kearns fun. He seems like a guy you would belly up to the bar with and debate if Tito Ortiz really was cheated in his first fight with Chuck Liddell. The answer is no, but he would say yes just to agravate you and flash that I'm on a card and you're not grin. And that's why I like the guy. He's my buddy Johnny. Only a pro ball player. How can you root against this card? Unless you're a Braves fan.

Kearns Kards welcomes you

This is a site I have decided to start to let people who enjoy Austin Kearns see different cards. I have been working on the collection off and on for about 2 years now. As a Reds fan, I chose Kearns because of his potential and ease of obtainig his cards. It's even easier now that he is with the Nationals.