One thing I've found I like is variation cards. They're fun, and they're rare. I especially like this Spud Webb variation from 2013 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions. It doesn't just feature Spud Webb; Muggsy Bogues makes an appearance too! Both players were famous for making their way in the NBA despite their height. Webb is 5' 7" and Bogues is 5' 3". The variation cards in the set are expanded horizontal versions of the regular base cards, as you can see from the base card below. I was never much good at basketball, but guys like these two showed that you didn't have to be well over 6' tall to be successful at the pro level.
This is one of the more famous photos of Muggsy Bogues, in which he is standing next to the tallest NBA player, Manute Bol, who was 7' 7". Unfortunately, Bol died in June 2010 due to an aggressive skin condition. After his basketball career, he was famous for using his wealth and NBA name recognition to help the people of his native Sudan. He is tied with my 2nd-favorite player, Romanian Gheorghe Muresan, for the record of tallest NBA player. I may just start a Manute Bol player collection. It probably wouldn't take much to collect most of his mainstream issues.
Here is another variation, a 2012 Topps Update David Wright card. But I didn't get it for David Wright, I got it for the guy standing next to him, R.A. Dickey. It's a pretty good card of a couple of teammates enjoying the All-Star game, and it came a lot cheaper than the $20-$25 folks on eBay are asking for Dickey's 2013 Opening Day press conference variation card.
These are a couple of good additions to my player collections, and they're a lot of fun to collect. Variations are a good way for the card companies to make the base cards more interesting, although I like base cards plenty anyway. Contrary to what the internet would have you believe, the base cards are more than just a vehicle for delivering hits.
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