Today's card is the 1954 Red Sox Team Issue #12 featuring Bill Henry. This is the first card in any sport showing a Cougar.
The last post of the countdown and I don't have an image for you. How anti-climactic. But here's a description so you can keep your eye out for it...
The cards are 6 1/2" x 9" and feature a photograph and a facsimile autograph. They are unnumbered and blank backed. Sounds more like just a photograph than a card, but I'd love to have one since it is the first Cougar card.
Showing posts with label Bill Henry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bill Henry. Show all posts
Friday, September 3, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
1959 Topps #46 Bill Henry
Bill Henry has been featured on this blog previously so I'm violating my goal of featuring players not shown before. Unfortunately there are only 2 players and 1 coach featured on cards in 1959 and all of them have been featured too.
Today's card is the 1959 Topps #46. Here's an interesting article on the 1959 set by someone who is much more of an expert than I am.
Looking at this card makes me wonder why someone would collect modern/current cards vs these vintage cards. The layout is much cleaner without all of the flash that in my opinion just distracts. It is a very solid posed photograph. Some modern sets like Stadium Club have nicer action photos, but many modern sets don't have better pictures than this one.
So it doesn't have chrome, refractors, foil, etc. Some people love these things, but I just think they're gimmicks. It doesn't have tons of variations that are identical except for the color of the border and the print run. It's not serial numbered, but if you're searching for a card in top quality condition like a new card is, they're probably as rare as most low numbered modern cards. But you also have the option of getting a more moderate condition card at a decent price which would be value suicide on a new card.
Finally if you REALLY want to search for a low print variation, you can look for the Topps card made for the Venezuelan market. These cards are very rare and next to impossible to find in a high quality condition.
To me, the biggest advantage of modern cards is we've seen the guys play. I never saw Billy Henry play, but someone like Michael Bourn I can see play every day. It's harder to develop an attachment to a player you've never seen play, but collectors do it every day. I'd bet very few collectors saw Babe Ruth play, but he still has new followers and collectors all the time.
Today's card is the 1959 Topps #46. Here's an interesting article on the 1959 set by someone who is much more of an expert than I am.
Looking at this card makes me wonder why someone would collect modern/current cards vs these vintage cards. The layout is much cleaner without all of the flash that in my opinion just distracts. It is a very solid posed photograph. Some modern sets like Stadium Club have nicer action photos, but many modern sets don't have better pictures than this one.
So it doesn't have chrome, refractors, foil, etc. Some people love these things, but I just think they're gimmicks. It doesn't have tons of variations that are identical except for the color of the border and the print run. It's not serial numbered, but if you're searching for a card in top quality condition like a new card is, they're probably as rare as most low numbered modern cards. But you also have the option of getting a more moderate condition card at a decent price which would be value suicide on a new card.
Finally if you REALLY want to search for a low print variation, you can look for the Topps card made for the Venezuelan market. These cards are very rare and next to impossible to find in a high quality condition.
To me, the biggest advantage of modern cards is we've seen the guys play. I never saw Billy Henry play, but someone like Michael Bourn I can see play every day. It's harder to develop an attachment to a player you've never seen play, but collectors do it every day. I'd bet very few collectors saw Babe Ruth play, but he still has new followers and collectors all the time.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
1968 Topps #239 Bill Henry
This is the last card released of Bill Henry while he was an active player.
What a classic looking set. The canvas border is beautiful and the colors are classic 1960s. The pose is funny like so many vintage poses are. He looks like he just completed a very awkward throw. I'd bet he never had a ball in his hand posing for this picture.
The back of the card is typical of 1960s cards: Basic player data, career statistics, and cartoon with a trivia question. Not creative, but solid and consistent.
This is a great vintage card that you can pick up for a couple of dollars. A Venezuelan variation is also available. The Venezuelan variation is very rare compared to the US release.
What a classic looking set. The canvas border is beautiful and the colors are classic 1960s. The pose is funny like so many vintage poses are. He looks like he just completed a very awkward throw. I'd bet he never had a ball in his hand posing for this picture.
The back of the card is typical of 1960s cards: Basic player data, career statistics, and cartoon with a trivia question. Not creative, but solid and consistent.
This is a great vintage card that you can pick up for a couple of dollars. A Venezuelan variation is also available. The Venezuelan variation is very rare compared to the US release.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
1955 Bowman #264 Bill Henry
Today's card is the 1955 Bowman #264. This is Bill Henry's rookie card. It is also the first mainstream trading card featuring a University of Houston player.
This is an interesting card that would fit in with the gimmicky designs of today. The card is designed to look like an old school color television screen complete with screen border and fine wood grain cabinet.
I find it very funny that the card has the words "Color TV" in the border. I guess Bowman didn't think that color TVs were prevalent enough that buyers would recognize the design.
This is an interesting card that would fit in with the gimmicky designs of today. The card is designed to look like an old school color television screen complete with screen border and fine wood grain cabinet.
I find it very funny that the card has the words "Color TV" in the border. I guess Bowman didn't think that color TVs were prevalent enough that buyers would recognize the design.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
1960 Topps #524 Bill Henry
Baseball season has begun, so let's look at a card from a Cougar ballplayer. But this isn't just any Cougar, this is the first Coog to make the major leagues, Bill Henry.
Bill Henry played for UH's first baseball team in 1947, but he only played one season. He played 16 years in the majors as a pitcher, primarily as a reliever. In 1960, he made the National League All Star team. In 1962, he pitched in two World Series games. Click here for career stats.
That's interesting enough, but there are some odd stories related to Bill Henry. First, is the story of how he was scouted for the pros. The story goes that he made all-state in high school as a basketball player, but his school didn't have a baseball team. He was signed after a scout saw him pitch in a fast-pitch softball league. That's a great story, but I'm curious how pitching at UH fits into that timeline.
The wilder story is the premature report of his death. Evidently another person named Bill Henry had been pretending to be the baseball player for decades, fooling even his wife. Upon his death, it was reported that he died to the great surprise of the real Bill Henry and his family. UH's Bill Henry is still alive and well, but here are a couple of stories about his fake death:
Major League Fake
Untimely Death
Today's card is the 1960 Topps #524. This is not his rookie card (1955 Bowman) and it doesn't mention UH like his 1961 Topps card, but I love the look of this card. The front has a head shot with a stadium backgroun and an "action" shot with a yellow background. The back contains season and career stats as well as season highlights.
Bill Henry played for UH's first baseball team in 1947, but he only played one season. He played 16 years in the majors as a pitcher, primarily as a reliever. In 1960, he made the National League All Star team. In 1962, he pitched in two World Series games. Click here for career stats.
That's interesting enough, but there are some odd stories related to Bill Henry. First, is the story of how he was scouted for the pros. The story goes that he made all-state in high school as a basketball player, but his school didn't have a baseball team. He was signed after a scout saw him pitch in a fast-pitch softball league. That's a great story, but I'm curious how pitching at UH fits into that timeline.
The wilder story is the premature report of his death. Evidently another person named Bill Henry had been pretending to be the baseball player for decades, fooling even his wife. Upon his death, it was reported that he died to the great surprise of the real Bill Henry and his family. UH's Bill Henry is still alive and well, but here are a couple of stories about his fake death:
Major League Fake
Untimely Death
Today's card is the 1960 Topps #524. This is not his rookie card (1955 Bowman) and it doesn't mention UH like his 1961 Topps card, but I love the look of this card. The front has a head shot with a stadium backgroun and an "action" shot with a yellow background. The back contains season and career stats as well as season highlights.
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