Cardboard appreciation: the championship

We have reached the end. The pairing is set for the Cardboard Appreciation Vote-Off Finale.

You can feel the excitement in the air. The tension. The anticipation. The heart palpitations. The numbness down the left side of your body. The crushing feeling in your ... Oh, wait, that's a heart attack. Wrong kind of excitement.

In a rousing all-1975 semifinal, Oscar Gamble held off Herb Washington and Boog Powell to claim the spot in the finals. It was interesting to see the voting. Powell jumped out to an early lead, then faded. Washington was steady throughout, made a brief run, but just couldn't catch Gamble, who led the whole way after eclipsing Powell.

Here is the vote tally:

1. Oscar Gamble, 1975 Topps: 21 votes
2. Herb Washington, 1975 Topps: 15 votes
3. Boog Powell, 1975 Topps: 11 votes

That was a close one.

Will the final be as close as the last semifinal? I'm not sure. As you may recall, this is the other finalist:

I'm not betting against the 1991 Carlton Fisk card.

Just to give you a little more to look at before you make your all-important vote, here are the pros and cons of each card:

1975 Topps Oscar Gamble

Pros:

1. It's from the 1975 set, the best set of all-time
2. The glorious Afro doubling as a set of Mickey Mouse ears
3. The old-style Cleveland "C" on his cap
4. The fact that his mustache is so awesome, but you barely notice it because of the hair.
5. His name. How can I forget his name? Oscar. Gamble. That's a great one.

Cons:

1. There might be a better Oscar Gamble card, which is also a potential future Cardboard Appreciation subject
2. Some people think the '75 set is too loud. I don't associate with such people, but they're out there.
3. The card might be a bit, shall-we-say, dated for some younger collectors. To some, 1997 is old-school. So it may be tough to relate to this card.
4. Gamble played for the Yankees. You can't underestimate this reason. You know what I say: If you see an opportunity to vote against the Yankees, take it.
5. Gamble willingly wore that mid-1970s White Sox uniform. Fortunately, he arrived in Chicago a year after the team scrapped those horrible shorts.

1991 Topps Carlton Fisk

Pros:

1. Action! In one of the most actioniest action sets that Topps ever produced, this card could be the most actioniest of all.
2. Big Daddy's large behind. Could this be the real source of all of Prince's rage against his father? This card brings up an important psychological point.
3. The yellow police-tape railings of old Comiskey Park. Those, and the Tiger flagging down Fielder make the whole card for me.
4. It's a horizontal card. Have I mentioned that I want to see an entire set of horizontal cards sometime soon? I have? Have I mentioned it this week?
5. Carlton Fisk once slugged Lou Piniella.

Cons:

1. The design of the '91 cards is fairly dull. I know that was my reaction to it when the '91 cards first came out. It certainly can't compare to the '75 set.
2. Fisk is almost a secondary player in the photo. I don't like it when it's difficult to figure out who the main guy is.
3. Big Daddy's large behind. Yes, it is a pro and a con. Different strokes for different folks.
4. It's not vintage enough: 1991 was not even 20 years ago. "Old" is impressive in the card world. 1991 t'aint old.
5. Fisk leaving Boston was a sad moment for me. In a way, I'm still not over it.

Perhaps that made your decision even more difficult. Sorry. That wasn't the intent.

The poll has made its way to the sidebar. Amble on over there and cast a ballot. Around this time next week, we will have a Cardboard Appreciation Champeen. As for that other championship going on this week: Give me a couple days and I will have forgotten who college football's national champion is.