Legends of cardboard: Josh Harrison

(An update on the 5,000-card, 5,000-post giveaway: I just sent out package No. 14 of the 20. Package 15 is waiting for another post-office trip. No. 16 is waiting for packaging. No. 17 is being selected.)

 

It's not the same selecting a modern-day player as a Legend Of Cardboard as picking someone whose career has already passed.

First, there are so many cards made of players today that the chances of having several run-of-the-mill cards is 100 percent. After all, Heritage and Gypsy Queen and Allen & Ginter exist, and even stuff like Fire and Gallery is likely not going to produce a Legend-quality photo of the subject. This is not a case for oldsters like Bob Didier, where he has just four major-release solo cards and all but one is fantastic.

Second, one of the main themes of these posts is that the eligible players aren't necessarily well-known for their on-field skills. They are not the "Shoebox Legends" under those old stereotypes, the Aarons and Mays and Mantles. In fact, Legends of Cardboard are players who likely have been forgotten but still have exceptional cardboard. But in these days of all access to every MLB game at all times, with people chatting about them non-stop and everyone so invested, the possibility of a modern player slipping under the radar is nil.

But I am pressing forward with a current player and I think he qualifies.

My reasons:

1. He has played on oft-ignored teams his whole career: the Pirates, Tigers, Nationals after everyone stopped caring about them, and Athletics. The only exception would be his current team, the White Sox, and he's not even 40 games into that stay.

 

2. His 2019 Topps cards.

That is what cemented my decision. His 2019 run was pretty cool.

 

First, this flagship card of Legend of Cardboard Josh Harrison. Dirt flying will always get my attention. Base-running shots will always get my attention. I've said many times that there aren't enough of them.

Then Harrison signs as a free agent with the Tigers (actually he signed with them before the flagship card came out so it was out of date when it arrived in packs). Topps scrambles to get him in the Update set. And here you go:

I think that might be even cooler than the flagship card (yeah, I know, how can anything be cooler than a '70s Pirates uniform?).

That seals it right? He's a Legend Of Cardboard.

But Harrison wasn't finished, neither was 2019 Update.

Woooo! Flying Ballplayer! A Tim Anderson cameo! Harrison has fielding moves, too!

Harrison was on the move again, signing as a free agent with the Phillies for 2020. Topps managed to get him into a couple of Phillies cards, although he never played for them.

 

Photoshop action right there. What the heck is that hat on his head? A holdover from his Pittsburgh days?

Topps recovers nicely though for its 2021 set. Harrison has switched teams yet again, this time playing for the Nationals -- really playing for them, too.

We're back to dirt flying!! Plus an added bonus -- helmet flying! Yay! Harrison looks fierce, too, like he's really mad at that base.

Harrison has that knack for great cardboard and although there are plenty of static A&G shots of him, it was pretty evident early on that he'd be something special to collectors.

This is his major-release debut in 2012 Update, a nice celebration shot.

This is his Topps flagship debut and we're getting some great base-running action right away!

We've got something cool from the plate, too, although I think Harrison's merely picking up the bat and saluting a teammate rounding the bases.

 

Harrison's reputation as a top-rate utilityman even led to his inclusion in one of the better Topps inserts of the last few years, everyday players taking the mound.

Heck, even his non-action cards are pretty good. Right there in the dugout, he knows he's a star! Harrison flashes a great smile on several of his cards.

 

And you can't blame Harrison if Topps is going to sabotage a good photo with its dumb design.

So, yeah, I'm throwing Josh Harrison in as a Legend Of Cardboard. Sure, he's still out there on the field. He has a chance of blowing up by hitting a cycle in five straight games or turning an unassisted triple play. But for now -- unless you're a fan of one of those teams -- he's a player that I often forget is still in the league.

Until I see his new baseball card and I think, "he really has some great cards."