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The best Dodger card for every year I've collected, 2022 update

 
This is a bit embarrassing, but as I was getting prepared to write this post about having completed the 2022 Topps flagship team set for the Dodgers, I discovered I haven't completed it.

Somehow, I'm missing the Mookie Betts card. It's been checked off on TCDB. It's been erased from my blog want list. But it isn't physically here. That probably means I did something stupid like traded it or gave it away when I thought I had an extra.

So, yeah, I need a 2022 flagship Mookie card. Anybody have an extra? (EDIT, 2:49 PM Sept. 28: Found it! Misfiled in my binder).

There's no going back on the post though. This was supposed to be a quick-and-easy one because I have no time and now that's blown up in my face. So, with the Opening Day Betts as a substitute, here are the flagship Dodgers:


The team set is just 22 cards this year, after 31 last year. Even taking away the extra four World Series cards from last year, 2022 is still on the small side.

Now, let's take a look at some runners-up for the best Dodger card for 2022.


It's nice that Topps finally got Kenley Jansen's exaggerated wind-up onto a card, although it arrived after he had left the team. This is probably a two-outs-in-the-ninth-inning situation as everybody is standing in the background.
 


A couple of notable short-timers. It's always fun to get cards of future Hall of Famers who won't be remembered as Dodgers.



I debated making this the top card, and I'm sure many Dodgers fans would. Nothing wrong with it at all, what's wrong with eliminating the Cardinals? But sometimes selecting the celebratory shot is a bit too easy.
 


This is my best Dodger card for 2022 Topps. A nice, gentle bat-flip from Max Muncy. It's probably after receiving a walk. He takes more walks than anyone I've seen not named Barry Bonds.

This is the second bat-flip card to be named the best Dodger card by me, after the 2013 Hanley Ramirez. Here's a look again at my favorite Dodger card for each year since I started collecting in 1975:















































All right, I forgot how time-consuming posting those one-by-one is. Next year I'll just take a pic of them all together.

As I mentioned in the comments last year, I have done this for many years, long before the blog started, and I've stuck with only Topps just because there was no other company making cards for the first six years I collected.
 
Not the most exciting crop of pictures for 2022. ... Oh, and sometimes-major-leaguer Justin Bruihl is at the top of this post because I THOUGHT it was the last card I needed to complete the team set.
 
Oh to be as young-and-innocent as 45 minutes ago.

Comments

I'm certain I have an extra Mookie. When I get back home I'll pull it.
Grant said…
Neat cards, '79 and '81 seem dull though.
night owl said…
'79 and '81 were both notable rookies at the time. ... You had to be there.
Crh614 said…
Speaking of shor timers not associated with the Dodgers (though not a HOFer) I dont remember ever knowing the Ventura was a Dodger!

Also, as neither a Dodger fan, nor a Pujols collector, i did keep a 2021 Heritage of him in the Dodgers uni because its a fun one...
Old Cards said…
There is something so satisfying about seeing a sample of each year's card lined up. Seeing the same player for each year is neat too (not a hint). Topps just has that stabilizing effect with its lengthy history. I know you will never get that 45 minutes back, but it makes a very enjoyable post!
Fuji said…
I like the Muncy bat toss... and the Bruihl too. This is a cool tradition. If I ever get my crap together, maybe I'll one day try this with the A's.
John Bateman said…
I noticed a horizontal bias as we get older.
steelehere said…
Good post. Lots of names that I don’t think about much as Dodgers in this post.
Nick Vossbrink said…
If I ever finish an unbroken run of Topps cards for the GIants (still missing some cards from the 2000s sets) I might have to steal this idea. Might even be able to go back to 1973 by that point.
Mike Matson said…
I know probably from the mid 90s to now I have holes in my Topps Jays.. But this is still an interesting idea..
Matt said…
Muncy would be my pick as well. It almost looks like he's using the Force to levitate the bat...
Jafronius said…
A group shot doesn't sound as interesting to see than the individual cards. Always a fun post!