The new king: today

This is the first card -- in my collection anyway -- that pairs up Clayton Kershaw and Sandy Koufax. It's from 2012 Archives. It's not a great card, but significant, as people on a national level were starting to see the Kershaw-Koufax similarities after Kershaw's phenomenal Triple Crown season in 2011.

Tonight, Kershaw is facing the Atlanta Braves. It might be the biggest mismatch of the season, given Kershaw's roll and the Braves' moribund offense. But you know that as soon as a large segment of fans and pundits expect something to happen, that's when it won't happen. Baseball's tricky like that. So, let's see how it all turns out instead.

OK, nobody's really interested in seeing my Kershaw cards (you'd rather see people argue in public. I'm wise to you, internet. It's not an attractive side of you). But this blog writer is interested in seeing my Kershaw cards. And he always seems to win.

Here are Kershaw cards from "today":

2012 Topps Archives, 1967-style sticker

Technically not a card, but you can't tell me that, because I ain't sticking it. You know you've made it when they put your bodyless head on a piece of paper and sell it to the masses.

2012 Topps Triple Threads Relic

This is the card that amuses me in this segment. I think when I get sick of collecting as I do it now, maybe I'll just become a Triple Threads collector and bask in the ludicrousness of it all. By the way, I correct my earlier statement about what I thought was my most exclusive Kershaw card. This is my most exclusive Kershaw card. Mom would be so proud.

2012 Sega CardGen black

This is how to make a collectible game card. Use an interesting photo that you can't see anywhere else. The Sega cards do this much better than stuff from the states.

2013 Topps shortprint

It's a shame it takes a shortprint to feature a photo of star player signing autographs for fans. But that's what they did back in the sea turtle days. Nice card.

2013 Topps, chasing history relic

Although not the most attractive relic card (actually it's OK), it does the best job of summing up Kershaw's 2011 season. I like summary cards. There should be more of them.

2013 Topps Allen & Ginter

More of Clayton showing you the ball. Unlike the 2009 A&G card, this image works best on the base card, not the mini. It's pretty cool, but I think they can retire that shot now.

2015 Topps

This is the case for every player who lasts a certain amount of years, but Topps is so reliant on action photos that so many cards in a player collection become almost disposable to the eyes. They have no meaning. But this one is different. I knew from the moment I saw it that it would be one of my favorite Kershaw cards. Pretty good for a base card.

2015 Topps Gallery of Greats

Something tells me that if I didn't enter a group break, I'd still be searching for this card. This card is classy and shiny at the same time. The image harks back to my favorite era of collecting, the '60s, '70s and '80s when poses like this were standard.

Although Topps did use it a few times that year.

2015 Topps mini factory set, '75-style online set

Whenever Kershaw appears on a '75 tribute design -- I believe it's been twice now -- it is my duty to obtain that card. It keeps me looking forward to 2024 when 36-year-old Kershaw will appear in Topps Heritage in that design. Here are the '75 color combos that I would like Kershaw to appear on:

Yellow-red
Red-blue
Blue-orange
Orange-brown
Pink-yellow

Here are the color combos that I would rather not have Kershaw appear on:

Orange-yellow
Green-light green
Purple-pink
Green-purple

If I was a betting man, I'd say Kershaw appears on orange-brown, pink-yellow, purple-pink or red-yellow. It also depends on whether he's an all-star in 2023, which of course he will be.

2015 Topps Stadium Club

The most joyous Kershaw card ever made. The best Kershaw card at capturing a moment. And never mind what I said about that 2009 A&G mini: this is the best Kershaw card made so far.

As you probably noticed, there are no 2016 cards here, or in other words, there are none of today's Kershaw cards here, which pretty much throws this entire segment into question. But I don't care, because I have 465 Kershaw cards! More than of any other player.

Next stop: 500.