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Cardboard appreciation: quarterfinal #2

(Ah, Thanksgiving. A holiday devoted to appreciation. But when I sit down with a virtual multitude of family members and bow my head before the giant turkey at mid-table, I will not say "I am thankful for baseball cards," for fear of getting several piercing looks. So, I'll say it here: I am thankful for baseball cards! Time for Cardboard Appreciation):

The J.R. Richard 1980 Kellogg's card is officially a juggernaut (I really hate that word, by the way). It has pasted two straight opponents to become the first card to advance out of the quarterfinals.

Here are the vote totals for the first quarterfinal:

J.R. Richard, 1980 Kellogg's: 31
Kent Tekulve, 1981 Topps: 18

After that demonstration of domination, Richard has earned himself a break. He'll watch from the sidelines as the other quarterfinalists duke it out. And we have an intriguing battle for quarterfinal #2.

The first card is one of the most-loved cards of the 1970s. A true rarity and conversation-starter:

The 1975 Topps Herb Washington card is a wonderful gaudy creation, a mix of pink and purple and green and gold. But the fact that Washington was a pinch-runner, and only a pinch-runner, and Topps thought that important enough to issue a card of him, is what makes this a truly iconic card. It will be tough to beat.

Let's see what card is daring enough to challenge the Washington card:

Yes, that's right. I am pitting two teammates and two fantastic 1975 Topps cards against each other. Is that fair? Well, in the immortal words of the semi-psychotic and definitely strange father of a childhood friend of mine: "Who said anything about fair?" Ah, treasured words for children to cherish.

But this pairing is a necessity. With five 1975 Topps cards in the quarterfinals, it's inevitable that they should meet.

The Fingers card is one of my favorites from when I was a kid. Fingers looks like the Lone Ranger, albeit a mustachioed one, and he is the rare action card in the set.

So, it's up to you. Do you pick the fastest man in 1974 or a guy who looks like they dressed an Old West gunslinger in a wild '70s baseball uniform?

Poll is upon on the sidebar. Put the fork/TV remote down for a minute this week and vote.

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