Grand Cards: This Just In: Bonjour, Curtís

Sunday, July 26, 2009

This Just In: Bonjour, Curtís

Ok fine, the new O-Pee-Chee cards aren't just french versions of Topps cards anymore, relax. However, they are (sometimes) really nice. I've battled over whether to pick up an OPC Tigers team set this year. It's about $9 plus shipping and gives out 20 cards (there are actually 21 cards in the set, but nobody is including the Miguel Cabrera RBI leaders card) and includes a good selection of this year's team, including newbees.

Of the few O-Pee-Chee's that I have, all of the game action shots are really nice looking, but the studio portraits are less than impressive. From what I can tell, the Tigers have a disproportionate amount of studio shots which is something I'm none too enthused about. This isn't one of them though:

2009 O-Pee-Chee #331 Curtis Granderson


That there is one of the better posed baseball card shots that you will find. The cropping works well, his body is at a slight angle to make it more interesting, he isn't looking right at the camera, there is something other than a gray curtain in the background and oh, did I mention--he has the largest smile ever seen on a Curtis Granderson card? Look it up.

Not to be outdone, the black parallel counterpart checks in very highly as well. I go back and forth between which card I like better, so we'll call it a draw.
2009 O-Pee-Chee #331 Curtis Granderson Black Border


I've yet to see a mini black border or a blank back black border surface, but seeing as how they will all look the same as these cards, they're probably pretty nice.