a double play double play equals perfection on cardboard

it's the top of the second inning on june 29, 1991 in a game between the orioles and the visiting red sox.  former bosox sam horn has just victimized his former team in the bottom of the first with an rbi double to give the o's the lead.  with one out, carlos quintana lines a single up the middle.  second baseman juan bell is able to cut the ball off, but can't make a play.  this brings up tom brunansky.  brunansky is a man who has grounded into a fair amount of double plays, including 17 in a season twice.  he doesn't disappoint.  his ground ball to orioles' shortstop cal ripken is quickly fielded and ripken throws it to bell covering second.

juan bell's 1992 donruss card captures the double play turn beautifully.

bell is in midair, jumping to avoid the sliding (or is he rolling?) carlos quintana who comes in with his right arm outstretched.

but wait.  carlos quintana's 1992 donruss card also captures this baseball ballet

with bell back on terra firma and quintana still with his arm outstretched, both looking to see randy milligan catch the ball before brunansky arrives at first.  the inning is over.  this continuation is awesome.  reminds me of the 1993 gary gaetti/junior ortiz cards i featured a long time ago..

here's a side-by-side image, just for the heck of it.

1992 donruss just went up a notch in my book.

(thanks for the cards ryan)