the kid deserved a better final tribute

i guess this is what happens when you retire just a month and a half into the season, even if you are one of the greatest to ever play the game.  ken griffey jr walked away from the mariners and baseball in may of 2010, and when 2011 rolled around, this was the only card i could find that featured his full career stats - a requirement for a final tribute.  it comes from the 2011 tristar obak set

here's the back

junior had 18 hits (no home runs) for the mariners in 2010 before calling it quits.  i wonder if there had been a 2010 upper deck series 2 if they would have recognized his retirement.  i also wonder why topps didn't acknowledge it in the 2010 update & highlights set.  or at least give him a checklist in 2011.  he finally showed up in the 2013 topps update set as a short print, but that doesn't really count as a final tribute in my book since it wasn't issued in the year after his retirement.  too little too late, i guess.

recognizing roy

it was good to see former dodger and army sergeant roy gleason get some recognition from tristar last year.  here are a couple of cards from 2011 tristar obak that i picked up a while back

including a regular 

and a mini of gleason in his army uniform

here's a previous veteran's day post with links to roy's story, if you are not familiar.  i recently found some custom cards made by bobw, who has done some pretty fantastic work.  he made a couple of 1963 topps style cards like this  one

 as well as some 1969 cards

i have renewed my sponsorship of gleason's baseball reference page which is really a silly kind of way to recognize his service.  still, it helps me think of veterans like roy every day, not just on veteran's day.

to roy and to all vets - thank you for your service.