Remember These?

I was always a fan of Collect-A-Books.  They were different.  Fun.  Not the ordinary baseball card that dominated a large part of the early 90s. 

I remember most of my friends at the time that I regularly traded with were more than happy to get rid of these because they didn't fit in toploaders and they were kind of thick to fit in pages too.  Of course, this was back before they made higher grade/thickness card protection supplies because there was no need back then.  There were no autograph cards unless you got them yourself.  There were also no Game Used memorabilia cards that were as thick as two, if not three normal cards.

 

You could get these in a box that was kind of like a deck of cards, or one of those KMart Special release sets.

Strangely enough, the Yount card was one that I never was able to get my hands on for some reason.  I think I recall having a Paul Molitor though but my memory isn't what it used to be.

But the biggest draw for me was the fact that they were just that, books.  Inside, you could find all sorts of interesting facts, stats, and information about the player pictured.  Let's take a look.

Personal data, just like the back of a regular card.  Wow!  Did you know Bo Jackson's nickname is Bo?  Interesting...

I remember watching the All-Star game they are referring to.  I must admit, I remember thinking that it was so cool that he lead off with a homer.  At that point, Bo was everywhere...TV, Commercials, Cereal, etc.  But "startled"?  I'm not sure if that is the correct verbiage.

I was a fan of Bo Jackson but he is one of those third person guys.  If there is one thing I can't stand, is a third person guy.  You know who you are.

And now the backs, for those of you that enjoy caricatures of baseball players.  Just check out the artist rendering of the guns on Ruben Sierra and Bo Jackson.  Now check out Orel. 

Collect-A-Books are now in the garage.