This list supersedes all previous Interest Lists posted and updated prior to October 18, 2022.

Scroll past all of this backstory text to get to the actual list.

A little history about my collection: I collected religiously until about 2002, before I began a new love in journalism. I’ve added several thousands of cards since, but many of them don’t really interest me. I also used to follow baseball religiously until I began my journalism career, so the collecting went hand-in-hand with it.

The general gist of it is that I enjoy collecting players who played during the 1990s and earlier, with only a few exceptions. There are players who were rookies in the late 1990s who continued to have cards into the 2010s, and I’ve missed out in collecting their cards since. Lots of them make up the more recent cards on my list.

I don’t follow a whole lot of professional sports anymore, having kept to high school and small college sports with my journalism career. However, I do enjoy following the local players and those who I had the opportunity to cover their games over the years. Likewise, and perhaps most importantly, I don’t care for the current state of the collecting hobby – box breaks, sold-out Walmart shelves, colors of the rainbow variations, and all of the bells and whistles. That would be a full-time job for me, and while it’s great to see people engage in that line of work, that’s just not me.

I collect to collect. It used to be all about quantity, but that backfired very quickly with the crash of the hobby. Pictured at the top of the post are my baseball card binders. That’s just 15% of my collection. The other 85%, the really, really low-end of the collection, is awaiting resale of some sort, cards that have served their personal purpose to me and are ready for a new home.

Much of my collection involves collecting player’s career team arcs. For each player I choose to collect, I would like to have one card of that player for each team they have played for.

What is an “Interested In” List?

It is a list of baseball cards that I have an interest in adding to my collection. Notice that I did not flat out say that I WANT to add the cards to my collection. I prefer to look at the card with my own two eyes before making a decision to buy it. I always get the feeling that dealers see a card on my list and tell me, “but you want it, so buy it.” I am VERY careful about buying cards. I have to be extra certain that I am getting a deal that is comforting to me before actually buying them. The list used to be called a “Want List” until dealers began to pressure me into buying cards at times that I was not comfortable.

Much of my collecting story deals with the past. But what about the present and future?

Two of the binders have cards that are “booked” at less than $1. The other four have cards that are “booked” for $1 or more. Not all of the cards are in mint condition, but I have them just to say that I have them.

Collecting goal No. 1: Upgrade current “non-dollar” cards by value. I have certain cards of players on certain teams that are less than $1. Example: I originally had a 1994 Collector’s Choice card of Jack Morris from his Indians days. I recently found a 1994 Pinnacle Museum Collection parallel card of him that was worth more than $1. I added the new Morris card and I removed the other Morris card into a sale pile.

Collecting goal No. 2: Build PCs of local players. There are certain players who have a permanent spot on my Want List. Those players are as follows … Gary Kolb, Dan Kolb, Jake Junis, Seth Blair, Steve Eddy, Danny Matznick, Mike Foltynewicz and Eduardo Acosta. If I know of any other Sterling and Rock Falls players with minor league baseball cards, they will be added to that list. I don’t actively search for those players when I’m out buying, but when I wind up stumbling upon their cards, I immediately put them in my buy pile.

Because of Junis’ and Foltynewicz’s active careers, these three players serve as the reason why I continue to collect. These are the three players I keep the most up to date on.

Collecting goal No. 3: Tell a history of baseball. Many cards in my collection are reminders of several unique baseball feats. Not all are highlight cards, but they have an interesting story to show. I enjoy finding records and having a card of the player from the year after achieving the record (as the stat is incorporated in the back of that card).

In addition to the three current active players, one of the other interesting reasons why I continue to have at least some eye on pro baseball is to learn of new records being set. My journalism and history passions make me root, in a way, for interesting storylines to happen. As long as it’s not one of those ugly, alphabet soup sabermetric stats, I’ll keep an eye on it.

Collecting goal No. 4: Complete the List …

Enjoy!

———

CODY’S “INTERESTED IN” LIST
*Now sorted by team!*

Note:
Many cards after 1996 also come in different parallel (chrome, refractor, etc.) and variation (multi-color, special stamp, etc.) forms, and players sometimes may also be featured in insert sets within the same brand. While those are often glamorous, I prefer to have the simple base card.

Cards not affiliated with a current MLB franchise:
1909 T-206 Frank Shaughnessy (Roanoke Tigers, minor league)
1915 Cracker Jack, Ward Miller (St. Louis Terriers, Federal League)
1976 Laughlin Indianapolis Clowns, Nancy Miller (Negro League)
1976 Laughlin Indianapolis Clowns, Toni Stone (Negro League)
1981 or 1982 TCMA Portland Beavers, Willie Horton (minor league)
1983 Renata Galasso Cracker Jack, Ward Miller (Reprint; St. Louis Terriers, Federal League)
1983 Renata Galasso T-206 Reprint, Frank Shaughnessy (Reprint; Roanoke Tigers, minor league)
1989 T/M Umpires, Larry Young (umpire)
1991 Pacific Senior League, Jim Rice (Senior League)
1994 Upper Deck American Epic, Marvin Miller (Baseball executive)
1994 Ted Williams, Buck O’Neil (Negro Leagues)
1995-96 Fritsch AAGPBL #252 Faye Dancer (Girls Baseball League, Rockford player)
1995-96 Fritsch AAGPBL #61 Dottie Ferguson (Girls Baseball League, Rockford player)
1995-96 Fritsch AAGPBL #416 Dorothy Kamenshek (Girls Baseball League, Rockford player)
1996 Pinnacle FanFest, Bud Selig (MLB Commissioner)
2008 Cotuit Kettleers Choice, Seth Blair (Cape Cod League)
2009 Cotuit Kettleers Choice, Seth Blair (Cape Cod League)

Future cards:
2023 – Yadier Molina/Adam Wainwright battery record card
2023 – Jake Junis Giants card
2023 – Jesse Chavez Braves card

Angels:
1975 Angels Postcards, Whitey Herzog
1975 Angels Postcards, Don Drysdale
1976 Quad City Angels TCMA, Steve Eddy ((Minors))
1976 Quad City Angels TCMA, Joe Maddon ((Minors))
1976 Quad City Angels TCMA, Carney Lansford ((Minors))
1980 O-Pee-Chee, Ralph Garr (shown as a White Sox player)
1989 Quad City Angels Best, Jim Edmonds ((Minors))
—— and any Ron Gant

Astros:
1976 Dubuque Packers TCMA, Bruce Bochy ((Minors))
1997 Ultra, Sid Fernandez
2000 Topps All-Star Rookie Team, Dwight Gooden
—— and any Vinny Castilla or John Franco

Athletics:
1941 Double Play, Nels Potter
1969 A’s Black and White, Joe DiMaggio
1998 Pacific Online, Kevin Mitchell
2003 Upper Deck 40-Man, Ron Gant
2015 Stadium Club, Adam Dunn
—— and any Eric Karros or Tim Raines

Blue Jays:
1979 Blue Jays Bubble Yum, Bobby Doerr
2014 Topps Update Fond Farewells, Omar Vizquel
2018 Topps Update (all-star) J.A. Happ
—— and any Randy Myers

Braves:
1962 Post, Frank Thomas
1976 Topps, John Odom
1984 Braves Police, Luke Appling
1988 Topps Big, Ken Griffey. Sr.
—— and any Jeff Reardon, Bobby Bonilla, Dennis Martinez, Mike Foltynewicz (rookie cards only) or Wally Joyner

Brewers:
1975 Clinton Pilots, Jim Leyland ((Minors))
1980 Brewers Team Issue, Frank Howard
1988 Topps Big, Robin Yount
1993 Finest Refractors, Pat Listach
1993 Helena Brewers ProCards, Eduardo Acosta ((Minors))
1995 Brewers Police, Bob Uecker
1998 Pacific Invincible Team Checklists, Julio Franco (+ others)
2000 Brewers Postcards, Rod Carew
2004 MLB Showdown Pennant Run (all-star), Dan Kolb
2008 Topps Year in Review, Prince Fielder
—— and any Jim Abbott

Cardinals:
1957 Cardinals Postcards, Hank Sauer
1962 Tulsa Oilers Pepsi, Gary Kolb ((Minors))
1963 Tulsa Oilers Pepsi, Gary Kolb ((Minors))
1964 Topps, Gary Kolb (permanent entry, collecting as many as possible)
1998 Grandstand Memphis Redbirds, Vince Coleman ((Minors))
2003 Topps Traded, Joe Girardi
2008 Topps Year in Review, Rick Ankiel
2010 Upper Deck Season Biography, John Smoltz
—— and any Fernando Valenzuela

Cubs:
1932 Cubs Team Issue, Leroy Herrman
1979 Topps, Dave Johnson
1983 Quad City Cubs TCMA, Shawon Dunston ((Minors))
1996 Collector’s Choice, Howard Johnson
2002 Topps, Don Baylor
2006 Topps, Dusty Baker
2008 Topps Cubs Gift Set, Alan Trammell
2009 Upper Deck, Jim Edmonds
—— and any Eric Karros or Kenny Lofton

Diamondbacks:
2002 Topps Total, Byung-Hyun Kim
2002 Diamondbacks Keebler, Robin Yount (+ others)
2020 Topps Big League Park Oddities, Edwin Jackson

Dodgers:
1957 Topps, Dodgers team card, feat. Jackie Robinson
1966 Dodgers Records, Walter O’Malley/Claude Osteen
1977 Clinton Dodgers TCMA, Mike Scioscia ((Minors))
1977 Clinton Dodgers TCMA, Dave Stewart ((Minors))
1979 Clinton Dodgers TCMA, Alan Wiggins ((Minors))
2007 Upper Deck First Edition, Kenny Lofton
2008 Topps Heritage, Luis Gonzalez
2010 Topps Heritage, Joe Torre
—— and any Phil Garner, Devon White, David Wells, Rickey Henderson or Todd Zeile

Expos:
1975 Topps, Ken Singleton
2004 Fleer Tradition, Todd Zeile

Giants:
1961 Fleer, Joe McGinnity
1988 Giants Mother’s Cookies, Phil Garner
2016 Topps Heritage, Bruce Bochy
—— and any Doyle Alexander, Steve Finley, Ryan Klesko, Joe Carter, Kenny Lofton or Reggie Sanders

Indians/Guardians:
1955 Indians Golden Stamps, Hank Greenberg
1961 Indians Team Issue, Luke Appling
1975 Indians Team Issue, Larry Doby
1986 Waterloo Indians ProCards, Dave Bresnahan ((Minors))
2015 Stadium Club, Jason Giambi
—— and any Harold Baines, Chuck Finley or Jeff Kent

Mariners:
1980 Mariners Postcards, Bill Mazeroski
2005 Topps, Mariners team card, feat. Coach Paul Molitor

Marlins:
1993 Marlins Publix, Vada Pinson
1997 Marlins Pacific, Jim Leyland
—— and any Todd Zeile

Mets:
1980 Topps, Richie Hebner
2002 Fleer Mets 40th Anniversary, Ralph Kiner
2002 Victory, Lenny Harris
2008 Topps Year in Review, Julio Franco (alone)
2008 Topps Year in Review, Julio Franco (w/Roger Clemens)
—— and any Shawn Green, Orel Hershiser or Todd Zeile

Orioles/Browns:
1952 Bowman, Jim Delsing
1955 Bowman, Johnny Pesky
1957 Orioles Postcards, Billy Goodman
1960 Nu-Cards, Eddie Gaedel
1963 Orioles Postcards, Luke Appling
1971 Topps, Dick Hall
1976 English’s Chicken bucket lid, Ken Holtzman
1977 Topps team card
2000 Topps season highlights, Jesse Orosco
2002 Fleer Tradition, Tim Raines (Sr.)
2006 Upper Deck, Javy Lopez
—— and any Todd Zeile

Padres:
1971 Topps, Earl Wilson
2001 Padres Postcards, Alan Trammell
—— and any Kevin Brown, Vinny Castilla, Jim Edmonds, Randy Myers, Mark Langston or Reggie Sanders

Phillies:
1978 Topps, Dave Johnson
2007 Upper Deck, Jeff Conine
2011 Topps, Jamie Moyer
2015 Panini Cooperstown, Pat Gillick

Pirates:
1983 O-Pee-Chee, Randy Jones (shown as a Mets player)

(Devil) Rays:
2002 Topps, Hal McRae
2005 Topps, Roberto Alomar

Rangers/Senators II:
1969 Senators Team Issue, Nellie Fox
1996 Charleston Riverdogs Team issue, Dan Kolb ((Minors))
1997 Florida State League Top Prospects, Dan Kolb ((Minors))
1998 Tulsa Drillers Team Issue, Dan Kolb ((Minors))
2000 Skybox Dominion, Danny Kolb & Kelly Dransfeldt
2010 Topps, Andruw Jones
—— and any Ken Caminitti, Kenny Lofton, Bartolo Colon or Todd Zeile

Reds:
1967 Topps, Tommy Helms
2010 Topps Update, Jim Edmonds
2013 Topps Heritage, Dusty Baker
—— and any Terry Francona or Jeff Reardon

Red Sox:
1976 Topps, Deron Johnson
1988 Topps Big, Wade Boggs
1996 Donruss, Willie McGee
2008 Topps Update, Sean Casey
2009 O-Pee-Chee, Jason Varitek
2012 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions, Ross Barnes
—— and any Dan Kolb, Jamie Moyer, Bartolo Colon or David Wells

Rockies:
2002 Topps, Buddy Bell
2012 Topps, Jason Giambi
2012 Topps Update, Jamie Moyer
—— and any Steve Finley, Jason Giambi, Ron Gant, Howard Johnson, Bret Saberhagen or Greg Vaughn

Royals:
1969 Topps Stamps, Hoyt Wilhelm
1974 Royals Postcards, Orlando Cepeda
1983 Royals Postcards, Rocky Colavito
1985 Royals Team Issue, John Schuerholz
1993 Rockford Royals ProCards, Johnny Damon ((Minors))
1994 Rockford Royals Classic, Mike Sweeney ((Minors))
2007 Topps, Buddy Bell
2012 Burlington Royals Grandstand, Jake Junis ((Minors))
2014 Lexington Legends Brandt, Jake Junis ((Minors))
—— and any Reggie Sanders

Tigers:
1951 Bowman, Virgil Trucks
1990 Tigers Team Issue, Vada Pinson
2009 Upper Deck, Kenny Rogers
2013 Topps Heritage, Jim Leyland
—— and any Luis Gonzalez or Hideo Nomo

Twins:
2002 Quad City River Bandits Grandstand, Joe Mauer ((Minors))
2003 Topps Total, Jesse Orosco
2006 Topps Hit Parade, Ruben Sierra
2007 Topps, Johan Santana
—— and any Don Baylor or Bartolo Colon

White Sox:
1976 Chicago Greats, Bill Veeck
1978 SSPC, Larry Doby
1986 White Sox Coke, Ken Harrelson
1989 Topps Big, Harold Baines
1999 Fleer, Jim Abbott
2011 Topps, Omar Vizquel
—— and any Ruben Sierra

Yankees:
1968 Yankees Photos SCFC, Rocky Colavito
1971 Topps, Horace Clarke
1977 Yankees Burger King, Mike Torrez
1977 Yankees Burger King, Jimmy Wynn
1988 Donruss Yankees Team Set, Jose Cruz
1993 Topps, Derek Jeter
1993 Ted Williams, Jim Bouton
2008 Upper Deck Yankee Stadium Legacy, Frankie Crosetti
2009 Upper Deck, Richie Sexson
2013 Topps, Andruw Jones
—— and any Rick Reuschel, Bartolo Colon or Todd Zeile