Best Last Active Player Card?

[Exhibitman]

Who had the best final card? So many of the last cards of then-active great players were with bizarre teams, or were just sad looking portraits of burned out old guys. My personal pick:



Classic pose, and he went out with a HR.

BTW, the 1969 Topps Mantle is not eligible; he retired before the season started and never played an inning in 1969, so the 1968 is really his last active card.

[egri]

1956 Topps Jackie Robinson. You can't beat the action shot of him stealing home.

[Econteachert205]

53 topps satchel paige

[VoodooChild]

'73 Clemente with exactly 3,000 hits as his career total on the back.

[CW]

I'm not sure which one would qualify here, but Hammerin' Hank's regular issue '73 or the tribute card in '74 were both pretty cool...

[Taxman]

69 white letter Mantle.

[rgpete]

51 Dimaggio

[Econteachert205]

Aaron's last card would be the 76 topps in the Brewers uni....

[Bestdj777]

1969 Mantle Topps Super. Don't have access to my photo, but that is one of the finest looking "mainstream" cards from the error in my opinion.

[7nohitter]

Since Nolan's career started pre 1980 I'm throwing in his 1993 Topps card.

[nolemmings]

Again, however, I believe Adam pointed out in his OP that the '69 Mantles were disqualified from the survey because the Mick had retired before the 1969 season and thus he was no longer active. If you make an exception and allow post-retirement cards for Mantle, then you have to do the same for everyone, in which case I'm pretty sure the all-time winner for last card is this one:

[Bestdj777]

Well then, I refuse to participate and/or change my answer to the 1968 Topps Venezuelan Mantle

[Big Red Machine]

I think this has to be one of the best looking last cards of a hall of famer. Ernie Lombardi played his last year in the Pacific Coast League.

[Brianruns10]

Did Babe Ruth have any cards as an active player after the 33 Goudeys, aside from the 35 Four in One that essentially duplicates his picture from the 33? If not, those four cards were a pretty nice way to go out.

[CW]

Originally Posted by Econteachert205

Aaron's last card would be the 76 topps in the Brewers uni....

Ah, got it, Dennis, thanks! The website I was referring to only went up to '74 for some reason.

Now I know what Adam meant by burned out old guys. I guess this one wouldn't make the list of best lasts...

[almostdone]

Not to sound morbid but if the 69 Mantle is excluded from this because it was post retirement then wouldn't that be true for the 73 Clemente? This coming from a huge Clemente fan.
I would have to go with 56 Jackie Robinson. Classic set and classic card.
Drew

[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by VoodooChild

'73 Clemente with exactly 3,000 hits as his career total on the back.

The 1973 Topps Roberto Clemente??

[brian1961]

It might be historically accurate that Mickey Mantle's last playing year was 1968, but to simply dismiss any of his 1969 cards from being included as best last cards is a crock of horse manure.

I quote from page 221 of Tony Castro's marvelous biography, MICKEY MANTLE, AMERICA'S PRODIGAL SON, "Mantle had gone to spring training early that year to see if he could turn back time but knowing deep down that his career was over." He knew in his heart he was all done, but WE did not know, and neither did the people at Topps. In Fort Lauderdale, on March 1, 1969, Mickey Mantle announced his retirement from baseball.

Until that point, for all intents and purposes he was going to suit up and gamely play another season for the Yankees. Topps included Mantle in every single set they possibly could, which was considerable when you take into account their test issues. Topps could have removed Mick from their sets, but wisely chose not to. For the same reasoning as Topps, I nominate two cards as the best of the last---Mickey's 1969 Topps and his flat out beautiful 1969 Topps Super Baseball that Chris nominated.

---Brian Powell

PS--I agree with the choice of that exotic Ernie Lombardi '48 Signal Gasoline. Hey, you know none of us impassioned card collectors could ever choose just one card if our life depended on it. As I remember, in about 1976 Topps led off with a beaute of Hank Aaron, a full length batting pose; it was stunning.

[whitesoxfan3579]

1966 Topps (regular issue) Koufax.

[Laxcat]

Doesn't Minnie Minoso have a team issued White Sox Card from when he played in the 80's?

[brob28]

He has a 1977 Topps record breaker card for being the oldest player to get a hit in a game - sorry I don't have an image.

My vote is for the '56 Jackie Robinson with '73 Clemente close behind.

[rgpete]

56 Robinson

[Rich Klein]

DUpe Post Sorry

[Rich Klein]

The 1964 Archie Skeen Rookie Card is a favorite on mine


1964 Topps #428 - Rookie Stars (Archie Skeen, Pete Smith) [Good to VG‑EX]
Courtesy of COMC.com

[Rich Klein]

Dupe Post Sorry

[brob28]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

The 1964 Archie Skeen Rookie Card is a favorite on mine


1964 Topps #428 - Rookie Stars (Archie Skeen, Pete Smith) [Good to VG‑EX]
Courtesy of COMC.com

OMG Rich - This is hilarious.

[jason.1969]

I gotta agree with the 1956 Jackie Robinson, but here is another...

campy.jpg

[JollyElm]

Perhaps this is cheating, as it's a 1974 playoffs card, but Willie Mays playing for the Mets in the World Series (In a losing effort. Gee, sound familiar? Ugh!) is a fine bookend to his career. Love it!!!!!!!!

s-l1600.jpg

[Peter_Spaeth]

I know the question was best not worst, but I offer these.

[Rookiemonster]

Topps 2015 Derek jeter this is a great final card

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I know the question was best not worst, but I offer these.

Back then, it seemed that all roads eventually led to Shea Stadium.

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

The 1973 Topps Roberto Clemente??

I agree as well. The 73 Clemente is probably his best card. It doesn't really fit the OP's rules though, since Clemente never played in the 73 season.

But who cares about rules, the 73 Clemente is the winner.

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I know the question was best not worst, but I offer these.

Man, Spahn looks like he's 65 years old.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by whitesoxfan3579

1966 Topps (regular issue) Koufax.

Yes!! I was going through this thread and hoping someone would bring the '66 Sandy up. No washed-up old guy there - he had better numbers in his '66 season than Clayton Kershaw did winning both the Cy Young and MVP. Sandy was a machine.

The '66 Koufax holds a special place for me because it's one of the first vintage cards I ever owned as a kid. Good stuff.