Starting with my current blog header pic showing Vic Power sliding into home plate on card #67 from 1956 Topps. A great base runner, Power once stole home twice in one game. He scored 91 runs in 1955 for the Athletics and made his first of 6 All Star appearances. He also switched to first base that year and would be fantastic at the position. From 1958 to 1964 he won 7 consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove Awards. 
It probably could have been more, but the Award wasn't given out for each League until 1958 and Power was the dominant fielding first baseman in the AL.Next is card #45 of Gus Zernial, Power's power hitting teammate on the KC A's.
The Play at the Plate shows Ozark Ike beating the throw and sliding in safe at home. 
Zernial spent 11 seasons playing in the American League and finished in the top-10 in homers six times. In 1951 he paced the league in both homeruns and RBIs.My third and final Play at the Plate card from 1956 Topps is card #197 of Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Granny Hamner. 
Hamner was a key member of the Phillies Whiz Kids team that won the National League Pennant in 1950. In the Phils loss to the Yankees Hamner batted .429 in the Series. He was a 3-time All Star and one of the defensive leaders of the Whiz Kids. He also brought some pop to the plate, especially when he topped 20 homers in 1953. 
He held the record for homers by a shortstop for the Phillies which stood for over 50 years before Jimmy Rollins broke the mark in 2006. Brian, these are all yours for the claiming.
Hamner was a key member of the Phillies Whiz Kids team that won the National League Pennant in 1950. In the Phils loss to the Yankees Hamner batted .429 in the Series. He was a 3-time All Star and one of the defensive leaders of the Whiz Kids. He also brought some pop to the plate, especially when he topped 20 homers in 1953. He held the record for homers by a shortstop for the Phillies which stood for over 50 years before Jimmy Rollins broke the mark in 2006. Brian, these are all yours for the claiming. I love this game, I love this hobby! Go RANGERS! Beat them damn Yankees! For more 1956 Topps cards which don't show plays at the plate, click here.
Also please be sure to check out the New World Order takeover and giveaway over HERE. troll at the plate out.
There are a few people out there who collect themes, me included. I love the thrill of getting a super awesome low serial numbered autograph relic, but theme collecting keeps this hobby fun. So far the theme collections that I know of are as follows:
The Great Sports Name Hall of Fame collects cards of guys with weird names and Long Fly Ball To Because… collects cards of players bunting. 
I think everybody loves cards of guys with afros and pitchers hitting are kind of neat, too. I have 3 sub genres or themes that I collect, too. My collections are very small and I am always looking to grow them, especially the last one. I like cards of players wearing Negro League uniforms and I also like cards of guys holding microphones. 
I actually traded this Garko card away with someone who was trying to finish the Bowman Heritage set, fortunately I scanned it first. My number one favorite theme of all time, and I really can’t get enough of these, is cards of guys wearing sombreros. 
I love it. I love this hobby, I love writing about it and I love collecting. Anyone who tells you that they won't touch overproduced cards from the late 80's and 90's has never searched a box for themes... Does anyone else out there collect theme cards? I want to know! Go Rays, beat those Yankees! Gotta go to work. Troll out.
