Stockton, Thy Sweater is Argyle (Wolverines edition)

NOTE:  As this post applies to both my blogs, you'll find it on the other one as well.  Just pointing that out to avoid any potential confusion.

Pictured:  Greg

Score another one for the awesomeness of the blogging community.  On Monday, Greg shot me a quick email pointing out that an auction that might interest me was ending soon.  His eBay diligence paid off today as this arrived in my mailbox:

This right here is Bill Freehan's 2005 Topps Fan Favorites Cyan Printing Plate.  Uh, yeah, Greg, I was kinda sorta interested in that.  If Beckett is accurate at all (stop laughing--I'm not referring to pricing here) in terms of his complete catalog, Freehan has exactly 20 total printing plates--four each of five cards.  That means I have 5% of Freehan's plates.  I just thought that was notable since I've put more effort into collecting him.  Hell, it doesn't surprise me he doesn't have many since he's not an extremely popular player, didn't play during the heyday of baseball card production and wasn't featured in many sets that resulted in plates.  So to say this was a rarity is an understatement, and I definitely owe Greg a huge thanks for pointing out an auction that I'd have otherwise been oblivious to.
Since this is already a relatively short post, I thought it would be fitting to repost a card already in my PC that ties in well with the above, Freehan's autograph from the same set:

The plate is my first of Freehan, of course, and my first of any Tiger, though I do at least have one other 1/1 (Verlander) in my Tigers PC.  He also fits my Wolverines baseball PC (which is why you're seeing this card on both blogs if you happen to read each of them) but thanks to Rich Hill, he's far from my only Michigan baseball plate.  Will I collect more of them?  If I find them, it would be fun to add more, especially considering the awesomeness of some of the sets:  this one, Topps Retired Signature, and more!

While I'm discussing the outstanding 2005 Topps Fan Favorites set, this seems like a great time to mention that I'm still working on that very set, and maybe some of you can help me chip away at it before I throw virtual wads of Paypal at Sportlots to finish it?

Anyway, thanks for the assist, Greg, and in my occasional eBay wanderings I'll make sure to return the favor so you can spend your hard-earned money on YOUR favorite guys!