2015 Deluxe Duos

I've had all the base cards posted for each of the 4 Spirit releases but I was still lacking an insert design for the Deluxe set. I decided to resurrect the Deluxe Duos autograph cards after their absence in 2014. Turns out that when you design 900 individual cards in a summer, it cuts into your ability to create inserts for other releases.

Like previous Deluxe Duos designs, this one features a pair of teammates sharing the same card while featuring autographs of both players. This is the first time the orientation has been vertical. I left more room for player images than usual since sometimes they get squeezed into a corner with maybe just their faces peeking out. Since these would be "on-card" autographs, it's up to the players themselves to decide how much of their signature should overlap their pictures. Design elements from the Deluxe base cards are present, with the team color fades and the same fonts for player name, team and position.

Some nice portraits anchor the design on the back with the team logo making an appearance. I like the simplicity of the back here. Ditch the senseless writeup and stick with some nice photos and lots of empty space. It makes things a little more elegant, befitting a release called "Deluxe."

2015 Spirit Deluxe

The base set for the final Deluxe product of 2015 has arrived. We've done the flagship, the low-end and the retro releases. Here's a look a the "high-end" set, Deluxe.

I decided to go more with a simplistic design instead of the ornate, cluttered stuff that usually passes for "high-end." The cards are cut into 2 team-colored halves with a full-color player cutout jumping off from the background. Player names and team hat logos are in gold foil along the bottom along with a solid stripe making its way around the partial edge.

The back is split but not 50-50 like front, leaving a little room up top for a more intimate photo and space for the player write-up on top of a colorful background below. Also, being a high-end set, there are autographs to be had. There will be insert autos as well but I wanted to start out here with just the base parallel auto. The bottom color half fades to white a little more drastically to make room for the ink but that's the only design difference for the base autos.

More designs to come for the Deluxe set as well as the other Spirit releases.

2015 Spirit Award Winners

Well I guess baseball is officially back now that pitchers and catchers are starting to report to camp. I guess the Design On Deck equivalent to that is the unveiling of the Award Winners insert design. It's traditionally the first insert I tackle each season. Once again, it there are four segments: NL Gold Glove, AL Gold Glove, NL Silver Sluggers, AL Silver Sluggers. In the past they've been very shiny with an overwhelming amount of silver and gold foil. Last season they were a little more subdued and I followed that sensibility again this time around. Oh yeah, the both NL segments feature red while the AL ones use blue. Again.

The Gold Gloves feature a fielding shot cutout over a gold-ish background. The foil has been pared down to just borders around the design elements along with the player name and "Spirit Award Winners" text. The Silver Sluggers are the same only with silver instead and a batting shot, naturally. I thought the banner motif worked well for the subject matter and helped keep things clean but not too dull. I like that you can make out the background of the photos instead of just having the players cut out and removed from the context of a stadium. You'll probably be seeing more of that from the rest of this year's Spirit designs.

On the back, the banner design reappears but is paired with black and white instead of the shininess. The top half is reserved for a sizable photo plus team logo in the corner. Below, there's room for a brief write-up set on top of a watermarked league logo.

Four years in I think the 2016 version will have to change things up a bit. Perhaps I can add stuff like MVPs and Rookies of the Year?

2015 Spirit Base

Now that the frenzy over the 2015 Topps release has subsided a bit, it's time for my formal unveiling of the 2015 Spirit base design. If you follow me on Instagram, you've already seen a card for each of the 30 teams. I'll post them here again as well as a general overview of the design.

Once again, the cards are borderless with photos bleeding to the edge. I decided to change it up a bit this year and went with simple team hat logos stamped in gold foil instead of the traditional full-color primary logos. Having the photograph show through behind the circle is a nice way to keep things from getting claustrophobic. The team color bar stretches from the left edge across the logo and starts fading out as it moves across the card to the right. I made these cards before the Topps set came out and everyone (myself included) went gaga over the non-foiled names. Fortunately, I think there's enough color contrast here that they'd still be pretty readable in-hand. The positions listed below in white are definitely readable since I added a bit of a dark gradient coming up from the bottom to keep the backgrounds from being too light and unreadable. I also decided to add my own little 'rookie card' designation here on the Castillo card. Not too different from Topps' huh?

Here's a rundown of the remaining 27 teams:

As much as I liked making 900 base cards last year, I figured paring it down to 30 here would be adventurous enough.

I'm really excited about the card backs. The design elements from the front move over seamlessly with a player mugshot in place for the hat logo. The color bar doesn't fade out here and stays as a nice bold contrast to all the white. Between the bar and the stat box is just enough room for the bio and the primary team logo. The stat box itself is really readable with a hint of color separating each year. I love the card numbers just to the left of the photo. They're bold and readable and having them rotated 90° makes it unbelievable easy to scan through as the sit in those cardboard boxes.

Another cool thing on the back is an accolades line just above the color bar. It's easier to read on Bumgarner's up there but you can see it on the Gordon card as well. Depending on what the player has accomplished, there's room for a few noteworthy details like number of all-star appearances, Gold Gloves or, I dunno, World Series MVPs. They're subtle enough that it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb if a guy doesn't have anything listed, like the rookie Castillo.

I'm geared up for the 2015 season and the extra time I'll have with new designs instead of devoting hours and hours on some poorly-thought-out 900 base card project. In fact, I already have two inserts designed and queued up for posting. Hopefully this summer will be a lot more active for the ol' blog. I hope you keep checking in. Thanks.

2014 Spirit Artistry

I decided to bring back the Artistry insert for another year. Just to refresh your memory, it's a small insert set that focuses on pitchers that are particularly adept at confounding hitters. I figured King Felix was a no-brainer for inclusion.

The art here is basically a digital mixed media painting. Again, I've combined the photographs with some brushes and textures in Photoshop to meld the two together. Last year's Artistry cards took too much of my time so I decided to scale back the "painting" part a bit. I did make the title a lot more prominent to help differentiate from 2013.

I ditched the frame on the back and added a close cut of the player's face from the front. There's a soft watercolor wash behind the text. There's also room for the team logo for the first time.

I'm guessing if I do this insert for 2015 I'll have to change things up a bit. I'm not sure I how I can use these same tools and have them look any different than they have thus far.

2014 Spirit Base: 591-600

After these last 10 cards, I have a little 'contest' to reward those of you that have endured this flood of repetitive posts. But first...

#591 - Kyle Kendrick
Kendrick actually had his highest innings pitched total this season, falling just 1 short of 200. It would have been the first time since 2011 that the Phillies had three pitchers with 200 IP. That was back in the "Four Aces" days, which seem much longer ago than 3 years.

#592 - Gaby Sanchez
I bet the Pirates wish they could've had a full season of Justin Morneau instead of Gaby's sub-.300 OBS.

#593 - Lance Lynn
Lynn had a pretty great season, lowering his ERA a full run from last year and totaling over 200 IP again.

#594 - Carlos Quentin
Kind of a weird angle but definitely unique enough for me to use it without a second thought.

#595 - Joaquin Arias
As much as Bruce Bochy drove me crazy by overplaying Arias during the regular season, I'm surprised and relieved that he's yet to have a plate appearance in this postseason.

#596 - Charlie Furbush
I wouldn't be shocked if he ranks high on the Mariner's jersey sales list.

#597 - Logan Forsythe
So glad to have him out of the NL West.

#598 - Alexi Ogando
Whichever role he finally ends up in, I hope Ogando's able to stick there and thrive.

#599 -  Juan Francisco
I've never noticed how much he looks like a perfect cross between Juan Uribe and Pablo Sandoval. It's uncanny, really.

#600 - Tyler Clippard
That's pretty much how I feel posting card #600 here.


So Series 2 is finally finished! My original plan was to do another 10 cards of each team featuring the season call-ups and traded players but I'm not sure if I have the determination. The way I've been unloading these the last month or so has kinda burned me out a bit. And I imagine it hasn't been that much fun for you "readers" either. So what do you think? Should I soldier through and whiz through Series 3? Or save my time and your time and close the books on the 2014 Spirit base set?

Oh yeah, about that contest. Since I've made 600 different cards here and nobody in their right mind would have feedback on every one of them, I'd like to hear from you which card(s) in particular you think turned out the best. What's your favorite card from Series 1 or 2? Leave me a comment or tweet it to me and you'll be entered to win this 2014 Topps Archives Bill Russell Fan Favorites Autograph.

I'll randomize all respondents and send this one free of charge to one lucky winner. Just give me the card number and player name by the end of Thursday, October 9th and I'll announce the winner on Friday. Thanks for your patience with this project. I look forward to your responses.

2014 Spirit Base: 581-590

#581 - Anthony Bass
I wish the Astros had an actual sunset alternative uniform instead of just using these BP jerseys in the game.

#582 - Kelvin Herrera
After leaving Game 1 on Thursday, Herrera says he'll be ready for Game 3 of the ALDS tonight. I'm sure the Royals would prefer James Shields to go 7 and not need to chance it with Herrera though.

#583 - C.J. Cron
Cron had a decent rookie season and should probably get a few ROY votes.

#584 - Chris Withrow
Add him to the list of pitchers with pitching-related names. (Bob Walk, Grant Balfour, Josh Outman, etc.)

#585 - Jeff Baker
You could probably cut him out of the context of a baseball diamond and place him in a scene like this and he'd fit right in. Apologies in advance for getting that song stuck in your head.

#586 - Matt Garza
INTENSIEST FACE

#587 - Eduardo Escobar
This is a great shot from a unique angle. I couldn't resist including it.

#588 - Anthony Recker
I bet he has some famous relatives.

#589 - Brendan Ryan
Expect the Yankees to sign or trade for a big name shortstop this offseason. No way will they want to go with Ryan for 162 games nexts year.

#590 - Derek Norris
Norris was one of 6 A's to make the AL All-Star team this year. I'm guessing if they went back to the old days of 2 All-Star games each year, that might not be the same number.

2014 Spirit Base: 571-580

And here we finally are. Each team's final card of series 2.

#571 - Addison Reed
Do we have any Diamondbacks fans that read the blog? I hear a lot of outside criticism of how the team is put together and run but I've never really heard a fan's perspective.

#572 - Ervin Santana
I wonder if the Royals would've won the division had they re-signed Santana and had him in their rotation all year. But if that would've happened, the world would've been deprived of that Wild Card game and the first two ALDS games and I think we're all better off having things happen like they did.

#573 - Ubaldo Jimenez
What an enigma. He keeps seesawing between a dominant pitcher and a burning can of garbage. At least he made this awesome commercial possible.

#574 - Jackie Bradley, Jr.
The colors are off on this photo. I tried my best but between the green monster and the grandstand lighting, this isn't the nicest card in the set.

#575 - Justin Ruggiano
I have to say, Ruggiano is quite a photogenic guy.

#576 - Moises Sierra
That's a pretty good bat flip from a guy with some impressive namesakes.

#577 - Aroldis Chapman
I'm glad to see he rebounded after that line drive. This is a pretty cool shot with that underneath angle, too.

#578 - Josh Outman
Probably the best baseball superhero name since Batman.

#579 - Josh Rutledge
Being Tulo's backup, Rutledge should have plenty of chances to show his skills at short and the plate. He still has some work to do.

#580 - Don Kelly
I don't know what it is about Don Kelly but the Tigers seem incapable of parting ways with him. He's been on the team since 2009 despite never posting an OPS+ above 82 in all six seasons.

2014 Spirit Base: 561-570

#561 - Roberto Hernandez
Carmo-carmo-carmo-carmo-carmona chameleon.

#562 - Jeanmar Gomez
Man, do his limbs look short in this photo.

#563 - Jason Motte
I'm thankful for Motte for no other reason than my last name is erroneously pronounced like his 95% of the time somebody reads it. It's entertaining while playing MLB: The Show.

#564 - Dale Thayer
These two are a perfect pairing here. Maybe I should make an All-Facial Hair Team insert next year.

#565 - Angel Pagan
I can imagine how much Pagan's salute must get on the nerves of all you non-Giants fans out there. I still love it because it means that something good just happened for the Giants.

#566 - James Jones
I guess every sport needs a James Jones.

#567 - Ryan Hanigan
I hope that Bud's replacement is able to fix the whole Tropicana Field embarrassment. The Rays and their fans deserve better. It's such a shame that all of their home shots are marred by empty seats in the background.

#568 - Neal Cotts
Cotts was bonkers last year, posting a 1.11 ERA in 57 innings. This year, though, he got rung up for 4.32 over 66.2 innings. That's pretty analogous for the whole Rangers team.

#569 - Steve Tolleson
I'm not very familiar with Tolleson. That may have something to do with him taking every other year off from the majors. Hey, Steve! Stick around, will ya?

#570 - Doug Fister
How did the Nationals swing this trade? I'll never know. How has it not bitten the Tigers in the ass? I have a feeling we will find out pretty soon.

2014 Spirit Base: 551-560

#551 - Josh Fields
If you've heard the name Josh Fields and gotten him confused with the other Josh Fields who used to play football at Oklahoma State before getting drafted by the White Sox, you're not the only one. Even Baseball Reference has a hard time keeping them straight.

#552 - Danny Valencia
Oh, Valencia. It's too bad you didn't stick around past July.

#553 - Fernando Salas
The Angels are really accumulating former Cardinals out in Anaheim.

#554 - Dan Haren
Haren looks set to make at least one postseasons start. Unless the Dodgers get swept of course...

#555 - Reed Johnson
Sounds like an investment firm or something.

#556 - Logan Schafer
Wow, so does that.

#557 - Phil Hughes
I'm sure you've all heard about Hughes' bad luck, missing out on $500,000. I'm sure he'll be okay. He had a great season and he's still set to make $8 million in each of the next two seasons.

#558 - Wilmer Flores
Mets fans are still wondering if Flores is a long-term solution at shortstop. He's still young but he'll need to amp up his offense to make ensure he isn't jettisoned for a better glove.

#559 - Matt Thornton
The Yankees put him on waivers in August, just in time to be claimed by the Nationals. Nice work if you can get it.

#560 - John Jaso
Jaso may not be catching for much longer. Concussions seem to be driving a lot of catchers out from behind the plate.