1987 Toys R Us Rookies #13

Type: Limited Set

Acquired: Purchased Online

The photo in this card is really not all that amazing, but what really catches my eye is the design of the front and the back of the card. I love the look of the bold neon pink "ROOKIES" graphic over the black border and the cartoon drawings on the back interwoven in the orange background color really stand out. I miss these store exclusive sets. Toys 'R' Us, Aames, K-Mart, they all had some pretty cool sets back in the day.

1986 Topps Custom #327 (Custom)

Type: Custom Card

Acquired: Created at Home

Not many people know that Bo Jackson was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with their #1 pick in the 1986 draft. The story goes that Bo told the team not to draft him because he wanted to focus on baseball. The Bucs didn't listen and drafted him anyway. Bucs team officials then told Bo to come with them to Florida for a physical. They said it was cleared by the NCAA & SEC, but when Bo went back to play baseball for Auburn he was ruled inelligible because of the plane ride he took to see team doctors. Bo thought the Bucs did this on purpose to keep him from playing baseball, which would give him no other option than to play for Tampa Bay. As we all know this tactic did not work and Bo never played a down for the Bucs. His rights expired by the 1987 draft and the Raiders picked Bo in the 7th round and the rest is history. I created this card as a commemoration of this "What If?" moment in history and I think it looks pretty cool!

1991 Topps Magazine #TM52

Type: Magazine Card

Acquired: Cut From Magazine

I was still in shock that Bo had become a player for the White Sox at the time this card was released. It was such a change from seeing him in the Royals blue uniforms I had been accustomed to. Of course I had to have anything and everything that included a snapshot of Bo in his new pinstripes. I remember buying the Topps magazine this card was in just for this card. Not sure if you can tell, but my 10 year old self did a pretty crappy job of cutting the card above and that's okay. That makes this card uniquely mine. I'm sure no one else has this Bo card cut just like this one. Cool design from a great time in my collecting life.

1991 Pacific Flash Cards #54

Type: Base Card

Acquired: Pulled From Pack

In 1991 Pacific had the unique idea to try and use trading cards as a way to teach kids math. Not sure if it made it past this release, but I can applaud the effort. I have quite a few of these Bo math cards in my collection since my Dad bought a box of these cards for us kids. I know he got them very cheap and I thought it was a cool idea just for the fact that the set featured some of the best players of the era and thanks to this card I never forgot that 17 x 2 = 34!

1994 Pinnacle Tribute #TR4

Type: Insert Card

Acquired: Traded With Friend

When it came to Bo collecting, I was all in! If you had a Bo card I didn't have, you had better have been ready to trade on the schoolyard after lunch. I gave up a lot of some of the "HOTTEST" cards from the 90s to acquire some of these cards and this one was no different. I gave up a 1992 Deion Sanders Upper Deck SP3! Looking back that trade really wasn't a bad deal for me as I gave up one multi-sport star to acquire another. This card had me at "Bionic Bo"!

1994 Fleer #U18

Type: Base Card

Acquired: Bought Online

I don't know why I have a fascination with Bo's years in an Angels uniform? It wasn't his peak, but there is something so magnetizing to me about these years? Maybe it's because it was the last time I'd ever see Bo play in the MLB or maybe it's the oddity of seeing him out there in a new uniform. Whatever it is, I appreciate the drive this man had to continue his professional career after many would have hung up the spikes. It gave kids like me the confidence that we could do anything as long as you believed you could. Thanks for the motivation Mr. Jackson and for the entertaining way you played the game with emotion and passion! By the way I like this card! 

1994 Donruss #173

Type: Base Card

Acquired: Pulled From Pack

1994 was the year where Donruss really stepped up their baseball card game. There graphics were tamed down a bit and foil stamping was added to keep up with the more premium cards of the time. The photo on the front of the card doesn't do much for me, but at least it's something different. It's the dugout shot on the back that is the highlight of this card to me. I am a sucker for dugout shots! That's where you see the real emotions of the players. The joy after getting a big hit or the tantrums after striking out. It looks here like Bo is just waiting his turn at bat and patiently watching the batter at the plate. Maybe it was Frank Thomas or Robin Ventura?