Baseball Superior, Series 60. Digital Design Reimagining by Aaron Kleiber

Celebrating the DESIGN of the TOPPS 1960 SET *COPYRIGHT TOPPS*

"This 8-card collection honors the legends of the Negro Leagues, reimagined in iconic baseball card designs of the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. As a child, I was enamored by the bold graphics and vibrant designs of vintage cards from classic brands that I picked up at flea markets, I had to collect the coolest designs (and my fave players). However, I was struck by the absence of the Negro League stars, some of the greats that I knew of. As a student in the Steel Valley, an essay on the Homestead Grays—the powerhouse Negro League team from my hometown—solidfied my fascination with their super hero like stories but also a deep empathy for the ' underdogs' that were'nt allowed in the 'big leagues.' So this project blends my lifelong love of storytelling, vintage design, history and my favorite baseball team. It’s my way of honoring those legendary players who weren’t in the cards I grew up collecting and reimagining something that could have been."
​-- Aaron Kleiber

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1 of 8. JOSH GIBSON, Catcher.
​​​Baseball Superior, Series 60.

Follow, Donate and Cheer on the @joshgibsonfoundation

2 of 8. OSCAR CHARLESTON, Center Field, 1st Base, Manager.
​​Baseball Superior, Series 60.

Known as one of the most prolific managerial minds and mentors in baseball history along wth an ironman ability at most positions and at bat.
Help the Oscar Charleston Society make a film about him, donate here: https://sagamoreinstitute.org/oscar-charleston/

3 of 8. COOL PAPA BELL, Outfield.
​Baseball Superior, Series 60.

Every great ball team needs speed and stolen bases, Bell was that player for these championship teams. St. Louis ‘28, ‘30, ‘31; Crawfords ‘33, ‘35, ‘36; Homestead ‘43, ‘44, ‘45. 
The fastest man in baseball. Period. 
"Cool Papa" played on three of the greatest teams in the history of black baseball: the St. Louis Stars who won championships in 1928, 1930, and 1931; the great Pittsburgh Crawfords teams, of l932-1936, often called the best team ever in black baseball; and after returning from five years "south of the border," the Homestead Grays of 1943-1945 for the last three of their nine consecutive championships.

4 of 8. RAY DANDRIDGE, 3rd Base.
​​​Baseball Superior, Series 60.

Everything I’ve read makes him sound like a solid, serious ‘Terminator’ at third base, with a controlled bat to match. Laser focus as a manager. Also mentor to a young Willie Mays, just before being called up to the Giants.

5 of 8. BUCK LOENARD, 1st Base.
​​​Baseball Superior, Series 60.

The true ‘iron man’ of Homestead long before it was called ‘Steel Valley’, Buck played his entire career with the Homestead Grays as THE cornerman at 1st. An offensive power also, dubbed the ‘thunder twins’ with teammate Josh Gibson, hurting baseballs from 1937-1946. Rated among the top 50 ball players in history, having never played in MLB. 
Check out, visit, & donate to https://www.buckleonard.org

6 of 8. SATCHEL PAIGE, Pitcher.
​​​​Baseball Superior, Series 60.

What is there to say about the best pitcher ever? 

“The truth is that Satchel Paige had been hacking away at baseball’s color bar decades before the world got to know Jackie Robinson. Satchel laid the groundwork for Jackie the way A. Philip Randolph, W.E.B. DuBois, and other early Civil Rights leaders did for Martin Luther King Jr. Paige was as much a poster boy for Black baseball as Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong was for Black music and Paul Robeson was for the Black stage — and much as those two became symbols of their art in addition to their race, so Satchel was known not as a great Black pitcher but a great pitcher. In the process, Satchel Paige, more than anyone, opened to Blacks the national pastime and forever changed his sport and this nation.”
‘Satchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend’ (New York: Random House, 2008)

7 of 8. 1931 HOMESTEAD GRAYS. Cumberland Posey, Manager.
​​​​Baseball Superior, Series 60.

Late 1930, Negro League president and pioneer Rube Foster passes away leaving 1931 without a professional black baseball league. University of Pittsburgh grad, Cumberland Posey, decides to make the best of it and puts together one of the best baseball clubs in existence playing anyone and everyone. The Homestead Grays one over 143 games, scored over 1400 runs, captured every series of three or more games, had two consecutive winning streaks of 17 games -  finishing the year 143-29-2. 
Read the whole story here: https://www.mlb.com/history/negro-leagues/features/this-may-be-the-best-club-ever

8 of 8. JOSH GIBSON, ALL-STAR.
​​​​Baseball Superior, Series 60.

Follow, Donate and Cheer on the @joshgibsonfoundation

9 of 8. SOL WHITE.
Ballplayer, Manager, Historian, Author & Journalist
​​​​Baseball Superior, Series 60, FOIL CARD.

Truly one of THE key figures who recorded the history of black baseball in real-time from 1895-1925. More than record, contributed to the assembly and management of one of the best teams in baseball history; Philadelphia Black Giants from 1904-1907.

CHECKLIST, Series 60.
DESIGNER, Aaron Kleiber. creative/actor/comedian.

​A creative producer, comedian and actor. A lover of history, design and his hometown f Homestead, Pennsylvania.

*Creative Disclaimer* Aaron Kleiber Creative or Grover’s Superior do not own the rights to the photographs or original Topps card designs depicted in this project. These designs are created solely as a tribute to honor and celebrate the legacy of Negro League Baseball players and the artistry of vintage baseball cards. This is a creative art project for homage and historical appreciation.