Kurt Stillwell

Who: Shortstop Kurt Stillwell

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1987 Topps

Acquired: TTM 2/2 9/28/2009 (233 days)

Comments: Great things come to those who wait, and it held true in this case. Kurt is the latest addition to the '87 Topps Reds Project, bringing me to 23 of 35 cards signed. Getting there, slowly, but surely. This one took a while to get back, 233 days, but I'm happy it's home now.

Kurt was once the future shortstop of the Reds, then Barry Larkin came along. We all know how that story ended. Kurt went on to have a respectable career with the Royals and a few other teams, even earning an All-Star appearance in 1998 - in Cincinnati, no less.

I really dig this card of Kurt. A nice spring training shot with Kurt probably taking a throw from the plate just after the pitcher finished their warm-up. The quintessential ad-filled spring training complex wall is coloring the background nicely, allowing Kurt's casual stroll to the bag to really pop off the card. Great stuff from Topps.