Attending to play for the group you grew up rooting for was a dream come true for a lot of massive league stars. Some spent the vast majority of their careers with that one group, whereas others solely made transient stints. Both method, there are some nice playing cards of them that I’d wish to deliver consideration to. Listed below are my favorites in no explicit order.
Sandy Koufax – 1963 Fleer
The 1963 Fleer set, simply 66 playing cards, featured many all-time greats reminiscent of Roberto Clemente, Bob Gibson, Willie Mays and Carl Yastrzemski. I actually like its easy design, with the yellow diamond within the decrease left nook. It was Fleer’s first go at baseball playing cards that resulted in authorized motion from Topps and a hiatus that lasted till 1980. Sandy Koufax was born and raised in Brookyln, and signed with the Dodgers in 1954 as a bonus child. On the time, he was a pupil on the College of Cincinnati. Earlier than pitching for the Bearcats, Koufax walked-on the basketball group. 1963 was arguably the best season of his profession. Whereas the Dodgers had already left Ebbets Subject for his or her new residence in Los Angeles, Koufax received the Cy Younger, NL MVP and the pitching Triple Crown that yr. He was additionally named World Collection MVP for his dominance within the Dodgers sweep of the Yankees. For his 1963 Fleer Card, I like the eye to element that the pitcher within the yellow diamond is left-handed.
Barry Larkin – 1990 Donruss
1990 Donruss is quintessential junk wax. Lots of people dislike the intense crimson border, but it surely works for me with groups that match the colour like Cincinnati. Larkin spent his whole 19-year profession with the Reds, successful the World Collection together with his hometown group in 1990 over the Oakland Athletics. He received the NL MVP in 1995, main Cincinnati to a primary place end within the NL Central, finally falling to the Braves within the NLCS. Earlier than the Reds drafted him fourth total within the 1985 draft out of the College of Michigan, he attended Archbishop Moeller Excessive College. Different notable Archbishop Moeller alumni embody Buddy Bell and Ken Griffey Jr.. Larkin’s 1990 Donruss card exhibits him at bat shut up from the aspect. The composition appears to be like nice right here. This might be a pleasant group set to place collectively on show for any Reds followers.
Joe Mauer – 2003 Topps
One of many latest members of the Corridor of Fame, Joe Mauer is a legend within the Twin Cities. Rising up in Saint Paul, he was among the finest athletes within the nation, excelling in each baseball and soccer. The Twins drafted him first total in 2002. Once I consider Joe Mauer, I feel “catcher”. Whereas he did make the transfer over to first later in his profession, he was nonetheless among the finest catchers of the 2000s. His 2003 Topps prospects card has a blue border and is shared with one other Twins nice, Justin Morneau. The 2 of them can be named AL MVP, Morneau in 2006, Mauer in 2009. The ‘03 card has Mauer in his catcher’s gear. The same photograph is used for his standalone card within the 2004 Topps set, but it surely’s arduous to say in the event that they’re from the identical shoot or not. Mauer has a 2002 Topps draft picks rookie the place he’s holding a bat on his shoulder, however I a lot want the cardboard with Morneau.
Nolan Ryan – 1985 Topps
The Ryan Specific was nonetheless going robust when he signed his document breaking cope with the Astros. Ryan grew up south of Houston in Alvin and spent 9 years with the group. The 1985 Topps set featured rookies of Roger Clemens, Eric Davis, Dwight Gooden, Mark McGwire and Kirby Puckett. Ryan’s card is one other that stands out to me. Once more, it’s somewhat easy however nonetheless appears to be like fairly sharp. His throwing movement is sort of parallel to the slanted font of the group identify. I additionally love the previous Astrodome brand. There’s a very good steadiness of colours right here, too. With Houston, Ryan first broke the all-time strikeouts document in 1983. He threw his fifth profession no-hitter at residence versus the Dodgers on September twenty sixth, 1981. His rookie card is among the most iconic (and costly) within the interest. This one is a extra affordable buy.
Rickey Henderson – 1982 Topps
The Man of Steal stole a profession excessive 130 bases in 1982. His ‘82 Topps card exhibits him in a low crouch, getting a very good lead off first base. Rickey’s main league profession started in 1979 and led to 2003, so there’s loads of his playing cards to select from. There’s so much to love concerning the 1982 design. The stripes on the aspect, imitated in future units, are inexperienced and pink for the Athletics playing cards. Just a few different groups, just like the Dodgers and the Mets, additionally featured pink of their design. I like that they tried one thing totally different right here, as an alternative of simply choosing the normal group colours. His facsimile signature is one other good contact. Henderson grew up in Oakland and was drafted by the A’s out of highschool, later debuting on the age of 20. He was traded to the Yankees after the 1984 season. Rickey was dealt again to the Athletics in ‘89, serving to his hometown group win the World Collection within the Battle of the Bay versus the Giants. He adopted this up with an MVP marketing campaign in 1990, and broke Lou Brock’s document for probably the most stolen bases of all time in 1991. Merely put, one of many biggest. Relaxation in Peace, Rickey.
Honorable Mentions
Neil Walker PROS, Pirates – 2005 Topps Updates and Highlights #105
Brandon Crawford RC, Giants – 2011 Topps Replace #234
Jason Heyward, Braves – 2014 Topps Collection One #212
David Freese WS, Cardinals – 2012 Topps Collection One #291
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