Player: Darryl Strawberry
Set: 1983 Topps
Card Number: T108
Why is These Cards are Must Have?: I bet most of you were thinking the 1984 Topps, Donruss, and Fleer threesome, but this is way more desirable than those three. Plus this is his true rookie card, unlike the 1982 Topps traded Ripken. Many of you see a player who wasted his career on drugs. I see a player who had one of the most prolific first 9 years of his career in baseball history. After those first9 years, people were ready for him to finish his career and enter the Hall of Fame. I saw him play in 1985 and that day he almost hit for the cycle, he actually could have but hit 2 home runs instead of eking out a single. He was one of the most talented players I had ever seen play and although his amazing career got cut short thanks to his many trips to rehab and many injuries. This card represented the Holy Grail when I was growing up since you had to get it as a set (1983 Topps Traded). I remember this card going in the $80 rang back in 1985 and 1986. At somepoint I need to add this one to my collection, but right now it’s just too much.
On a Scale of 1 to 10, How Must Have Are These Cards?: A 9, he will never be a Hall of Famer, but he will certainly live on as an enigma of modern sports. He’ll be the guy that could have had a legendary career if he just didn’t . . . . You can find these cards for between $15 – $30 on eBay (more if graded).
Strawberry’s not the first ball player to be proclaimed the next great thing years before he made it to the majors, but he was the first one I came across when I was growing up. I remember reading stories about him three years before he hit the bigs. It’s just too bad his downfall came when he was playing for my favorite team.
Yeah, what a career he could’ve had… check out his minor league numbers, too. He was an absolute, can’t miss prospect.
Very cool to see this card featured; click on my name and you’ll see that I have a site dedicated to Straw and his cards!
Back in the late 80s Beckett had him on the (I think it was the back)cover with a picture of this card.
I cut the “card” out and still have it (somewhere) to this day.