Player Name: John Olerud
Card Sets: 1990 Bowman, Donruss, Fleer Update, Leaf, Score, Topps Traded and Upper Deck
Card Numbers: 510, 711 , 128, 237, 589, 83T and 56 respectively
Why are these cards must have?: John may possibly be one of the most forgotten players in baseball. He is a 2 time All Star and a 3 time Golden Glove winner. He played 17 seasons and hit a career 0.295/255/1230 and 500 doubles. He has two World Series rings that he got with the Toronto Blue Jays. That Upper Deck card is interesting because it features him in a regular baseball cap, as we all know he generally he almost always wore a helmet whenever he was playing baseball. It was a precaution since he suffered a brain aneurysm while playing in college. He had two great seasons once in 1993 when he went 0.363/24/117 and finished 3rd in MVP voting. Then again in 1998 when he hit 0.354/22/93 and finished 12th in MVP voting. Even though I don’t have much to say about Olerud, I think we can all agree he needs to be on this list. Boring players need a place on here too.
Scale of 1 – 10, how must have are these cards: 5, he was one of the most low key players to ever play the game. Statistically, he was above average, baseball personality – wise he was below average, hence the rating of a 5. The cards run anywhere from $1 – $2 depending on which manufacturer and whether or not it’s graded.
Interesting that Score, Leaf, and Fleer have him playing four different positions his rookie year. Maybe he did? Of course he played first base and he most certainly could have DHed, but score saying he played outfield and pitched when he is wearing a firstbaseman’s mitt? I might have to check baseball reference on this one.
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As a sophomore at Washington State, Olerud won Baseball America’s College Player of the Year Award in 1988 after going 15-0 and hitting .464. After suffering a aneurysm during a workout prior to his Junior year season Olerud followed with another successful hitting campaign and decent pitching campaign (especially given the circumstances and prospect of never playing baseball again) but he encouraged teams to pass him over in the draft expecting to return for his senior season. The Blue Jays drafted him anyway and had a scout follow him around during the college summer leagues in Alaska to determine if Olerud was ready for the bigs. After following olerud around for several weeks and watching him swing 49 times before Olerud ever missed a ball, the scout indicated to the Jays that Olerud was Major League ready NOW. Olerud signed soon after getting 1st pick money and a promise to start in the bigs. He singled in his first big league at bat in the heat of a pennant race. With Fred Mcgriff in his way it was expected that Olerud would DH and play 1B on occasion until he was ready to replace McGriff. The Blue Jays were also seriously giving consideration to Olerud pitching as well which indicates why some of the card companies listed his position as pitcher along with dh/1b. In the end Olerud’s best chance at success was as a hitter and as such the he put his focus into hitting and learning how to play defense at the major league level.
AS far as Rookies go Olerud’s scarcist issue is a Score McDonald’s card which was only distributed in a few states as a promotion. That particular card will set you back $5 to $15. For a full list of all of Olerud’s Rookies and more you can check out my website where I have began documenting my collection.