Player Name: Jeff Bagwell
Card Sets: 1990 Bowman, Donruss – Rookies, Fleer Update, Score Rookies, Stadium Club, Studio, Topps Traded, Ultra Update and Upper Deck
Card Numbers: 183, 30, 87, 96T, 388, 4T, 82 and 755 respectively
Why are these cards must have?: 9 rookie cards. So Red Sox fans, was he worth giving up for Larry Anderson? One of the worst trades in baseball history (retrospectively of course). This is the year that the set population exploded. Jeff may not have to stats to be in the Hall of Fame, but he should get there anyways. He falls under the Ozzie Smith category. He was so good and so popular, that it’s hard to leave him out of the Hall. He career numbers are 0.297/449/1529/202, which are way above average, however it’s not 500 home runs. What will get him in is his Rookie of the Year, an MVP, 4 All Star selections, 3 Silver Sluggers, and a Golden Glove. I hate how he was essentially run out of town, or how his health deteriorated so quickly. I never want to point fingers, or make accusations, but he did have a teammate very into steroids (Ken Caminitti), his best numbers are smack dab in the middle of the steroid era, his body fell apart right around the time of drug testing, forcing him to retire. I’m just saying sometimes, it’s convenient to look past the obvious because the player is so well loved. I’m sure there are a lot of people that are going to disagree, but look at his stats, during the 1997-2002 region his numbers took a jump. I know he will never fall under scrutiny, and I’m sure he is a first ballot Hall of Famer.
Scale of 1 – 10, how must have are these cards: 9, regardless of my theories, his stats dictate him as to one of the best ever to play the game. His numbers are amazing and his popularity is second to none . The cards run anywhere from $1 – $2 depending on which manufacturer and whether or not it’s graded. The Ultra Update card is by far and away the most valuable of the bunch, routinely going for around $4.
I’m not one of those guys who accuses everyone who played during the steroid area as using steroids. In fact, I often defend certain players when others accuse them of juicing (Shawn Green comes to mind).
But you’re right, the whole Bagwell scenario seems a little suspicious.
Those ’91 Ultras are really starting to growing on me.