Player Name: Carl Crawford
Sets From: 2000 Bowman, Bowman Chrome, Topps Traded. Topps Chrome Traded.
Why are these cards a must have?: I have to admit, this is one that I originally didn’t think deserved to be on this list. Then I got some emails that were upset that I would include so and so and not Crawford. So I took a look at his numbers and you know what, he does belong on this list. I think originally it was thought that he was going to be a perennial 20-20 guy, if not 30-30. Although he is not going to be that guys he will be a 40+ SB guy and hit around 0.290 for most of the rest of his career. At 27, this should be his big maturing year for him. His 162 game average is 0.293/12/76/53, which would be an ideal lead off guy for almost any team. Overall he has two All Star selections and a MVP finish. I think he’s going to finish with close to 600 stolen bases and 2500 hits. Far below what he would need to get into the Hall of Fame.
On a scale of 1 – 10, how must have are these cards: 3, he’s another guy midway through his career, right now a 3 but could become a 5 or 6. In the book they run about $1 – $6 on eBay you can find it for around $1 – $3. The autographed version of the Topps Traded card will run you around $8.
I’ve resigned myself to the fact that Crawford is never going to be a superstar. Like you said, the power never developed. Also, he doesn’t walk much, so his OBP is lower than what you’d want from a leadoff guy. On the plus side, he plays very good defense and has blazing speed. There’s nothing better than seeing him hit a triple.
Crawford will be a free agent after 2010, and unless he starts producing more, I’d be surprised to see him with the Rays after that point. Watch out for Desmond Jennings as his replacement. He’s absolutely dominating Double-A right now, and we might be seeing him in Durham by the end of the season.
I am really wondering about who is sending you emails demanding that you write a post about Crawford’s rookie cards. Just in case anyone out there is wondering if it was me (since I’m a huge Rays fan), it was not.
Baseballbriefs.com tracking back The Definitive Collection (Baseball Edition) – 1999 – Carl Crawford…
Baseballbriefs.com tracking back The Definitive Collection (Baseball Edition) – 1999 – Carl Crawford…