Bat across the shoulders

After getting several 2010 Allen & Ginter cards featuring players in the classic bat-across-the-shoulders pose, I decided to make a post of the cards I had scanned of this pose. Turns out I had 18 cards with this pose going back to the 1980s and featuring a number of players and card brands. So here we go.


2010 Allen & Ginter Matt Kemp #62For the pose to work the best, I think the player has to look sort of like Kemp looks here. Sort of dangerous, sort of "You lookin' at me?'. You also have to have the batting stats and Kemp does.

2010 Allen & Ginter Manny Ramirez #220
Manny manages "the look" but hair... He's got the chops, however.

2010 Allen & Ginter Miguel Tejada #8
Tejada looks like he's amused that he was asked to pose this way.

2009 Topps 206 Dexter Fowler #153
Dexter isn't taking this too seriously either. This pose works well on a horizontal card, but this design doesn't.

2009 Topps 206 Greg Golson #74
I'm not sure that Golson has the right attitude, which maybe he doesn't considering he's a former #1 draft pick who's managed 12 at-bats (hitting .167) over the past 3 years.

2009 Topps Turkey Red Albert Pujols #71
Albert's got the 'tude. Looks like he could break that bat over his neck if he wanted to.

2008 Upper Deck Ryan Howard #604
Like Pujols, Ryan has it, and like Albert, he's got the stats to back him up.

2008 Topps Michael Bourn #368
I like Bourn but he's not a power hitter. Speed is his style. He looks like a trickster here, which he should, as a base stealer.

2006 Ultra Carlos Delgado #88
Delgado has the power but he looks pretty disinterested in this shot. I think this design works well in horizontal.

1999 Upper Deck MVP Alex Rodriguez # 191
Alex, from two teams ago. He's got the power but he looks too friendly for the pose.

1994 Collector's Choice Silver Signature
No power, no average. What's he doing in this pose?

1994 Upper Deck Pete Incaviglia #491
Don't mess with Inky, or his 'stach.

1993 Upper Deck Manny Ramirez #433
Who is this baby-faced guy? Manny? Really?

1992 Studio Royce Clayton #115
111 home runs over a 17 year career doesn't add up to a power hitter. But you don't manage to stay in the big leagues without some talent. Speed and defense made Clayton.

1991 Fleer Pro Visions Mark McGwire #4
Pre-enhanced Mark McGwire.

1990 Score Bo Jackson #697
You knew him, you loved him. All this card says on the back is BO.

1988 Fleer Baseball All Stars Wade Boggs #2
Not a great amount of power but the guy could hit. In 1988 his average was .366.

1987 Fleer Record Setters Ben Oglivie #26
Olgivie had the power, 235 home runs and 901 RBIs. Doesn't look too frightening however.