Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Players I Collect - Robert Alomar

There are a number of players which I specifically collect even though they are not Phillies or Astros. These players go into binders rather into the boxes with the ordinary guys. I started this series of showcasing cards of players I collect some time ago with Jim Abbott but didn't continue it. Let me get to the next player on the alphabetical list.

There are some players whom I collect that later in their careers I wonder why I'm collecting them. Not so with Roberto Alomar. Regarded by many as one of the best second basemen in baseball history, he won more Gold Gloves (10) than any other player at second. He was no slouch at the plate either, batting .300 in his 17-year career, with 2,724 hits, 210 home runs and 474 stolen bases. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2011, in his second year of eligibility.

I own 183 of his cards. Here are some of my favorites.

1988 Donruss Rookies #35
Roberto started his career after being signed by the Padres in 1985. He joined his brother, Sandy on the team in 1988.

1989 Fleer #630

1990 Upper Deck #346
In December 1990, he was traded with Joe Carter to the Blue Jays for Tony Fernandez and Fred McGriff.

1992 Stadium Club #159
He was with the Jays for 5 years and an All-Star every year. The Jays won the World Series in 2 of his years there, 1992 and 1993. Alomar is the first player to go into the Hall of Fame as a Blue Jay and the Jays have retired his number.

1993 Topps Black Gold #23
1995 Fleer All-Fleer #2
1996 SPx Gold #1
In December 1995, he signed a signed a 3-year, $17MM contract with the Orioles.

1998 Upper Deck 10th Anniversary Preview #26

1999 Crown Royal #41
In 1999, he rejoined with his brother on the Indians.

2001 Fleer Showcase Sticks

2002 Topps 206 #185
In December 2001, Roberto was traded by the Indians to the Mets.

2003 Bowman Heritage #57
And in July 2003, he was traded to the White Sox.

2004 Leaf Exhibits

2004 Topps Cracker Jack #138
In late 2003, he signed as a free agent with the Diamondbacks who traded him back to the White Sox during the 2004 season. In early 2005 he signed with the Rays but retired in March before the season began.

3 comments:

Hackenbush said...

Pretty healthy collection. Lots of nice ones there.

BASEBALL DAD said...

After aal these years I never knew you collected other players ! Do you have want/have lists? I have a lot of non-Indian Alomars (probably some Indian dupes as well).

capewood said...

Thanks Jack. I don't actually actively collect a player. Some players I'm more interested and when I get a card of them they go into a binder instead of box. I will sometime search for relics of a particular player but I don't maintain want lists.