Random Cards From My Collection #45

Card #11346
2002 Topps #188 Craig Biggio

Comments on the card: I don't care what anyone says I like 2002 Topps. White borders can be so boring.
When acquired: Don't know exactly but probably in 2002.
How acquired: Don't know
Player's season: 2002 saw Biggio at the lowest batting average of his career to date, hitting only .253. He would pick things up again in 2003 and 2004.

Card 2292
1993 Fleer Final Edition #71 Gary Sheffield

Comments on the card: The Update set had the same design as the main set. This was one of the better Fleer sets of the 1990s, featuring a large photo on the front and some bold graphics on the back.
When acquired: The set was only available as a factory set and I'm pretty sure I bought the set when new.
How acquired: Don't know
Player's season: Sheffield came to the Marlins in mid-1993 as part of a trade which sent Trevor Hoffman to the Padres. He hit .293 in 72 games for the Marlins with 10 home runs.

Card #7538
2005 Bowman Draft Picks Chrome #151 Shin-Soo Choo

Comments on the card: As usual, 2005 Bowman Draft Picks featured the same design as the regular Bowman set. In my opinion, one of the worst Bowman designs. I never liked the fake autograph signing area that Bowman used for several years. In 2005, the signing area is almost half the photo.
When acquired: I bought a blaster box from Target in December 2005
How acquired: Paid $0.36/card.
Player's season: Choo had been signed as a free agent by the Mariners in 2000. He made his major league debut in 2005 but only appeared in 10 games, hitting only .056 in 21 at bats.

Card #10738
2008 Upper Deck Timeline #133 Greg Maddux

Comments on the card: Just as Topps has done for years, this Upper Deck mined their own past for card designs. The set featured several designs from past Upper Deck sets. This design was from the 1994 Upper Deck All-Time Heroes set.
When acquired: I bought a blaster box in November 2008.
How acquired: Paid $0.28/card.
Player's season: Maddux finished his career in 2008 as a Dodger, having been traded by the Padres in August for several minor league players. He was 2-4 for the Dodgers in 7 starts with an ERA of 5.09.

Card #25035
2011 Topps #237 Jason Vargas

Comments on the card: Dull design.
When acquired: I bought a Series 1 blaster in February 2011.
How acquired: Paid $0.25/card.
Player's season: Vargas was 10-13 with the Mariners in 2011 with a 4.25 ERA and 131 strikeouts.

Card #14263
2000 E-X Genuine Coverage Mike Mussina

Comments on the card: Nice. I like the uniform label design. Kine of dull jersy swatch however.
When acquired: I bought this with a bunch of other relic cards at the TriStar Baseball Card Show in Houston in January 2010.
How acquired: Paid $2.50. Can't beat the price.
Player's season: Mussina was 11-14 for the Orioles with a 3.79 ERA. He appeared in a league-leading 237.2 innings. It was his first, and only, losing season.

Card #21240
1992 Studio #19 Gary Scott

Comments on the card: Studio's second year of production. I like the superposition of the color studio portrait on the b/w action photo. I don't much card for the border color.
When acquired: Probably acquired when new.
How acquired: Don't know.
Player's season: There's not much to say about Gary Scott. Although he was the Cub's 2nd round draft pick in 1989, his career consisted of 67 games over 2 seasons (36 in 1992) and a career batting average of .162.

Card #7734
1992 Pinnacle #202 Cal Ripken Jr.

Comments on the card: Pinnacle's first year of production. This was a pretty nice set with a number of innovative subset cards.
When acquired: Probably acquired when new.
How acquired: Don't know.
Player's season: The streak was still going, Camden Yards opened and maybe Cal was getting a bit tired. He only hit .251 in 1992, the lowest BA of his career except for his final year.

Card #35969
2010 Upper Deck #479 Gabe Gross

Comments on the card: Upper Deck's last set. They'd lost their MLB license and tried to get by with out showing team logos or team names. MLB sued them after Series 1 was issued and there never was a Series 2. Just as well.
When acquired: Acquired in a Fairfield Extreme Value repack in October 2012.
How acquired: Paid $0.07/per card for the repack.
Player's season: In his 7th (and last) season, Gross hit .239 (his career average) in 105 games with the A's.

Card #9933
2008 Topps Allen & Ginter US State Cards #11 Shane Victorino

Comments on the card: This was the 2008 Allen & Ginter one-card per pack insert. Not a bad idea.
When acquired: August 2008 from a blaster box
How acquired: Paid $0.25/card
Player's season: The Flyin' Hawaiian hit .293 and stole 36 bags for the Phillies in 2008. And, of course, the Phillies won the World Series.