Players retiring in 2014 (almost non-Jeter edition) Part 2

Besides Jeter, there were three other players who announced their retirement in 2014 that I didn't cover yesterday. I'm going to slip in one Jeter card.

Alfonso Soriano
1999 Topps Traded #65

2014 Bowman #120

Soriano started his career in Japan, playing for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. He didn't like it there and broke his contract to sign with the Yankees. The Carp threatened legal action against MLB but nothing came of it. Although Soriano has had problems during his career, both on-field and with management, he has had a very productive career. He hit 412 home runs, putting him at #50 on the all time homer list. His career batting average is .270 and he has stolen 289 bases. In 2006 he joined Jose Conseco, Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez in the 40-40 club (40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a season). He was a 6-time All-Star in his 15-year career and was the 2004 All-Star MVP. Back with the Yankees in 2014, he struggled at the plate as a DH and was released in July.

Mark Teahen
2007 Topps Turkey Red #181

2010 Topps Allen & Ginter #225

Teahen was the #1 draft pick of the A's in 2002 and made his ML debut in 2005 with the Royals. The earliest card of his I have scanned is the 2007 Turkey Red. His last major league game was on 9/28/11. He spent the next two years in the minor leagues and went unsigned by anyone in 2014. He announced his retirement in December 2014. He finished his 7-year career, mainly as an infielder, with a .264 average and 67 home runs.

Josh Willingham
2006 Fleer Tradition #99

2014 Topps Heritage #340

Willingham was the Marlins 17th round draft pick in 2000. He made his major league debut with the Marlins in 2004. He had appeared on cards before 2006 but this is the earliest card I have scanned. 2006 was his breakout year anyway, having appeared in only 26 games prior to that. Although he was primarily an outfielder during his career, for half of his games prior to 2006 he was a catcher, which I guess explains that 2006 Fleer Tradition card. He was a career .253 hitter with 195 home runs. He finished his career with the Royals and got to the plate 4 times in the 2014 playoffs, getting one hit and 2 strikeouts.

Derek Jeter
1993 Bowman #511

My best early Jeter card.