Evan Mathis had a 13-year career in Major League Baseball as a relief pitcher, primarily for the Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers, from 2005 to 2017. Though he never achieved superstar status, Mathis had a long and productive career as a dependable reliever and left his mark on the game. As a result, Mathis has a collection of baseball cards from his playing days that commemorate his MLB tenure.
One of the most prominent Evan Mathis baseball cards comes from his rookie season with the Reds in 2005. That year, Mathis made his MLB debut at age 26 after working his way up through the Reds’ farm system. In 2005, Topps captured Mathis’ rookie season with a standard base card as part of their main baseball card set. The card features a photo of Mathis in a Reds uniform from his rookie year. It provides stats from his debut 2005 season where he appeared in 21 games and posted a 3.38 ERA as a reliever. This rookie card from Topps is one of the most important in Mathis’ collection as it commemorates the beginning of his MLB career.
Another notable Evan Mathis baseball card comes from 2006, his first full season in the big leagues. That year, Mathis emerged as a reliable arm out of Cincinnati’s bullpen, appearing in 65 games and recording a 3.49 ERA. Upper Deck recognized Mathis’ breakout season with an “X Factor” insert card as part of their 2006 baseball card set. The X Factor insert set highlighted players who were stepping up and making an impact. The Mathis card features another action photo of him on the mound and provides stats from his impressive 2006 campaign. This Upper Deck X Factor card captured Mathis coming into his own as a valuable reliever.
In 2007, Mathis took his game to another level by posting career-best numbers. That season for the Reds, he recorded a 2.55 ERA and 1.077 WHIP over 73 innings pitched with opponents hitting just .213 against him. Mathis’ stellar 2007 season earned him recognition with baseball cards from several major manufacturers. Topps produced a standard base card of Mathis as part of their 2007 set. Meanwhile, Upper Deck included Mathis in their “Sweet Spot Signatures” insert set that year, featuring an on-card autograph of Mathis in addition to a photo and stats from 2007. Mathis’ dominance in 2007 is commemorated by these memorable baseball cards from Topps and Upper Deck.
After three strong seasons in Cincinnati, Mathis signed as a free agent with the Texas Rangers in 2008. That season, he continued pitching well and provided further value in a setup role. In recognition of Mathis joining the Rangers, Topps included him in their 2008 Texas Rangers team set with a photo of him in a Rangers uniform. Upper Deck also featured Mathis that year with a standard base card as part of their “All-Time Fan Favorites” insert set highlighting players from the past and present. These 2008 cards from Topps and Upper Deck marked Mathis’ career transition to Texas.
Mathis went on to spend five seasons with the Rangers from 2008-2012. He consistently delivered in relief, posting ERAs below 4.00 every year and averaging over 60 appearances per season. Throughout this time with Texas, Mathis garnered regular baseball cards. Topps included him in their main sets from 2009-2012, capturing Mathis’ contributions to the Rangers bullpen each year. Upper Deck also featured Mathis during this span with various inserts like “Gemstones” in 2009 and “In Action” in 2010. These cards from Topps and Upper Deck throughout Mathis’ Rangers tenure recognized his steadfast relief work in Texas.
After leaving the Rangers as a free agent, Mathis had brief stints with the Cincinnati Reds again in 2013 and Cleveland Indians in 2014. He received a few baseball cards during this time to acknowledge these late-career stops, including a 2014 Topps Indians team card. Mathis then wrapped up his 13-year MLB career with one final season back in Texas with the Rangers in 2017 before retiring at age 38. Although he never achieved All-Star status, Mathis enjoyed a long and memorable big league tenure. The various baseball cards issued over the course of his career commemorate Evan Mathis’ contributions as a reliable reliever for the Reds and Rangers.
Evan Mathis’ baseball card collection spans his entire 13-year MLB career from 2005-2017 and features cards from the major manufacturers like Topps, Upper Deck, and others. His rookie card, breakout seasons, team transitions, and late career stops are all represented. While he may not be a superstar, the breadth of Mathis’ baseball card collection reflects his enduring big league career spent as a valuable reliever mostly with Cincinnati and Texas. For collectors of Reds and Rangers cards, or those who appreciate underrated pitchers, Evan Mathis’ baseball cards provide an archive commemorating his steady MLB tenure.
