The 1992 Upper Deck baseball card number 436 features journeyman pitcher Chuck Cary. Cary had a remarkably long professional baseball career spanning from 1983 to 1999, though he spent the majority of his time in the minor leagues. Card #436 captures Cary during his stint with the Chicago White Sox organization in 1992.
Born in 1962 in Wichita Falls, Texas, Cary grew up loving America’s pastime. He stood out as a star pitcher at Abilene Christian University and was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 15th round of the 1984 MLB June Amateur Draft. Cary made his professional debut that same year with the Twins’ Single-A level minor league affiliate. He quickly rose through the ranks, reaching Triple-A ball by 1987. However, Cary struggled to secure an opportunity in the big leagues with Minnesota.
In 1988, Cary had a breakout season as a starter for the Triple-A Portland Beavers, Twins’ top minor league club. He posted a stellar 2.85 ERA over 175.1 innings pitched with 121 strikeouts. Despite his success, the pitching-rich Twins did not have room for Cary on their MLB roster. Prior to the 1989 season, he was selected off waivers by the Chicago White Sox. Cary began 1989 with the White Sox’s Triple-A affiliation, the Buffalo Bisons. He continued his strong pitching with a 3.50 ERA over 158 innings.
The White Sox finally gave Cary his first MLB opportunity in September of 1989. He made his major league debut on September 5th against the Baltimore Orioles, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings of relief in a White Sox victory. Cary continued to impress in brief relief appearances down the stretch. He finished his cup of coffee stint with a 0.00 ERA over 8 innings pitched. Though a small sample size, Cary showed promise as a potential MLB caliber arm.
Unfortunately for Cary, the 1990 season was a lost cause due to injury. He was sidelined for the entire campaign recovering from surgery on his right elbow. Any momentum he gained from his debut season came to a screeching halt. Cary spent all of 1991 continuing his rehab assignment with the Triple-A Vancouver Canadians, pitching just 44.2 innings. He struggled upon his return, posting an ugly 6.75 ERA. It seemed Cary’s chances of sticking in the majors may have passed him by at age 29.
However, Cary was not ready to give up on his MLB dreams just yet. Entering the 1992 season, he began the year pitching out of the Triple-A Nashville Sounds bullpen, which is where Upper Deck captured him for card #436. Though now in his 30s, Cary enjoyed a resurgent season in relief for Nashville. In 49 appearances totalling 78.2 innings, he logged a stellar 2.45 ERA with 60 strikeouts. Most impressively, Cary allowed just 56 hits all year. His consistency and solid performance earned him another September call-up to Chicago.
Cary made 5 relief appearances for the 1992 White Sox down the stretch. While he gave up 4 earned runs over 5 innings, his stuff still looked promising compared to minor league hitters. At age 30, Cary had defied the odds by earning yet another cup of coffee in the big leagues after years of battling injuries. He hoped to continue proving himself deserving of an MLB job moving forward. Unfortunately for Cary, 1993 would see him begin the year back in Triple-A with Nashville where he pitched effectively once more before his contract was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds in June.
Cary spent the remainder of 1993 and all of 1994 pitching minor league ball in the Reds and Royals systems. He bounced between Triple-A and Double-A, still putting up serviceable numbers as a left-handed reliever. In 1995 at age 33, Cary received the ultimate honor – his first outright MLB roster spot out of spring training with the Kansas City Royals. He made 27 appearances for the Royals, posting a 4.97 ERA over 44.2 innings. Cary proved he still had what it takes to be a big leaguer, even after over a decade in pro ball.
Injuries limited Cary’s effectiveness over the next two seasons split between the Royals and Tigers minor league systems. At 36 years old in 1998, he signed with the independent league St. Paul Saints of the Northern League, pitching two seasons there before hanging up his spikes at age 38 in 1999. In totality, Chuck Cary’s professional career spanned an incredible 16 seasons from 1984 to 1999. He made 32 MLB appearances for the White Sox and Royals, with a 5.04 ERA over 54.1 innings across 5 different seasons at the highest level of competition.
The 1992 Upper Deck #436 baseball card commemorates one of Chuck Cary’s later minor league seasons as he fought tooth and nail for one final shot in the majors. Though he struggled to stay healthy, Cary’s career exemplified perseverance and defying the odds through consistent strong pitching performances year after year. He proved that with hard work and determination, dreams of reaching the highest level can become reality, even if it takes an unconventional path. Cary left a lasting impression on the game through his remarkable career longevity that truly encapsulates the heart of a professional ballplayer.
