Pat Mahomes Sr. had a decent career as a major league baseball pitcher but is now better known as the father of NFL superstar Patrick Mahomes II. While Pat Sr. did not have the staying power or stats of an all-time great MLB player, his baseball cards from his playing days in the early 90s remain an interesting niche collectible for fans of his son. Let’s take a deeper dive into Pat Mahomes Sr.’s baseball career and the cards issued during his time in the big leagues.
Patrick Lavon Mahomes Sr. was born in 1970 in Tampa, Florida. A right-handed pitcher, he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 23rd round of the 1990 MLB Draft out of East Texas State University (now known as Texas A&M University-Commerce). Mahomes would make his big league debut with the Twins in 1992 at the age of 22. In his rookie season of 1992, Mahomes appeared in 19 games for Minnesota, all in relief, compiling an 0-1 record with a 6.06 ERA.
Some key baseball cards were issued of Mahomes during his rookie season by the major card manufacturers. In 1992 Donruss, his rookie card can be found amongst the regular baseball card base sets. The card features a colorful action photo of Mahomes on the mound in a Twins uniform. In the 1992 Fleer set, Mahomes has a standard horizontal rookie card that also uses an action shot from his time with Minnesota. The 1992 Score set included Mahomes’ first “rookie debut” card, highlighting when he broke into the majors that season.
After his 1992 rookie campaign split between the minors and majors, Mahomes spent most of the 1993 season in Triple-A ball. He returned to the Twins late that season and appeared in 10 games out of the Minnesota bullpen. His 1993 Donruss, Fleer, and Score cards can be found featuring updated photos from that season. In 1993 Upper Deck also included Mahomes amongst their rookie/trainee cards as he continued developing at the MLB level.
In 1994, Mahomes saw his most extensive big league action to date. Primarily used as a middle relief arm, he pitched in 27 games totaling 44.1 innings for the Twins. His stats that season included a 4-2 record with a respectable 3.68 ERA. Mahomes’ increased playing time led to more extensive baseball card issues in 1994 sets by manufacturers. His updated rookie cards in Donruss, Fleer, and Score showed progression from his early career years. Upper Deck also featured Mahomes in their 1994 baseball release, highlighting his solid season for Minnesota.
After three years bouncing between the Twins minor league and MLB rosters, Mahomes was traded late in 1994 spring training to the New York Mets. He spent the entire 1995 season pitching for Triple-A Norfolk in the Mets system. Not appearing in the bigs that year, Mahomes was absent from 1995 mainstream baseball card sets. Minor league and prospects sets of the time may have included him as he continued his professional career in the Mets organization.
Mahomes signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds in 1996. After starting that season in Triple-A, he received his first call up to the Reds in early July. Pitching exclusively in relief, Mahomes made 31 appearances for Cincinnati over the second half of the 1996 season. He posted a 3-1 record with 3 saves and a respectable 3.81 ERA. His performance led to his first cards as a member of the Reds organization in 1996 sets from Donruss, Fleer, and Score sporting his new uniform.
Pat Mahomes Sr. split time between the Reds and their Triple-A affiliate in 1997, before injuries began to affect his career. He underwent surgeries on his right shoulder in 1997 and 1998, limiting him to just 5 games pitched between the two seasons. With his playing career winding down, Mahomes’ final MLB card appearances came in 1997 Donruss and Fleer products showing him as a Cincinnati Reds reliever.
After rehabbing his shoulder injuries in the minors in 1999, Pat Mahomes Sr. retired from professional baseball at the age of 29. In parts of six MLB seasons from 1992-1997, he had compiled a 7-3 record with 5 saves and a 4.63 ERA in 124 appearances totaling 154.2 innings pitched. While not putting up the gaudy totals of an all-time great, Mahomes was a serviceable relief pitcher who provided useful innings for the Twins and Reds during his career.
As the father of NFL quarterback superstar Patrick Mahomes II, interest in Pat Mahomes Sr.’s own baseball playing days and the cards issued of him have risen in recent years. His rookie cards from 1992 remain the key issues for collectors looking to chronicle his career. But cards from other seasons like his first as aestablished big leaguer in 1994 for Minnesota are also popular with fans seeking to learn more about Patrick Mahomes’ baseball lineage. Overall, Pat Mahomes Sr.’s playing career was respectable if unspectacular, but his baseball cards live on as a connection to one of the biggest current stars in professional sports.
