Jose Uribe was a solid major league infielder who spent parts of 11 seasons in the big leagues from 1969 to 1979. While he was never an All-Star and didn’t put up huge offensive numbers, Uribe was a reliable glove man who could play multiple infield positions. His versatility and defensive skills allowed him to carve out a lengthy career, primarily as a role player. Uribe’s baseball card collecting legacy isn’t huge, but cards from his playing days remain popular with fans of 1970s baseball memorabilia.
Uribe was signed by the Chicago White Sox as an amateur free agent in 1964 at the age of 17. He made his MLB debut with the White Sox in 1969 at just 20 years old. Uribe’s 1969 rookie card is one of the key early cards for collectors of his. The card was issued by Topps as part of their 1969 set and features a headshot of a young Uribe in a White Sox uniform on the front. The back provides statistics from Uribe’s cup of coffee in the majors in 1969, as well as information on his background and path to the big leagues. While not exceedingly rare, Uribe’s 1969 rookie card remains a staple in collections of 1970s White Sox players.
After parts of two seasons with the White Sox, Uribe was traded to the California Angels prior to the 1971 season. He responded by having his best offensive season, batting .277 with 5 home runs and 45 RBI in 132 games. Uribe’s 1971 Topps card shows him in an Angels uniform and was the first to feature stats from his first full season in the majors. Collectors enjoy finding high grade copies of Uribe’s 1971 issue in order to track his progression early in his career. The card also marks Uribe’s first appearance in the classic Angels red uniform on a baseball card.
Uribe was dealt again after the 1972 season, this time going to the New York Mets in a multiplayer trade. He enjoyed success immediately with his new club. In 1973, Uribe set career highs with a .277 batting average, 8 home runs, and 50 RBI. That breakout season is memorialized on his 1973 Topps card. The photo shows Uribe crouched in a Mets batting stance, with blue and orange colors prominently displayed. Highlighting Uribe’s performance in his first year with the Mets, the card is a favorite of collectors seeking to represent his best individual season in cardboard form.
After the 1973 campaign, Uribe continued bouncing around the league. He spent 1974 and part of 1975 with the St. Louis Cardinals before finishing the 1975 season and beginning 1976 with the San Francisco Giants. Topps issued cards for Uribe during all three of these seasons, allowing collectors to track his uniform changes. While not particularly rare on their own, finding a complete run of Uribe’s 1970s Topps issues in Cardinals, Giants, and other uniforms satisfies collectors seeking to chronicle his playing career card by card.
Uribe enjoyed his longest MLB tenure with the Houston Astros, playing parts of five seasons for them between 1976 and 1979. Topps issued cards for Uribe during all of his Astros years. His 1977 and 1978 issues in particular feature eye-catching photos, with vibrant Astros colors and classic 1970s uniforms. The 1979 Uribe card was likely the last produced for the infielder, as he played just 11 games that season before retiring. Collectors enjoy finding high grade copies of Uribe’s 1970s Astros cards to represent this late stage of his career.
In total, Uribe played in 963 major league games over 11 seasons. He compiled a .254 career batting average with 35 home runs and 305 RBI primarily as a middle infielder. While not a star player, Uribe’s versatility and defensive skills allowed him to carve out more than a decade in the majors bouncing between second base, shortstop, and third base. His baseball cards from the late 1960s and 1970s serve as affordable reminders of his steady career for collectors. In particular, Uribe’s rookie card, his best season issues from 1971 and 1973, and his run of 1970s Topps cards shifting uniforms remain highlights for those building sets from this era.
In summary, Jose Uribe didn’t put up huge offensive numbers over his 11-year MLB career. His reliability with the glove and ability to play all over the infield made him a valuable role player for six different teams in the late 1960s and 1970s. Uribe’s baseball cards from his playing days, especially his rookie issue and those showcasing his uniform changes, satisfy collectors seeking to represent his journeyman career in cardboard form. While not at the star level of some of his contemporaries, Uribe’s steady contributions to multiple pennant winners during the 1970s make his baseball cards a worthwhile pursuit for builders of sets and collections from that era.
