Frank Schwindel had a short but productive major league career that spanned from 2018 to 2022. Though he didn’t play in the big leagues for very long, Schwindel made the most of his opportunities and had some strong seasons offensively. This has made his baseball cards popular collectibles, especially for fans of the Chicago Cubs where he had his best years. Let’s take a deeper look at Frank Schwindel’s career and the baseball cards that were produced depicting the former first baseman.
Schwindel was originally drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 9th round of the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft out of St. John’s University. He spent several years in the Athletics minor league system but was never able to break into their big league roster. In 2018, he made his MLB debut with the Kansas City Royals, getting into 4 games and collecting 3 hits in 10 at-bats. He would spend most of that season and the following year in Triple-A.
In 2020, Schwindel was traded to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations. This move would prove pivotal for his career as he began to thrive in the Cubs organization. That season he split time between the Cubs and their Triple-A affiliate in Iowa, hitting .342 with 5 home runs in 69 MLB at-bats. This breakout performance got the attention of collectors and 2021 Topps baseball cards featuring Schwindel from that season began appearing on the secondary market. Despite the short sample size, collectors were intrigued by his potential and these early Schwindel rookie cards gained value.
The 2021 season would be Schwindel’s big breakthrough year with the Cubs. Called up to the major league roster in July, he took advantage of an everyday playing opportunity and hit an impressive .342 with 13 home runs and 33 RBI in 56 games. Schwindel established himself as one of the bright spots in an otherwise dismal Cubs season. His success made him a popular player to collect and 2021 Topps Update Series and Allen & Ginter cards showing Schwindel in a Cubs uniform became hot commodities for fans of the team.
Heading into 2022, Schwindel was expected to be the Cubs’ starting first baseman. An early season slump combined with the emergence of rookie Alfonso Rivas led to reduced playing time. He was designated for assignment in June after batting just .202 in 36 games. Schwindel was then traded to the Athletics, returning to the organization that originally drafted him. But he wasn’t able to regain his form, hitting .186 in 33 games split between Oakland and Baltimore, who claimed him off waivers in August. Schwindel elected free agency after the 2022 season.
Despite his disappointing final MLB campaign, Schwindel’s breakout 2021 season with the Cubs made him a popular player to collect. Cards from mainstream releases like Topps Series 1, Topps Chrome, and Topps Update Series featuring Schwindel in a Cubs uniform remain some of the most in-demand items for fans. Parallel and autographed versions of these cards in particular hold premium value. Regional issues like Bowman’s Best that highlight Schwindel during his time with Chicago are highly sought after by collectors specializing in Cubs memorabilia.
While Schwindel may not have sustained big league success long-term, his ability to maximize opportunities with the Cubs in 2021 made him a fan favorite that collectors remember fondly. The unpredictability of his rise from relative obscurity only adds to the intrigue surrounding his baseball cards. For those who watched him play in his breakout campaign on the North Side, Schwindel cards serve as a nice reminder of an uplifting story during a down period for the franchise. As long as there are Cubs fans, Frank Schwindel’s cards from his time in Chicago figure to remain a popular niche in the collecting world.
