Kole Calhoun is an outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks who spent the first seven years of his MLB career with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. As a consistent performer and contributor to playoff teams, Calhoun has developed a dedicated fanbase that enjoys collecting his baseball cards.
Calhoun was originally drafted by the Angels in the 8th round of the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Arizona State University. He made his major league debut with the Angels in 2012 and would play parts of six seasons with them before being traded to the Diamondbacks prior to the 2020 season. In that initial 2012 campaign, Calhoun only appeared in 35 games and collected 37 total at-bats, limiting his representation in the baseball card sets released that year.
It wasn’t until 2013 that Calhoun started to receive regular playing time with the Angels and gain more notice from collectors. Panini released Calhoun’s first Prizm card that year followed by Bowman, Topps, and others featuring his rookie season. Although raw production-wise it was a stepping stone campaign, it gave fans their first cards to chase of the burgeoning outfielder. Calhoun showed promising tools and an improving bat that hinted at him becoming a regular in the Angels’ lineup.
2014 was Calhoun’s first full major league season and he broke out with 21 home runs and a .273 batting average while playing above average defense in right field. This established performance made him a hot commodity for collectors. Topps Chrome had one of the more sought-after Calhoun rookie cards from this year featuring his bright orange Angels uniform and a shiny chrome finish. Bowman Sterling also debuted that year with its first Calhoun parallel refractor short-print card. Upper Deck included multiple parallel and autographed variants too which added to the excitement around one of the Angels’ emerging young stars.
In 2015, Calhoun took his game to another level by hitting a career-high 22 home runs and driving in 72 RBI while becoming a mainstay in the middle of the Angels’ batting order. Panini Stripe Show delivered an eye-catching parallel stripe design variation of Calhoun that stands out in any collection. Also that year, Topps Tier One offered collectors the chance at rare Calhoun autographed and memorabilia cards numbered to just 25 copies each. These rarer Parallel and autographed cards fueled a rise in interest from obsessive Calhoun fans.
Calhoun continued delivering flashy plays and clutch hits for the Angels over the next two seasons, helping them reach the postseason in 2014 and 2015. Despite battling injuries in 2016, Calhoun hit 12 home runs in just 80 games played. The playoff experiences and postseason heroics increased demand for Calhoun cards, especially from those series. Upper Deck included several inserts from Calhoun’s playoff exploits in high-end sets like Ultimate Collection. Even with the missed time in 2016, Calhoun remained a focal point in the Angels’ lineup when healthy.
In 2017, Calhoun enjoyed one of the finest seasons of his career at the plate by hitting a career-high 33 home runs and driving in 72 RBI to go along with 17 stolen bases. Topps paid homage to this breakout year with a popular Rainbow Foil Variation parallel showing the colors of the rainbow around Calhoun’s picture. Panini also crafted an illuminating Prismatic parallel highlighting Calhoun’s 2017 season highlights. Collectors lauded this campaign as Calhoun’s arrival among the league’s premier slugging outfielders.
Calhoun continued helping push the Angels to relevance in 2018, playing in 150 games and providing one of the American League’s best offensive and defensive combinations in right field. He appeared on High-Tek inserts from Topps highlighting hard-hit balls and web gems. Calhoun also received shiny Parallels from Topps Allen & Ginter showcasing his smooth left-handed swing in brilliant refractions. This stability kept Calhoun as a priority for Angels collectors looking for the team’s present and futurestars.
Sadly, the 2019 season was plagued by injuries for Calhoun and limited him to just 102 games played and career-low production. That didn’t curb enthusiasm from Calhoun card fans seeking to maintain their collections. Panini Flawless captured Calhoun’s excellence even through injury with rare 1/1 Memorabilia cards featuring game-used memorabilia. Calhoun’s toughness resonated with collectors as they hoped for a rebound in 2020.
When the 2020 season rolled around, Calhoun was traded to the Diamondbacks in December 2019 for pitcher Jared Walsh. This marked both an end of an era for Calhoun Angels collectors but also opened up new interesting as a D-Back. Topps project 2020 gave collectors Calhoun’s first cards in his new uniform which created buzz. Panini Contenders also highlighted Calhoun’s change of scenery with short prints. Ultimately, the 2020 season provided a career renaissance as Calhoun enjoyed one of the finest offensive campaigns of his career driving in 75 RBI for Arizona in just 57 games played before opting out due to COVID-19 pandemic concerns. Calhoun’s perseverance inspired new Diamondbacks supporters adding to his growing fanbase among collectors.
Looking ahead, Calhoun signed a new contract to remain with Arizona for 2022, ensuring more collectibles are on the way. Recent years have shown Calhoun develop into a consistent 25 home run, 75 RBI producer and a leader in the clubhouse. As long as he stays productive, demand for hitting, memorabilia and autograph cards should endure among Angels and Diamondbacks collectors devoted to this slugger’s long and consistent big league career thus far. With continued strong play, Calhoun seems destined to achieve career milestones that could further enshrine him as a prized commodity for dedicated collectors following along with each step of his professional baseball journey.
In summary, Kole Calhoun has proven to be an engaging subject for collectors over his 10-year MLB career thanks to memorable playoff moments, changes of scenery, and consistent offensive production. Across various brands, parallels, autographs and more – Calhoun cards continue delivering for enthusiasts invested in his success with the Angels, Diamondbacks and beyond. As his career progresses, his collectibles should remain popular for those appreciating Calhoun’s dedication, power, and excellence on the diamond.
