Alex Avila Baseball Card History and Collecting Overview
Alex Avila has had a fascinating career in Major League Baseball since debuting with the Detroit Tigers in 2009. As both a talented catcher and left-handed power hitter, Avila found success early in his career and developed a strong fan following that has led to an interesting collection of baseball cards. In this in-depth overview, we will trace Avila’s baseball card history from his rookie cards through his time with multiple teams and look at some of the top cards for collectors to seek out.
Avila was drafted by the Tigers in the 5th round of the 2008 MLB Draft out of the University of Alabama. He quickly moved through the Tigers’ farm system and made his MLB debut in 2009 at just 22 years old. Avila’s rookie card came in 2009 Topps and Topps Opening Day, both showing him in a Tigers uniform with nice on-card rookie logos. While not overly valuable today due to high print runs, these remain key first cards for any Avila collector. Avila had a solid rookie season, playing in 80 games and hitting .249 with 8 home runs in part-time duty.
In 2010, Avila broke out with 19 home runs and 82 RBI in his first full season as the Tigers’ primary catcher. This led to some valuable card options from that year, including 2010 Topps (#361), 2010 Topps Chrome (#CC123), and 2010 Topps Tek (#T109). The Topps Chrome and Topps Tek rookies have gained value in recent years given Avila’s success and the parallel/insert set scarcity. Also keep an eye out for autographed or memorabilia cards from 2010, as Avila signed quite a few that year as his stock was rising.
Avila continued producing for the Tigers from 2011-2013, making the All-Star team in 2011 and hitting .243 with 18 home runs in 2012. Key cards from this peak period include 2011 Topps Update (#US265), 2012 Topps (#362), and 2013 Topps (#384). The 2013 card stands out, as it was Avila’s last in a Tigers uniform before being traded that offseason. He is shown catching Max Scherzer, foreshadowing big things to come from both players in their careers.
After the 2013 season, Avila was surprisingly traded to the Chicago Cubs along with pitchers Jake Thompson and Corey Knebel in exchange for shortstop Jose Iglesias. This marked the end of Avila’s tenure in Detroit after five solid seasons. Cubs cards followed in 2014 Topps (#189) and 2014 Topps Update (#US278). While not hugely valuable today, they represent his lone season in Chicago before moving again the next year.
In 2015, Avila joined the Tampa Bay Rays on a one-year deal looking to reestablish value. He enjoyed a rebound season, hitting .233 with 13 home runs in 102 games. Top cards from his lone season in Tampa include 2015 Topps (#620), 2015 Topps Chrome (#CC167), and 2015 Topps Series 2 (#S2-87). The Chrome parallel stands out for its low print run and nice on-card photo. Avila’s performance with the Rays put him back on the map for contending teams.
After the 2015 season, Avila signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Royals, where he served mainly as a backup and platoon option in 2016. Key Royals cards are 2016 Topps (#388) and 2016 Topps Update (#US251). He only played in 38 games and hit .191 that year, showing his career was winding down from an everyday role. Still, these cards round out Avila’s collecting coverage from his time bouncing around different franchises.
In what has become his longest MLB tenure to date, Avila signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks prior to the 2017 season and has remained there through 2022 so far. Highlight cards during this late-career resurgence include 2017 Topps (#248), 2018 Topps Update (#US151), 2019 Topps Series 2 (#S2-39), 2020 Topps Update (#US150), and 2022 Topps Update (#US299). The 2019 Series 2 stands out for its sharp photo and serial numbering parallel options to find. Overall, Avila has found new life in Arizona both at the plate and behind it over the past six seasons.
In conclusion, Alex Avila has had an interesting baseball card collecting journey spanning his early success with Detroit, brief stops in Chicago and Tampa Bay, and now longevity in Arizona later in his career. While not a true superstar, Avila’s power and defense kept him in the big leagues for over a decade. For Tigers, Cubs, Rays, and Diamondbacks fans alike, tracking Avila’s cards over the years provides a glimpse into his unique path through MLB. With his playing days possibly winding down after 2022, now is a great time for collectors to seek out any remaining cards needed to complete their Avila collection.