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KODY CLEMENS BASEBALL CARDS

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Kody Clemens Baseball Cards: Tracking the Career of a Second Generation MLB Player

Kody Clemens is a professional baseball infielder who is currently in the Detroit Tigers organization. As the son of seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, Kody was surrounded by baseball his entire life and strived to follow in his father’s famous footsteps. While still in the early stages of his professional career, Kody has begun to make a name for himself and his performance has been documented through baseball cards since his amateur playing days. Let’s take an in-depth look at Kody Clemens’ baseball cards and how they have tracked his progression from a prep star to the professional ranks.

As a standout two-sport athlete at Memorial High School in Houston, Texas, Kody began to garner attention from scouts and card companies alike during his junior and senior seasons from 2014-2015. In 2014, Kody’s first baseball cards were produced as part of the high school set from Donruss. This included a base card showing him in his Memorial Mustangs uniform. Statistics from Kody’s monster junior season in which he hit .433 with 8 home runs were listed on the back. Bowman Chrome also featured a Kody Clemens card in their 2014 high school product, giving collectors an early chance to obtain cards of the promising young lefty hitter.

Kody elevated his game even further as a senior in 2015. That season he batted .467 with 12 homers and 55 RBI, leading Memorial to a state championship. His on-field accomplishments resulted in significantly more card releases chronicling his final prep campaign. Products like Leaf, Score, and Donruss all featured base and parallel inserts of Clemens. The back of his cards detailed his gaudy senior year slash line and college commitment to Texas Longhorns. 2015 also marked Kody’s first autograph card releases through Leaf Memorabilia and Panini National Treasures collegiate sets. Given his pedigree and talent level, Clemens’ autographed rookie cards quickly became hot commodities.

After graduating high school, Kody enrolled at the University of Texas where he was a four-year letter winner for the Longhorns baseball team from 2016-2019. In his freshman season of 2016, Clemens started 50 games primarily as a first baseman and hit .245 with 3 homers. He raised his production each year in college. As a sophomore in 2017, Kody batted .301 with 5 home runs while playing mostly third base. His junior campaign in 2018 was his best statistically, as he hit .338 with 8 homers and 50 RBI over 56 starts while earning All-Big 12 Second Team honors.

Kody saved his finest college season for last in 2019. In his senior swan song for Texas, he put together a monstrous .347/.449/.673 slash line with a team-leading 15 home runs in 57 games as the Longhorns’ primary third baseman. His dominant performance led to him being named a Second Team All-American. Naturally, Clemens received plenty of baseball card coverage corresponding to his stellar college career. Products like Leaf Metal, Panini Limited, and Topps High Tek featured multiple base cards and autograph/memorabilia cards of Clemens in Texas uniforms over the years.

After completing his standout four-year college career at Texas, Kody was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft. He quickly made his professional debut that same year, playing 9 games for the Tiger’s Gulf Coast League affiliate. In 2020, Clemens split time between Low-A West Michigan and High-A Lakeland, slashing .251/.340/.393 over 57 total games. During his first two pro seasons, Topps Chrome Update, Bowman Platinum, and Topps Opening Day highlighted Kody’s ascension to affiliated ball with base rookie cards in Tigers uniforms.

In 2021, Cody realized a breakout season split between High-A West Michigan and Double-A Erie. Over 109 total games, he posted career-best numbers with a .296 batting average, 13 home runs, and 69 RBI. His shining campaign was highlighted on baseball cards through releases like Topps Series 2, Bowman Draft, and Topps Big League. Several of these cards prominently featured photos showcasing Clemens’ power swing and homers. Autograph versions became some of his highest valued cards to date given his breakout power season.

Kody backed up his 2021 performance with an even stronger showing in 2022. Promoted directly to Triple-A Toledo, the 25-year-old third baseman put it all together by slashing .288/.388/.537 with 16 homers and a career-high 70 RBI through 110 games. His shining season was topped off by appearing in 7 games for the Detroit Tigers in September, collecting his first major league hit. Clemens received many spotlight cards featuring his Triple-A and MLB accomplishments, such as Topps Fire, Allen & Ginter, and Stadium Club Chrome. Autographed 1-of-1 print runs became highly sought after by collectors eager to own a card from Clemens’ first taste of the big leagues.

While his MLB future remains to be seen, Kody Clemens has clearly worked tirelessly since high school to develop into a polished all-around hitter with significant power potential. Through baseball cards chronicling each step of his journey, collectors have been able to follow along with the once touted prospect’s progression into a legitimate major leaguer carrying on the family legacy. As he competes for an everyday role with Detroit in 2023 and beyond, Clemens’ cards will undoubtedly gain more prominence and value within the hobby. Only time will tell if he can live up to his famous father’s Hall of Fame standard, but Kody has proven he belongs and his cards reflect an inspiring career still unfolding.

ROGER CLEMENS BASEBALL CARDS

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Roger Clemens is regarded as one of the greatest pitchers in Major League Baseball history. Over a stellar 24-year MLB career spent primarily with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, Clemens compiled an impressive 354-184 record with a 3.12 ERA and 4,672 strikeouts. He won a record seven Cy Young Awards and was named to 11 All-Star teams. Unsurprisingly, Clemens has been highly featured on baseball cards over the decades given his legendary status. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most notable and valuable Roger Clemens baseball cards from throughout his playing career in the 1980s through 2000s.

One of Clemens’ earliest notable rookie cards is his 1984 Topps rookie card. That year was Clemens’ first full season in the majors after debuting in late 1983 with the Boston Red Sox. The 1984 Topps card features a photo of Clemens pitching for the Red Sox on the front with stats and information on the back. In lower print runs compared to modern issues, the 1984 Topps Clemens rookie card in top gem mint condition can fetch over $1,000 due to its significance as one of his early rookie options. Most graded copies in the $200-400 range are more common. Still, it’s an iconic early card that captured Clemens at the start of what became a Hall of Fame career.

Another standout early Clemens card is his 1986 Topps Traded card, issued mid-season after Clemens’ breakout 1985 season where he won the American League Cy Young Award and posted an incredible 24-4 record with a 2.48 ERA. The 1986 Topps Traded set only included 80 cards focusing on postseason events and star players, making Clemens’ inclusion at that time a big honor. His card shows him throwing a pitch for the Red Sox. High graded versions have sold for over $500. The 1986 Fleer update series also featured Clemens and can be found in the $50-150 range depending on condition. These capture Clemens during arguably the first peak of his stellar career in the 1980s.

By the late 1980s and 1990s, Clemens was dominating the AL and achieving huge accomplishments that placed him among the sport’s pitching elites. This led to valuable inclusion in premier baseball card sets. His 1988 Fleer flagships and updates cards commemorate Clemens winning consecutive Cy Youngs in 1986 and 1987 for Boston. The 1989 Upper Deck card remembers his record 20-strikeout game against Seattle that season. Graded versions have reached as high as $400. Clemens is then featured prominently in 1990s flagship sets like Topps, Fleer, and Upper Deck as he continued his dominance with Boston and Toronto. His memorable stays with the Yankees in 1999-2003 also resulted in many noteworthy cards.

Some of Clemens’ most high-profile early 90s cards include the iconic 1992 Upper Deck Baseball Card #1, which had an ultra-short print run, and various rookie cards from his brief stint with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998-1999. One of his true holy grails that can fetch thousands is his 1997 SP Authentic autograph card, serially numbered to only 50 copies signed by Clemens. The rarity and significance of this autograph make it a true seven-figure card in pristine condition. Clemens was also a headlining name throughout the late 90s and 2000s in premium sets like Finest, Chrome, and Archives for collectors to target.

In the 2000s, Clemens found new fame late in his career with the Yankees as he continued racking up milestones. This led to him being very prominently featured in many high-profile card sets. Cards like his 2000 Topps Chrome Refractors parallel and 2001 Topps Opening Day Refractor parallel can reach $500-1000 each for top grades. His 2006 Finest Refractor jersey card numbered to just 5 copies also holds immense rarity and value. Collectors continued chasing Clemens rookies and inserts well after his 2007 retirement too. But many consider his true crowning achievement card to be his official 2000 Topps MVP Award Leaders Refractor parallel, limited to 100 copies. Examples have sold for over $10,000 in pristine condition, a true trophy card featuring one of the all-time pitching legends at his very best.

In conclusion, Roger Clemens’ legendary 24-year MLB career and record seven Cy Young Awards resulted in some extraordinarily significant and valuable baseball cards released from his 1984 rookie season through his later accomplishment-filled campaigns mainly with Boston and New York in the 1980s-2000s heyday of the sport. From early rookie issues to seminal updates to ultrarare parallel and autograph versions, Clemens has no shortage of memorable and historic cards that continue to excite collectors. His immense talent and accomplishments on the field translated to highly sought baseball card investments capturing The Rocket’s greatness throughout the eras. Clemens remains one of the most dominant and well-represented pitchers in the history of the hobby.

VALUABLE ROGER CLEMENS BASEBALL CARDS

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Roger Clemens is considered one of the greatest pitchers of all time and his baseball cards are highly sought after by collectors. Clemens played 24 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1984 to 2007 for the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Houston Astros. He won 7 Cy Young Awards and was named to 11 All-Star teams in his legendary career, cementing his place among the elite in baseball history. Here are some of Roger Clemens’ most valuable baseball cards and what collectors need to know about them:

1984 Fleer #219 Roger Clemens (Rookie Card) – Clemens’ rookie card is one of the crown jewels of any baseball card collection. The 1984 Fleer set was his true rookie card issued as Clemens made his MLB debut that season with the Boston Red Sox. In high grade condition like PSA 10, this card can fetch upwards of $10,000. Even well-centered mint condition copies in PSA 8 or 9 grade still demand thousands of dollars due to the rarity of Clemens’ rookie. The Fleer 1984 design also features a striking headshot photo of the young Rocket that makes this one of the best looking rookie cards in the hobby.

1986 Topps Traded #85T Roger Clemens – This card was issued as an update set addition in 1986 after Clemens’ breakout season where he won the American League Cy Young and MVP awards. It shows him in a Boston Red Sox uniform and is among his earliest flagship Topps cards. High grade examples can sell for over $1,000 because it captured Clemens at the beginning of his dominant career. The ’86T set is also quite scarce compared to the basic Topps flagship issues. This serves as a key intermediate Clemens card for collectors working to complete his early career narrative in their collections.

1998 Topps Hollywood Stars #H1 Roger Clemens – Topps experimented with various gimmick sets in the late 90s, including this Hollywood Stars promotion which depicted various MLB stars dressed up as famous actors or characters from movies and TV shows. Clemens is dressed as Yosemite Sam on this unique card that has gained significant popularity among specialists. High grade PSA 10 or BGS 9.5+ copies can sell for $500-700 due to the novelty aspect paired with Clemens’ star power. It offers a fun and memorable take on one of the pitchers’ career years with the Toronto Blue Jays.

2000 Bowman’s Best Refractors #R37 Roger Clemens – In the midst of Clemens’ successful run with the New York Yankees, Bowman featured this impressive refractor parallel from their high end set. The vivid colors and refractive quality of the card stock make for an eye-catching visual presentation of the Rocket. Top graded PSA/BGS 10 examples have exceeded $400-500. The 2000 Bowman’s Best set remains a set that is desired by modern collectors and Clemens was a major star player during that period.

2001 Topps American Pie #14 Roger Clemens / David Wells – This “duel” card from Topps’ American Pie set shows Clemens and David Wells together, commemorating their matchup on April 22, 2001 where they engaged in an epic pitchers’ duel. Only one run was scored in the complete game contest won by Clemens and the Yankees. High grade copies of this unique “hit” pairing card can be around $200-300 for top condition copies. It represents an iconic game and matchup from Clemens’ later Yankees tenure.

2003 Fleer Greats of the Game Century’s Best #CB-RC Roger Clemens – As one of the premier pitchers across Major League history, Clemens was included in this prestigious retrospective insert set honoring the top 100 players from the 20th century. The card features a sharp full body photo of The Rocket in mid-windup. PSA/BGS 9+ examples tend to sell in the $150-250 range reflecting Clemens’ legendary career accomplishments recognized in this premium commemorative issue.

2004 Fleer Greats of the Game Undefeated #U1 Roger Clemens – This parallel insert from Fleer captures Clemens after his 20th career one-hitter in 2004, moving him past Cy Young on the all-time list at the time. His dominance and pitching prowess is on full display. Sharp, near-pristine copies in the PSA 9-10 range demand $150-300 based on Clemens’ rarity in the highest available modern condition grades. It stands as one of his finest post-rookie Fleer inserts recognizing one of his many hallowed career records and milestones.

In summary, Roger Clemens’ baseball cards are among the most historically significant and sought after issues in the entire hobby. His legendary 24-year career, seven Cy Young awards, over 4,000 strikeouts, and recalls to some of the game’s most memorable individual pitching performances make Clemens a true icon of the sport. Whether collecting his iconic rookie card, select key vintage issues, or premium inserts from the peak of his career, Clemens cards hold value, appeal, and prestige within collections. With asking prices often measured in the hundreds or thousands of dollars, especially for high quality examples, his cards represent prized targets for enthusiasts seeking to build around one of baseball’s all-time great pitchers.

RARE ROGER CLEMENS BASEBALL CARDS

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Roger Clemens is considered one of the greatest pitchers of all time and had an illustrious 24-year career in Major League Baseball. He racked up an incredible 354 career wins, 4,672 strikeouts, and won a record seven Cy Young Awards. Not only were his on-field accomplishments remarkable, but his baseball cards from his early career with the Boston Red Sox in the 1980s and 1990s have also gained legendary status among collectors.

Some of Clemens’ rarest and most valuable cards were produced during his first few seasons before he really emerged as a superstar. His 1986 Topps rookie card is arguably the most iconic of the early Clemens cards. Topps only produced one series of cards that year and Clemens’ rookie appeared in the base set as card number 105. The design is straightforward with a plain white border and team logo at the top. Though it may not look very flashy compared to cards produced today, Clemens’ rookie occupied a special place as one of the first widely available cards celebrating his MLB debut.

In mint condition with a grade of PSA 10, one of the highest achievable grades, Clemens’ 1986 Topps rookie has sold for over $20,000 at auction. Even well-worn copies in Poor 1 condition can still fetch $100 due to its status as one of the most important cards from his early career. The 1986 Topps set marked Clemens’ transition from prospect to full-time major leaguer and documented the first steps of what would become an iconic pitching career. Holders of this rare card can feel pride in owning a key piece of baseball memorabilia from one of the games’ all-time great hurlers.

Just one year later, Clemens’ 1987 Topps card is another highly sought after early issue. The design is virtually identical to 1986 but gains significance from his breakout season where he won the first of his record seven Cy Young Awards. Clemens led the league that year with a 5.4 WAR and posted career bests of 24 wins, 8.4 WAR, and 291 strikeouts. He had officially arrived among the elite starting pitchers in baseball. Like the ’86 rookie, gem mint Clemens ’87 Topps cards rarely come on the market and have sold for over $10,000 when grading PSA 10. Even well-used copies still attract prices around $150 due to the allure of possessing a token from Clemens in his award-winning 1987 campaign.

Clemens added to his growing legend and collectible card portfolio with another outstanding 1988 season. That year, he captured his second Cy Young while leading the AL with 24 wins and throwing a career-high 295 strikeouts. While Clemens’ 1988 Donruss and Fleer cards are also quite valuable, it’s the flagship Topps issue that truly stands out. Once again featuring the same straightforward white-bordered design as the prior two years, Clemens’ ’88 Topps comes with the added cachet of being serial number 238 in the set. The low three-digit count makes it an instantly identifiable standout among fans and collectors alike. Pristine PSA 10 examples have changed hands for upwards of $7,000 at major card auctions.

In addition to his main ’80s rookie and early career issues, Clemens has several other scarce and pricey oddball inserts and parallels that intrigue collectors. His 1986 Fleer Update rookie card, with a print run around 10% the size of the Topps base card, is considered exceedingly rare in high grade. Meanwhile, the 1989 Upper Deck Clemens, one of the first cards ever produced by the revolutionary Upper Deck company, has also gained infamy among investors seeking a piece of pitching and production history. Perhaps most awe-inspiring is Clemens’ legendary 1980 Bowman paper stock rookie card. Credited as one of the first nationally distributed rookie cards ever made, an ungraded Bowman Clemens was sold for over $50,000 in recent years.

Clemens’ later career cards with Boston and beyond don’t command the same stratospheric prices as his earliest issues. But they still hold value given his storied résumé. The 2000 Fleer Tradition card documenting his 300th win and capturing his intensity on the mound trades hands for $500-700. When he broke the all-time strikeouts record held by Nolan Ryan in 2001, Clemens notched the milestone with the New York Yankees. His Ultimate Victory parallel from that year’s Topps set boasts rainbow foil lettering and has sold for well over $1,000 PSA/BGS 9-10 condition.

Clemens’ unparalleled pitching prowess and 24-year MLB tenure have cemented him among the pantheon of baseball legends. But for collectors and investors, it’s those earliest cards from his Boston days that truly spark awe due to their rarity and ties to the genesis of his Hall of Fame career. Whether an ultra-valuable 1986 Topps rookie or one of his scarce oddball issues, owning even a low-grade example provides a tangible connection to one of the games’ all-time great hurlers. Clemens’ on-field exploits were the stuff of baseball lore, and it’s fitting his early collectibles have also become the stuff of card collecting legend.