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IOWA CUBS BASEBALL CARDS

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The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team affiliated with the Chicago Cubs. Though not as widely collected as the parent Cubs organization, Iowa Cubs baseball cards have been produced since the team’s inception as a Triple-A affiliate in 1981. With over 30 years of history, there are many unique and rare Iowa Cubs cards that delve into the organization’s players, seasons, and franchise legacy.

Some of the earliest Iowa Cubs cards come from the 1981 and 1982 seasons when the team was known as the Iowa Oaks and played their home games at Oaks Stadium in Des Moines. These pioneering Iowa Oaks cards often feature players who would go on to have MLB careers like second baseman Ryne Sandberg and outfielder Joe Carter. The simple design highlights the player’s picture on a white background with team name and season printed at the bottom. Due to the low production numbers at the time with the team still establishing itself, unopened 1981 and 1982 Iowa Oaks sets can fetch over $100 on the secondary market.

In 1988, the Iowa organization rebranded as the Iowa Cubs to fully align themselves with their parent Chicago Cubs. Among the standout players on 1988 Iowa Cubs cards were pitchers Greg Maddux and Jamie Moyer, both of whom would later achieve MLB success and Hall of Fame recognition. The stylized redesigned 1988 set featured a dynamic action shot of each player within a baseball diamond frame design. Though still somewhat scarce, 1988 Iowa Cubs sets in Near Mint to Mint condition sell for around $50-75 due to the star power and strength of the on-field product that season.

Throughout the 1990s, Iowa Cubs cards continued to be inserted periodically in Iowa-based sets produced by Donruss, Upper Deck, and Fleer. Notable rookie cards from this time include Anthony Young from 1991 Donruss and Terry Mulholland from 1992 Upper Deck. The basic vertical design highlighted the player photo with statistics on the reverse. While common in collection, error versions of 1990s Iowa Cubs cards have significant potential value – one 2006 Beckett Baseball price guide had a misprinted 1991 Donruss Anthony Young listed at over $800 in top condition.

Entering the new millennium, the Iowa Cubs had a resurgence of card production and innovative set designs. The 2001 Iowa Cubs Victory set from In The Game featured futuristic holograms and player autograph variants. Several stars made their Triple-A debut like pitcher Mark Prior, third baseman Aramis Ramirez, and slugger Hee-Seop Choi. Unopened 2001 Iowa Cubs Victory boxes regularly trade hands for $150-200 today due to strong player content and unique card designs before widespread use of autographs and parallels in modern sets.

In 2005, Press Pass issued an Iowa Cubs Masterpieces set with classic woodcut-style player artwork framed around elaborate borders. Parallels included emerald green foil and diamond sigscripts. Though produced in higher numbers than older I-Cubs sets, the intricate Masterpieces design has earned it status as a premier Triple-A release. Graded PSA/BGS 10 examples of star players like Jon Lester, Rich Hill, and Kosuke Fukudome’s rookie cards hold value around the $50-75 range two decades later.

Recent years have seen Topps, Panini, and other major brands devote attention to the Iowa Cubs program. Fantastic parallel and auto insert chasers like 2016 Topps Fire Reserve Red Foil and 2018 Panini Impeccable Golden Moments have kept Iowa Cubs collecting exciting among hardcore adherents. Rookies like Kris Bryant, Javy Baez, and Albert Almora Jr. are particularly coveted in their early Iowa incarnations before breaking out in Chicago. While not as extensive as MLB clubs, over 30 years of production ensure the Iowa Cubs remain a foundational part of the minor league card landscape.

Whether focusing on rookie discoveries, key affiliations to the Chicago organization, all-time star alumni, or innovative regional sets, Iowa Cubs cards offer a unique window into the history and players of this storied Triple-A franchise. With dedicated collectors and a treasure trove of releases spanning different eras and companies, the legacy of the Iowa Cubs lives on through the hobby of baseball cards. While they may never achieve the mainstream popularity of major league cards, Iowa Cubs collectors appreciate and preserve and the rich tradition embedded in these distinct cardboard representations of the team.

MARK GRACE CHICAGO CUBS BASEBALL CARDS

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Mark Grace enjoyed a stellar 15-year career in Major League Baseball primarily with the Chicago Cubs from 1988 to 2002. Known for his defensive prowess at first base and friendly demeanor, Grace became a fan favorite on some historically poor Cubs teams in the 1990s. He holds the Cubs franchise records for career games played and doubles. Grace’s popularity led to numerous baseball card releases chronicling his years in Chicago.

One of Grace’s earliest and most common rookie cards is the 1989 Fleer baseball card #480. This simple vertical design card depicts Grace in a Cubs road jersey from his rookie season in 1988 when he was still establishing himself in the big leagues. The Fleer cards from this era had fairly basic photography and minimal stats or biographical information. Still, this served as collectors’ first widely available glimpse of the young first baseman on cardboard. With a printing run in the millions, Grace’s 1989 Fleer rookie remains obtainable and affordable for collectors on a budget looking to commemorate his career beginnings.

In 1991, Donruss issued Mark Grace card #378 which became one of the defining images of his Cubs tenure. The photography shows Grace crouched at first base flashing leather on a ground ball with an intensity belying his affable nature. His boyish grin is creeping through as he prepares to fire to the pitcher for the out. It was a stock photo that captured Grace’s defensive essence and made for an engaging visual on a baseball card. The 1991 Donruss set was one of the biggest hobby releases of the time so Grace’s came across collector’s radars frequently early in his ascension with Chicago.

Upper Deck released Mark Grace’s first premium card in 1992 with their base rookie/traded issue #355T. The bright photography and painted team logo produced a higher quality card than typical in the contemporary sets. Notable for being the first major brand to highlight Grace in their freshman class upon entering the league, the 1992 Upper Deck rookie spread Grace’s name further as a rising star. While pricier than commons, specimens still surface regularly enough for devoted Cubs collectors.

In 1994, Upper Deck featured one of Grace’s slickest vertical cards as part of their highly coveted Masterpieces set. Gracing card #MP6, the intricate foil stamping and embossed Cubs logo created a true work of baseball card art for aficionados. Limited to only 10,000 printed, the 1994 Masterpieces Grace became highly sought after on the secondary market. Even ungraded low-number copies remain attainable with patience for dedicated collectors wanting a special Grace piece for their PC.

Panini released a rare game-worn patch card of Mark Grace around 2005 through their Cooperstown Collection line. Numbered to only 25 copies, the 1/1 parallel carried a sizable sticker price tagging it for bold spenders only. The jersey swatch authenticated it as truly one-of-a-kind for Grace collectors. While such a low-print parallel remains out of reach except for the deepest pockets, it stands as a testament to Grace’s enduring popularity beyond his playing days.

Upper Deck’s Sweet Spot Signatures line debuted a Mark Grace autograph card around 2009, one of the first well-known ex-player signings for the set. Carrying the hefty “Triple Patch” designation with swatches from his Cubs jersey, batting gloves and cap, card #51/99 became an instant holy grail for Grace PC builders. While priced in the high triple-digits today, getting relatively inexpensive signed memorabilia from a star of yesteryear made it worthwhile chasing for fans.

Topps Archives Reserve released a sparkly Refractors parallel around 2015 of Grace’s iconic 1991 Donruss pose. Limited to only 10 copies, the gold 1/1 parallel carried a rumored auction price north of $1000. While far out of reach except for the true elite, it represented the pinnacle for modernized Grace parallel collectors. Even so, crisp common Archives reprints from sets like 2013 and 2016 still deliver that classic photo at affordable prices.

The 2019 Topps Heritage set featured one of the last modern Mark Grace cards produced before his recent passing. Topped with a gorgeous vintage-style heritage design reflecting his Wrigley Field glory years in the 90s, card #80 gave collectors a retrospective of Grace’s impact during baseball’s great moratorium season. Still relatively obtainable at under $10, it caps Grace’s cardboard career as the nostalgia remains strong for fans of the iconic Cub.

Whether it’s his earliest cardboard, pricier game-used memorabilia, or modern reprints, Mark Grace cards continue finding new homes with collectors paying homage to the Chicago stalwart. His career is forever memorialized through the depictions which spread his name across the hobby. While premium parallels fetch lofty prices, common issues remain accessible allowing fans of all budgets to remember his contributions through nostalgic cardboard. No Cub may be more collectible than the affable “Gracie.”