Tag Archives: denny

DENNY BAUTISTA BASEBALL CARDS

Denny Bautista Baseball Card History and Values

Denny Bautista made his Major League Baseball debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2002 after being signed as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic in 1996. While he never became a superstar, Bautista enjoyed a solid 11-year career as a relief pitcher, most notably with the Phillies and Baltimore Orioles. Let’s take a look at Bautista’s baseball card history and explore some of his more valuable and sought-after rookie and career cards.

2002 Topps Traded #T102 (Rookie Card)

Bautista’s official rookie card came in 2002 Topps Traded, which was issued midway through his debut season with the Phillies after he was called up in June. The design of 2002 Topps Traded features a large headshot of the player on the left with their team logo and stats on the right. Bautista’s card shows him sporting the classic Philadelphia Phillies red pinstripes. Graded mint condition PSA 10 examples of this rookie card in recent years have sold for $30-50. Even lower graded copies in EX-MT condition still fetch $10-20 due to its status as Bautista’s first major issue card.

2002 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects Autograph #BDPP81

Also issued in 2002 was Bautista’s autographed card from Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects, which featured prospects and recent draftees. These autographed cards from the set have become quite valuable for players who went on to have MLB success. Bautista’s autographed card in a PSA/DNA authenticated sleeve is quite valuable, with PSA 10 examples selling for $300-500 in recent years. Even lower graded copies still sell for $100-200 depending on condition. This makes it one of Bautista’s most valuable and sought-after rookie cards.

2003 Topps #480

Bautista’s main rookie card released during his true rookie season of 2003 with Topps. The design is the standard vertical format with a large action photo and stats on the back. Graded PSA 10 examples of this card have sold for $15-25. Most raw or lower graded copies still trade hands for $5-10. While not quite as iconic as some other Topps rookie cards of its time, it remains a key card for any Bautista collector.

2004 Topps #646

By 2004, Bautista was establishing himself as a reliable reliever in Philadelphia’s bullpen. His 2004 Topps card shows him as a member of the Phillies. PSA 10 examples have sold for $8-12 in recent years. Most raw or lower graded copies can be acquired for $3-5.

2005 Topps #655

Bautista’s 2005 Topps card, issued during his tenure with the Phillies. PSA 10 examples have sold for $6-10. Raw or lower graded copies are fairly common and affordable, trading hands for $2-4.

2006 Topps #752

In 2006, Bautista was traded mid-season from the Phillies to the Kansas City Royals. His 2006 Topps card reflects his time spent with both clubs that year. PSA 10 examples have sold for $5-8, with raw copies available for $2-4.

2007 Topps #819 (Orioles Debut)

After the 2006 season, Bautista signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles, where he would spend five seasons from 2007-2011. His 2007 Topps card marks his debut with the O’s. PSA 10 examples have sold for $5-7, with most raw copies selling for $2-4.

2008 Topps #862

Bautista’s 2008 Topps card as an established member of the Baltimore bullpen. PSA 10 examples have recently sold for $4-6, with raw copies available for $2-3.

2009 Topps #949

Bautista’s 2009 Topps card in an Orioles uniform. PSA 10 examples have sold for $4-5, with most raw copies selling for $1-3.

2010 Topps #1132

Bautista’s 2010 Topps card shows him pitching for the Orioles. PSA 10 examples have recently sold for $3-5, with raw copies easily obtained for $1-2.

2011 Topps #1290

Bautista’s final Topps card as an Oriole before signing with the Cubs prior to the 2012 season. PSA 10 examples have sold for $3-4, with raw copies available for just $1-2.

While not a true superstar, Denny Bautista enjoyed a solid 11-year MLB career primarily as a setup man and middle reliever. His rookie cards from 2002 Topps Traded and the autographed 2002 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects remain his most valuable. But affordable raw copies of his annual Topps cards from his Phillies and Orioles tenure make for a fun collection to pursue. With some patience, a full Denny Bautista card collection can be acquired on a modest budget.

DENNY NEAGLE BASEBALL CARDS

Denny Neagle Baseball Cards Overview

Denny Neagle had a solid 11-year career in Major League Baseball spanning from 1992-2002. While he didn’t achieve the fame of some superstar pitchers, Neagle had respectable career stats that make his baseball cards a worthwhile collectible for fans of 1990s/2000s baseball memorabilia. In this in-depth article, we will explore Neagle’s career highlights, the key baseball card sets that feature him, and analyze the current values of his rookie and premium cards on the secondary market.

Career Background

Neagle was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2nd round of the 1990 MLB Draft out of the University of Texas. He made his MLB debut with the Reds in 1992 but was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1993. It was in Pittsburgh where Neagle had his breakout season, going 16-8 with a 3.51 ERA in 1995 to help lead the Pirates to the NL Central title. He made the All-Star team that year and finished 12th in NL Cy Young voting. Neagle followed that up with another strong season in 1996, going 14-11 with a 3.55 ERA.

In 1997, Neagle signed a lucrative 4-year, $51 million free agent deal with the Atlanta Braves. He helped the Braves win the NL East in 1998, going 17-5 with a 2.97 ERA and finishing 8th in Cy Young voting. Neagle spent four productive seasons with Atlanta before being traded to the New York Yankees in 2001. He spent his final season splitting time between the Yankees and Cincinnati Reds before retiring after the 2002 season. Overall, Neagle had a career record of 118-90 with a 4.08 ERA in 312 games started over 11 seasons.

Key Baseball Card Sets

Some of the most noteworthy baseball card sets that featured Denny Neagle include:

1992 Upper Deck (#212) – Neagle’s rookie card from his debut season with the Reds. Considered one of his key rookie cards.

1995 Fleer Update (#U-56) – Features Neagle from his breakout All-Star season with the Pirates.

1997 Fleer Tradition (#149) – Shows Neagle in a Pirates uniform on the verge of free agency.

1998 Upper Deck (#269) – Debut Braves card, one of the more iconic from his Atlanta years.

2000 Fleer Tradition (#FT-DN) – Popular insert card paralleling Neagle’s career stats to date.

2001 Topps (#660) – Final Braves card before being traded to the Yankees midseason.

2002 Upper Deck (#333) – Last active career card from Neagle’s brief stint with the Reds.

Rookie Card Values

As one of Neagle’s earliest and most scarce cards, his 1992 Upper Deck rookie (#212) has held the most value over the years. In near mint to mint condition, it has recently sold for prices ranging from $15-30. His 1993 Fleer rookie is also fairly scarce but typically sells in the $5-10 range. Given Neagle’s success early in his career, there is collector interest in his pre-1995 rookie cards as relics from his early playing days. Values have remained fairly stable as Neagle collectors are a smaller niche.

Premium Card Values

Neagle’s premium and star/parallel inserts from his peak Pirates/Braves seasons carry higher values given his All-Star performances. His 1995 Fleer Update (#U-56) routinely fetches $20-40 in top condition. His 1997 Fleer Tradition (#149) and 1998 Upper Deck (#269) Braves cards have sold for $15-30. His 2000 Fleer Tradition parallel insert (#FT-DN) is one of his most coveted cards, selling in the $30-50 range. For diehard Braves collectors, Neagle cards from his Atlanta championship years hold added significance. His premium cards represent solid investments for fans of 1990s baseball.

In Closing

While never a true superstar, Denny Neagle enjoyed a respectable 11-year MLB career and had some outstanding individual seasons that make his baseball cards a fun collectible. Fans of 1990s Pirates, Braves and Yankees teams will enjoy finding Neagle’s cards from those eras in their collections. His rookie cards and premium inserts from his peak years carry the most value but are still affordable for most collectors. Neagle’s story serves as a good reminder that you don’t have to be an all-time great to have cards that hold value and interest for fans.

DENNY WALLING BASEBALL CARDS

Denny Walling was a Major League Baseball player who had a relatively short career, playing only from 1959 to 1962. Despite his lack of longevity at the MLB level, Walling has developed quite a following amongst baseball card collectors in recent decades. There are several unique aspects of Walling’s playing career and the baseball cards issued of him over the years that have made him a sought-after name in the hobby.

Walling was originally signed by the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent in 1958. He made his MLB debut with the Braves in 1959 at the age of 21. Walling spent the 1959 and 1960 seasons serving as a backup and part-time player for the Braves. In 1959, his rookie season, Walling appeared in 38 games and had 49 at-bats for the Braves, hitting .163 with 3 RBI. His playing time and production were both limited that season. In 1960, Walling saw even less action, appearing in just 14 games and recording only 9 at-bats for the Braves.

Prior to the 1961 season, Walling was selected by the expansion Houston Colt .45s in the 1960 MLB expansion draft. He became part of the inaugural roster for Houston’s first season as an MLB franchise. Walling enjoyed his best MLB season statistically in 1961 as a member of the Colt .45s. He appeared in 74 games and was one of the primary backups and pinch hitters for the team. Walling hit .240 with 3 home runs and 12 RBI that season, both career-highs.

However, Walling’s playing time significantly declined again in 1962, his final MLB season. He saw action in just 17 games for the Colt .45s that year, hitting .240 with 1 RBI before being released by the team in July. Walling’s brief 4-year MLB career was over at that point at the young age of 25. In 157 total games and 198 career at-bats, Walling hit .208 with 6 home runs and 18 RBI. While obviously not putting up huge offensive numbers, Walling made the most of his limited opportunities to stay in the MLB for a few seasons.

Where Walling has developed his following amongst collectors is through the baseball cards issued of him during his playing days and in subsequent years looking back at his career. One of the main draws is the scarcity of cards featuring Walling. He spent only a portion of two seasons as a regular player for the Braves and Colt .45s, so he did not receive extensive card coverage while active. Some key cards in the Denny Walling checklist that have made his name notable include:

1959 Topps #444: Walling’s rookie card is undoubtedly the highlight of any collection focused on him. The 1959 Topps set is a classic of the era and Walling’s card captures his first season in the bigs as a 21-year old for the Braves. This card tends to trade hands in the $100+ range today in top-graded form.

1960 Topps #500: Walling’s second year card is nearly as scarce as his rookie. He saw very little playing time in 1960 which limited his card distribution that year. This card can reach the $75+ range.

1961 Topps #317: Captures Walling’s best season statistically with the expansion Colt .45s. Considered one of his key vintage issues along with the 1959 and 1960 Topps cards.

2011 Topps Tribute “Call-Up” #CU-DW: Part of Topps’ tribute set honoring those who received their MLB “call-up”. This card has gained popularity since for chronicling Walling’s brief career over 50 years later.

2013 Topps “Heritage” Mini #HM-DW: A modern mini card parallel that is highly sought after by Walling collectors today. Can reach $50+ for high-grade versions.

Walling’s short tenure in the bigs makes any cards issued of him during that time quite scarce to obtain today. Collectors enjoy seeking out what few cards are available that capture his MLB seasons over 50 years later. While not a true “star”, Denny Walling developed collector interest because of how few trading cards were produced of him when active. In the modern era, card companies have looked back at names like Walling to issue new tribute cards celebrating retrospectively those who had cup of coffee careers. This fascination with overlooked names from the past has kept Denny Walling’s story and trading cards relevant amongst vintage baseball card collectors.

DENNY MCLAIN BASEBALL CARDS

Denny McLain was one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball during the late 1960s. He won 31 games for the Detroit Tigers in 1968, becoming the last pitcher to win 30 games in a single season. McLain’s on-field success translated to high demand for his baseball cards during his playing career from 1963 to 1974. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of McLain’s most notable baseball cards and examine what makes them significant.

One of McLain’s earliest and most sought after rookie cards is his 1963 Topps card #498. This was McLain’s first major league card issued after he made his MLB debut with the Tigers that season at age 20. The 1963 Topps set featured McLain’s rookie card near the back of the 660-card checklist. The design of McLain’s rookie card follows the classic 1963 Topps style with a vertical full body photo on a white background. In gem mint condition, graded PSA 10, this rare rookie card in high demand can fetch over $20,000 at auction. Even well-worn copies in PSA 4-5 condition still sell for hundreds due to the significance of McLain’s rookie season.

McLain’s breakout season was in 1966 when he won 22 games and finished third in AL Cy Young voting. This success led to more attention on his baseball cards, including his 1966 Topps card #432. The design is similar to the ’63 rookie but now features a close-up headshot photo. In gem mint condition it has sold for over $1,000. What makes this card more notable is the rarity of finding high grade copies. The ’66 Topps set had quality control issues and McLain’s card seems to be one of the most prone to centering problems straight from the pack. Graded PSA 10 examples are among the rarest of all McLain cards.

Of course, McLain’s most iconic and valuable baseball card comes from his record-setting 1968 season with the Tigers. His 1968 Topps card #500 depicts McLain in a Tigers batting practice jersey. It was issued following McLain’s 31-win season and AL MVP/Cy Young awards. The design is colorful with team logo at top in an action posed photo. This is considered one of the most significant Tiger/AL cards of the 1960s. High grade PSA 10 copies have sold at auction for over $10,000 due to the rarity of the card in pristine condition. Even well-worn PSA 4-5 copies still attract bids in the $300-500 range for collectors wanting a piece of baseball history.

McLain’s 1968 season also made him one of the most popular players in the sport at the time. As a result, his cards appeared in several other 1968/1969 sets beyond just Topps. In the 1968 Kellogg’s cereal boxes, McLain’s card was one of the most widely distributed baseball promotions of that era. While lacking significant resale value on its own, the McLain Kellogg’s card is a fun piece of memorabilia sought by collectors. He also had prominent cards in the 1968 Leaf, 1968 Fleer, and 1969 Topps sets depicting him in a Tigers uniform that typically sell for $50-150 in high grades.

Unfortunately, McLain’s career was cut short due to personal issues off the field. After his record-setting ’68 season, he struggled with injuries and suspension in 1969 before being released by Detroit in 1974 at age 31. This makes his later career cards much more scarce. Notable examples include his 1972 Topps Traded #T72T card showing him as a member of the Washington Senators farm system and his 1974 Topps #630 card in an Expos uniform during his short-lived comeback attempt. Both these cards are quite rare in any grade and sell for $100-300 when available.

In summary, Denny McLain’s baseball cards provide a fascinating chronicle of his meteoric rise and fall in the late 1960s/early 1970s. From his elusive 1963 Topps rookie to his iconic 1968 MVP season issue, McLain’s best cards remain some of the most historically significant Detroit Tigers and AL issues of that era. While the condition challenges and rarity of high grades make true gem copies extremely expensive, there is still value to be found across the entire range of McLain’s colorful cardboard collecting career even in well-loved lower graded copies. His baseball cards serve as a constant reminder of one of the game’s most memorable individual pitching performances that still stands as a modern era record over 50 years later.

DENNY DOYLE BASEBALL CARDS

Denny Doyle was a utility infielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1970 to 1979. While he didn’t put up huge offensive numbers in his career, Doyle played for several teams and had a long MLB career spanning parts of 10 seasons. Doyle’s versatility and defense made him a valuable role player and backup for managers. Though not a star, Doyle’s MLB tenure has left behind a collection of baseball cards that remain popular with collectors today.

Doyle was originally signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent in 1965. He made his MLB debut with the Red Sox in 1970 at age 23. Doyle appeared in 35 games his rookie year and showed promise with his glove at multiple infield positions. He struggled at the plate, batting just .179 in limited playing time. Still, the Red Sox saw Doyle as a useful utility man and he remained in their organization through the 1973 season. Doyle’s early baseball cards from his time with the Red Sox are some of the most sought after by collectors of his rookie issues.

After being traded to the Kansas City Royals prior to the 1974 season, Doyle began to establish himself more in the big leagues. He became a regular part of the Royals bench, playing all four infield positions as well as some outfield. Doyle responded well to increased opportunities, raising his batting average to a career-best .276 in 1974. His defensive versatility also made him an asset to the Royals. Baseball cards from Doyle’s years in Kansas City uniforms in the mid-1970s remain popular due to his solid performances for the franchise during that period.

Doyle had his best offensive season in 1975 with the Royals, establishing career-highs of 7 home runs and 45 RBIs. He continued to be a steady defensive presence all over the infield and even in the outfield for Kansas City. After the 1976 season the Royals traded Doyle to the Toronto Blue Jays, who had just joined the American League as an expansion franchise. Doyle became one of the first players in Blue Jays team history, appearing in their inaugural 1977 season. His baseball cards from his years in Toronto uniforms are especially collectible for Blue Jays fans and those interested in the early history of the franchise.

From 1977 to 1979, Doyle was a valuable utility player and leader for the developing Blue Jays squad. He split his time between second base, third base, and shortstop while continuing to hit competently for a role player. Doyle even filled in at first base and in the outfield corners when needed. In 1979 at age 32, Doyle enjoyed his best offensive season as a Blue Jay, batting .277 with 3 home runs and 29 RBIs in 102 games. He proved to still be a steady defensive presence all over the infield for Toronto.

After the 1979 season, Doyle was traded by the Blue Jays to the Milwaukee Brewers. He did not make the Brewers’ Opening Day roster in 1980 and decided to retire at age 33. In total, Doyle played parts of 10 seasons in MLB from 1970 to 1979. Over 966 career games, he batted .254 with 22 home runs and 220 RBIs. Doyle’s versatility allowed him to play every position on the infield besides pitcher and catcher during his career. His reliable defense and ability to play anywhere made him a valuable bench piece for managers.

Since retiring, Doyle has remained involved in baseball through coaching. He spent over a decade as a minor league coach in the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox organizations. Doyle also worked as a scout for several teams. To this day, Doyle remains fondly remembered by Royals, Blue Jays, and Red Sox fans for his decade of steady defensive play all over the infield. While not a star player, Doyle’s longevity and versatility have given him a place in baseball history.

Collectors today still seek out Denny Doyle’s baseball cards issued during his playing career in the 1970s. His rookie cards from his early Boston Red Sox seasons are some of the most valuable. Cards showing Doyle in the powder blue uniforms of the Kansas City Royals from the mid-1970s also remain popular. Doyle’s Toronto Blue Jays cards from their early years as an expansion franchise also hold significance. Later cards from his seasons splitting time between Toronto and Milwaukee also attract collectors. Even though he was never an All-Star, Denny Doyle left behind a collection of baseball cards that document his decade-long major league career playing for multiple franchises. His cards continue to bring back memories for many fans who watched Doyle competently man various positions all over the infield.

While not a star player statistically, Denny Doyle made the most of his 10-year MLB career through his defensive versatility and reliability. He became an important role player and backup for the Red Sox, Royals, Blue Jays, and Brewers during the 1970s. Doyle’s ability to competently fill in at every infield position besides pitcher and catcher, as well as parts of the outfield, made him a valuable asset for managers. Since retiring, he has remained involved in the game through coaching. Doyle’s baseball cards issued during his playing days in the 1970s remain popular with collectors today, serving as reminders of his steady decade-long major league career.