Blake Dunn is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played in the big leagues from 1998 to 2004. While his MLB career was relatively short, Dunn found success as a closer and setup man during his time in the majors. Now retired from professional baseball, Dunn has developed a cult following among collectors for his rookie and early career baseball cards.
Dunn was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 31st round of the 1993 MLB Draft out of high school in California. He made his professional debut that same year in rookie ball and slowly worked his way up the minor league ladder. Dunn excelled at the lower levels and reached Double-A by 1997, posting excellent numbers as a reliever in the Cubs system. This breakout performance led to his MLB debut on September 2, 1998 at the age of 24.
Dunn’s rookie card is from 1998 Fleer Tradition #398. The card features a photo of Dunn from his debut season with the Cubs in the foreground. In the background is a blurred Wrigley Field, signifying Dunn’s arrival in the big leagues. The Fleer Tradition design that year featured a clean white border around each photo. Statistics on the back of Dunn’s rookie card include his 1998 MLB numbers of 2 games pitched, 3 innings, 1 hit allowed, and 0 runs given up.
While his rookie season stats were minimal, Dunn showed promise in his cup of coffee with the Cubs in 1998. He began 1999 in Chicago’s bullpen and became one of their most reliable relievers. Dunn appeared in 55 games as both a setup man and occasional closer, notching 7 saves to go with a solid 3.09 ERA. His success led to increased exposure and collector interest in his sophomore Fleer Tradition card from 1999, which captured Dunn celebrating a Cubs victory in the dugout.
Dunn remained with the Cubs through the 2000 season but was traded to the Houston Astros in August 2001. He enjoyed his best major league season in 2002 as the Astros’ primary setup man, pitching 76.1 innings with a 2.15 ERA and 91 strikeouts. Dunn’s performance that year is memorialized on his 2002 Bowman Sterling card, one of his most coveted by collectors. The parallel refractor parallel version of this card, with its colorful Astros uniform and bright lighting, is highly sought after today.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2003, Dunn returned to pitch in 24 games for the Astros late in the 2004 season. But arm injuries continued to plague him and he was not re-signed by Houston in the offseason. Dunn attempted comeback stints with the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers organizations in 2005-2006 but was never able to regain his previous form. He officially retired from baseball in 2007 at the age of 33.
Though his playing career was cut short, Dunn left a lasting mark on the hobby through his baseball cards. His rookie card remains a key piece for Cubs and 90s collectors. But it is his short run of success with Houston, encapsulated by cards like his 2002 Bowman Sterling refractor, that really captured the imagination of traders and investors. Even after retiring over 15 years ago, Dunn’s cards remain in high demand thanks to his cult following and memorable few seasons in the majors.
For collectors looking to add some Blake Dunn cardboard to their collections, it is recommended to target his Cubs and Astros years from 1998-2004. While his rookie may be out of most budgets, affordable options include his common issues from 1999-2002 with Chicago and Houston. Higher-end collectors should seek out parallels and refractors like the aforementioned 2002 Bowman Sterling. With a career cut short by injuries but some great on-field moments, Dunn established a legacy that lives on through enthusiasts who appreciate his baseball cards decades later.