Evan Gattis has had an interesting journey to becoming an MLB All-Star catcher and outfielder. Since making his major league debut in 2013 with the Atlanta Braves, Gattis’ powerful bat and unique backstory have made him a fan favorite. His baseball cards have also gained popularity among collectors thanks to his breakout seasons and one-of-a-kind path to the big leagues.
Gattis grew up in Texas but did not begin playing organized baseball until attending Seminole State College in Oklahoma. There, he showed impressive raw power at the plate but was still quite unpolished as a baseball player. After going undrafted, Gattis gave up the sport for a time and worked various odd jobs like cooking and cleaning chimneys. He struggled with alcoholism and depression during this period away from baseball.
In 2010, Gattis got sober and decided to give professional baseball one more try. He signed with the Braves as an undrafted free agent and impressed in the low minors with his hitting. His rise up the farm system was slow at first as he continued refining his skills, but collectors started taking notice of his cards from this early minor league era as a curiosity. Sets from 2011-2012 like Bowman Chrome, Topps Pro Debut, and Topps Opening Day featured some of Gattis’ first baseball cards as a longshot prospect embarking on an unlikely journey.
Gattis broke out offensively in Triple-A in 2013 and was called up to the Braves that June. He immediately made an impact at the MLB level, batting .243 with 8 home runs in just 181 at-bats during his rookie season. This breakout performance led to increased attention and demand for Gattis’ rookie cards from 2013 sets such as Topps, Bowman, and Panini Prizm. His unique backstory of overcoming adversity to reach the majors added intrigue and made him a favorite among collectors.
In 2014, Gattis asserted himself as a full-time player by batting .263 with 21 home runs while splitting time between catcher and left field. That season further elevated the value of his rookie cards and also introduced new cards in flagship sets that captured Gattis in his breakout year, including in Topps Series 1 and 2, Bowman Chrome, and Topps Update. Parallel and autographed versions of these sophomore season cards started gaining premium prices due to Gattis’ breakout power numbers and increased popularity.
The 2015 season saw Gattis cement his status in Atlanta by batting .243 with 12 home runs in just 84 games and making his first All-Star team. He was traded to the Houston Astros that offseason in exchange for pitchers Mike Foltynewicz and Andrew Thurman. Gattis fit well with the Astros’ aggressive offensive approach and provided stability as their primary designated hitter and left fielder over the next few years.
With the Astros, Gattis enjoyed some of his best statistical seasons. He batted .253 with 27 home runs in 2016 and followed that up with a career-high .263 batting average along with 23 home runs in 2017. Cards from this Astros era, including flagship rookies from sets like Topps, Bowman, and Stadium Club, gained value as Gattis proved himself a reliable power bat in Houston’s powerful lineup. Parallel and autograph versions became especially desirable for collectors.
The peak of Gattis’ card popularity came during Houston’s 2017 championship season when he was a contributor to the team’s first-ever World Series title. Cards from that 2017 postseason, including rare hits and parallels that captured Gattis’ role in the championship run, commanded huge prices in the collectibles marketplace. The storybook aspect of Gattis helping the Astros win it all after his unconventional journey to the big leagues added to the appeal for collectors and fans.
Injuries slowed Gattis in 2018 and he became a part-time player and pinch hitter. He was traded back to the Braves that offseason, completing a circle and returning to the organization where his career began. Gattis provided valuable veteran leadership for a young Braves team in 2019 before retiring after the season at age 33. While he collected fewer new cards during his later career years, his earlier rookie and star season issues remain popular with collectors due to his unique backstory and breakout power performances.
In summary, Evan Gattis’ nontraditional path to MLB stardom has made his baseball cards a favorite among collectors following his career. Issues from his early minor league days, rookie season with Atlanta, All-Star years in Houston, and 2017 World Series championship have all gained value due to Gattis’ compelling story and production at the plate. His cards commemorating standout seasons stand out as particularly desirable in the collectibles market. Even years after his retirement, Gattis’ one-of-a-kind journey continues captivating fans and card collectors alike.