Ian Krol Baseball Cards: A Left-Handed Reliever’s Career Capsule in Plastic
Ian Krol is a former relief pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 2012-2018. While his career was relatively short-lived in the big leagues, Krol made enough appearances to be featured on several baseball cards throughout his time in the MLB. Let’s take an in-depth look at Ian Krol’s baseball card productions and analyze what they can tell us about his journey through professional baseball.
Krol was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 23rd round of the 2011 MLB Draft out of Novi High School in Novi, Michigan. As an intriguing young left-handed relief prospect, Krol appeared on his first baseball card the very next year in 2012 Topps Series 1. On this rookie card, Krol is shown in a Nationals uniform, with stats from his time in the minors that previous season listed on the back. Noteworthy for collectors, Krol’s 2012 Topps Series 1 card carries a relatively low print run, making it one of his more scarce early issues.
After just a half season in Double-A, Krol was called up to the Nationals in late July 2012. He made his MLB debut on July 28, 2012 versus the New York Mets. Krol’s first appearance rendered him eligible for inclusion in high-end products like Topps Triple Threads and Topps Finest. These ‘hits’ certified Krol had truly arrived in the bigs. It was his inclusion in 2013 Topps Series 1 that signaled Krol had stuck with the Nationals for the long haul. This base card depicts Krol pitching for Washington with updated stats from his 2012 MLB cup of coffee.
Krol’s sophomore season in 2013 brought more playing time but also more hits and misses for the young lefty. He bounced between Washington and their Triple-A affiliate, showing glimpses of dominance mixed with control issues. As a result, Krol’s 2013 baseball card production captured this developmental phase. Products like Topps Series 2 and Bowman Platinum reflected Krol’s in-between status while Panini Contenders Unparalleled highlighted his potential with shiny parallels. This period best represented Krol’s journey from prospect to established MLB arm.
The 2014 season was a pivotal one for Ian Krol’s career. After beginning the year in Washington’s bullpen, Krol was traded to the Detroit Tigers on July 31st in the Doug Fister deal. This midseason trade had immediate ramifications for Krol’s baseball cards. His 2014 Topps Series 2 card switched from a Nats to a Tigers uniform overnight. Insert cards from 2014 Bowman Draft and Topps Transcendent captured Krol’s change of scenery as well. As a new piece of the Tigers’ puzzle, Krol also earned prominent spots in team-centric products like 2014 Topps Museum Collection Detroit.
Krol spent the entire 2015 season and most of 2016 as a reliable left-handed reliever in Detroit’s bullpen. As such, his 2015 and 2016 baseball cards depicted his growing role with the Tigers. Base cards from flagship products like Topps Series 1 and Gallery featured Krol more prominently than before. Specialty releases like Topps Archives and Finest Flexbox highlighted Krol’s on-field contributions in Motown blue as well. It was clear Krol had found a home and a regular place in Detroit’s pitching plans.
However, Krol’s fortunes took a downturn in 2017. He started the year in Detroit but was later designated for assignment and claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves. This midseason move, just like in 2014, impacted Krol’s cards. His 2017 Topps Series 1 showed him as a Tiger while update issues transferred him to Atlanta. Injuries limited Krol’s playing time with the Braves and his subsequent cards became more scarce. By 2018, Krol was pitching in Triple-A and out of the majors by year’s end.
In summary, Ian Krol’s baseball cards tell the story of a pitcher who flashed promise as a prospect but encountered difficulties maintaining consistency at the MLB level. Though his career was transient, Krol left an imprint through six seasons worth of cardboard. From his early Nationals rookies to inserts tracking his trades, Krol’s baseball cards serve as a unique archive of his professional up and downs. While no longer active, Ian Krol’s collecting legacy endures in the plastic shell casings that enshrined his time in America’s national pastime.