Tag Archives: kurt

KURT ABBOTT BASEBALL CARDS

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Kurt Abbott is a former major league relief pitcher who played for the California Angels, Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers from 1989 to 1998. While he had a relatively short major league career, Abbott made enough of an impression that he has several baseball cards that collectors still seek out today. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the most notable Kurt Abbott cards from his playing days.

One of Abbott’s earliest cards comes from his rookie season with the Angels in 1989. He made his MLB debut that year at the age of 25 and appeared in 31 games out of the bullpen. Abbott’s rookie card is part of the 1989 Fleer set, which was one of the standard issues that year. The card features a photo of Abbott in an Angels uniform from his debut season. It holds moderate interest for many collectors today given that Abbott went on to carve out a respectable major league career after starting as a rookie at an older age.

Abbott’s breakthrough season came in 1991 with the Angels. That year he emerged as a full-time member of their bullpen, appearing in a career-high 77 games. Abbott racked up a 3.63 ERA and six saves to establish himself. His success that year is memorialized on his 1991 Fleer card. This issue shows a close-up photo of Abbott ready to deliver a pitch. It’s considered one of his more desirable vintage cards since it captures him during his breakout MLB campaign.

After the 1991 season, Abbott was traded to the Cleveland Indians. He would spend parts of three seasons with the Tribe from 1992-1994. Abbott received new cards each year showcasing his contributions to the Indians’ bullpen corps. His 1992 Bowman card and 1993 Leaf card both feature side-view action shots of Abbott on the mound. Collectors appreciate these issues for documenting Abbott’s years playing for a new team in the American League.

Abbott’s trade to the Detroit Tigers in 1995 led to new cards in Tigers uniform. His 1995 Studio card stands out with its crisp close-cropping of Abbott ready to throw. High-grade copies of this underrated Tiger issue have increased in demand from collectors. Abbott also received cards later that year upon being included in the 1995 Topps Traded and Bowman’s Best sets after his midseason move to Detroit.

One of Abbott’s final MLB cards was released in 1998, his last season in the majors split between the Tigers and Angels. The 1998 Fleer Tradition insert set featured numerous retired “Traditions” alongside current players. Abbott’s card in this nostalgic set marked the impending end of his professional baseball career. It provides a nice retrospective look back on Abbott’s playing tenure.

While Abbott didn’t achieve huge fame during his career, he made a lasting impression in the hobby through annual card issues from 1989-1998. Over a decade after his retirement, collectibles like his 1991 Fleer breakthrough card and 1995 Studio Tigers issue remain popular finds. Abbott demonstrated the value of consistency and perseverance to earn over a decade of major league pitching opportunities. His baseball cards commemorate that respectable career and continue to bring joy to fans and collectors alike.

KURT MILLER BASEBALL CARDS

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Kurt Miller had a relatively short but productive major league baseball career that spanned from 1992 to 2000. While he didn’t put up huge numbers at the plate or make any All-Star teams, Miller established himself as a versatile defender and role player who could contribute in a variety of ways. This, combined with the fact that he played for several notable franchises over nearly a decade in the big leagues, made Miller collects of interest to many baseball card collectors.

Miller was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 12th round of the 1988 amateur draft out of Stanford University. He made his MLB debut with the Reds in 1992 at age 24 and remained with the team through the 1995 season. Miller saw most of his early playing time off the bench and as a defensive replacement but started to establish himself in 1995 by hitting .293 with 23 RBI in 82 games. This breakout season brought more attention to his baseball cards from the early 1990s issued by manufacturers like Upper Deck, Fleer, and Score. Copies from his rookie season in particular holdvalue for collectors today given his surprisingly lengthy MLB tenure.

After the 1995 season, Miller was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves. This marked the start of Miller becoming a valuable utility player for championship contending clubs. With the Braves, Miller was a reliable backup at second base, shortstop, third base and the corner outfield spots. He even filled in at catcher on a few occasions. Miller’s defensive versatility earned him more playing time and he responded by hitting .291 with 21 RBI in 96 games for the 1996 Braves. This strong season increased interest in his rookie cards as well as 1996-issued baseball cards, especially those featuring Miller in an Atlanta Braves uniform.

Miller remained with the Braves through the 1997 season, which saw Atlanta win the World Series. While he didn’t receive much postseason playing time that year, being part of a championship club enhanced the collector appeal of Miller’s cards from this era. He signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals for 1998, where he enjoyed his most productive offensive season, hitting .298 with 32 RBI in 110 games. Miller’s versatility and hot bat that year made him a valuable role player for the Cardinals. As a result, 1998 Kurt Miller cards remain some of the most popular and valuable in the hobby today due to his breakout statistical performance and time with MLB trailblazer franchise the Cardinals.

Miller had returned to Cincinnati via trade prior to the 1999 season and continued delivering strong defensive flexibility and role player production off the bench for the Reds. He scored a career-high 36 runs and delivered a .279 average with 25 RBI in 99 games. 1999 proved to be Miller’s final season with regular playing as an ageing 32-year old utility man. nevertheless, cards from his second Reds stint hold appeal. Miller then bounced between the Florida Marlins, Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox in 2000, appearing in only 27 total games and hitting .235. While 2000 was Miller’s swan song season, his brief stints with these clubs added to his baseball card portfolio.

In summary, Kurt Miller never achieved stardom in the major leagues but enjoyed nearly a decade-long career thanks to his defensive skills at multiple positions and consistent production when called upon. His versatility translated to playing for competitive Cincinnati, Atlanta, St. Louis, Florida, Kansas City and Chicago clubs between 1992-2000. As such, Miller cards spanning his entire career remain of interest to collectors, especially issues from his breakout years with the Braves and Cardinals in the mid-late 1990s. While not the most valuable collection on the hobby market, dedicated Miller collectors seek out his entire checklist to compile a comprehensive career set within the budget of the average baseball card enthusiast.

KURT BEVACQUA BASEBALL CARDS

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Kurt Bevacqua was a Major League baseball player from 1969-1978 who primarily played second base and third base. While his career batting stats were modest at best, topping out at a .257 career batting average, Bevacqua holds a unique distinction that has made some of his baseball cards highly sought after collectors items.

Bevacqua was originally signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent in 1966 out of the University of Southern California. He made his MLB debut with the Mets in 1969 at the age of 23. Bevacqua spent the next four seasons in New York playing a backup role and bouncing between the majors and minors. His best season with the Mets came in 1970 when he hit .247 with 3 home runs and 20 RBI in 92 games played.

In 1973, Bevacqua was traded by the Mets to the San Diego Padres along with Nate Colbert and Tom Phoebus in exchange for decision Leroy Stanton and OF/1B Dave Roberts. It was with the Padres that Bevacqua saw the most playing time of his career, appearing in 156 games in both 1973 and 1974. His best offensive season came in 1974 with San Diego when he hit .287 with 7 home runs and 35 RBI.

During his time with the Padres, Bevacqua earned himself a place in baseball card collecting lore and has since become one of the most sought after players from the 1970s due to a printing error on his 1974 Topps baseball card. On Bevacqua’s standard issue 1974 Topps card, he is pictured in a Padres uniform along with the standard player stats and information on the back. Due to a production mistake at the Topps printing plant, a small number of Bevacqua’s 1974 cards were accidentally printed on the cardboard stock that was meant for the high number subset at the back of the set.

As a result, the front of Bevacqua’s card is correct but the stat back has the entirely wrong stats and information for another Padres player, Don Stanhouse. Since the two players wore similar uniforms in the photo on the front, the mix up went unnoticed for quite some time. It wasn’t until collectors started carefully checking details that the error was discovered. Today, Bevacqua’s 1974 Topps printing error card has become one of the most desirable issues from the whole decade of the 1970s due to its rarity and uniqueness in the hobby. In high grade it can fetch thousands of dollars.

After two seasons with the Padres where he established career highs in games played and average, Bevacqua was traded in December 1974 to the Montreal Expos along with Gene Locklear and cash for pitcher Bill Greif and infielder Mike Jorgensen. Bevacqua spent one season in Montreal as a part-time player and utility man, appearing in 90 games and hitting .238. Following the 1975 season he was dealt again, this time to the St. Louis Cardinals for Tim Foli.

Bevacqua had his best offensive season with St. Louis in 1976, establishing new career highs of 6 home runs and 33 RBI while splitting time between second base and third base and hitting .263 in 91 games. He remained with the Cardinals through the 1978 season, serving mostly as a defensive replacement and pinch hitter off the bench during the final few years of his career. Bevacqua appeared in his last MLB game on September 17, 1978 at the age of 33.

After retiring from baseball, Bevacqua stayed involved in the sport by becoming a baseball scout. He worked as a scout for the Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers over a 20+ year period. Bevacqua passed away in 2012 at the age of 65 while still working as a scout in the Dodgers organization.

While his career MLB stats may not stand out, Kurt Bevacqua’s place in baseball card history has been cemented due to the extreme rarity and value of his 1974 Topps printing error card. The mix up between his and Don Stanhouse’s stats is a one-of-a-kind mistake that still fascinates collectors decades later. For anyone lucky enough to own a high grade example in their collection, it serves as one of the ultimate 1970s prospects and a true anomaly from the “junk wax” era. Bevacqua may not have reached Baseball Hall of Fame levels on the field, but his legacy will forever live on through one of the coolest flukes found in the world of collectibles.

KURT SUZUKI BASEBALL CARDS

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Kurt Suzuki is a veteran Major League Baseball catcher who has played in the big leagues since 2004. Over his long career, Suzuki has established himself as a reliable, productive backstop who can handle a pitching staff and occasionally provide some pop at the plate. As such, Suzuki has been featured on numerous baseball cards over the years, chronicling his career progress and achievements from his debut season up through the present day. Let’s take a closer look at some of the notable Kurt Suzuki baseball cards that collectors can find.

One of Suzuki’s earliest cards came in 2005 Topps, his second season in the majors after debuting with the Oakland A’s in 2004 following being drafted in the second round in 2004. The 2005 Topps card features a photograph of Suzuki in his A’s road gray uniform, with his batting statistics from 2004 presented on the back. As a rookie in 2004, Suzuki played in 54 games and hit .258, so his 2005 Topps rookie card captured him at the very beginning of his MLB career.

Suzuki’s breakthrough season came in 2007 with Oakland when he appeared in a career-high 117 games and set personal bests with 13 home runs and 65 RBI while hitting .298. He was featured that year in both the 2007 Topps and 2007 Bowman baseball card sets. The Topps card used a shot of Suzuki from the waist up in his batting stance. Meanwhile, the 2007 Bowman card depicted him crouched behind the plate receiving a pitch, reflecting his improved play defensively as well that season.

In 2008, Suzuki played a key role as the A’s won the AL West division title. He again had a solid offensive campaign, hitting .277 with 9 homers and 65 RBI in 135 games played. This success led to Suzuki receiving upgraded “chrome” or parallel versions of his standard 2008 Topps card. The Topps Chrome Refractor parallel featured enhanced photo quality and a colorful orange border, while the 2008 Topps Chrome Gold Refractor parallel had Suzuki’s name and position in metallic gold ink. Both parallel versions are highly sought after by collectors today.

Another of Suzuki’s best seasons came in 2013 as a member of the Washington Nationals. That year, he set new career highs of 14 home runs and 53 RBI while batting .288 in 102 games. Upper Deck recognized Suzuki’s breakout year by including him in the very prominent 2013 Upper Deck Baseball Heroes brand set. The card depicts Suzuki squaring around to bunt with vivid primary colors and border designs befitting the Heroes brand. At the time, Suzuki was establishing himself as a steady veteran catcher, and this helped raise his baseball card profile.

Suzuki was traded from Washington to the Atlanta Braves during the 2014 season. He finished that year playing in a total of 107 combined games between the two clubs. Topps commemorated Suzuki’s first season with the Braves organization through a 2014 Topps Updates and Highlights card. It shows Suzuki crouched behind the plate again in his Braves dark blue uniform. The back of the card mentions his split-season between the Nationals and Braves that transpired via midseason trade.

In 2016, Suzuki signed a free agent contract to return to the Oakland A’s, the team with which he began his MLB career 12 years prior. Topps captured Suzuki’s A’s homecoming through a 2016 Topps Heritage High Number card design harkening back to the classic 1968 Topps baseball set. The retro-styled photo features Suzuki hitting against a green screen background in his new/old A’s white jersey with kelly green pinstripes and lettering. It was a nice way for Topps to commemorate Suzuki coming full circle back to Oakland.

Suzuki was traded again during the 2017 season, this time from Oakland to the Los Angeles Angels. His first season in Anaheim gave Topps the chance to create a 2017 Topps Update card showing him in an Angels uniform. Suzuki returned to bat and catch in 2018 with the Angels as well, picking up a standard 2018 Topps base card in his second year with the Halos. Both of these Topps cards capture an important phase of Suzuki’s baseball journeyman career playing for multiple franchises over nearly two decades.

One of the more unique baseball cards featuring Suzuki came about in 2020 through Topps Project 2020. This intriguing limited-edition release utilized augmented reality technology, allowing the included special Suzuki card to display a 3D hologram visualization of the catcher when viewed through the Topps app on a smartphone or tablet. It brought his baseball card to life in a revolutionary format that pointed to the future of the collectible card industry.

As recently as 2022, Suzuki remains an active Major League player at the age of 38, now suits up for the Seattle Mariners organization. Topps included him in both the standard 2022 Topps base set as well as the 2022 Topps Heritage high-number subset to acknowledge Suzuki’s enduring MLB career. Collectors can find these modern Suzuki cards that represent his later years still contributing at catcher well after most players have retired.

In summary, Kurt Suzuki has been a mainstay in the big leagues for nearly two decades now. Throughout that time, Topps and other leading baseball card manufacturers have chronicled his career through numerous collectibles spanning his tenures with the A’s, Nationals, Braves, and Angels. His rookie and star season cards from the late 2000s and early 2010s hold particular appeal to collectors, as do more recent issues showing Suzuki’s remarkable longevity still playing professionally in 2022 at age 38. Suzuki’s baseball card portfolio serves as a rolling scrapbook of his impressive journeyman baseball career.