Austin Romine Baseball Cards: A Career as Derek Jeter’s Backup

Austin Romine has had a unique career as a backup catcher in Major League Baseball, spending most of his time with the storied New York Yankees franchise. While he has never been a star player himself, Romine has found a way to carve out a role in the big leagues by providing solid defense behind the plate and being a reliable option off the bench. As a result, Romine is one of the more accomplished backup catchers of his generation and his baseball cards documenting his career make for an interesting collection.

Drafted by the Yankees in the 2nd round of the 2007 MLB Draft out of St. Amos High School in Washington, Romine signed quickly and began his professional career that same season in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League. His early baseball cards from 2007 Topps, 2008 Upper Deck, and 2008 Bowman portray an eager young catcher just starting his path towards the majors. Romine advanced quickly through the Yankees system, reaching Double-A by 2009 at just age 20. His cards from 2009 Bowman and Topps Pro Debut depicted a rising Yankees prospect developing his skills.

In 2010, Romine’s prospect status continued to rise as he slashed .268/.327/.396 between Double-A and Triple-A. His success that year led to his first major league cups of coffee, appearing in 9 games for the Yankees in September. Romine’s rookie cards from 2010 Topps Heritage and Bowman Platinum commemorate his MLB debut while also showing he was still considered one of the organization’s top catching prospects. Injuries would slow Romine’s progression over the next two seasons, limiting him to just 76 games combined in 2011-2012.

The 2013 season marked a bit of a career rebound for Romine. He stayed healthy, appearing in 101 games and posting an .749 OPS between Triple-A and his first extended MLB playing time. Romine’s 2013 Topps and Bowman cards reflected his return to form that year and designation as Derek Jeter’s primary backup. Although he only slashed .207/.243/.321 in 42 games for the Yankees, Romine emerged as their top reserve catcher. He then backed up hall of famer Jeter’s final season in 2014. Romine’s 2014 Topps Update card honored Jeter’s retirement while also showing Romine had locked down a role in the Yankees organization.

Over the next few seasons, Romine settled into what would be his career pattern – spending most of the year in the majors as Brian McCann or Gary Sanchez’s backup, while also getting starts when the starters needed days off. His 2015-2017 Topps and Bowman rookie cards reflected his changing role from prospect to reliable reserve. Injuries to McCann and Sanchez from 2016-2018 gave Romine extended playing time, including 71 starts behind the plate in 2017. That season he set new career highs with a .742 OPS and 8 home runs in 92 games.

For much of his tenure with the Yankees, Romine provided above-average defense but lacked impact with the bat. His defense and ability to handle pitching staffs made him a valuable reserve. His baseball cards from this period like 2015 Topps Update, 2016 Topps Update, and 2017 Topps Series 2 capture Romine settling into his role as a backup catcher who could be counted on to fill in when needed. Romine also gained a reputation in the clubhouse as a popular teammate and positive presence.

After seven years in the Yankees organization, Romine signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Tigers in 2019, looking for a greater opportunity for playing time. He only managed to start 38 games that season behind the plate in Detroit, with young catcher Grayson Greiner also seeing time. Romine’s 2019 Topps and Bowman Tigers cards showed him taking on a similar reserve role but with a new uniform. He re-signed with the Tigers for 2020 but only appeared in 9 games before the season was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021 at age 31, Romine signed a minor-league deal with the Texas Rangers and had a solid spring, earning a spot on their opening day roster as the backup to Jose Trevino. He struggled at the plate with a .571 OPS in 29 games and was released in June. Romine landed with the Miami Marlins and split time behind the plate the rest of the season with Sandy Leon. He ended 2021 with a .239/.259/.348 slash line in 62 total games between Texas and Miami.

While he never developed into an impact offensive player, Romine managed to carve out an 11-year career in the majors due to his defensive skills and ability to handle a pitching staff. He finished with a .238/.276/.351 slash line along with 20 home runs and 143 RBIs in 498 career games. Through it all, Romine stayed durable, averaging over 50 games played per season during his peak years. His baseball cards showcase a humble but productive career as the reliable backup to stars like Jeter, McCann, and Sanchez in New York. Romine will likely be remembered most for selflessly filling in behind the plate for seasons on end for the storied Yankees franchise.