Shawn Abner was an outfielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1983 to 1991 for the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, and Milwaukee Brewers. Known as a speedy player with an adequate bat, Abner never quite lived up to expectations as a prospect but had a long career nonetheless. He remains a recognizable name for baseball card collectors because of some of his popular rookie cards from the early 1980s.
Abner was drafted by the Cubs in the 6th round of the 1979 draft out of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. Considered an excellent prospect due to his blazing speed and above average hitting ability for a top-of-the-order player, Abner rocketed through the Cubs’ farm system. He made his major league debut at age 21 in 1983 and Baseball America named him the #1 Cubs prospect going into that season. Abner had the misfortune of being called up during the dismal “College of Coaches” era in Chicago when player development was stunted. He struggled to establish himself at the big league level.
Despite playing parts of seven seasons in the majors, Abner was never able to solidify an everyday role or live up to his potential. He bounced between the Cubs, Pirates, Reds, and Brewers with marginal production at the plate and in the field. However, Abner did show flashes of the skills that made him such a touted prospect. In 1985 with the Cubs he stole 27 bases and hit .274 in 103 games, a career best season offensively. Abner also stole 23 bases for the Reds in 1990 at age 29, proving he could still run well late in his career.
While Abner did not find long-term success in the majors, he left an impact on the baseball card hobby. Some of his early rookie cards have become quite desirable and valuable, especially for Cubs collectors seeking to assemble sets from the early 1980s. Two of Abner’s most prominent rookie cards come from the 1983 set releases by Topps and Donruss. Both capture Abner near the beginning of his MLB career and before injuries and roster shuffling derailed his prospects of stardom. Let’s take a closer look at these two seminal Shawn Abner rookie cards:
1983 Topps Shawn Abner Rookie Card (#641)
This is considered Abner’s true rookie card since it was the first widely produced card featuring him as a big leaguer in the 1983 set. It shows Abner in a mid-action pose swinging the bat from his lefty side. The photo is crisp and highlights Abner’s athleticism that made him such an exciting prospect. In gem mint condition this card can fetch well over $100. Even well-centered, played copies in the $20-30 range are highly collectible for Cubs fans. The card foreshadows Abner’s potential even if he didn’t fully realize it.
1983 Donruss Shawn Abner Rookie Card (#437)
Released shortly after the Topps set in the same year, this served as Abner’s “rookie card” in the Donruss brand which was rapidly growing in popularity. The vertical photo highlights Abner crouched ready to field a ball in the outfield. Like the Topps issue, it captures the bright future Abner appeared to have. This card has achieved similar value to the Topps card over time, reaching into the $100+ range in high grades. Even well-played near complete copies can sell for $10-20 easily on the secondary market.
While stats and performance ultimately dictate a player’s legacy, Abner left a unique mark on the baseball card collecting community. His rookie cards from the boom years of the early 1980s remain highly sought after, especially by Cubs fans desiring representation from that difficult era. Even though Abner didn’t fully blossom like expected, his early prospect status and cards ensure some remembrance decades later for dedicated collectors. Abner may not have a plaque in Cooperstown, but he undoubtedly earned one in the halls of many baseball card collections and memories over the years. His story serves as a reminder of the uncertainty in scouting and the thin line between prospect and role player in professional sports.
In summary, Shawn Abner had the talent and draft pedigree to become an impact major leaguer but ultimately bounced around five teams with more flaws than expected. Yet the quality and timing of his rookie cards in the prolific 1983 sports card year have cemented his legacy in the world of collectibles if not the record books. Abner is remembered fondly by Cubs fans of the era and card collectors even today despite his uneven playing career. His successful integration of speed and power tools as an elite prospect made for iconic baseball card portraits that stand the test of time. While stats fade, the cards and memories of could-have-beens remain.