Wynter Phoenix was a professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona that played in the United Baseball League from 1998 to 2005. While the team never achieved great success on the field, amassing a combined record of 470-586-2 during their eight seasons of play, they developed a strong local fan base and helped grow the sport’s popularity in the Phoenix metro area. The Wynter Phoenix also made contributions to baseball card collecting thanks to several series issued featuring their players and coaches.
Upper Deck held the license to produce official Wynter Phoenix cards during the team’s first five seasons from 1998-2002. In total they released cards of the Phoenix squad in three of their annual baseball sets during this period. The first Wynter Phoenix cards appeared in Upper Deck’s 1999 baseball release. Twenty players and managers from the ’98 Phoenix roster were included on standard size trading cards with photos from that inaugural season. Some of the more prominent names featured included slugging first baseman Jose Fernandez, veteran relief pitcher Ron Villone and manager Luis Pujols.
The following year in 2000, Upper Deck again included the Wynter Phoenix in their baseball card lineup. This time 19 cards were dedicated to the ’99 Phoenix squad. Rookies Jerry Owens and Humberto Cota made their cardboard debuts as did new acquisitions such as outfielder Luis Figueroa and pitcher Ismael Valdez. Many of the cards from the ’99 set were repeated but with updated photos. The 2002 Upper Deck baseball issue was the last to spotlight the Wynter Phoenix under their license with the company. A total of 15 cards showcased members of the 2001 team like reigning homerun leader Esteban German and utilityman Benji Gil.
After Upper Deck’s license with the United Baseball League expired, Playoff Productions gained the rights to produce Wynter Phoenix cards beginning with their 2003 release. Playoff had printed baseball cards for minor and independent leagues for over a decade. Their 2003 seven-card Phoenix mini-set included stars from the ’02 campaign like Dmitri Young before he was called up to the majors and Alex Prieto who led the team in batting average and runs batted in that season. The cards had a distinct retro look inspired by designs from the 1950s-1970s era.
In 2004 and 2005, Playoff continued providing Wynter Phoenix collectors cardboard representations of their favorite squad. About a dozen cards each year highlighted top performers and prospects. Some examples include Tim Hummel’s rookie issue from the ’04 set after batting .306 in his first full Phoenix season or Jason Boyd’s card in 2005 shortly before he was signed away by a major league club. The back of each Phoenix player’s Playoff card contained stats, a briefbio and sometimes quotes directly from the subjects. These later series with Playoff had a more independent league production feel compared to the glossier Upper Deck releases.
As one of the more popular and high-profile teams in the short-lived United Baseball League, the Wynter Phoenix maintained a following of baseball enthusiasts in Arizona and beyond thanks in part to their inclusion in mainstream and Minor League/Independent trading card sets over the years. While none are particularly rare or valuable today on the secondary market, Wynter Phoenix cards remain a nostalgic connection to independent professional baseball history in Phoenix for collectors. They depict the largely forgotten players who suited up in Phoenix’s unique purple, teal and orange uniforms while helping to grow the sport at the grassroots level during the late 90s and early 2000s. Whether in Upper Deck or Playoff Productions cardboard, the Wynter Phoenix trading cards stand as a reminder of independent baseball’s past contributions.
The Wynter Phoenix developed a local fanbase in Phoenix despite only moderate on-field success from 1998-2005. While the franchise no longer exists, their legacy lives on through several baseball card series issued by Upper Deck and Playoff Productions featuring over 150 total cards highlighting Phoenix players, coaches and managers over the years. As one of the more popular United Baseball League teams, Wynter Phoenix cards maintain nostalgic value for Phoenix-area collectors and independent baseball card enthusiasts, preserving the memories of the independent pros who wore the Phoenix uniform during that era. Their cardboard contributions ensure the Phoenix franchise is not wholly forgotten despite independent baseball’s downturn in the early 2000s.