Last time, we shared some eBay Brewers auto gets, now on to the latest batch from Sportlots…
Enrique Cruz
This is part of a product called “Royal Rookies” that was
issued in 2000 and 2001. It looks like something Signature Rookies would have
made and actually might be one of their products (I’m too lazy to go back and
look in the binder). The checklist of signed cards is remarkably weak – JJ Putz
and Jake Peavy are the two “headliners.” Cruz was a Rule 5 pick that hung
around for the entire 2003 season, despite being just 21 years old and having
never played higher than A ball. Cruz was understandable abysmal, recording
just five singles and a double in 71 at bats, and never managed to fulfill the
potential that the Brewers saw in him after being sent back to minors. He resurfaced in the majors with the
Reds in 2007 for a single AB and still holds the record for lowest batting
average of any position player with 50 or more career at bats (.083).
Julio Mosquera
A man without an MLB card, Mosquera went to bat just once
for the Brewers (of a career total of 32 plate appearances), on June 8, 2005. I
actually remember this series, as it was the Yankees’ first trip to Milwaukee
in a long time and the Brewers won two of three. Mosquera pinch hit for Chad
Moeller with two out in the ninth and grounded out on two pitches from Mariano
Rivera to end the game.
Kelly Stinnett
Another great card from the Leaf Signature Series, this is
also one of a handful of LSS cards that are the ONLY Brewers card of a certain player.
Kevin Wickander and Cris Carpenter are the others. As I write this, I’m stunned
to learn that Stinnett actually player for 14 years (!!!) in the majors, with eight
different teams. He was also the starting catcher on the 1999 DBacks playoff
team. He appeared in 44 games for the Brewers in 1996-97.
Chris Smith
My second attempt at getting a Chris Smith (the right Chris Smith)
card via SL, I landed this die-cut sticker card. I’ll admit, I don’t remember
this guy AT ALL. He pitched during the lost Ken Macha years of 2009 and 2010.
Shockingly, Smith resurfaced in 2016 with the A’s at age 35 after five years of
toiling in the minors. This year, he has an ERA over seven.
Damien Magnifico
Mags threw three innings for the Brewers last year and was
shipping to the Orioles this past April for international bonus money space.
This is easily my least favorite card of this new group. He is listed as a
member of “Milwaukee,” but all that red makes him look like a, well, Red or
something. This is one of the very few Magnifico cards. None show him actually
with the Brewers.
Check back soon for some more new Brew Crew cards!
Can't say I've ever heard of Damien Magnifico, but that has to be one of the best last names in baseball history.
ReplyDeleteI had such high hopes for Magnifico and his 100 mph fastball. He didn't last long with Baltimore, getting traded less than a month later to the Angels.
ReplyDelete