- Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1988 Topps #185.
- Player Name, position, team: Mike Holtz, pitcher, Anaheim Angels.
- Major League Debut: July 11, 1996.
- Last Line of Statistics: 1997 stats (Angels): 66 G, 43.1 IP, 3-4, 21 R, 16 ER, 40 SO, 15 BB, 0 GS, 0 CG, 0 SHO, 2 SV, 3.32 ERA.
- Any special information about player: Drafted by the Angels #17th, June 1994. Bats: left, Throws: left.
- Any special information about this specific card: Holtz' first (and believe it or not) and only regular Topps card (total includes regular and traded cards only). Mike Holtz, along with teammate Jason Dickson, were named to Topps' All-Star Rookie Team in 1997, marking the first time ever that teammates won both pitching positions (Holtz was the LHP) on the ASRT. The gold borders on the 1998 Topps set must have been hard to replicate because Topps has done a really poor job of using it for reprints (see Mickey Mantle 1998 design and the 2005 Topps Rookie Card Reprints). While you might not initially see the Angels logo on the card, if you look closely at the box where the name is, you'll see many "Angels logos" flying around (pun intended...the 'A' has wings...you get the idea). The back of the players cards utilizes the team's colors in the color scheme (for the Angels, a light blue, for example) and the blurb on the back mentions the scout who signed him (Tony LaCava), and the fact that he became a premier set-up reliever (to Troy Percival). The bio also mentions Holtz' fashion sense, ie. the rookie hazing that forced him to wear a wig on flights. He said that he prefers "the blond one (wig) because it was softer and more manageable." That might be a bit too much information their Mike. Unfortunately, even though Holtz won the LHP spot on the rookie team, he does not have any more Topps cards to his credit. That's a shame, especially since he was the Halo's better relievers going into the 21st century. He signed on as a free agent with the Athletics in 2002, but then was released, latching on with Padres a few weeks later. Thus began his journeyman career, playing in the minor league systems for the Pirates, Devil Rays, and, after taking the year off, the Red Sox before calling it a career. Again, because Topps' 1998 set only had 503 cards in it, guys like Holtz were left off. I'm pretty sure if he played for the Yankees, he'd have had a card. But alas, playing for a west coast team, plus being a relief pitcher, equals no card. Go figure. But at least he has one. And it's one that is wanted by Topps ASRT collectors because of that trophy.
- Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.07-$0.20.
- How many cards of this player do I own?: 1 card.
Sincerely,
JayBee Anama
1 comment:
Are these cards all in holders or is that a graphics design technique?
Post a Comment