- Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1983 Topps #40.
- Player Name, position, team: Fernando Valenzuela, pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Major League Debut: September 15. 1980.
- Last Line of Statistics: 1982 stats (Dodgers): 37 G, 285 IP, 19-13, 105 R, 91 ER, 199 SO, 83 BB, 37 GS, 18 CG, 4 SHO, 0 SV, 2.87 ERA.
- Any special information about players: Signed with the Dodgers as a Free Agent 07/06/1979. Bats: left, Throws: left.
- Any special information about this specific card: Valenzuela's fourth regular Topps (total includes regular and traded cards only, and doesn't include any highlights, team leaders, league leaders card. While the blue border color makes sense (as it is the Dodgers), I don't get the use of green on this card. But then again, grey or white wouldn't make much sense either, and a lighter shade of blue would be too much. Fernando was the phenom pitcher of the early 80's. "With an eye to the heavens" before letting the ball go, every pitch he threw was electric and he captured the attention and hearts of baseball fans everywhere. "Fernando-mania" was running wild. And why not? By the time this card came out, Valenzuela was already a ROY, a Cy Young Award winner, a two-time All-Star, and a Silver Slugger (the man could hit). If the internet and media attention was as strong in the early 80's as it is now, he would be compared to a certain Nationals pitcher. But I digress. The back of his card features three highlights from the 1982 season. Fernando: started a winning rally with a single in 2-1 CG win vs. Mets on May 4; pitched a 7-0 shutout against the Cubs at Wrigley on May 30; and he hurled a 3-0 shutout against the Braves on July 31.
- Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.10-$0.30.
- How many cards of each player do I own?: 35 cards.
Sincerely,
JayBee Anama
1 comment:
I love this card. Fernando looks worried in the bottom picture.
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