Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Ultra Prospct: Willie Banks




Set: 1991 Fleer Ultra
Card Number: 373

Fleer Ultra was one of the earlier "premium" card sets, with a silver boarder and a full color back. There were no real outstanding cards in the set, the highlights being several future hall of famers- about the same as every other '91 set.

Willie Banks ended up with a 9 year, fairly middling career- a journeyman. He complied a 33-39 record and a 4.75 era with 7 teams, ending his career with the Red Sox in 2002.

I don't know what great heights his card reached when he was a prospect, but it is a common now, but still pretty cool.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Star Rookie: D.J. Dozier





Set: 1991 Upper Deck
Card Number: 3

Attempting to follow in the footsteps of Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders, D.J. Dozier was a highly touted running back out of Penn State who was drafted in the first round of the 1987 NFL draft. He signed with the New York Mets in 1990, and was called up in 1992. He played one year in the majors, and five in the NFL.

In 25 games for the Mets in 1992, he batted .191 with 19 strikeouts.

I don't remember much hype around Dozier's card, but he has a Star Rookie logo in the corner of the handsome 1991 Upper Deck card number 3. After a stellar college football career, baseball just didn't pan out.

You can read about his post-pro sports life here.