Star Rookie: Phil Plantier

Set: 1991 Upper Deck

Card number: 2

When I was a kid, I didn't notice that the back of Phil Plantier's '91 UD card compared him in looks to Mel Gibson. I thought he was more Travolta-esque. I do love the '91 UD though.

Phil Plantier burst onto the scene in a big way in 1991, hitting 11 home runs in 53 games.

He didn't repeat, and was traded to the Padres for Jose Melendez in 1993. He showed his power there, hitting 34 homers and knocking in 100 RBIs, but only hit .240. His numbers slipped the next season, and off he went to the Astros, in a huge 12 person trade. The next season he was back with the Padres, then Athletics, Padres again, finally ending his career with St. Louis in 1997. His final line: 610 games, 91 homers, 292 rbi, a .243 avg, and a .332 obp.

But for a season or so, he was another great rising Red Sox star, and his card a little rectangle of cardboard hope.

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.