MLB Tribune » Hall of Fame

Ken Griffey Junior Baseball Card Values

Scooter — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 20:33:40 +0000

Ken Griffey Junior said goodbye to baseball on June 2 before Seattle played the Minnesota Twins. Griffey retires with 630 homers – fifth on the career list – and 1,836 RBIs. He will certainly be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He had a 22-year career that began with the Mariners as a 19-year-old in 1989. He was on pace to be the home run king until injuries derailed his chances.

I am sure that most baseball card collectors are salivating now that Ken Griffey Junior has retired. His baseball cards will be worth more when he enters the Hall of Fame.

There are many Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards in circulation, but not all of them are rare. The most popular is the Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck #1.

How much are his cards worth today?

Ken Griffey, Jr. 1989 Rookie Cards

Bowman # 220 ($40to $60)
Donruss # 33 ($50 to $75)
Fleer # 548 ($40 to $60)
Score Rookie/Traded # 100T ($12 to $24)
Topps Traded # 41T ($20 to $44)
Upper Deck # 1 ($15 to $300)
1989 Classic Travel Orange Ken Griffey Jr. ($39 to $55)

The most popular card (Upper Deck #1) is not the rarest of the bunch. The 1989 Classic Travel Orange is one of the rarest of all of Ken Griffey Jr. baseball cards. It comes in a game set, in which most were ruined by younger adults while playing the game. The estimated production is about 100,000 games made.

The 1989 Classic Travel Orange Ken Griffey Jr. is estimated to be worth over $150 in mint condition when Ken Griffey Jr. enters the Hall of Fame.

These are only estimates and card values depend on two factors; Condition and production quantities.

Do you own any of Ken Griffey Jr. rookie baseball cards?

Derek Jeter will Finish Career with Yankees

Scooter — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:12:12 +0000

It would be hard to imagine Derek Jeter finishing his career with a team other than the Yankees. Jeter is the Yankees and the captain of the most storied franchise in sports history. The Steinbrenner’s need to reach deep in their pockets and in their hearts and offer Jeter an extension that would have Jeter in pinstripes for the rest of his baseball career.

The team captain has five World Series rings, count them – 96, 98,99,2000 and 2009. He has led his team both on and off the field. He is what every kid wants to be like and for good reason, he’s a leader.

Jeter is in his final contract year and I hope that the Yankees seal the deal before the season starts. Yankee favorite Mariano Rivera is also in his final contract year. Mariano Rivera is the best closer in the game and has been for more than a decade.

Yankee fans will one day see another player at shortstop, but that’s life in baseball. The next New York Yankees shortstop will have some big shoes to fill.

As a starter, Jeter has played in more than 150 games in 11 out of 14 seasons. He has a life time batting average of .317 with 2747 hits, 438 doubles, 58 triples, 224 home runs, 1068 RBI, 305 Steals and 885 walks.

Jeter has played in 138 postseason games. He has a .313 batting average, 175 hits, 27 doubles, 20 home runs, 55 RBI, 16 steals and 61 walks.

Awards:

Awards (year/award)

1996 AL Rookie of the Year
2000 ML AS MVP
2000 AL Babe Ruth Award
2000 ML WS MVP
2006 AL Hank Aaron Award
2009 AL Hank Aaron Award
2009 ML Roberto Clemente Award

Gold Gloves

2004 AL (SS)
2005 AL (SS)
2006 AL (SS)
2009 AL (SS)

Silver Sluggers

2006 AL (SS)
2007 AL (SS)
2008 AL (SS)
2009 AL (SS)

My favorite Jeter moment was when he ran across the diamond and flipped the ball back handed to Posada to tag out Jeremy Giambi at home plate in the 01 AL Division Series. The Yankees won the AL Division Series (3-2) over Oakland Athletics and won the World Series by beating the New York Mets in 5 games.

Not a bad resume and one that will place Jeter in the Hall of Fame!

Don Mattingly Belongs in Cooperstown!

Scooter — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:55:31 +0000

Don Mattingly (nicknamed “Donnie Baseball” and “The Hit Man“) was the New York Yankees star left-handed first baseman from 1982-1995. Again, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) snubbed him for election to the Hall of Fame. Mattingly’s numbers compare to those of first ballot Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett, who also had an injury shortened career.

Don Mattingly was drafted in the 19th round (490th Overall Pick) of the Free Agent Draft by the New York Yankees on June 5, 1979 and signed by Yankees’ scouts Jax Robertson and Gus Poulos on June 26.

He was the first left-hander to hit above .340 since Lou Gehrig in 1937 and the first New York Yankee to win the batting title since Mickey Mantle in 1956. That’s some pretty good company to have your name next to.

In 1985 Donnie Baseball was awarded the American League’s Most Valuable Player Award. He led the Major Leagues with 145 RBI, 48 doubles, and 15 sacrifice flies. He led the American League with 370 total bases. He had 21 Game Winning RBIs and 86 extra-base hits. He also hit .324 to go along with his 35 home runs! He was the first New York Yankee to lead the American League in RBIs since Roger Maris in 1961!

Career Statistics
1785 Games
7003 At Bats
.307 Batting Average
1007 Runs
2153 Hits
442 Doubles
20 Triples
222 Home Runs
1099 RBI
.471 Slugging %

Playoffs – 5 games, 24 at bats, 3 runs, 10 hits (.417 average), 4 doubles, 1 HR, 6 RBI.

The Awards
1985 MVP
1985 Major League Player of the Year
1993 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award
6 All-Star Games
9 Gold Gloves
3 Silver Sluggers
MVP votes in 7 seasons

Ranking in Yankee History

Don ranks second in New York Yankees’ history in doubles (442), fifth in hits (2,153) and at-bats (7,003). Seventh in games (1,785), batting average (.307), home runs (222). And eighth in RBI (1,099) and runs scored (1,007).

If Don Mattingly played one more year, he would have been a part of that 1996 World Series Champion team and would have improved his chances of being a Hall of Famer.

Induct Donnie – http://inductdonnie.com/

Do you think Don Mattingly belongs in the Hall of Fame?