What a card: This card recalls the Minnesota Twins selecting Tim Belcher with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1983 MLB draft. So why is he wearing an A's uniform? We'll get to that.
My observation on the front: There is something not right about that photo and I think there's some airbrushing going on. Belcher played for the Oakland A's Class A and AA teams in 1984, perhaps he's actually wearing a uniform for the Madison Muskies or Albany-Colonie A's. Or maybe it's a photo from his days at Mt. Vernon Nazarene College.
More opinion from me: You could almost say that this card ushered in the era of the "pre-rookie" card. Belcher wouldn't hit the majors until 1987, with the Dodgers. Prior to this, players at the Class A/AA level who were featured in a Topps set would be on a multi-player prospects card.
Something you might know: Belcher did not sign with the Twins after they drafted him. He was then selected by the Yankees in the 1984 supplemental draft in January and picked up by the A's as a free agent compensation pick in February.
Something you might not know: Belcher pitched in 16 games for Class A Madison and averaged 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings in those games.
My observation on the back: There's a nice explanation of Belcher's path from the Twins to the Yankees to the A's -- yet he never played in the majors for any of them.
The blog wants to speak now: The TV category is updated.
2 comments:
The Team USA cards later in this set also could fit the "pre-rookie" prototype.
Is this card rare?? Or worth anything??
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