Card Spotlight: 1-2-09

1991 Oklahoma State Collegiate Collection #4 - Robin Ventura

Golden Spikes Award 1988. Member of United States gold medal winning baseball team at 1988 Olympic Games. "Player of the Decade" by Baseball America. First round draft choice of the Chicago White Sox and the 10th player selected in the 1988 Major League Baseball amateur draft. Starting third baseman for White Sox in 1990 and 1991.

For three years as a Cowboy, Robin Ventura averaged .428 as a hitter. I know that it's college, but that's still pretty impressive. What the back of the card didn't tell you was that Robin Ventura went on to have a long successful career with the White Sox and with other teams. But that doesn't surprise me for two reasons. This card was made in 1991 and cards can't talk. If they talk to you, I wonder about what you've been smoking out back.

I received this card as a gift last year. Yes, all of two weeks ago, but technically last year. That's the last "last year" joke you'll get out of me until next year.

I don't follow college baseball at all. It's interesting to see Major League players on cards as college players. Then again, I'm fascinated by many things that would seem mundane to another. Birds singing, dew glistening on a newly formed leaf, stoplights. Yes, the list goes on and on.

This is yet another card that I never really knew existed until it fell into my lap. Thankfully, there are small holiday miracles and something to start the new year out on the right note.