Friday, January 22, 2010

2006 Topps 1952 Rookies Anibal Sanchez

Who is this? Anibal Sanchez, a pitcher for the Florida Marlins

What is this? A certified autograph card from the 2006 Topps 1952 Rookies set

Where'd I get it? eBay

How much did it cost? It cost $2.04 in 2007

Why is this so special? Anibal Sanchez had a magical year in 2006. He began the season in AA, but earned a major league call-up in June. He won his major league debut at Yankee Stadium, then followed it up by beating Roger Clemens a couple of weeks later.

The best was yet to come. Sanchez threw a no-hitter against the Arizona Diamondbacks in September, becoming only the 19th rookie to accomplish that feat since 1900. He'd finish the year with a 10-3 record and a 2.83 ERA.

The next spring, Sanchez experienced shoulder issues and he's never been able to achieve the same level of success since.

This is one of my favorite modern sets. I like the old-time look of the cards; the design is classic, and most of the photos don't look too out-of-place in a vintage-style set. The autographed inserts are a little tough to spot when you're opening packs because the actual autograph takes the place of the facsimile signature found on the regular cards. Anibal Sanchez has a surprisingly nice autograph.

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