Now, I couldn’t resist posting a Monster card from the brand new 2021 baseball set just released by APBA, could I? I had a lot of choices but I’m going with the Phils’ Bryce Harper this week.
NL MVP Harper hit .309 and 35 homers while leading the NL with 42 doubles and a .615 slugging percentage while scoring 101 runs. He had 100 walks exactly and even managed to steal 13 bases.
| Split | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Totals | 141 | 599 | 488 | 101 | 151 | 42 | 1 | 35 | 84 | 13 | 100 | 134 | .309 | .429 | .615 |
Harper’s APBA card has five power numbers (1-1-0-0-0). While he doesn’t have many ones in the second column (just one), there aren’t many singles there either. He has three elevens. Any Harper manager rolling a 65-6 will draw a sigh of relief.
Some will think that a .309 hitter will deserve better than a 55-8. Harper’s five 14s will help bring that average up. The 15-10 and the 61-22 won’t hurt either. By my calculations, this card will hit a bit low but it’s not out of range.
Bryce is rated as an OF-2, rightfully so. He is also a (F)ast baserunner. He has one 22 at 61 and just one 24. He also has just one 31 too.
One slight oddity… In addition to a 5 in the second column, Harper has a 3 at 11. Since he does not have any 2s in the second column, I wonder if the APBA card makers are hoping if the 3 and 5 will help replicate his real-life one triple in 2021.
Bryce is nice!
Second column 3!
A bad result for basic game with a slow runner on first. Rare, though.
Hi Tom,
Another good article!
“I wonder if the APBA card makers are hoping if the 3 and 5 will help replicate his real-life TWO triples in 2021.” The Baseball Reference stats you provided say ONE triple.
There is also a slight typo as well – “He has one 22 at 61 and just one 24. He also has just 31 too.” That should probably be “He also has just ONE 31, too.
Thanks, Dan! They have been corrected.
In hindsight, the 3 and 5 make more sense with just one triple.