This Monday, let’s go back to the 1990’s and take a look at “Big Cat”, Andres Galarraga. I featured Galarraga’s 1994 card a few years ago and it was a banger. It’s only downside was that Andres only played 103 games that season.
This time, the Cat’s 1996 card with Colorado is a full season.
Andres Galarraga
1996
- League leader in HR (47) and RBI (150)
- Batting average: .304
- Stolen bases: 18
Silver Slugger
6th in NL MVP voting
Overview of Galarraga’s 1996 season
In 1996, Galarraga led the NL with 47 homeruns and 150 rbis. He also scored 119 runs and batted .304 with 18 steals. Yet, Galarraga remained out of the spotlight coming in sixth in MVP voting for the year. That’s a little hard to believe with his key stats.
The Cat had to contend with a lot of competition. Despite his lofty numbers, his .601 slugging percentage was still was just fifth in the National League despite hitting a very respectable 39 doubles. Not only that, Galarraga doesn’t even land on the 1996 NL Offensive WAR top ten list.
Welcome to the growing influence of offense in baseball.
| Split | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 Totals | 159 | 691 | 626 | 119 | 190 | 39 | 3 | 47 | 150 | 18 | 40 | 157 | .304 | .358 | .601 |
A look at the numbers
Maybe it’s me but with slugging players like Galarraga, I like single column cards. Logically, I get that double column are more accurate and he may have been in between four and five full power numbers, but a single column card just feels right. That said, we will have to be happy with his power combination of 1-1-0-0-0.
In addition, Galarraga has four ones (plus a 5) in the second column. Indeed, he does not have the equivalent of five full power numbers. If you roll a zero on his card, you will want to avoid the six 7s in the second column.
Galarraga doesn’t have a first column 7 despite batting .304. Based on his 18 steals in 1996, he does receive a 15-11.
The “Cat” rightly only gets two 14s as he walked just 40 times in 691 plate appearances. However, he does receive a bonus 42. Galarraga was hit by the pitch 13 times (he’s 14th for his career all-time, by the way).
Final details
- A solid defensive first baseman, Galarraga was rated as a 1B-4
- No 24s on Galarraga’s card. He GIPDed only six times and received a 41-28
- The 1996 set has my personal least favorite placing of the 12. The 42, which on most sets has the possibility of a hit or at least a walk.
Thanks to Jeff Powell to posted this card on Facebook!
I was always kind of shocked how The Cat could crush (home park aside) with those awful SO-BB ratios, but he managed somehow! As a Giants fan, it was a joy to see him do some damage via two separate stints in 2001 and 2003, just before he hung it up for good.
Also he possessed one of the most significant leaps I have ever seen over a two-year period:
1991: .219/.268/.336 – Montreal
1992: .243/.282/.391 – St. Louis
1993: .370/.403/.602 – Colorado
From virtually un-rosterable, to unstoppable.
Side note: He hit .328 on the road in 1993, albeit with only 9 homers.
I never liked 42-12 either :)
Todd R.
Personally, I favor the 1993 card, when Galarraga hit .370. 1-4-5-6 and four 7s, plus three 8s and two 9s (just one 14, however). I had picked him up for free because I had noticed he had hit .300 in the second half of ‘92 for St. Louis. He was a mainstay for six seasons.