Now, this probably isn’t the absolutely worst card in the world. However, as I was going through my ‘91 set last night, I did a double take when running across Mr. Sosa’s card with 31-22 and 51-40.
This was during Sosa’s three-year stint with the White Sox. He a bit lean then. I mean that both offensively (he hit .233 and .203 in consecutive years) and of course physically. There’s no doubt that management saw potential in the then-speedster Sosa. Despite the low BA and high K totals, he stole 32 bases and drove in 70 runs and scored 72 in 1990. Along with that came power numbers of 26-10-15 which for a second-year player were pretty promising.
But Sammy had a delayed sophomore slump in 1991. He struck out 98 times in 316 at-bats and batted .203 and only walked 14 times. He exhibited a decrease in power (10-1-10) and slight one in speed (13 SB).
| Split | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 Totals | 116 | 338 | 316 | 39 | 64 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 33 | 13 | 6 | 14 | 98 | .203 | .240 | .335 |
Again, for the 1990s this is a probably a playable card especially for a sixth lineup spot. The card looks deceptively bad until you factor the 15-11 and the 25-10. Probably what hurts Sosa’s 1991 card the most is the lack of 14s. He only has one.
Of course, there’s also the issue of the presence of only two power numbers. APBA gave him a 1-6. He figures out to about 2.24 EBH per 36 plate appearances. Nit-pickers could easily argue for a 1-0-0 and more than a few singles in the second column and have me convinced.
Sosa would eventually get traded to the Cubs for George Bell. That happened the next year and Sammy narrowly missed his chance to play in the ALCS with the Sox in 1993.
Oh, but what an interesting career he would have on the Northside!
this is what he looked like before the “stuff”.