See here for a headnote and explanation.
#47: Ryan Mountcastle
Voted most likely to be a character in Game of Thrones.
#48: Jacob DeGrom
I think most fans want a home-grown star to remain with their team for the duration of their career. And especially nowadays, with salaries being so high, why would anyone really need to go elsewhere? Even before signing as a free agent with the Texas Rangers, DeGrom’s salaries totaled more than $100,000,000. How much does a person need? Maybe someone like a Mike Trout, whose career with the Angeles has led nowhere (Ernie Banks rings a bell, but that was in pre-FA days), might want to move on to a team that has post-season prospects. So when DeGrom left the Mets, it was a pretty hard hit. Note that the card does not reflect his new ball club, with which he signed in December. I wonder where he might be had he started three or four years earlier? He made his debut at age 26. Perhaps he would have suffered additional injuries or perhaps his numbers would be even better? Hard to believe he has fewer than 100 wins at this stage, despite two Cy Young awards.
#49: Mitch Haniger
Shows how little I follow the game outside of New York. Haniger hit 39 home runs and drove in 100 for Seattle in 2021 but I had never heard of him before. Missed most of 2022-23 because of injuries (and Covid).
#50: Mookie Betts
Finally, a superstar/zero. A seven-time All-Star and one-time MVP (perhaps another is in his immediate future?), Betts is an inspiration for the vertically challenged. Along with Jose Altuve, the 5-9 outfielder gives hope to the average guy. At 30, if he keeps it up, he seems well on his way to HoF consideration based on the categories set forth on Baseball-Reference.com (black ink, grey ink, etc.)
#51: Chas McCormick
From the card: “Chas admits to being an overachiever.”
is available on Amazon.com,
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