Top 30 Colorado Rockies Cards (14-8)

After taking a day to express my disgust with the Topps Heritage High Number checklist we are back to the list with part 3 of 4.

 

14. Vinny Castilla - 1998 Score #97

Denver weather isn't always baseball friendly, especially in April, this card reflects that. Either that or Vinny is about to pull a gun out of his jersey and rob a bank, in that case hiding your face is a good start, but a jersey with your name on the back might be a mistake.

13. J.D. Closser - 2006 Upper Deck #162

The lone "catcher wearing a goalie mask" card in the list. In January of 2002 the Rockies traded submarine reliever Mike Myers to the Diamondbacks for J.D. Closser and Jack Cust. Closser played in 160 games for the Rockies from 2004-2006 with a .239/.320./367 slash line.

12. Andres Galarraga - 1996 Upper Deck #65

A photo taken during the victory lap after the Rockies beat the Giants on October 1st, 1995 to secure the wild card and make the playoffs in the clubs third season. In true Coors Field fashion the Rockies were down 8-2 at one point and came back to win the game 10-9.

11. Ubaldo Jimenez - 2007 Topps #296

Another rookie card that isn't, Jimenez has true rookies in several 2005 products. For me the 2007 design has some hints at the classic 1971 set with the black borders and the signature. Jimenez was scary good in 2010, starting the season 16-2 with a 2.20 ERA over his first 18 starts, throwing the only no-hitter in Rockies history.

10. Ryan Spilborghs - 2010 Topps #179

Another card that has been featured in it's own post. Ryan Spilborghs rounding the bases after hitting a grand slam against the Giants that helped launch the 2009 playoff run.

9. Manny Corpas - 2009 O-Pee-Chee Black Parallel #354

This is how you do retro, the oddly cropped photo brings to mind the 1973 Topps set and the weird colors have the feel of mid to late 70's offerings. I picked the black border parallel because they look damn good and I have a thing for black borders. This set by Upper Deck makes anything Topps has done in the retro style recently pale in comparison.

8. Ryan Turner - 1992 Upper Deck #710

The first ever Rockies card of the first ever Rockies player, kind of. Ryan Turner was the first player signed to a contract by the Rockies but never made it to the major leagues. Signed in December of 1991 after playing a season in the Twins system, Turner only spent four season in professional baseball, leaving the game after the 1994 season with the Double A New Haven Ravens in which he hit only .195 over 38 games. Check out the original never used Rockies logo with the smaller baseball and black text on a silver banner.