Griffey Leads Names on Move at MLB Trade Deadline
Pudge Rodriguez's trade to the New York Yankees may have the most impact on the 2008 playoff race. The Dodgers' acquisition of mercurial slugger Manny Ramirez may get the most headlines. But for baseball card collectors, the deal that took place at yesterday's MLB trade deadline that probably made them sit up and take the most notice was the one that sent Ken Griffey Jr. from the Reds to the White Sox in exchange for two players and cash.
That's taking nothing away from Rodriguez or Ramirez, who are both great players, and Pudge may get a small increase in his card values now that he's in the Big Apple. Griffey though, has been a hobby legend since he first appeared in Upper Deck's debut baseball set, and interest in his cardboard has remained high even through his injury-plagued time in Cincinnati.
Never was that more true than this season, when he reached the 600-home run mark for his career, and it's no coincidence that he's been a fixture on the top 10 hottest sellers list on Beckett.com for most of 2008. Since he's already a lock for the Hall of Fame, the last thing missing is a shot at a World Series ring, and joining the White Sox may give him a legitimate chance before he hangs up his spikes.
It's with that in mind that I highlight Junior's rookie card checklist at the link below, a list that just happens to include one of the most famous baseball cards of all time.