In 2007, with the Barry Bonds era winding down, San Francisco Giants fans and collectors had to be wondering who would step in and fill his hobby void. They didn't have to wait long, as that same season saw the arrival of ace pitcher Tim Lincecum.
Not that Lincecum was an unknown quantity by any means. He was first drafted by the Chicago Cubs late in the 2003 MLB Draft, but he decided to take his big arm to the University of Washington instead. Lincecum found college ball to his liking, becoming the first player ever to win the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year awards in the same season. After shunning the pros again in 2005, he added the Golden Spikes Award in his junior season.
The Giants responded by taking Lincecum 10th overall in 2006, and he quickly blazed a path through the minor leagues. He made his Major League debut in May of 2007, and though he started slowly, he rode a hot streak through the middle of the summer to a 7-5 record, striking out 150 batters in 146 1/3 innings.
That turned out to be just a taste of what Lincecum had in store for batters in 2008. Mowing down hitters with a team-record 265 strikeouts, he led the league in K's, went 18-5 and was named to his first NL All-Star team - though illness left him unable to play.
With velocity approaching 100 mph, an expanding arsenal of pitches and durability that you wouldn't expect from his small frame, Lincecum looks like he'll be leading Giants hurlers for years to come. And collectors love strikeout artists, which should mean good things for his 20-plus 2007 rookie cards. Nine of them are autographed, giving hobbyists looking to grab some of his rookie ink options at multiple price points.
2007 Tim Lincecum Rookie Cards
- Bowman Chrome # 217
- Bowman Chrome Draft # BDP11
- Bowman Draft # BDP11
- Bowman Heritage # 202
- Bowman Sterling # TL - autographed
- Bowman's Best # 93 - autographed
- Exquisite Collection Rookie Signatures # 163 - autographed jersey card #'d to 199
- Fleer # 428
- SP Authentic # 147 - autographed, #'d to 50
- SPx # 106 - autographed
- Sweet Spot # 138 - autographed
- Topps Update # 158
- Topps 52 # 130
- Topps Allen & Ginter # 274
- Topps Turkey Red # 88
- UD Black # 69 - autographed, #'d to 99
- UD Masterpieces # 82
- Ultimate Collection # 124 - autographed, #'d to 299
- Upper Deck # 918
- Upper Deck Elements # 243 - #'d to 550
- Upper Deck Future Stars # 181 - autographed, SP
- Upper Deck SP Rookie Edition # 124