The Card: 2009 Topps Allen & Ginter Rip Card Ryan Ludwick
I love outfielder Ryan Ludwick. One of my all-time favorite players.
I started digging on him while he was with the 2002 Oklahoma RedHawks, who had an insane line-up that included power-hitting prospects Jason Hart, Travis Hafner, Hank Blalock, and Kevin Mench. I like these guys so much that I actually bought game-used bats of Ludwick, Hafner, Blalock, and Mench.
Ludwick should have been great. But injuries always seemed to derail his career. He spent 12 seasons in the majors but was only really healthy from 2008-2012. During that run he was fantastic, hitting .266 with a .808 OPS and a 117 OPS+. His best season came in 2008, when he hit 37 HR, was a Silver Slugger, and got his only All-Star game selection.
It’s easy to forget that Ludwick was, briefly, a Cleveland Indian. Cleveland traded away pitcher Ricardo Rodriguez and outfielder Shane Spencer for him in 2003. He would spend parts of two seasons with the major league club, though injuries would limit his contributions. He would be allowed to walk as a free agent, signing with the Tigers.
Oh! And there is this Cleveland connection too: in July 2010 he was included in a three-team trade between the Cardinals, Padres, and Indians that would include a young, and not particularly exciting, Padres pitcher coming to the Cleveland organization:
July 31, 2010: Traded as part of a 3-team trade by the St. Louis Cardinals to the San Diego Padres. The San Diego Padres sent Corey Kluber to the Cleveland Indians. The San Diego Padres sent Nick Greenwood to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cleveland Indians sent Jake Westbrook to the St. Louis Cardinals. [from baseballreference.com]
This card was sent out on consignment roughly a dozen times before I finally got it signed in Spring Training. I was thrilled to finally knock it out.