The other card from Brian, that I mentioned yesterday, was from the 1991 Topps set. If it looks pack fresh, that's because it is. Brian opened a box of packs to try and build the set.
Topps, 1991; #99 - Chris Gwynn
This is the first card of Chris in Dodgers uniform that I have acquired. He soon moved to the Royals, and then finished his career with the Padres. His final season was in 1996, so his major league career was relatively brief.
You'll see that Tony gets a mention on the cardback. This is several years after Chris first got a mention on the back of one of Tony's cards, back in 1985.
Nine years in the Major Leagues is a decent career, even though Chris is eclipsed by his brother's achievements. Chris did have one honour that Tony never won - an Olympic silver medal. He represented Team USA at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. I imagine there are a very short list of sportsmen who competed at an Olympics in their home city and then went on to play professional support for their home city team as well.
This makes me wonder what it must have been like for these two brothers to be as teens. Imagine you are the team captain of a neighborhood baseball game and you got first pick. Who would you choose?
ReplyDeleteApparently their older brother was a great player as well but he had a knee injury as a teenager.
DeleteThat's awesome that Chris won a medal at the Olympics. I wonder if he wore it to the annual Gwynn family Thanksgiving gathering each year... while Gwynn walked around with one of his batting titles. ;D
ReplyDeleteI think it's really nice for him that he was an Olympian. "Silver slugger, bro? Have I shown you my SILVER OLYMPIC MEDAL?"
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