He wasn’t here for a long time, but Bert Blyleven did appear to have a good time during his brief stay in Alberta.
It was an unlikely pit stop for the Hall of Fame pitcher, who made two starts for the Edmonton Trappers in May of 1992.
The third-round pick of the Minnesota Twins in 1969 was playing his final pro season when he arrived in the provincial capital.
Read More Dutch TreatThere really must be something in the water in Edmonton.
In 1992, “King Fish” Tim Salmon made it rain as a member of the Trappers. The outfielder led the Pacific Coast League (PCL) in home runs (29), total bases (275), runs batted in (105), extra base hits (71), on-base percentage (.469) and slugging percentage (.672).
Salmon’s card from this 1992 Fleer ProCards set – the subject of this edition of In The Cards – was undoubtedly the most sought after of the bunch.
Read More In The Cards: 1992 Edmonton TrappersThis chapter of our In The Cards series – which profiles Alberta baseball collectibles – comes courtesy of Ross Flats Vintage Apparel, who kindly donated this 1993 set of Edmonton Trappers cards.
The 27-card set was made by Fleer ProCards and it features some fairly static poses, but the images of the pin-striped Trappers are clear. Edmonton’s John Ducey Park can also be seen in the background.
Read More In The Cards: 1993 Edmonton TrappersWhen you look back at those postseason games from the early ’90s, it’s all there.
You can see the threat on the base paths, the ability to come up with timely hits and, of course, the wall-crashing catches in centre field.
Devon White was never the guy for the Toronto Blue Jays during their back-to-back World Series titles in 1992 and 1993. But you cannot win championships without key contributors like White roaming the outfield and batting at the top of the order.
Read More White LightningWe venture to the provincial capital for this edition of In The Cards.
The overall look and feel of the set gives it a big league feel, reminiscent of something Topps might have created.
On the field, the Trappers were the defending champs, having won their first PCL title in 1984.
Read More In The Cards: 1985 Edmonton Trappers