So Long Mr. Zimmerman Employee Number 11

 

Ryan Zimmerman The Nat's first ever Draft Pick (well as the Washington Nationals) announced his retirement on 15 February 2022. Then at the beginning of the delayed Spring Training opening the organization announce that they will officially retire his Employee Number 11 Jersey Number on 18 June 2022. Two other Nationals wore number 11 in 2005 before Ryan wore it, Jeffery Hammonds and Junior Spivey, but it is Ryan who is known for wearing that number, previously he was Employee Number 25.

2006 Fleer Baseball 228 Ryan Zimmerman Washington Nationals

Image from Trading Card DataBase 

(I have a copy of this and/or maybe the gray/silver version,

but couldn't find my copy in time to scan it for posting)

An image I created using an old CheckOutMyCards logo and a Getty Image of Ryan. 

Here is one of my Fave Zimmerman cards. I wish it was available in a non-chrome version but it was apparently only for Chrome. This card was made several years before the Nats ever wore an Expos Throwback uniform. As far as I know they have only worn a Montreal Throwback uniform (The powder blue away uniforms) the one time. They have worn retro Homestead Grays uniforms plenty of times. Not a very flattering image of him, but it is better than some sketch cards.

2010 Topps Chrome Baseball: National Chicle CC49

Ryan Zimmerman Montreal Expos

Here is an oddball Z-Man Card I like: It is a die-cut standee so it is very fragile. I think I might have wrecked it some after I scanned it while removing it from the scanner.

2009 Enterplay MLB Fan Pak #60 Ryan Zimmerman Washington Nationals Standee

Now here is what will be Ryan's last career era card.

2022 Topps Baseball 296 Ryan Zimmerman Washington Nationals

Senators Singles: Ryan Zimmerman 2009 Oddball

RYAN ZIMMERMAN 2009 Enterplay MLB Fan Pak Baseball

Here is a quick Senators Singles post. I am not sure when or how I acquired this card whether it was from a trade or a purchase. I think it was from a purchase from someone on a trading forum and I think it was one of 3 or 4 cards/items. If it was a purchase I paid somewhere between $5 to $10 for it maybe shipping added. Then again it could have been from a trade.

It is an Oddball card meaning it is from a manufacturer that is not your regular trading card maker it is also an oddball size 3 and 3/8 inches by 3 and 3/8 inches, plus this particular card is also one of those standee cards that has perforations that allow you to fold and bend the card so that it stands up (and thus reducing the value and more so the condition of the card)  It is from the 2009 EnterPlay MLB Fan Pak set The Trading Card Database (TCDB) has the checklist. I noticed there are some cards from the set I will need to get sometime.as there are one or two of my PC guys and a few guys who were future Nationals. The only "National", that is the only player who was on the Nats at the time the set was released, is Ryan Zimmerman which is the card I have and am featuring in this post. In the photo Ryan is wearing a throwback cap that is sort of an homage to the Original Senators team circa the 1920s except it is more modernized with a red bill that makes it a weird combination era hat.

Anyway I don't have a story to yarn about so here is the card:

2009 EnterPlay MLB Fan Pak Baseball: 60 Ryan Zimmerman Washington Nationals

Expos Extra: Ugueth Urbina 95 SP Premier Prospects

1995 UD SP Premier Prospects Ugueth Urbina

I recently got a small 9 card lot of cards from Sportlots that had some vintage including a 1965 card for my Strive for '65 unobtainable goal and this Expos Prospect card:

1995 Upper Deck SP Premier Prospects 9 Ugueth Urbina Expos

(Front and Back)

I thought it was an insert die-cut but apparently the first 20some cards in this set were the "Premier Prospects" and all of them were die-cut. The strange thing is on The Trading Card Data Base for this set this card is listed as a "foil" and a different silver foil variation is shown as the scan of the "base" card. Some of the "sub-sets" for this set over there look a bit sloppy so I don't think in this case it is a good source. TCDB is usually a good place for info but like many community databases things can get mixed up from time to time.

I don't know if it is a regular base card or maybe it is the gold or maybe bronze variant? Oh well whatever. Anyway Mr. Urbina began his Major League career with the Expos, making his debut in May of 1995. His final game would be in September of 2005 with the Phillies. Other teams he played on were: Red Sox, Rangers, Marlins and Tigers.