Today’s 9–Gordon Beckham

I keep my White Sox collection by players last name. When that player reaches 9 cards (a page), they get a post in the Today’s 9 series. I just recently moved all my cards into alphabetical order so most of these posts are just catching up and making sure everybody get’s their due.

GORDON  BECKHAM

Cards (L-R) – (top row) 2008 Razor Letterman, 2009 Topps Chrome, 2009 Topps

(middle row) 2009 Topps Ticket to Stardom, 2010 Bowman Chrome, 2010 Topps

(bottom row) 2010 Topps Chrome, 2010 Topps Chrome Refractor, 2010 Topps Chrome Orange Refractor

Played with the Sox from 2009-current

Was 5th in Rookie of the Year voting in 2009.

Card back info –

“A sizzling-hot spring training translated to an assault of pitchers in two Minor Leagues for Gordon in 2009, and in early June, he became the first non-pitcher of the ‘08 draft class to play in the majors.  Beckham, the all-time leading home run hitter at the U. of Georgia with 53, boasted at OPS of .904 in 45 games when he was summoned to Chicago” – 2009 Topps

“Star for a day:  June 27, 2009. Little more than a year out of college, Beckham was mobbed by his Major League teammates after his long two-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning drove in Josh Fields and ended an 8-7 thriller over the rival Cubs.” – 2009 Topps Ticket to Stardom

“Resume – Made MLB debut on June 4, 2009.  Ranked sixth among MLB third basemen with 63 RBI from that date forward.  Honored as AL Rookie of the Year by Sporting News.  Skills – Generates power with strong hands and short swing.  Recognizes off-speed pitches quickly.  Takes what pitcher offers.  Instinctive defender.  Evolution – Beckham was a shortstop until 2009, when he played eight games at third in the Minors before joining the White Sox.  Another move, to second base, could be in store in ‘10” – 2010 Bowman Chrome

“The fastest non-pitcher ever to go from the draft to a White Sox uniform (364 days), Gordon took a few weeks to acclimate in 2009, then blossomed.  In his final 85 games, he batted .288 with 13 home runs.  A game-ending hit against the rival Cubs on June 27 was a high point that he described as “the best feeling I’ve ever had playing baseball.” – 2010 Topps

Cards in Sox uniform that I own currently – 32

Gordon was huge in 2009, and looked to be a great prospect for the White Sox future.  But has struggled to hit since then.  As mentioned above, he was a shortstop in the minors, but they brought him up to the majors to play 3rd because of Alexie Ramirez at shortstop.  Then in 2010 they signed Mark Teahen to play third base so he moved over to second base.  Where he has been since.  He has been great in the field.  But has struggled quite a bit with the bat since his rookie campaign.  I just keep waiting for him to put it all together and I hope he’s not another Brian Anderson.

Another awesome card I received from Dennis at “Too Many Grandersons” was the razor autographed letter.  Not a whole lot of info from the card backs because there were 2 different 2009 Topps and 4 different 2010 Topps so they all had the same backs.  I believe the Topps refractor in the middle of the bottom row is an Atomic refractor but I’m not positive.