Fun card to add to the blog today!
Today we have a "not
so missing" 1972 card for one-game Major League catcher Frank Estrada,
who appeared in his one game with the New York Mets in September of
1971:
Estrada went 1-for-2 at the plate,
finally reaching the Major leagues after starting his professional
career in 1964 as a 16-year-old in the Mexican League.
Aside
from his brief MLB tenure, the man's entire professional career is
amazing, as he was in pro ball as an active player from 1964 to 1994,
mainly in the Mexican League.
By the time he hung up his
cleats, he was 46 years of age, and though his statistics are far from
complete, he is credited with over 2000 games played.
Estrada
holds the Minor League record with 2847 games caught, and was also a
successful manager in the Mexican League, winning three league
championships, eventually getting elected to the Mexican baseball Hall
of Fame.
He was also selected for enshrinement to the
Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame for his "notable contribution as player
and manager".
Quite the professional baseball career that
carried through to his passing in 2019, when he was manager of the
Chihuahua Dorados, some 55 years after his pro debut.
