Chris Hammond Autographed 1996 E-Motion XL #186 Florida Marlins Card

The 1996 E-Motion XL #186 Chris Hammond features the left-handed pitcher with the Florida Marlins in one of the most visually ambitious premium baseball products of the mid-1990s. Personally autographed by Hammond, this card offers a distinctive follow-up to his 1995 E-Motion appearance while documenting his fourth season with the Marlins.

The E-Motion brand had established its identity through high-end production, dramatic photography and artistic presentation rather than the traditional look of a mainstream baseball set. For 1996, the line became E-Motion XL, continuing the premium concept with an elaborate, photography-centered design that immediately separates it from Hammond's conventional Topps, Donruss and Fleer cards from the same season.

The XL branding refers to the product line rather than an oversized card formatthe cards retain standard trading-card dimensions. The name reflected the continuation and evolution of the premium E-Motion concept, making the 1996 release a recognizable part of the hobby's experimentation with upscale brands during the decade.

For a Hammond collector, #186 forms an excellent pairing with his 1995 SkyBox E-Motion #130 Composed card. The two issues show the evolution of E-Motion across consecutive seasons while providing dramatically different alternatives to the traditional flagship cards in his player run.

Hammond was firmly established with the Florida Marlins by 1996. Florida had selected him from Cincinnati in the 1992 MLB Expansion Draft, making him one of the original players assembled before the franchise's inaugural season.

He became one of the new team's leading pitchers immediately. During Florida's first season in 1993, Hammond made 32 starts, finished 15-12 and led the Marlins with 15 victories. The 15 wins represented the highest single-season total of his Major League career.

The 1996 season also produced one of Hammond's heaviest workloads in Florida. He made 34 starts and worked 214 innings, demonstrating the durability that made him an important part of the Marlins rotation during the franchise's early years.

Hammond remained with Florida through 1997, completing five seasons with the organization. His lengthy Marlins tenure resulted in an especially diverse selection of cards from a period when manufacturers were introducing premium sets, parallels and experimental products at a rapid pace.

Originally selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the sixth round of the 1986 MLB Draft out of the University of Alabama, Hammond made his Major League debut on July 16, 1990. His career eventually became notable not only for his years as a starter but for an extraordinary late-career reinvention.

After three seasons outside the Major Leagues, Hammond returned at age 36 with the Atlanta Braves in 2002. Working out of the bullpen, he went 7-2 with a remarkable 0.95 ERA in 63 appearances, allowing just seven earned runs across 76 innings.

The comeback extended Hammond's career through 2006. He ultimately pitched parts of 14 Major League seasons for the Cincinnati Reds, Florida Marlins, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics and San Diego Padres.

Card Details:

• Player: Chris Hammond
• Team: Florida Marlins
• Year: 1996
• Brand: E-Motion XL
• Card Number: #186
• Premium 1996 E-Motion XL baseball issue
• Follow-up to the distinctive E-Motion baseball product of 1995
• Elaborate, photography-centered premium presentation
• Distinctive alternative to traditional 1996 flagship cards
• XL is the product branding; the card is standard trading-card size
• Excellent companion to Hammond's 1995 E-Motion #130 Composed
• Represents the evolution of the E-Motion brand across consecutive seasons
• Appealing issue for collectors of premium and unusual 1990s baseball products
• Represents Hammond during his fourth season with Florida
• Early Florida Marlins collectible
• Selected by Florida in the 1992 MLB Expansion Draft
• One of the original players assembled for the expansion franchise
• Made 32 starts during Florida's inaugural 1993 season
• Finished 15-12 in 1993
• Led the inaugural Florida Marlins with 15 victories
• 15 wins established Hammond's Major League career high
• Made 34 starts and pitched 214 innings in 1996
• Spent five seasons with Florida from 1993 through 1997
• Cincinnati Reds sixth-round selection in the 1986 MLB Draft
• Former University of Alabama pitcher
• Made his Major League debut on July 16, 1990
• Returned to the Major Leagues with Atlanta at age 36 in 2002
• Went 7-2 with an extraordinary 0.95 ERA in 63 appearances
• Allowed only seven earned runs over 76 innings during his remarkable comeback
• Pitched parts of 14 Major League seasons
• Played for seven Major League organizations
• Personally autographed
• Condition: NM-MT or better

Authentication: Signature obtained through a private signing conducted by Under the Radar Sports Promotions and guaranteed to pass any third-party authentication service.

With its distinctive E-Motion XL presentation, premium mid-1990s styling, early Florida Marlins connection and genuine Chris Hammond autograph, this #186 is an excellent choice for collectors building Hammond's deeper card run and for those who appreciate the ambitious premium releases that helped define 1990s baseball collecting.