Chris Hammond Autographed 1996 Flair #262 Gold Background Silver Lettering Florida Marlins Card

The 1996 Flair #262 Chris Hammond Gold Background, Silver Lettering variation features the veteran left-handed pitcher with the Florida Marlins in one of Fleer's premium baseball products of the mid-1990s. Personally autographed by Hammond, this version is especially appealing for player collectors because 1996 Flair was produced with two distinct base-card variations.

The 1996 Flair set featured both gold-background and silver-background versions of its base cards. This Hammond is the Gold Background variation, distinguished by its silver player-name lettering. Its companion version reverses the combination, using a silver background with gold lettering.

Unlike many parallel structures in which one version is dramatically scarcer than another, the two 1996 Flair versions were issued in similar quantities. That makes them best viewed as legitimate companion variations within the set rather than simply a standard card and a conventional premium parallel.

For a comprehensive Hammond collector, that distinction is important. The Gold Background/Silver Lettering #262 and Silver Background/Gold Lettering #262 represent two separate versions to pursue, making 1996 Flair more interesting than a typical single-card appearance.

Flair had been introduced in 1993 as Fleer's upscale baseball brand, and its premium identity was firmly established by 1996. Thick card stock, glossy production, sophisticated graphics and strong photography gave Flair cards a substantially different feel from the company's traditional Fleer releases.

Hammond was in his fourth season with the Florida Marlins in 1996. Florida had selected him from Cincinnati in the 1992 MLB Expansion Draft, making the left-hander one of the original players assembled before the franchise played its first game.

He quickly became one of the most productive pitchers on the new club. During the inaugural 1993 Marlins season, Hammond made 32 starts, finished 15-12 and led Florida with 15 victories. Those 15 wins established the highest single-season total of his Major League career.

Hammond also carried a substantial workload during 1996, making 34 starts and pitching 214 innings for Florida. His durability helped make him a fixture in the Marlins rotation during the franchise's formative years.

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 later took a remarkable second turn after several years away from the Majors.

Hammond returned with the Atlanta Braves at age 36 in 2002 and reinvented himself as an elite relief pitcher. He went 7-2 with an extraordinary 0.95 ERA in 63 appearances, allowing only seven earned runs over 76 innings.

That comeback helped Hammond extend his career through 2006. He ultimately pitched parts of 14 Major League seasons for the Reds, Marlins, Red Sox, Braves, Yankees, Athletics and Padres.

Card Details:

• Player: Chris Hammond
• Team: Florida Marlins
• Year: 1996
• Manufacturer: Fleer
• Brand: Flair
• Card Number: #262
• Variation: Gold Background / Silver Lettering
• One of two distinct 1996 Flair base-card versions
• Companion version features a silver background with gold lettering
• Gold and Silver versions were produced in similar quantities
• Important variation for a comprehensive Chris Hammond collection
• Premium 1996 Flair baseball issue
• Flair debuted as Fleer's upscale baseball brand in 1993
• Features the substantial card stock and polished presentation associated with Flair
• Distinctive premium alternative to Hammond's regular 1996 Fleer-era releases
• Particularly attractive format for Hammond's genuine autograph
• 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 a remarkable 0.95 ERA in 63 appearances
• Allowed only seven earned runs over 76 innings during his comeback season
• Pitched parts of 14 Major League seasons
• 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.

The combination of Flair's premium construction, the Gold Background/Silver Lettering variation, Hammond's early Florida Marlins connection and his genuine autograph makes this #262 an excellent piece for a collector attempting to assemble Hammond's card run down to the individual variations.