Chris Hammond Autographed 1996 Fleer #387 Florida Marlins Card

The 1996 Fleer #387 Chris Hammond features the left-handed pitcher with the Florida Marlins in one of Fleer's most unusual and autograph-friendly sets of the decade. Personally signed by Hammond, this card is particularly fitting as an autographed collectible because Fleer deliberately gave its 1996 release a matte surface designed in part to make cards easier for players to sign.

Fleer promoted the 1996 set under the theme Different by Design, and the cards represented a dramatic departure from the company's glossy and heavily graphic 1995 release. The 600-card set used a borderless design, matte finish and gold-foil player identification, creating a subdued appearance that placed greater emphasis on the photography.

The matte surface was especially noteworthy. At a time when increasingly glossy and coated cards could be difficult to autograph cleanly, Fleer intentionally created a surface more receptive to signatures. That makes a genuinely autographed example such as Hammond's #387 an especially appropriate way to collect the set.

Hammond's card is confirmed as #387 in the 1996 Fleer set, with the Florida Marlins listed as his team. It provides an excellent contrast to his premium Flair, E-Motion XL and other increasingly elaborate mid-1990s issues while retaining a distinctive identity of its own.

Hammond had been associated with the Florida Marlins from their beginning, having been selected from Cincinnati in the 1992 MLB Expansion Draft. He joined the group of players assembled to form the new franchise's inaugural Major League roster.

During Florida's first season in 1993, Hammond made 32 starts and worked 191 innings. He remained a significant member of the Marlins pitching staff over the following seasons, including an especially strong 1995 campaign in which he went 9-6 with a 3.80 ERA, 126 strikeouts and three complete games in 161 innings.

In 1996, Hammond's role changed considerably. He appeared in a career-high 38 games, making nine starts and working 81 innings for Florida. That ability to move between starting and relief assignments foreshadowed the bullpen role in which he would eventually enjoy one of the greatest seasons of his career.

After spending three seasons outside the Major Leagues, Hammond returned with the Atlanta Braves in 2002 at age 36. Working exclusively in relief, he produced an extraordinary 7-2 record with a 0.95 ERA in 63 appearances, allowing only eight total runs and seven earned runs across 76 innings.

That remarkable comeback launched the final stage of Hammond's career. He subsequently pitched for the Yankees, Athletics, Padres and Reds, remaining in the Major Leagues through 2006.

Hammond finished his career with 441 Major League appearances and 1,123.2 innings pitched, successfully transitioning from a longtime starter into an effective late-career reliever. His unusual career arc makes his extensive 1990s card run especially interesting to follow from year to year.

Card Details:

• Player: Chris Hammond
• Team: Florida Marlins
• Year: 1996
• Manufacturer: Fleer
• Set: Fleer Baseball
• Card Number: #387
• Part of the 600-card 1996 Fleer set
• 1996 Fleer carried the theme Different by Design
• Distinctive borderless design
• Features a matte card surface
• Player identification accented in gold foil
• Fleer's matte finish was intentionally suited to receiving autographs
• Particularly appropriate issue for a genuinely signed card
• Dramatic design change from the colorful 1995 Fleer release
• Excellent addition to a comprehensive Chris Hammond collection
• Early Florida Marlins collectible
• Selected by Florida in the 1992 MLB Expansion Draft
• Member of the inaugural Marlins organization
• Made 32 starts and pitched 191 innings during Florida's inaugural 1993 season
• Went 9-6 with a 3.80 ERA in 1995
• Recorded 126 strikeouts in 161 innings in 1995
• Appeared in a career-high 38 games during 1996
• Made nine starts and worked 81 innings in 1996
• Former University of Alabama pitcher
• Cincinnati Reds sixth-round selection in the 1986 MLB Draft
• Made his Major League debut in 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 in 2002
• Allowed only seven earned runs over 76 innings during his comeback season
• Finished his career with 441 Major League appearances
• Pitched 1,123.2 career Major League innings
• 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.

Because 1996 Fleer was deliberately produced with an autograph-friendly matte surface, Hammond's genuinely signed #387 is an especially fitting example of the set and an attractive addition to a comprehensive Chris Hammond or early Florida Marlins collection.