Lance Parrish Autographed 1996 Collector's Choice #349 Toronto Blue Jays Card

This is a particularly nice post-career/final-team issue for the Lance Parrish autograph run. The 1996 Collector's Choice #349 features Parrish as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays, the final Major League team of his 19-year career. Beckett confirms the card as 1996 Collector's Choice #349 Lance Parrish Toronto Blue Jays, manufactured by Upper Deck.

What makes this card interesting is that Parrish's Major League career had already ended by the time it was issued. His final MLB season came with Toronto in 1995, when he appeared in 70 games at age 39. He collected 36 hits, nine doubles, four home runs and 22 RBI in 178 at-bats.

One of Parrish's memorable moments during that final season came against the team with which he became a star. On May 29, 1995, he hit two home runs against the Detroit Tigers, helping Toronto to a 5-4 victory. His second homer proved to be the deciding run.

Parrish also hit the 324th and final home run of his Major League career on August 6, 1995, taking Boston's Mike Maddux deep at SkyDome. He played his final Major League game on September 23, closing a career that had begun with Detroit in 1977.

There is an additional collecting angle with this particular card. The regular Collector's Choice #349 has both Silver Signature and Gold Signature parallels, giving Parrish collectors three distinct versions of the same basic 1996 issue to pursue. Trading Card Database lists all three, along with a 1996 Upper Deck #104, among Parrish's small group of 1996 cards.

That makes #349 especially useful in a comprehensive signed collection. It's not a scarce base cardthe unsigned NM-MT issue remains readily availablebut its significance comes from being a card issued after Parrish's final MLB season while still depicting him with his final team.

Card Details:

• Player: Lance Parrish
• Team: Toronto Blue Jays
• Year: 1996
• Manufacturer: Upper Deck
• Set: Collector's Choice
• Card Number: #349
• Features Parrish with the final Major League team of his career
• Issued after Parrish's final MLB season
• Regular base version of #349
• Separate Silver Signature and Gold Signature parallels also exist
• Parrish appeared in 70 games for Toronto in 1995
• Hit four home runs with 22 RBI during his final season
• Hit his 324th and final career home run in 1995
• Eight-time MLB All-Star
• Three-time Gold Glove Award winner
• Six-time Silver Slugger Award winner
• 1984 World Series Champion
• 1,782 career hits
• 324 career home runs
• 1,070 career RBI 
• 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.

For the Parrish run, I like the 1996 cards because we've now crossed beyond his actual playing career. This isn't simply another Toronto issueit is one of the small group of cards released immediately after his final MLB season while still depicting him with his last team. And with the Silver Signature and Gold Signature versions of #349 also existing, there are two worthwhile parallels to watch for if they're part of your signing inventory.