Tony Batista Autographed 1998 Fleer Tradition #502 Arizona Diamondbacks Card

Add a card from the inaugural season of Arizona Diamondbacks baseball with this Tony Batista autographed 1998 Fleer Tradition #502 Arizona Diamondbacks card. After beginning his Major League career with Oakland, Batista was selected by Arizona in the 1997 MLB Expansion Draft, making his 1998 Diamondbacks cards an important part of both his career and the franchises first season.

Batista became a regular presence in Arizonas inaugural lineup, appearing in 106 games during the 1998 season. His power began to emerge as he collected 82 hits, 17 doubles, 18 home runs and 60 RBI while playing primarily at third base and shortstop. The 18 home runs represented a significant jump from his first two seasons in Oakland and offered an early indication of the power hitter he would become.

His breakout continued in 1999, when Batista hit 26 home runs for Arizona before being claimed off waivers by Toronto in June. He added five more with the Blue Jays to finish the season with 31, then enjoyed his biggest power campaign in 2000 with 41 home runs and 114 RBI while earning his first American League All-Star selection.

Batista went on to become a two-time MLB All-Star and finished his Major League career with 1,146 hits, 221 home runs and 718 RBI. The 1998 Fleer Tradition #502 combines an early Tony Batista appearance with the historical appeal of the Diamondbacks inaugural season, making it an excellent addition for Arizona collectors, Batista fans, Fleer Tradition collectors or collectors assembling comprehensive autographed player runs.

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