Tony Batista Autographed 2002 Upper Deck Ballpark Idols #42 Baltimore Orioles Card

Featuring Tony Batista during his All-Star season with Baltimore, this Tony Batista autographed 2002 Upper Deck Ballpark Idols #42 Baltimore Orioles card comes from Upper Decks Ballpark Idols release. The product featured a distinctive baseball-themed presentation centered around Major League players and the ballpark atmosphere, providing collectors with an alternative to Upper Decks traditional flagship cards.

Batista had joined Baltimore after being claimed off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays in June 2001 and immediately became one of the Orioles most productive hitters. In only 72 games with Baltimore in 2001, he hit 25 home runs and drove in 87 runs, an impressive burst of production after arriving during the season.

He followed with a strong 2002 campaign, appearing in 161 games and leading the Orioles with 31 home runs while driving in 87 runs. Batista represented Baltimore on the American League All-Star team, earning the second All-Star selection of his career after his first with Toronto in 2000.

Few hitters of the era were as instantly recognizable at the plate as Batista, whose extraordinarily wide-open batting stance became his trademark. He also possessed legitimate home-run power, reaching 30 homers three times during his career. His best power season came in 2000, when he established career highs with 41 home runs and 114 RBI for Toronto.

Batista completed his 11-year Major League career with 1,146 hits, 221 home runs and 718 RBI. With its distinctive Ballpark Idols branding and connection to Batistas 2002 All-Star season, the 2002 Upper Deck Ballpark Idols #42 is an appealing addition for Baltimore Orioles collectors, Tony Batista fans, Upper Deck specialty-set collectors or collectors assembling comprehensive autographed player runs.

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