Tony Batista Autographed 2005 Donruss #252 Montreal Expos Card

Representing the final chapter of Montreal Expos baseball, this Tony Batista autographed 2005 Donruss #252 Montreal Expos card features Batista following his productive 2004 season with the club. Although the franchise relocated to Washington for the 2005 season, early 2005 baseball card releases continued to feature players under their previous Montreal affiliation, giving cards such as this one an interesting connection to the end of the Expos era.

Batista joined Montreal as a free agent for 2004 after spending parts of three seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. He immediately became one of the Expos primary power hitters and run producers, appearing in 157 games while hitting 32 home runs and driving in a career-high 110 runs.

His 32 home runs marked the third 30-homer season of his career. Batista previously established career highs with 41 home runs and 114 RBI for Toronto in 2000, earning his first American League All-Star selection, and later hit 31 home runs during his 2002 All-Star season with Baltimore.

Batistas lone season in Montreal became historically significant when the 2004 Expos proved to be the franchises final team in Canada. The club relocated to Washington for 2005, making his Expos cards from late 2004 and early 2005 releases lasting reminders of the franchises closing chapter.

Known for his extraordinarily wide-open batting stance, Batista completed his 11-year Major League career with 1,146 hits, 221 home runs and 718 RBI. With its 2005 issue date but Montreal Expos affiliation, the 2005 Donruss #252 is a particularly interesting addition for Expos collectors, Tony Batista fans, Donruss set collectors or collectors assembling comprehensive autographed player runs.

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