This is an actual picture of an actual Gregg Jefferies “rated rookie” Donruss card from 1989. This picture was taken earlier today, mere blocks from my house, lying on the sidewalk in tatters. I felt compelled to take a picture in much the same way Ricky videotaped a plastic bag in American Beauty. It’s one of those reminders of how much time has gone by … and how much a hyped career can go down the tubes.
I had been collecting baseball cards for about ten years until the Jefferies rookie (which is actually the ’88 card, not this one which is year two) came out. Rookie cards were always a big deal, but Jefferies probably had the first rookie card which was a big deal while he was still a rookie. The ’88 card was already selling at card shows for three digits before the card above even came out. But “Rated Rookies” were still a big deal.
And now, more than 20 years later, instead of being in a protective plastic case as we were told it would be with the immense talent of Jefferies, instead it was on a sidewalk smiling back at me although it probably wasn’t sincere. It was a smile that masked the disappointment of being left on a sidewalk awaiting its next adventure. Hours later, it was on that next adventure as it had disappeared. Something tells me that this card’s next adventure was its last.
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