Dustin Pedroia 2014 Panini Elite – Series 2

Dustin Pedroia 2014 Panini Elite – Series 2

I love action cards that feature Dustin Pedroia making plays at second base.

For me, he is one of the most exciting infielders in the game simply due to the way he treats each and every at-bat against his club.  He is truly invested in the game and helping his team win.

This card of Pedroia comes from the 2004 Panini Donruss Elite Series 2 release.  And as you can see below, the card features a nice shot of #15 as he appears to be heading towards a grounder that was hit to his right.

 

I do wish that we got to see more of the action though..  It’s nice to get what we got, but I would love to see the ballpark behind him as well as how close to the ball he is..

Still, as I mentioned with the Bryce Harper card from this set that I featured last week, I do like the oversized ‘E’ in the background.

Dustin Pedroia 2014 Topps Chrome – Base

Dustin Pedroia 2014 Topps Chrome – Base

Yessir, I scored this bad-boy for just $0.18 last week during a little shopping adventure on Sportlots.com.

Have a look:

 

This is the base card of Dustin Pedroia from the recently released 2014 Topps Chrome baseball card set.

The Chrome looks great, and it is nicely complemented by all of the Red accents supplied by the Red Sox uniform that #15 is wearing in this image.

I like it!

Dustin Pedroia 2014 Bowman Platinum

Dustin Pedroia 2014 Bowman Platinum

He may weigh just 165 pounds, but Dustin Pedroia can swing the bat as hard as any middle infielder in the American League.

With the bat speed, wrist strength, and hips all going, Pedroia has incredible bat speed.  And he has put up some pretty decent home run numbers for a second baseman too.

For his career, Pedroia has connected for 106 total round-trippers.  From 2008-2012, Pedroia averaged double-digit homers with his career high of 21 coming in 2011.

His power swing is captured nicely on his new 2014 Bowman Platinum baseball card.

Enjoy.

Dustin Pedroia 2007 Upper Deck ‘AL Rookie Of The Year’

Dustin Pedroia 2007 Upper Deck ‘AL Rookie Of The Year’

With his season over and his hand recovering from surgery, I thought it would be more exciting to go back and enjoy more positive times in the baseball world of Dustin Pedroia.

Pedroia was chosen as the American League’s Rookie of The Year in 2007, and he staked his claim as a young superstar in a big way.

The numbers: .317 batting average, .380 on-base percentage, 165 hits, 39 doubles, 8 home runs, 7 stolen bases, 50 RBI, and 86 runs scored.  Pedroia also connected for 230 bases as he tallied 24 of the 28 votes cast for the ROY.

Here’s to hoping he can bring that game back to the Sox in 2015!

Dustin Pedroia 2014 Topps Allen & Ginter – Base

Dustin Pedroia 2014 Topps Allen & Ginter – Base

Finally, another sweet Allen & Ginter card for the ’30-YOC’ collection.

It took me some time to find another one as I find this set to be full of boring and bland ‘stinkers’, but this card of Dustin Pedroia is on par with the Jose Fernandez card I featured here a few weeks back.

Have a look:

 

I love the horizontal style of this action-packed card – it is a nice deviation from the typical posed portrait, vertical style that has bored me of the Allen & Ginter brand.

And the sharper, stronger colors of the background is a very welcomed change from the muted watercolors that has been the standard for the last few years.

This card is a very solid addition to my Dustin Pedroia PC.

If A&G keeps this up, I may have to get back on board…

Dustin Pedroia 2014 Panini Prizm – USA Baseball

Dustin Pedroia 2014 Panini Prizm – USA Baseball

These USA Baseball cards are pretty neat.  They offer a nice snapshot of some of today’s greatest stars during their amateur careers.

Here is a card of Dustin Pedroia from the 2014 Panini Prizm set:

 

Very cool, and very shiny!!

 

And while these can in no way replace what the 1985 and 1988 Topps baseball card sets offered to us by way of Olympic baseball cards, I am happy to see that this tradition continues in today’s market.

Dustin Pedroia 2012 Topps Golden Moments

Dustin Pedroia 2012 Topps Golden Moments

As the 2014 baseball season begins to wind down for the teams not in contention for the postseason, I wonder how the players who show ‘Drive’ keep u their level of play.

The ‘Pride Factor’ must set in at some point.  That, combined with the desire to not finish in last place may play a part in what still drives the uber-competitive player.

Evidence of this is in the way that Dustin Pedroia is still playing baseball.

He is playing as if he is 1/2 game behind the division leader and it is the last game of the season.  I love watching this guy on the field, at the plate, and running the bases.

Dustin Pedroia epitomizes what the term ‘Captain’ is all about.  When the Boston Red Sox return to the top of the division, and they will, he will surely be at the center of the action!

Dustin Pedroia 2014 Topps Archives – Base

Dustin Pedroia 2014 Topps Archives – Base

Yes, I am guilty.  I am just getting to showing off my card of Dustin Pedroia from the 2014 Topps Archives set.  And yes, I know that this set was released months ago.

As for the card, it is nice.  I like the 1973 Topps design.

But, being that DP was not even born in 1973 makes this one a bit odd, especially since he is sporting a full beard in the picture that was used.

While I don’t really have a problem with him being inserted in the 1973 portion of the Archives product, I would have liked if Topps went back and found a picture from his earlier years in the majors – sans facial hair.

Have a look:

Dustin Pedroia 2014 Panini Prizm – ‘Chasing The Hall’

Dustin Pedroia 2014 Panini Prizm – ‘Chasing The Hall’

I love the theme of this subset and it is one that I really need to review.  Why?  Because I am always interested in seeing who people/companies think will be elected into the Hall of Fame when their careers are over.  For me, there is no greater conversation.

As for Mr. Pedroia, I would put him at a 50/50 right now.  But, he would probably get my vote.  He’s got the ROY, and the MVP, and two World Series rings.  He’s got multiple Silver Slugger awards and a few Gold Gloves too.  Plus, he is a team leader and face of the franchise.  Now, he just needs to continue to stay on the field and contribute.  His stats will build naturally, but Boston has to surround him with talent that allows him to use his in the best manner possible.

For a player in his ‘age 30’ season, he had a solid career average of .300 with more than 1,350 hits.  The hits, doubles, and runs scored all have a long way to go to be ‘HOF-worthy’ but I think he has a good shot to make a run at it.

 

 

Time for me to track down the checklist of this set.

Happy Birthday Dustin Pedroia!!

Happy Birthday Dustin Pedroia!!

Dustin Pedroia turns 31 years old today.

Without a doubt, Dustin Pedroia is one of the most admired and respected players of his era.  To do what he does, both offensively and defensively, is what leadership is all about.  He sets the tone for the Boston Red Sox, and through both wins and losses he is a face of the franchise.

Not blessed with a frame or physique that is built for professional sports, Dustin Pedroia uses all 68 inches and 165 pounds of his heart and determination to help his team excel.

From playing defense in which each and every out counts, it is not rare to find Pedroia diving on the field with the goal of stopping the ball, making the play, and saving a run.  Equally, on offense, he is always looking to advance runners, take an extra base, and tire the pitcher with his aggressive play.

Happy Birthday to a true legend, #15.  One day his number will certainly be painted onto the wall at Fenway – Count on it!