Friday, November 6, 2020

Topps Cards That Should Have Been: 2003 Kenny Lofton


Topps was very good about accurately documenting the career of Kenny Lofton, despite the number of detours and other destinations it took. We can safely say that Kenny Lofton has Topps cards as a member of the Braves, White Sox, Giants, Cubs, Yankees, Phillies, Dodgers, Rangers and Indians. 

And yet they still managed to miss one.

Here's how- After Kenny Lofton ends the 2002 season with the San Francisco Giants, Topps decides that, since Lofton played into the World Series and did fairly well, he should be featured in Series 1, rushed out to production as a member of the Giants in 2003 Topps. However, by March 2003, as the product is already in shelves, Kenny Lofton signs a one year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates, a deal that will hopefully bring some semblance of star power to a team that really only has Aramis Ramirez.

So, okay, fine, Topps can include a Pirates Lofton card in Update, that's fine. It's certainly a run that warrants a card- in 84 games he hits .277 with 94 hits and 26 RBIs, and a 1.7 WAR, which is higher than that of said marquee star Aramis Ramirez [1.4]. 

However, Kenny Lofton doesn't end the season on the Pirates, as he AND Ramirez are traded to the Cubs at the deadline in exchange for Jose Hernandez and some change. It's a very big move that shifts the balance of power in the NL Central, and gives the Cubs two HUGE pieces for a playoff run that will end in heartbreak in the 2003 NLCS. As Ramirez spends the remainder of the decade as a Cub, Lofton, who hits .327 with 20 RBIs and a 1.8 WAR in his 56 games, heads to New York after the season. It's a forgotten stint, but he sure did a lot in a small period of time as a Cub, and as a Pirate as well.

So, Lofton was already a Cub by the time 2003 Traded was being assembled, any evidence of Lofton's tenure in Pittsburgh was left for Upper Deck to document. Tragedy. But luckily I can throw this together for the sake of this ongoing series and complete the puzzle of Lofton's career on Topps cards, which is nice. 

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