1991 Topps #629: Wes Gardner

In this series, I will look at my first team set: 1991 Topps. This was the set I started my baseball card collection with.

This is certainly not the most exciting of photos from this set.  Here we have just a profile shot from Spring Training.  Gardner was not the most exciting of pitchers in Boston either.  Gardner was acquired in the same trade that brought Calvin Schiraldi over from the Mets.  Boston sent Bob Ojeda and others to New York in that deal.  

Gardner typically pitched in relief while with the Red Sox, though not typically with a lot of success.  In 1990, Gardner was 3-7 in 34 games, starting just nine of them.  His ERA was a less-than-good 4.89 and his WHIP was a frightening 1.448.  

Boston apparently grew weary of Gardner not reaching his potential and traded him to the Padres in December for two minor leaguers who never made it to the Majors.  Gardner did not last long in San Diego either and was released in May.  He caught on with the Royals, continued to not pitch well and was done as a Major Leaguer.