2000-2002, 2005
Background-
Lee Gardner is one great Minor League baseball player. He's someone who deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. He played in parts of four different Major League seasons with the Devil Rays and Marlins starting in 2002, with his last appearances coming during 2008. In all, he totaled 86 games, just slightly more than 100 innings, and a 4-5 career record. His career ended with an ERA of 3.01 and he also picked up 2 saves for the Marlins in 2007. Even though his time in the Majors was limited, Gardner took full advantage of his time in the Minors.
He was originally signed by the Devil Rays during the summer of 1998 as an undrafted amateur out of the University of Central Michigan. Gardner made his first appearances for the Bulls during the 2000 season, which coincided with the team's third straight division title in the International League South. His primary role on the team was as a late inning reliever and the Bulls gave him some chances to close out games. In 2002, Gardner saved 25 games and followed that up the following season with 30. The Bulls not only won their division in 2002, the team also took home their first International League title since they were bumped up to Triple A in the late 1990s. The team repeated as the International League Champions in 2003 with Gardner finishing games.
After a quick stop over with the Giants Triple A team in Fresno in 2004, Gardner returned to the Bulls in 2005. Over the year he notched another 15 saves. His last two years were spent with the Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers Triple A) and the Florida Marlins.
Gardner ended his career as the Durham Bull's all-time leader in saves, owns the single season record for saves with 30 in 2003, and won the International League title three times during his run as a closer in the Minors. He also won with the Mud Hens in 2006. During the summer of 2017 Gardner was elected to the International League Hall of Fame.
Card-
I really love when card companies do something really nice to showcase a player who may not normally appear in their products. Lee Gardner had an autographed card in the 2001 Royal Rookies set, it is a low budget Minor League per pack auto product, that is not really the nicest card. If it were the only Lee Gardner autograph out there, it would not be shocking considering that he had a very limited role in the Majors during his baseball career.
Why was he included in some nice Upper Deck products in 2007?
I have no idea, but he was a 32 year old pitcher at this point in his career who had spent a considerable amount of time in Triple A. Hardly the usual player to make an appearance in a nice baseball card product like Upper Deck Exquisite. This card is actually from the Rookie Edition of the product which had only 6 cards in a box of cards at just a mere $300 per box.
Did I mention I did not get this card out of a pack?
This is a card that really has no business in a $300 a box product, but it is nice that Upper Deck rewarded a career Minor Leaguer like Gardner with an appearance in a set. Probably even nicer that they let him sign some cards. The next time you get an autograph, find out that's it's an older Minor Leaguer, be nice.
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