Updated: 11/20/09
A card-collecting friend of mine had a collection of all players with at least 250 HRs and he would collect the last card issued of each player. It was an interesting idea so a few years ago I started a similar “topical” baseball card collection of players with at least 2000 hits.
The one requirement that I have for my collection is that the card has to show the player’s career stats including the final career hit total. This sounds difficult but with all the retro sets, like Conlan, SP Legendary and Greats of the Game, this isn’t as hard as you might imagine. In fact, there are only a handful of players in my targeted collection that don’t even have a card.
It’s interesting to go through the list at the end of the season to see who officially joined the club this year and who’s getting close. It’s also fun to chase that card of the newly-retired members of the club. For 2009, I added Frank Thomas, Luis Gonzalez, Mark Grudzielanek, Ray Durham & Moises Alou. Still no 2008 or 2009 cards of Craig Biggio or Barry Bonds (surprised they didn't make a card last year of Biggio at least!)
Review the all-time hit list and you will be amazed to learn that B.J. Surhoff has more hits than Mike Schmidt, Joe DiMaggio, Willie McCovey and Johnny Bench. There are all sorts of interesting things to find on this list. One of my favorites... Lou Whitaker and Alan Trammell played the middle infield for the Tigers for nearly two decades and they are separated by only four hits!
If you can fill a hole in the collection, I’d be happy to pick them up! Note that there may be more than one card listed for a given player, but I’m only interested in any one card of each player and it doesn't have to be on this list. Anything that fits the criteria referenced above will do!
Want List (career hits in parenthesis)
1977 or later - Taylor, Tony (2007)
1983 Fleer # 118 - May, Lee (2031)
1986 Conlon # 53 - Clarke, Fred (2672)
1989 Score # 277 - Nettles, Craig (2225)
1989 Swell Baseball Greats # 54 –
1990 Dodgers Target # 138 - Corcoran, Tommy (2252)
1990 Dodgers Target # 149 - Cross, Lave (2645)
1990 Dodgers Target # 159 – Dahlen, Bill (2457)
1990 Dodgers Target # 172 - Davis, Willie (2561)
1990 Dodgers Target # 191 - Donovan, Patsy (2253)
1991 Conlon # 201 or 309 - Burns, George (2077)
1992 Conlon # 532 - Duffy, Hugh (2282)
1993 Conlon # 805 - Daubert, Jake (2326)
1993 Conlon # 806 -
1994 Conlon # 1014 - Duffy, Hugh (2282)
1994 Conlon # 1018 - Keeler, Willie (2932)
1994 Conlon # 1019 - Daubert, Jake (2326)
1994 Conlon # 1153 or 1272 - Burns, George (2077)
1994 Conlon # 1235 - Davis, George (2660)
1994 Origins of Baseball # 28 - McPhee, Bid (2250)
1994 Origins of Baseball # 29 - O'Rourke Jim (2643)
1994 Origins of Baseball # 33 – Conner, Roger (2467)
1994 Origins of Baseball # 37 - Hines, Paul (2134)
1994 Origins of Baseball # 44 - Hoy, Dummy (2044)
1994 Origins of Baseball # 60 - Brouthers, Dan (2296)
1994 Origins of Baseball # 69 -
1994 Origins of Baseball # 74 - Delahanty, Ed (2596)
1994 Origins of Baseball # 75 - Duffy, Hugh (2282)
1994 Origins of Baseball # 79 - Hamilton, Billy (2158)
1994 Origins of Baseball # 82 - Wallace, Bobby (2309)
1994 Origins of Baseball # 85 – Clarke, Fred (2672)
1994 Origins of Baseball # 96 - Kelley, Joe (2220)
1994 Conlon # 1017 - Wallace, Bobby (2309)
1994 Conlon # 1235 - Davis, George (2660)
1995 Conlon # 1368 - Leach, Tommy (2143)
1995 Conlon # 1388 - Burkett, Jesse (2850)
1997 Collector's Choice # 136 - Wallach, Tim (2085)
1998 Donruss # 83 -
1998 Ultra # 9 -
2000 Topps # 42 -
2000 Ultra # 197 -
2000 Upper Deck # 181 -
2000 or later - Gaetti,
2000 or later - Phillips, Tony (2023)
2002 Topps # 72 - Bonilla, Bobby (2010)
2002 Topps Tribute # 32 –
2002 or later - Fernandez, Tony (2276)
2003 Browns 1953 50th Anniversary # 32 - Elliott, Bob (2061)
2004 GOTG # 83 - McGee, Willie (2254)
2005 Donruss Champions # 158 - Wilson, Willie (2207)
2005 Topps Pristine Legends # 79 - Joyner, Wally (2060)
2005 Upper Deck # 132 - Zeile, Todd (2004)
2005 Upper Deck First Pitch # 132 - Zeile, Todd (2004)
2005 or later - Burks, Ellis (2107)
2006 GOTG # 5 - Buckner, Bill (2715)
2006 Topps Allen & Ginter # 317 - Ward, John (2104)
2006 Topps Allen & Ginter # 319 - Glasscock, Jack (2040)
2006 Upper Deck First Pitch # 166 - Grissom, Marquis (2251)
2006 or later - Olerud, John (2239)
2007 or later - Sierra, Ruben (2152)
2008 Topps Heritage # 151 - Sosa, Sammy (2408)
2008 or later - Biggio, Craig (3060)
2008 or later - Bonds, Barry (2935)
2008 or later - Franco, Julio (2586)
2008 or later - Finley, Steve (2548)
Anything - Van Haltren, George (2532)
Anything - Ryan, Jimmy (2502)
Anything - Tenney, Fred (2231)
Anything - Long, Herman (2127)
Anything - McKean, Ed (2083)
Anything - White, Deacon (2066)
The 2000 Hit Collection
HAVE LIST
4256 - Rose, Pete - 1987 Topps
4189 - Cobb, Ty - 2000 Upper Deck Why3K?
3771 - Aaron, Hank - 1999 Topps Opening Day
3630 - Musial, Stan - 1999 Fleer Tradition
3514 - Speaker, Tris - 2000 Upper Deck Why3K?
3419 - Yastrzemski, Carl - 1984 Fleer
3418 - Anson, Cap - 2001 SP Legendary Cuts
3415 - Wagner, Honus - 1998 Upper Deck Legends
3319 - Molitor, Paul - 2000 Greats of the Game
3315 - Collins, Eddie - 1998 Upper Deck Legends
3283 - Mays, Willie - 1998 Pacific Baseball Legends
3242 - Lajoie, Nap - 2002 Greats of the Game
3154 - Brett, George - 1999 Upper Deck Ultimate Victory
3152 - Waner, Paul - 2001 SP Legendary Cuts
3142 - Yount, Robin - 2001 Upper Deck Hall of Famers
3141 - Gwynn, Tony - 2002 Topps
3110 - Winfield, Dave - 2000 Greats of the Game
3053 - Carew, Rod - 1986 Topps
3023 - Brock, Lou - 2000 Upper Deck Why3K?
3020 - Palmeiro, Rafael - 2006 Fleer
3010 - Boggs, Wade - 2000 Topps
3007 - Kaline, Al - 2002 Greats of the Game
3000 - Clemente, Roberto - 1997 Topps
2987 - Rice, Sam - 1991 Conlon
2961 - Crawford, Sam - 2003 Topps Gallery
2943 - Robinson, Frank - 2001 Upper Deck Legends
2930 - Hornsby,
2927 - Simmons, Al - 1993 Conlon
2884 - Wheat, Zack - 2002 SP Legendary Cuts
2880 - Frisch, Frankie - 1985 Topps Collectors' Series
2876 - Ott, Mel - 1990 Swell Baseball Greats
2873 - Ruth, Babe - 1998 Collector's Choice
2866 - Baines, Harold - 2004 Donruss Team Heroes
2848 - Robinson, Brooks - 2000 D11Greats of the Game
2839 - Gehringer, Charlie - 1992 Conlon
2812 - Sisler, George - 1985 Topps Collectors' Series
2774 - Dawson, Andre - 1997 Fleer
2757 - Pinson, Vada - 1994 Ted Williams
2749 - Appling, Luke - 2001 SP Legendary Cuts
2743 - Oliver, Al - 2001 Upper Deck Decade 1970s
2735 - Goslin, Goose - 1991 Conlon
2732 - Perez, Tony - 2002 Greats of the Game
2724 - Alomar, Roberto - 2005 Topps # 626
2721 - Gehrig, Lou - 2001 Upper Deck Hall of Famers
2716 - Rusty Staub - 2006 Fleer Greats of the Game
2712 - Parker, Dave - 2000 Greats of the Game
2711 - Williams, Billy - 2003 Flair Greats
2705 - Cramer, Doc - 1993 Conlon
2677 - Aparicio, Luis - 2001 Upper Deck Legends
2665 - Carey, Max - 2001 SP Legendary Cuts
2663 - Fox, Nellie - 2006 SP Legendary Cuts
2660 - Heilmann, Harry - 1991 Conlon
2654 - Williams, Ted - 2002 Greats of the Game
2646 - Foxx, Jimmie - 2001 Greats of the Game
2605 - Tim Raines - 2006 Fleer Greats of the Game
2605 - Rabbit Maranville - 1991 Conlon 2599 - Garvey, Steve - 2003 Flair Greats
2591 - Luis Gonzalez - 2009 Upper Deck
2583 - Banks, Ernie - 1990 Pacific Baseball Legends
2574 - Ashburn, Richie - 2001 SP Legendary Cuts
2524 - Manush, Heinie - 1991 Conlon
2517 - Morgan, Joe - 2002 Fleer Greats of the Game
2490 - McGriff, Fred - 2006 Greats of the Game
2472 - Simmons, Ted - 1989 Fleer
2471 - Medwick, Joe - 1991 Conlon
2468 - Frank Thomas - 2009 Topps
2466 - Hooper, Harry - 1992 Conlon
2461 - Kent, Jeff - 2009 Upper Deck
2460 - Smith, Ozzie - 2001 Topps American Pie
2459 - Waner, Lloyd - 1993 Conlon
2452 - Rice, Jim - 2002 Fleer Greats of the Game
2449 - Schoendienst, Red - 2003 Flair Greats
2446 - Evans, Dwight - 2001 Upper Deck Decade 1970s
2445 - Grace, Mark - 2004 Donruss
2428 - Lofton, Kenny - 2008 Topps Heritage
2416 - Traynor, Pie - 1990 Swell Baseball Greats
2415 - Mantle, Mickey - 2004 Upper Deck Yankee Greats
2405 - McInnis, Stuffy - 1991 Conlon
2386 - Sandberg, Ryne - 2002 Fleer Greats of the Game
2383 - Slaughter, Enos - 2002 Fleer Greats of the Game
2376 - Roush, Edd - 1991 Conlon
2369 - Whitaker, Lou - 2000 Fleer Greats of the Game
2365 - Trammell, Alan - 2000 Fleer Greats of the Game
2356 - Fisk,
2352 - Judge, Joe - 1991 Conlon
2351 - Cepeda,
2345 - Herman, Billy - 2001 SP Legendary Cuts
2342 - Torre, Joe - 2001 Upper Deck Decade
2340 - Larkin, Barry - 2005 Playoff Prestige
2336 - Williams, Bernie - 2007 Topps Heritage
2333 - Andres Galarraga - 2005 Donruss Champions
2326 - Surhoff, B.J. - 2006 Topps
2326 - Concepcion, Dave - 1989 Fleer
2315 - Mathews, Eddie - 2001 Fleer Greats of the Game
2314 - Jeff Bagwell - 2006 Topps
2313 - Bottomley, Jim - 2003 Topps Gallery
2304 - Pucket, Kirby - 2003 Flair Greats
2299 - Cuyler, Kiki - 1991 Conlon
2299 - Grimm, Charlie - 1991 Conlon
2285 - Cronin, Joe - 2002 SP Legendary Cuts
2256 - Dykes, Jimmy - 1991 Conlon
2254 - Santo, Ron - 2001 SP Legendary Cuts
2251 - Jose Cruz - 2001 Upper Deck Decade
2249 - Campaneris, Bert - 1990 Pacific Baseball Legends
2247 - Martinez, Edgar - 2005 Donruss
2234 - Schmidt, Mike - 2002 Greats of the Game
2232 - Stargell, Willie - 2000 Fleer Greats of the Game
2226 - Sewell, Joe - 2003 Flair Greats
2223 - Evans, Darrell - 2000 Greats of the Game
2214 - Dimaggio, Joe - 2004 Upper Deck Yankees Classics
2212 - Kuhel, Joe - 1991 Conlon
2211 - McCovey, Willie - 2000 Greats of the Game
2210 - Randolph, Willie - 1993 Topps
2193 - Terry, Bill - 2001 SP Legendary Cuts
2193 - Hack, Stan - 1991 Conlon
2192 - Cooper, Cecil - 1988 Topps
2191 - Bowa, Larry - 1993 Ted Williams Co.
2184 - Carter, Joe - 2000 Greats of the Game
2176 - Clark, Will - 2001 Topps
2170 - Reese, Pee Wee - 2001 Upper Deck Legends of
2169 - Magee, Sherry - 1993 Conlon
2165 - Bartell, Dick - 1992 Conlon
2160 - Walker, Larry - 2006 Topps
2158 - Chase, Hal - 1991 Conlon
2153 - Mattingly, Don - 2003 Flair Greats
2150 - Berra, Yogi - 2001 Topps American Pie
2148 - Ed Konethcy - 1992 Conlon
2143 - Griffey, Ken - 1992 Topps
2143 - Boyer, Ken - 2005 Donruss Champions
2138 - Groat, Dick - 1990 Pacific Baseball Legends
2138 - Moses, Wally - 1991 Conlon
2135 - Baylor, Don - 2001 Upper Deck Decade 1970s
2134 - Moises Alou - 2009 Upper Deck
2134 - Wills, Maury - 2001 Upper Deck Decade 1970s
2131 - Myer, Buddy - 1992 Conlon
2127 - Piazza, Mike - 2008 Topps Heritage
2112 - Davis, Tommy - 2001 SP Legendary Cuts
2116 - Snider, Duke - 2002 Greats of the Game
2111 - Murphy, Dale - 2002 Greats of the Game
2109 - Chambliss, Chris - 2001 Upper Deck Decade 1970s
2105 - O'Neill, Paul - 2002 Fleer Maximum
2103 - Vaughan, Arky - 1991 Conlon
2101 - Alou, Felipe - 1974 Topps
2099 - Downing, Brian - 2004 Upper Deck Timeless Teams
2096 - Templeton, Gary - 1992 Upper Deck
2092 - Carter,
2092 - Kuenn, Harvey - 1988 Swell Baseball Legends
2091 - Hal McRae - 2001 Upper Deck Decade
2089 - Dark, Al - 1988 Swelll Baseball Legends
2087 - Cedeno, Cesar 1993 Ted Williams Co.
2086 - Killebrew, Harmon - 2001 Upper Deck Hall of Famers
2084 - Sheckard, Jimmy - 1993 Conlon
2076 - Klein, Chuck - 2003 Topps Gallery
2074 - Lansford, Carney - 1993 Topps
2064 - Walker,
2063 - Ennis, Del - 1989 Swell Baseball Legends
2054 - Ray Durham - 2009 Topps Walmart Black
2054 - Kell, George - 2000 Greats of the Game
2051 - Johnson, Bob - 1993 Conlon
2048 - Bench, Johnny - 2000 Greats of the Game
2042 - Doerr, Bobby - 2006 Topps Allen & Ginter
2029 - Singleton, Ken - 1985 Fleer
2020 - Smith, Reggie - 1983 Topps
2020 - Otis, Amos - 1994 Ted Williams Co
2019 - Averill, Earl - 2001 SP Legendary Cuts
2018 - Burns, George H. - 1991 Conlon
2016 - Mazeroski, Bill - 1990 Swell Baseball Greats
2011 - Mize, Johnny - 2001 SP Legendary Cuts
2011 - Matthews, Gary - 2001 SP Legendary Cuts
2010 - Mark Grudzielanek - 2009 Upper Deck
2008 - Bill Madlock - 1988 Fleer
2006 - White, Frank - 1991 Fleer
2004 - Bancroft, Dave - 1991 Conlon
2003 - Green, Shawn - 2008 Upper Deck First Edition
Active Players Still Climbing the list
(as of the start of the 2009 season)
2680 - Griffey, Jr., Ken
2657 - Vizquel, Omar
2615 - Sheffield,
2605 - Rodriguez, Ivan 2535 - Jeter, Derek
2404 - Rodriguez, Alex
2392 - Ramirez, Manny
2277 - Jones, Chipper
2270 - Damon, Johnny
2136 - Guerrero, Vladimir
2070 - Renteria, Edgar
2048 - Thome, Jim
2010 - Delgado, Carlos
Players Approaching the Club
(as of the start of the 2009 season)
1975 - Kendall, Jason
1957 - Helton, Todd
1946 - Abreu, Bobby
1915 - Tejada, Miguel
1881 - Edmonds, Jim
1854 - Giles, Brian
1830 - Ordonez, Magglio
1812 - Giambi, Jason
1805 - Suzuki, Ichiro
1716 - Jones, Andruw