I started playing baseball when I was 9 years old with a single year of tee-ball before moving into 3 years of little league. The ball field was less than a mile from our house in Kingsford, MI and I would ride my bike there just about every day. LoDal Field would be my summer home not only for the three years I played for First National Bank (FNB) but then graduating up to Babe Ruth in 1989.
Other than being right handed, I was built to play first base. I was tall and had a long reach, could hit for average and power, but had no speed. I almost always batted cleanup in the lineup and my later years I was hitting well over 400. So naturally as a Cubs fan, Mark Grace quickly took over the role of my favorite player, while Ryne Sandberg remained close behind. I could watch Grace and his sweet swing all day long!
At age 13 in 1988. I was in the prime of my baseball card collecting ages which started in 1986 and extended to 1991. I loved the 1988 Donruss rated rookies and I was buying wax packs almost every day on the way home from school at Billy's corner store. So now as an adult getting back into card collecting, I am glad to announce that I plan to build a PSA 10 set of these Mark Grace cards. This will likely take me the rest of the year, but it will be a fun adventure!
Update December 5, 2020: Entire major league set completed! I have submitted the 1988 Peoria Chiefs Team Issue #11 to PSA and should see that come back in mid 2021.
1988 Fleer Update #U77 - PSA pop 109
1988 Fleer Update Glossy #U77 - PSA pop 148
1988 Topps Traded #42T - PSA pop 239
Major League Card Checklist
1988 Fleer Update #U77 - PSA pop 109
1988 Fleer Update Glossy #U77 - PSA pop 148
1988 Topps Traded #42T - PSA pop 239
