Orioles Card "O" the Day

An intersection of two of my passions: baseball cards and the Baltimore Orioles. Updated daily?

Monday, December 8, 2014

Eli Marrero, 2005 Topps Updates and Highlights #UH49

Hey, do you remember when Eli Marrero was an Oriole? Nah, probably not. The former Cardinals' utility player came to Baltimore in the journeyman phase of his career, as he suited up for six different teams in his last four years in the majors. He batted just 56 times in 22 games for the O's in the summer of 2005, but managed to slug .540 despite a .220 batting average. Of his 11 hits in orange and black, eight went for extra bases - three doubles, two triples, and three home runs. But Eli sprained his thumb in late July, and spent the rest of the season on the disabled list as the team went down the tubes. The following January, he wound up in Colorado on a minor league deal. Easy come, easy go.

FYI, the blue wristband Eli is wearing in the photo above gives this away as a snapshot from Father's Day: June 19, 2005. Marrero started in left field against the Rockies that Sunday afternoon and had two singles in three at-bats, scoring one run in the club's 4-2 win. B. J. Surhoff pinch hit for him in the seventh inning. Hayden Penn earned the second of his four career MLB wins. Exciting times.

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