Collection Highlight: 2002 Topps Finest Ryan Klesko Refractor

Ryan Klesko’s Topps Finest Refractor.  So very shiny:

2002 Topps Finest #42 Ryan Klesko

I first became aware of Ryan Klesko back during the Padres fire sale of 1993.  (Wow, that’s over 15 years ago….I’m feeling older.)  Back then the team was being gutted and the likes of Gary Sheffield and Fred McGriff were being shopped around.   The Atlanta Braves were very interested in the Crime Dog and I was hoping we’d land Ryan Klesko. At the time he was one of Atlanta’s top young prospects.  Instead the Friars received Melvin Nieves, Vince Moore, and Donnie Elliot.  Whoop de doo.

However, eventually he would end up with the Padres via a trade in 1999.  He would go on to have some decent power seasons for the Pads from 2000-2003.  Then Petco was built and he became useless, never hitting more than 20 HR’s ever again.