Collection Highlight – 2003 Upper Deck Fortyman Shane Victorino

2003 Upper Deck Fortyman #940 Shane Victorino

Card: 2003 Upper Deck Fortyman #940 Shane Victorino

Sometimes, when you have a fairly large card collection, you might discover something you have completely forgotten about. Like the fact that Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino used to roam the outfield for the Padres. I was rummaging through the old collection when this card caught my eye – especially since Mr. Victorino was in Padre Blue instead of his usual Phillie Red. It took me a minute to remember that Shane Victorino was the Padres’ 2003 Rule V draft pick(rescued from the ignominy of being a Dodger farmhand). He spent a part of the 2003 season with the Padres and was so impressive that he was returned to the Dodgers. Eventually, the Phillies nabbed him in the 2005 Rule V draft and the rest, as they say, is history.

Sometimes, I wonder what would have happened if the Flyin Hawaiian had stayed with the Padres (and Petco Park). It was probably better for his career that he got to play in that miniature replica of a ballfield known as Citizens Bank Ballpark.