In what has been a very uneventful offseason, multiple major free agents have remained unsigned as we are getting closer to the date in which pitchers and catchers will report to spring training. One of the biggest free agents still out there is 1st baseman Eric Hosmer.
Hosmer is 28 years old and is soon to be entering his prime, which means it's expected that the 4-time Gold Glove award winner will receive a contract for about 5-6 seasons. And considering that the Royals are currently rebuilding, it's hard to know if Kansas City will bring their star player back.
I have acquired 30 cards of Hosmer since I started collecting him along with other members of the 2015 Royals team like Salvador Perez and Mike Moustakas. Here are my overall top 5.
#5 2015 Topps Allen & Ginter
One thing I've always enjoyed about Allen & Ginter is the color splotches in the background, even if they aren't super noticeable on every card. By pairing up colors like pink with their cards, Allen & Ginter is able to create more unique cards than any other card product, and the 2015 Allen & Ginter Eric Hosmer card is no exception. The small amount of pink in the back goes a long way, and the photo choice for the card is excellent. I'm always a stickler for players holding bats in baseball cards as it provides a different kind of image than the usual outfield shot or batter swinging at a pitch. These unique features are what made me like this card so much and therefore put it at #5.
#4 2012 Gypsy Queen
Keeping with the old-style cards, Hosmer's 2012 Gypsy Queen card includes the powder blue Royals uniform that I've grown to love and appreciate whenever it is put on a baseball card. This photo of Hosmer, judging by the smile on his face, appears to be taken directly after a home run at Kauffman Stadium that either Hosmer or one of his teammates hit. The card backgrounds of Gypsy Queen which are usually well executed are done beautifully once again on this card, capturing every detail of the visible part of the outfield, creating a card that looks complete and absolutely fantastic.
#3 2012 Topps Gypsy Queen Future Stars
The fact that there is a 2012 Gypsy Queen card of Hosmer better than the one shown before speaks volume about how well-done the Gypsy Queen set can be. The Gypsy Queen Future Stars insert had the slight edge over the base card, because of how good all the blue on the card looked. There's a blue border, blue sleeves on Hosmer's arms, a blue hat, and blue writing on Hosmer's road jersey. The various shades of blue all come together to symbolize the Royals, and more so than that, they symbolize what Hosmer is like. He was (and might still be when he signs) a Kansas City Royal, and if he leaves or stays we always have this primarily-blue card to remind us of his early days in Kansas City.
#2 2015 Topps Stadium Club Gold Parallel
It can be difficult not to like Stadium Club and how they deliver the best images and cards year after year. Stadium Club cards show photos from all over the ballpark, from the bullpen to the batter's box and even right outside the dugout where we see Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas celebrating in the photo on the card that made it to #2. They seem to be at the Angels' stadium, so I do agree that the card would've looked better if it was taken at Kauffman, however the positive elements of the card far outway the negative. Topps has done an excellent job with Stadium Club since reviving the brand in 2014, and this card is just one example of the success they have had.
#1 2016 Panini Donruss 1982 Design
An unlicensed card takes the #1 spot as this stunning insert that features Eric Hosmer sliding into home plate closes out the list. Granted there is an obvious blank helmet in the dead center of the card, but I have to give Panini credit for including other details that help me look past it. The card features an unconventional image, so I'm instantly giving Panini credit for that. But they also included other details that peaked my interest, like recreating the 1982 Donruss set pretty well and including the sleek logo on the top right. I have to say that this card wasn't my favorite when I first saw it, but after I looked at it for a while, I grew to appreciate it way more, and certainly enough to merit the #1 spot on my list.
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