Up For Grabs Cardinalpalooza: Jim Edmonds

Previously on the Cardinalpalooza: Adam Wainwright | Joe Torre | Scott Rolen | Willie McGee | Red Schoendienst | Enos Slaughter | Bruce Sutter | Albert Pujols | Ray Lankford | Mark McGwire | J.D. Drew | Colby Rasmus | Yadier Molina | Allen Craig | Stan Musial | Rick Ankiel | David Freese

Just one left after this. As always, the list (and it's a big one) follows at the end of the post.

Let's get down to it. Jim Edmonds is one of my all-time favorite players. I followed the Pacific Coast League pretty closely back when I was in high school, and remember Edmonds from his time with the Angels AAA affiliates (Edmonton and later Vancouver.) I remember a lot of players from those days, which incidentally is what makes this blog so fun. He had some early success with the big league Angels, which included an All-Star season and some MVP consideration.

Most of Edmonds' career with Anaheim was highlighted with amazing defensive plays (I think they were called "Web Gems" to some) and lowlighted with some frustrating injuries. The Angels likely thought they were getting something of value for someone who hadn't quite lived up to the hype of his first full season when they dealt him to St. Louis for sell-high candidate Kent Bottenfield and serviceable Adam Kennedy, but the trade couldn't have gone better for the Redbirds.

Edmonds soared to new offensive heights immediately upon arrival in St. Louis, putting together season after season of stellar work at the plate while maintaining his Gold Glove caliber defense. Having already admired his work prior to to his donning of the Birds on the Bat, I found a new and exciting favorite player to follow.

Edmonds was always known for his flashy glove, and it's true that he caused himself to have to dive for more balls than your average center fielder because he played the position shallower than most. He was a walking YouTube highlight reel before there was such a thing. And even though he was seemingly hell-bent on playing for every rival team in the NL Central before he was forced to hang it up for good, Jimmy Ballgame remains one of my favorite players ever.

The list:

2000 Fleer Tradition Update #U55
2000 Pacific Omega #116
2000 Topps Traded #T91
2000 Topps Finest #149
2000 Upper Deck #474
2001 Bowman #70
2001 Donruss #33
2001 Donruss Classics #33 [2 available]
2001 Fleer Focus #58
2001 Fleer Futures #90
2001 Fleer Tradition #10 [2 available]
2001 Leaf Limited #14 [2 available]
2001 Pacific #350 [2 available]
2001 Topps #702 [2 available]
2001 Upper Deck #381 [2 available]
2001 Upper Deck Gold Glove #51
2001 Upper Deck MVP #189
2001 Upper Deck Pros & Prospects #54
2001 Upper Deck SP Authentic #52
2002 Donruss #23 [2 available]
2002 Donruss Diamond Kings #88
2002 Fleer Flair #15
2002 Fleer Premium #158
2002 Fleer Tradition Grass Roots #U4 of 10gr
2002 Fleer Ultra #36
2002 Leaf #46
2002 Topps (Gold Glove Award) #712 [2 available]
2002 Topps Opening Day #60
2002 Topps Post #5
2002 Topps Stadium Club #11 [2 available]
2002 Upper Deck Ballpark Idols #116
2002 Upper Deck Piece of History #53
2002 Upper Deck MVP #169 [2 available]
2003 Bazooka Minis #205
2003 Donruss Diamond Kings #145
2003 Fleer Box Score #38
2003 Fleer Tradition (Banner Season) #474
2003 Fleer Tradition Update (All-Star) #U238
2003 Fleer Ultra #22
2003 Topps Opening Day #108
2003 Topps Stadium Club #82
2003 Topps 205 #11
2003 Upper Deck Masters with the Leather #L10
2003 Upper Deck First Pitch #158
2003 Upper Deck Honor Roll #100
2003 Upper Deck Patch Collection #102
2003 Upper Deck Victory #84 [5 available]
2004 Donruss Team Heroes #390
2004 Fleer Platinum #118
2004 Topps #560
2004 Topps (Gold Glove Award) #713 [3 available]
2004 Topps Opening Day #110 [3 available]
2004 Topps Total #340
2004 Upper Deck Power Up #14
2004 Upper Deck Diamond Collection Pro Sigs #87 [2 available]
2005 Donruss #338
2005 Donruss Diamond Kings #209
2005 Donruss Studio #261 [2 available]
2005 Fleer America's National Pastime #32 [2 available]
2005 Fleer Authentix #33
2005 Fleer Patchworks #11
2005 Fleer Showcase #93
2005 Fleer Tradition #125
2005 Leaf #183 [2 available]
2005 Playoff Absolute Memorabilia #3
2005 Playoff Prestige #115 [2 available]
2005 Topps (All-Stars) #724 [2 available]
2005 Topps Grudge Match (w/ Carlos Zambrano) #GM4
2005 Topps Cracker Jack #223
2005 Topps Total #375
2005 Upper Deck ESPN #79 [2 available]
2005 Upper Deck Flyball #29
2005 Upper Deck MVP #42
2005 Upper Deck Pros & Prospects #89 [3 available]
2006 Fleer Tradition #49 [5 available]
2006 Fleer Ultra #38 [7 available]
2006 Fleer Ultra Gold #38
2006 Fleer Ultra Diamond Producers #DP3 [5 available]
2006 Topps #535 [4 available]
2006 Topps (Gold Glove Award) #258 [6 available]
2006 Topps Cardinals Team Set #STL4
2006 Topps Co-Signers #69
2006 Topps Opening Day #129 [4 available]
2006 Topps Opening Day Sports Illustrated for Kids #8
2006 Upper Deck Artifacts #84
2006 Upper Deck First Pitch #181
2006 Upper Deck Future Stars #66
2006 Upper Deck Sweet Spot #21 [2 available]
2006 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Update #88
2007 Bowman #59
2007 Bowman Chrome #59
2007 Fleer #45 [3 available]
2007 Fleer Mini Die Cuts #45
2007 Fleer Ultra Retail #149 [4 available]
2007 Fleer Ultra SE #149
2007 Topps #39 [7 available]
2007 Topps Wal-Mart #WM10 [2 available]
2007 Topps Co-Signers #13
2007 Topps Opening Day #48 [5 available]
2007 Upper Deck #448 [3 available]
2007 Upper Deck First Edition #287 [3 available]
2007 Upper Deck Goudey Red #59 [2 available]
2007 Upper Deck MLB Artifacts #67 [2 available]
2007 Upper Deck SP Authentic #48 [2 available]
2008 Topps #192 [3 available]
2008 Topps Opening Day #82 [2 available]
2008 Upper Deck #69 [3 available]
2008 Upper Deck First Edition #56