When Topps had their 50th anniversary set in 2001, I briefly returned to collecting. When my first son was born in 1999, I bought a complete set just for the heck of it. But when my second son was born in 2001, I bought a lot of packs, trying to hand collate the set like back in the day.
One of the cards in the set that I remember (because he was a Cub) was Luis Montanez. He shared a Rookie Card with David Espinosa of the Reds. Montanez was a the third overall draft pick in 2000 so even though he hadn't risen above Single-A by the time the card came out, he had a Rookie Card.
Funny thing is, Montanez would spend several more years in the minors and in 2006 the Cubs granted him free agency. He signed with the Baltimore Orioles and spent 2007 with their Double and Triple-A affiliates before finally making his Major League debut in 2008.
Can you think of anybody else that had about 7 years between their rookie card and Major League debut?
Montanez spent parts of three seasons with the Orioles before being granted free agency again and then signed with the Cubs for the 2011 season. He played in 36 games, mostly as a pinch hitter and outfielder before being a free agent again at the end of the season.
In 2012, Montanez spent time with the Cardinals and Phillies Triple-A teams and began the 2013 season with the independent league Somerset Patriots. That's where this card was signed with a little help from someone on SCN. He has since signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He is currently on the 7-day disabled list with the Arkansas Travelers.
This marks card #75 is the ATCRCS collection.
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