Mets Baseball Card of the Week: 1996 Leaf Bernard Gilkey

by Rob Castellano on Aug 27, 2011 1:25 PM EDT

Ah Bernard Gilkey. Someone had to hold the torch during those transitive mid-90's seasons and Gilkey did just that. Though I must say I never really know whether to boo or cheer the memory of Gilkey. Instead in my own head it's like that line from Seinfeld where I just thank him for a job...done.

But you know what? Upon further review, Gilkey deserves more credit than that. His legacy should not just be as that jackass in Men in Black. I mean I knew that he'd been respectable in his brief three-year span in orange and blue but not until re-examining his '96 campaign did I realize how f*cking good it actually was. Not just good but depending who you believe -- B-Ref lists Gilkey's '96 as an 8.1 WAR season, Fangraphs 7.6 -- it was perhaps the greatest single season by a non-pitcher Met ever. Ever. 30 homers, .317 average, 18 stolen bases, .955 OPS...and he came in 14th in MVP voting. Cool.

The same cannot be said for this card though, or any card by the crummy Leaf brand. I mean seriously, how could a self-respecting baseball card company mass produce a card that has just one previous season of stats on the back?Disgraceful. Regardless, here we have a 1996 Leaf Studio 96 Bernard Gilkey card.

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i was at opening day 1996

Good times, trying to remember if gilk went yard that day

I hate Philadelphia so much.

by the caveman on Aug 27, 2011 2:46 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

he did

So did todd hundley.

I hate Philadelphia so much.

by the caveman on Aug 27, 2011 3:55 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Bernard "Innocent until proven" Gilkey

Probably the best name Chris Berman ever made in his life.

"I only wanted a few things out of life -- a wife, children, to play baseball and to hunt deer." - Turk Wendell

by Rey-O on Aug 27, 2011 3:32 PM EDT reply actions

Fun fact: Bernard Gilkey went to the same high school as

Tennesee Williams
Ken Holtzman
Nelly
Art Shamsky
Dave Garroway, the first host of The Today Show

Signed as an undrafted free agent out of high school. That doesn’t happen anymore.

Thank you for this piece of nostalgia.

"Hey Paul, re..remember when you were in The Beatles? That was awesome."

by Five-Tool Tool on Aug 27, 2011 7:01 PM EDT reply actions

Also

Robert (traded for John Olerud) Person
Former Mets and Cardinals GM Bing Devine

What's the score, boys?
What did Bugs Bunny do?
What's with the Carrot League baseball today?

by StorkFan on Aug 28, 2011 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Funny

How he doesnt enjoy playing baseball. Just basketball and billiards.

The base paths belonged to me, the runner. The rules gave me the right. I always went into a bag full speed, feet first. I had sharp spikes on my shoes. If the baseman stood where he had no business to be and got hurt, that was his fault. -Ty Cobb

by Tim Goad on Aug 28, 2011 9:21 AM EDT reply actions

Yes, it is funny...

www.baseball-tutorials.com/

by CoachKennyBuford on Aug 28, 2011 2:58 PM EDT reply actions

That was a fun team to watch

Gilky, Hundley, Lance Johnson, Rey Ordonez, Fonzy

I have nothing but warm memories of that crew.

Gilky had one of the best years ever for a Met OFer.

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by Coolpapabell on Aug 29, 2011 12:38 PM EDT reply actions