I really wanted to like Collin Cowgill. Sure, Sandy Alderson didn’t pick up any big name outfielders last off-season and the Opening Day lineup of Lucas Duda, Cowgill and Marlon Byrd inspired more apprehension than confidence. But I think most of us wanted them to surprise us and succeed.
On Opening Day, Cowgill obliged. He became the only player in Mets history to hit a grand slam in a season opener that was also his first game with the team. Of course, we probably should have paid attention to the calendar – it was April Fool’s Day after all – and Cowgill’s career numbers. By the time the Mets traded him in June, Cowgill had lost his starting job and was hitting just .180 / .206 / .311 in 23 games.
Cowgill had a bizarre autographed insert card with a badly Photoshopped picture in Topps Series 2 that showed him in a style of uniform he never wore as a Met. This card, commemorating Cowgill’s Opening Day Grand Slam, is likely to be the only one that legitimately depicts him as a Mets player.
Note: If this card appears to have rounded corners, it is an artifact of my blog theme. The actual card has standard 90 degree corners.
PaulHadsall.com 