Ron Gant TTM Success

Sent: 5/28/2020 | Received: 6/9/2020 | 12 days
3/3: 1993 Upper Deck, 1997 Metal, 1989 Bowman
Address: c/o Fox 5 Atlanta from SportsCollectors.Net

Before he became one of the most reliable TTM autograph signers around, Ron Gant was an All-Star outfielder, best known for his seven-year run with the Atlanta Braves (1987-1993).

Gant came up as a second baseman before transitioning to outfield in 1990. He took off from there, batting .303 with 32 home runs, 30 stolen bases and 85 RBI – good enough to earn the NL Comeback Player of the Year Award.

He duplicated his 30/30 efforts in ‘91 – joining Willie Mays, Bobby Bonds, (and later Barry Bonds, who did it three years in a row) – as the only players to register consecutive 30 home run/30 stolen base seasons. He won the Silver Slugger Award.

During the 1991 World Series – an eventual seven-game loss to the Twins – it was Gant who was the base runner on the controversial play at first with Kent Hrbek (aside: I have no dog in this fight, and sure seemed to me that Hrbek pulled Gant's leg off the bag).

Shortly after singing a $5.5 million deal for 1994, Gant broke his right leg in an ATV accident. He’d be released and he wouldn’t return until ’95 with the Reds. He earned an All-Star nod that season for a .276/.386/.544 slash and 29 home runs.

After three seasons with the Cardinals, he’d play short stints with the Phillies (1999-2000), Angels (2000), Rockies (2001), A’s (2001), Padres (2002), and A’s again (2003). He’d wrap his 16-year career a .256 hitter with 321 homers and 243 stolen bases.