Night Owl Cards

This is the last card of Adrian Beltre that I acquired before he announced his retirement. Is it any wonder he retired? Beltre is one of the select few greatest talents I have ever seen on a baseball field. He's on the short list that includes Rickey Henderson, Gary Sheffield and Dwight Gooden. There's a reason the Dodgers signed him as a 15-year-old and he was the youngest player in the majors in 1999. That's why it's extra painful that Beltre will go into the Hall of Fame as a Texas Ranger. Until this past season, Beltre had spent equal time -- seven seasons each -- with the Dodgers and the Rangers. He is another player the Dodgers should have never let go. Right up there with Pedro Martinez and Mike Piazza. It's painful not only because of the number of third basemen the Dodgers employed between Beltre's departure to the Mariners and current corner man Justin Turner. It's painful because Beltre was a genuine pleasure to watch and to cover, not ...