TTM Stats
- Sent: 5/28/2022 | Received: 6/13/2022 | 15 Days
- ’81 Donruss, ’81 Topps, ’82 Fleer
- Address: Home (address from Sports Card Forum)
The Story of the Autograph
Baseball history is filled with players who, while not spending long in the Major Leagues, made their mark with talent and determination. Dan Graham, a power-hitting catcher, had a brief but notable MLB career with the Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Though his time at the highest level was short-lived, his contributions (particularly during his strong 1980 season) earned him a place in the game’s rich history.
Daniel Jay Graham was born on June 19, 1954, in Ray, Arizona. He grew up with a passion for baseball and honed his skills as a catcher and hitter. The Minnesota Twins saw potential in him and selected him in the fifth round of the 1975 MLB Draft. Graham spent several years in the Twins’ minor league system, developing his power at the plate. He consistently showed offensive potential, which helped him earn a June call-up in 1979, making his Major League debut on June 18, 1979.
After a short stint with Minnesota, the Baltimore Orioles acquired Graham before the 1980 season. That year turned out to be the highlight of his career. Given more playing time, he hit 15 home runs, drove in 54 RBI, and posted a .278 batting average in just 86 games. His power from the right side of the plate provided the Orioles with much-needed depth, and he was especially effective against left-handed pitching.
Despite his strong offensive performance in 1980, Graham saw limited playing time in 1981. He appeared in only 55 games, hitting .176 with two home runs. As a result, his time in Baltimore was short-lived. Following the 1981 season, Graham did not return to the Major Leagues. Though still relatively young, he never found another full-time role, and his professional baseball career came to a close shortly after.
Over his three MLB seasons, he played in 143 games, hitting 17 home runs with 65 RBIs and a .240 batting average. While his career was brief, his 1980 campaign stands out as a testament to his ability as a power-hitting catcher.
After leaving baseball, Graham stayed largely out of the public spotlight. Though his time in the big leagues was short, he remains a part of Baltimore Orioles and Minnesota Twins history, remembered by fans who followed the game in the early 1980s.
His career serves as a reminder that even short MLB tenures can produce memorable moments. In a sport where only a small percentage of players ever reach the highest level, Dan Graham’s ability to contribute at the Major League level (particularly in 1980) cements his place in baseball history.
The Score on Dan Graham – 6.0
This is a good return from Dan signature-wise, unfortunately the cards aren’t great. You can see a bunch of creasing on the 1981 Donruss card, and the top of that 1981 Topps card is really rough. I’m definitely going to have to look for more cards from Dan and give this another try.
Thanks Mr. Graham! I’m giving this return a 6 overall.
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Information gathered using Wikipedia and Baseball Reference.