TTM Stats
- Sent: 4/12/2022 | Received: 4/21/2022 | 9 Days
- ’85 Fleer Update, ’86 Topps (2), ’87 Topps
- Address: Indiana University (address from Sports Card Forum)
The Story of the Autograph
Karl Best, born March 6, 1959, in Aberdeen, Washington, carved out a solid career as a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) during the mid-1980s. Known for his resilience on the mound, Best played in the majors for five seasons, mostly with the Seattle Mariners. His steady presence in the bullpen made him a reliable option during his time in the big leagues.
Growing up in Washington state, Karl Best developed a love for baseball at a young age. He attended KEnt-Meridian High School, where he excelled as a pitcher. His talents were soon recognized, and he was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 12th round of the 1977 MLB Draft. After signing with the Mariners, Best began working his way up through the minors, honing his skills and learning the craft of pitching. By the early 1980s, Best had developed into a promising young reliever, showcasing his fastball and off-speed pitches.
Best made his MLB debut with the Seattle Mariners on August 19, 1983. As a local player for the Mariners organization, Best’s rise to the majors was a source of pride for Washington baseball fans. He made four appearances that year, showing potential as a reliever. In 1985 he earned a little bit more of a shot in the Mariners’ bullpen with 15 appearances with a 1.95 ERA. Best’s fastball and slider combination allowed him to get key outs in tight situations, and he quickly earned a role as a middle reliever.
The 1986 season was Karl Best’s most productive year in the majors. He appeared in a career-high 26 games, posting a 4.04 ERA over 35.2 innings pitched. His ability to keep hitters off-balance with his slider made him a key part of the Mariners’ bullpen. His durability and ability to pitch multiple innings made him an asset for the Mariners’ pitching staff. However, his time with the Mariners would come to an end after the 1987 season when he was traded to the Detroit Tigers.
In 1988, Karl Best was traded from the Tigers o the Minnesota Twins, but his time there was brief, and he appeared in only 11 games before being traded again. The Twins moved him to the San Francisco Giants, but he did not make it back to the major leagues. After a few more years in the minor leagues, Best retired from professional baseball in 1990.
After retiring from baseball, Karl Best moved on to pursue other interests, focusing on business ventures and spending time with his family. Like many former athletes, he remained connected to the game through local youth programs and enjoyed mentoring young players in his community. Best’s journey through professional baseball was one of perseverance and dedication. His ability to adapt and contribute in various roles during his time with the Mariners helped him leave a lasting impression on those who watched him pitch.
This is my second successful return from him. To see the first successful return, check out my post from May 2022.
The Score on Karl Best – 6.0
Karl has one of the tiniest and least defined signatures out there. There’s only eight letters to his name to begin with so it’s not like he has a lot of letters to sign, but he still makes it pretty compact, always signing in that bottom left-hand corner of the card. I think my favorite of the bunch is the 1985 Fleer card.
Thanks Mr. Best! I’m giving this return a 6 overall.
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Information gathered using Wikipedia and Baseball Reference.