Ready to Fly
Beckett Baseball|April 2017

Getting so close to a championship looks to be his springboard to the next level.

Dave Sliepka
Ready to Fly

Heading into the 2017 season, Francisco Lindor appearing on the covers of major sports magazines is not unexpected. Coming off a highly successful 2016 campaign, he and his Cleveland Indians showed they are on the move upward. In his first full season with the Indians, Lindor made the American League All-Star team and led the franchise into its first World Series in 19 years. At the plate, Lindor batted .301 with 182 hits in 604 at-bats, 99 runs scored and 78 RBI. He added 30 doubles, and hammered 15 home runs with 19 stolen bases.

There was no letup in his first ever postseason. There he was one of the leaders of the Tribe, with a .310 average, 6 RBI and a .820 OPS. As sweet as all that would sound toa Cleveland fan in 2015, they now know the heartbreak of falling one game short of a World Series title. We’ve been busy talking this past fall and winter about Kris Bryant, Ben Zobrist and Anthony Rizzo, but we very easily could have been talking about Rajai Davis, Jason Kipnis and Francisco Lindor. Just one game, or even a few outs away. 

This story is from the April 2017 edition of Beckett Baseball.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the April 2017 edition of Beckett Baseball.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BECKETT BASEBALLView All
Better With Age
Beckett Baseball

Better With Age

At an age when most players have retired are contemplating it, JUSTIN VERLANDER keeps pitching like he’s a kid again

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2019
2020 Topps Heritage Coming In February
Beckett Baseball

2020 Topps Heritage Coming In February

2020 Topps Heritage Baseball cards bring the brand up to 1971.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2019
Junk Wax Era 1988 Score
Beckett Baseball

Junk Wax Era 1988 Score

The rise in the popularity of baseball cards that would lead up to the Junk Wax Era began as early as the late 1970s, and the introduction of two new manufacturers helped spur further growth in the early 1980s. But the interest in baseball cards would reach a fever pitch by 1988, which would mark the first year since 1981 that a new manufacturer would enter the fold.

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2019
2019 Topps Transcendent Baseball
Beckett Baseball

2019 Topps Transcendent Baseball

Brings Autographs, Ken Griffey Jr. Vip Event, Big Price Tag

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2019
Aaron Judge Hasn't Yet Reached The Heights Of His Ability
Beckett Baseball

Aaron Judge Hasn't Yet Reached The Heights Of His Ability

Aaron Judge – all 6-foot-7 of him – hasn’t yet reached the heights of his ability

time-read
4 mins  |
October 2019
Sports Cards The Gary Vee Way
Beckett Baseball

Sports Cards The Gary Vee Way

Gary Vaynerchuk is in the card business. Despite what naysayers and doubters would speculate, he is all-in.

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2019
A VIP Bash
Beckett Baseball

A VIP Bash

SCENES FROM PANINI AMERICA’S VIP PARTY AT THE 2019 NSCC

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2019
The New Rookie Home Run
Beckett Baseball

The New Rookie Home Run

Judge smashes on and off field records.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2017
Tools Of The Trade
Beckett Baseball

Tools Of The Trade

The right and wrong way collectors use painters tape

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2017
Auction Watch - Aaron Judge
Beckett Baseball

Auction Watch - Aaron Judge

GAME-USED JERSEY UP FOR BID

time-read
1 min  |
December 2017