Your suggestions - best David Ortiz card to add to HOF collection

[swarmee]

You might look into some of the Heritage SSPs or Topps Flagship SSPs.

Here's a sample of them, usually funny or interesting photo variations.
https://www.comc.com/Cards,sc,=david+ortiz+ssp,ot,i100

If David Ortiz had a Heritage Throwback Uniform variation, that would be a really good one to hold up since they're so rare and master set collectors hoard them. You could get some kind of Superfractor 1/1 during his Red Sox years.

If you weren't a Red Sox fan, I would recommend one of his Minnesota Twins RCs that have him listed as David Arias, since it would provide a history lesson about Hispanics who came to the US and stole people's identities to appear younger and sign MLB contracts, a big part of baseball in the 90s/00s. Wikipedia says that the MLB just listed him under his mother's last name since they didn't understand Spanish culture, FWIW. But like I said, interesting discussion to have about the time Ortiz played.

Ortiz was born on November 18, 1975, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, as the oldest of four children of Enrique (Leo) Ortiz and Ángela Rosa Arias.
On November 28, 1992, Ortiz was signed by the Seattle Mariners just 10 days after his 17th birthday, who listed him as "David Arias" due to not being familiar with Spanish naming customs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ortiz

1997 Fleer Ultra - [Base] #518 - David Ortiz (David Arias on Card) [SGC 9 MINT]
Courtesy of COMC.com

[sbfinley]

99% of the time I lean towards RC’s, but in this case it’s without a doubt to me it’s his 2013 Boston Strong Topps SSP.

[bigfanNY]

The 1997 Donrus Signatures auto would be my choice. Rookie Auto... and not in that awful red sox uniform.
Lets go Yankees!!

Jon

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

The 1997 Donrus Signatures auto would be my choice. Rookie Auto... and not in that awful red sox uniform.
Lets go Yankees!!

Jon

Interesting cards because he did not understand where he was supposed to sign them.

[Belfast1933]

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

The 1997 Donrus Signatures auto would be my choice. Rookie Auto... and not in that awful red sox uniform.
Lets go Yankees!!

Jon

Advice from a Yankees fan?? Leon, how do I block this guy?! JK... Ortiz already inflicted enough suffering on you over the years!

[Belfast1933]

Originally Posted by sbfinley

99% of the time I lean towards RC’s, but in this case it’s without a doubt to me it’s his 2013 Boston Strong Topps SSP.

Thanks for the idea... sorry for the really silly question, but what is an SSP card? Looks like they carry a real premium cost on Ebay - are they very limited?

[Belfast1933]

My nephew is suggesting a 2018 Topps Luminary card... signed by Ortiz. Looks like around $150, give or take.

I know about as much about Auto cards as I do modern cards - is this a reasonable choice?

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by Belfast1933

Thanks for the idea... sorry for the really silly question, but what is an SSP card? Looks like they carry a real premium cost on Ebay - are they very limited?

SP - Short print (could be hundreds or thousands depending on the print run of the set.
SSP - Super Short print (could be tens or a hundred of this card)

[Belfast1933]

Originally Posted by swarmee

SP - Short print (could be hundreds or thousands depending on the print run of the set.
SSP - Super Short print (could be tens or a hundred of this card)

Ah, got it… since I want one in his Sox uni, maybe I should look for a WSP version?

A “wicked short print”… from Boston🎶

(Thx for the info!)

[Belfast1933]

Thx for the advice… decided to add my first (and probably only) auto card.

See you Cooperstown, Papi!

[Marchillo]

I always go for HOF base Topps RC for vintage cards - usually the only one available - but then there are things that just changed in the 80's - Obviously you go for a card like 84 Fleer Update for a Clemens or Puckett RC versus their 1985 counterparts. Griffey obviously the UD RC versus the Topps Update.

So when I looked for an Ortiz to figure out which one I came across Fleer Ultra and Fleer. Those seem to be the normal issued cards that line up the most as his best base RC's. I think the Ultra is more of a premium so I ended up getting a PSA 9 Fleer RC. I am happy with the decision. It's almost doubled since I bought it. I don't think you can go wrong with either of those two cards.

Good luck!