Leaf Studio Doug Drabek

Doug Drabek played baseball at the University of Houston from 1981 to 1983 and was drafted in the 11th round of the draft. He made his Major League debut in 1986 and ended his career in 1998. In 1990 Drabek won the Cy Young and came in eighth in MVP voting. In 1992 he came in fifth in Cy Young voting and in 1994 he came in fourth while making his only All Star appearance.

Today's collectible is from the Leaf Studio line of cards. Leaf Studio debuted in 1991. The idea was to incorporate studio photography instead of action or candid shots at the field. The 1991 version featured black and white photographs with a maroon/purple border. I love the front of these cards. The backs... well, not so much. Black and white backs with very basic information and responses to cheesy questions.

I guess the all black and white wasn't a hit because the 1992 version included a black and white action photo in the background with a color studio portrait in the foreground, all surrounded by a gold border. The backs included similar basic information and answers as the 1991 set, but it has a much nicer layout especially with the gold border.