Despite a lengthy playing career, I don't think I had heard of Sveum before he joined the Yankees. Outside of a power surge in 1987, he was a light hitting infielder that a kid growing up in the steroid-era really wouldn't have noticed if he wasn't playing for the hometown team. Even as a collector back then, I don't remember pulling cards of Sveum the way I remember getting guys like Chris Sabo or Bobby Ayala.
Then the Yankees signed him in the offseason to back up Tino Martinez at 1B, so I became aware of him then.
I don't even remember him playing that much, although baseball reference tells me he played in 30 games. I remember one of them, as I was coming home from a baseball game of my own, and I hadn't kept up with the Yanks that night. I asked my sister if Tino did anything in the game, and she said "He didn't play. Someone named Dale did."
He actually played quite a bit in May, as Tino landed on the DL after being hit in the back by Armando Benitez, sparking the great brawl. (Side note - Tino was on his was to another big season before he got drilled, and while he still he 28 HRs and over 120 RBIs, it felt like a down year after his 44/141 the year before)
Regardless, whether or not I have many memories of him, he was a member of one of the greatest teams of all time.
I only remember seeing a few Sveum cards, but luckily I had the one above from 1998 Pacific Online. Sveum was kind enough to sign it for me in about six weeks time.
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