So I have seen way too many opinions and thoughts on Wander Franco. Some I align with, others I am so far off with it is not even funny. I have not really shared my view and honestly, most of what I am going to say is just my opinion based on what is in front of me.
So if you do not know, let me start from the beginning. Wander Franco was one of the top international baseball prospects in 2017. And at just 16. he signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. He hit .374 in the minors in 2018 at just 17 years old. He then became the top prospect in baseball for the next few years. He was a can’t lose player. He made it to the MLB in 2022 and had a strong rookie year. He got signed to a multi million contract and was an all-star this year.
His baseball cards started to come out in 2019. I am sure there were some before that, but when I saw this, I am talking about Bowman, the leader in prospect cards made by Topps. His cards were huge investments. During the pandemic, people would send a base rookie to get graded and make ten times their investment. So many people put money out to get his first Bowman card, even an unlicensed auto from Leaf or Onyx.
In 2022, his first true rookie card came out. 2022 had an amazing rookie class with Wander Franco and also including Julio Rodriguez, Bobby Witt Jr., Spencer Strider, Spencer Torkelson, and Brandon Marsh just to name a few. But the pandemic was over, sports card sales were slowing down, Topps absolutely botched their product to be able to get any of these rookies, and although the cards kept value, most 2022 price is less than today. Especially with new rookies coming out.
So with all this being said, Wander Franco was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a 14 year old. This surfaced with pictures online. They were later taken down, but he was placed on the MLB restricted list less than a week ago while he is being investigated. After that, a second allegation surfaced. And a credible source also said he probably will never play again.
So everything I have written so far is the background. This story surfaced less than a week ago. So now I am going to share my thoughts because everyone online seems to, and I want to be clear about letting everyone know where I stand.
Wander is being accused of being in a relationship with a minor. That is the generous way to put it. Enough pictures and voices have come out to already put a clear thought in my head that I do not want anything to do with Wander Franco. Is he guilty? I do not know. This seems like a “settle in civil court” case based on what it is. But the optics are absolutely horrible and its not like someone went to the police station to make a claim. Like there are literal pictures and texts. So whether he is innocent or guilty, in my mind, it has already been made. Is that fair? Probably not. but how many other MLB players have been accused of raping a child? So I truly hope the allegations are wrong and a child was not abused, but in my mind, Wander is not someone I will ever support.
People defending him with claims like “She doesn’t look 14” or “This happens all the time in DR” make me absolutely sick. That is like the creepy chaperones at school dances who say “They didn’t look like this when I was in school.” That is not a defense at all. Being in an inappropriate relationship is not normal. And if it is, I want to stay as far away from these people’s normal as possible.
I do think he will play in the MLB. I will be floored if he doesn’t. This looks like a case that will be settled outside of court, and let me be clear, I truly believe there was something inappropriate happening that will be an outside settlement.
Sadly, and this is very sadly, people who love sports have a very short memory when it comes to their favorite athletes committing or being accused of crimes. Kobe Bryant is one where his fans get absolutely hostile when you bring up 2003. But there is something there. Mike Tyson went to jail for a violent rape, yet he is now a pop icon. This story is less than a week old it will keep changing.
And finally, I am in two worlds now. I am in political/social issues along with sports card world. Many collectors are mad that those who have collected Wander Franco, are now selling them cheap to recoup some money on their investment. Now, being mad for selling his cards is quite possible the dumbest thing, let me explain. First off, Wander does not make any money off of any card being sold. Second, and I have never agreed with this philosophy of sports cards, he was a sure fire investment. His cards were going down BEFORE the allegations. There is nothing wrong with people selling his cards. That does not make someone support alleged child rape. It means someone will try and get back an investment. And while “the hobby” is just that, do not think for a second that large breakers care about you. Do not think for a second that Topps puts out a Topps Now for $500 because they care about you. There are some good people who care about others in the hobby, I would like to say I am one of them, but for the most part it is a money machine. Numbered Cards, parallels, and on card autos will keep the hobby flowing for years to come no matter what people say. The Junk Wax era had specific cards in Eckerd Drugs and K-Mart. Yes, you can buy retail at Target, but it is not the same as 1992.
So those are my thoughts, good and bad. I wanted to put this out there because so many people were sharing their thoughts and I truly did not feel like commenting on all of them.
And I am a huge Tampa Bay Rays fan and have been for years. I have gone to games every year (except pandemic) and follow every player and stat closely.
But I refuse to defend an alleged child rapist. Hopefully, no child was ever abused.
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I wasn’t familiar with the Wander Franco situation, but I always had the same feelings about Kobe, Mike Tyson, and the numerous high school and college athletes that I knew who were forgiven their “youthful mistakes” because of their athletic prowess. Sorry, but rape isn’t a “mistake”.
Like the Rays, but we are converted Marlins fans, due to the fact that my son’s good friend, and HS teammate, Jazz Chisholm, is playing for them now. My husband also coached Jazz and my son on their summer tournament team, we always knew he had a future in the sport. He’s a great guy, a genuinely decent person, I hope his cards are doing well 😄