He came up to the Majors in 1996 with the St. Louis Cardinals, and played with them through 1997. He was traded to the Reds, and spent 1998 through 2001 with them. He got his big break and was traded to the Detroit Tigers, and spent 2002-2006 with them, hitting 3 HRs on Opening Day in 2005 and making the All-Star team in 2003. He played 2007-2008 with the Washington Nationals, making the All-Star team and winning Comeback player of the Year in 2007.
He appeared on his first Topps card in 1997. He appeared in the 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002 Topps regular sets, and the 2002 Topps Traded set. He got into the 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 Topps sets, the 2007 Topps Update, and 2008 Topps sets.
He is missing cards from the 1996 Topps Traded, 1998 Topps Traded, 2001 Topps Traded, 2006 Topps Traded, and 2009 Topps sets.
I met him in Spring Training a few times, and he was quite the character. Didn't like to sign autographs, but he did one time for me and a few others. He kind of got on to us for not asking him how his day was and only wanting autographs. After one of us asked him how he was, he was a little happier. His brother Delmon also played in the Majors, and I got his autograph in Spring Training in about the same area as where I got Dmitri's.
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-Jeremy
