1981 Topps Ivan DeJesus Cubs Baseball Card No 54 - Excellent condition, see photos ... Includes FREE SHIPPING. Note sports memorabilia market hit $16 billion in 2023. Projections indicate it will reach $52 billion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 14% during the forecast period (2024-2032).
Iván DeJesús was the Chicago Cubs' starting shortstop for five seasons, from 1977 to 1981. Acquired from the Dodgers, he was primarily known for his exceptional defense and durability, twice leading the National League in assists while playing in at least 155 games during his first four years with the team. His best season came in 1978 when he hit .278 and led the entire league with 104 runs scored. However, DeJesús is most famously remembered in MLB history for the trade that ended his Cubs tenure. In January 1982, the Cubs traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies for shortstop Larry Bowa and a minor league prospect named Ryne Sandberg, a move that would become one of the most lopsided and franchise-altering trades in baseball history.