Do You Remember GEORGE LOMBARD?

Hey, don’t feel bad if the answer is “No!” Most people don’t remember this former baseball player. But he holds a place in baseball history that no one else will ever be able to hold.

Lombard was drafted in the second round by the Atlanta Braves in the 1994 MLB Draft, the same year that he graduated from the Lovett School in Atlanta. During his playing career he saw major league action with the Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Washington Nationals. But he made history when he became the first American baseball player to hit a home run in China! This took place during the MLB China Series on March 15, 2008.

Sadly, one historic at bat does not guarantee a career. Although Lombard showed minor league promise, his total MLB career consisted of 144 games spread out over 6 seasons. He showed up in several of the prospects sets of Bowman, Best and more during the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. In fact, he even got into some of the autographed items the Just Memorabilia company put out (like the 8 x 10 pictured here)

There is not much monetary value ascribed to the baseball cards or other memorabilia associated with George Lombard’s career. And that causes him to be overlooked and even disparaged by some collectors. But he holds a record no one can ever break and he played in the major leagues! That is more than I will ever be able to say…even if I won’t always remember his name.