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Dustin Pedroia started his career with a bang. The American League’s Rookie of the Year in 2007, Pedroia capped his dream season with a World Series triumph over the Colorado Rockies.

In the collection is a limousine receipt signed by Pedroia on 1/26/08. Pedroia. The fare took him from JFK Airport to the New York Hilton Midtown at 53rd and 6th. The next night at the baseball writers’ awards dinner where Craig Biggio presented Pedroia with the Rookie of the Year Award.

Just 24 years old at the time, Pedroia was on top of the baseball world. The AL’s outstanding first year player capped his season with a sweep over the Colorado Rockies in the World Series.

Pedroia presents an interesting case for Cooperstown. By the end of his age-32 season in 2016, he was well on his way to the Hall of Fame. His trophy case was brimming with the Rookie of the Year Award, an MVP, two World Series rings, a Silver Slugger, four Gold Gloves.

His slash line to that point was .301/.366/.445 – numbers that compare favorably to Hall of Famers at his position.

In 2017 Pedroia suffered an injury that derailed his career. In an April game against the Orioles, Manny Machado slid hard into Pedroia injuring his calf and left knee.

Pedroia hobbled through the 2017 season, landing on the DL twice with knee inflammation. In the off-season he underwent a second operation on the left knee.

The second basemen played in only 9 more games the following two seasons before calling it quits for good.

Pedroia’s career numbers appear short of Cooperstown. He finished with 1,805 hits, a .299 average, and a career 51.9 WAR. With his numbers, Pedroia was one slide away from baseball immortality.