Carlos Beltran's Old Baseball Card is Very Ironic After Astros' Cheating Scandal
By Michael Luciano
One of the few players identified by name as a major component in the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal was former Kansas City Royals and New York Mets All-Star Carlos Beltran, who used these illicit means to nab a championship before retiring in 2017.
His penchant for stealing was unfortunately predicted by an old Topps card from 2001, which labeled Beltran as a "thief" due to his skill on the base paths.
"He is, after all, a certified thief." https://t.co/SdZ4YOElSm
— 2020 Astros Shame Tour (@AsteriskTour) June 11, 2020
A thief, you say? Looks like The Simpsons writers weren't the only ones in the early 2000s with a crystal ball that helped them predict the future.
Beltran was singled out as one of the ringleaders of the Astros' scandal, helping in both the creation and sustainment of the scheme. Beltran was hired to succeed Mickey Callaway as manager of the Mets, but he resigned before ever coaching a game due to how involved he was in the scandal.
It’s so hard hearing Beltran slander because he was one of my favorite all time players, but it’s warranted
— Anthony Schorling (@aschorling34) June 11, 2020
Beltran is reviled because of his exploits with the 2017 Astros, which is in sharp contrast to a player that drew almost universal acclaim for his personality and play on the field during his career. There are no sacred cows in the MLB, and a cheating scandal of this magnitude will ruin even Beltran's name.