Tim Costo

Profile

Tim Costo was a shortstop for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 1987-1990, an All-American* and 1st Round pick in 1990**, and played a couple of years for the Cincinnati Reds in 1993 and 1994 with a lifetime WAR of -0.7.  

* Of the 22 All-Americans, 4 had productive MLB careers (Aaron Sele, Dan Wilson, Jeffrey Hammonds, Mike Kelly) and 6 others made it to the pros.  

** Of the 26 1st Rounds, 13 had productive MLB careers, most notably Chipper Jones and Mike Mussina.  9 others also made it to the pros.  

Historical Significance

Tim Costo had a fine career, and played for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and I had no idea until I had opened a Topps pack in 1991.  Up until 1989 Pro Set Football, you didn't see players in their college uniforms, and often had to wait a year of pro play before you'd see them even in their pro jerseys.  The only cards you would find were the sporadic team sets that some colleges would put out. With a little research, and discounting the impact of 1990 Class Draft Picks, the author of this blog can declare that:

🔔1991 Topps Tim Costo was the first Iowa Hawkeye in a Hawkeye uniform in a major set.🔔

Exciting, I know.  You as one of the few lucky readers of this blog can take this gem of knowledge and gather up as many Costos as you can before the rest of the community discovers its historical significance.

Collection Notes

I have 35/69 (51%) Tim Costo cards in my collection, and 34/55 (71%) if you exclude minor league cards.  

#1 Want : 1994 Score Boys of Summer #48

How do I not have this? 1994 Fleer #408

Rest of the needs:

1990 Kinston Indians Team Issue

1991 Canton-Akron Indians ProCards

1991 Classic Game

1991 Line Drive AA

1991 Line Drive Previews

1991 O-Pee-Chee

1991 ProCards Tomorrow's Heroes

1991 Topps Tiffany

1992 Chattanooga Lookouts Fleer/ProCards

1992 Chattanooga Lookouts SkyBox

1992 SkyBox AA

1993 Bowman

1993 Classic/Best

1993 Fleer Major League Prospects

1993 Indianapolis Indians Fleer/ProCards

1993 Stadium Club First Day Issue

1993 Stadium Club Members Only Parallel

1993 Topps Inaugural Rockies

1993 Topps Micro

1993 Upper Deck Gold Hologram

1994 Collector's Choice Gold Signature

1994 Collector's Choice Silver Signature

1994 Fleer

1994 Pacific

1994 Score Boys of Summer

1994 Score Gold Rush

1994 Stadium Club First Day Issue

1994 Topps Gold

1994 Topps Spanish

1994 Upper Deck Electric Diamond

1994 Upper Deck Electric Diamond Silver Back

1996 Buffalo Bisons Best

1997 Louisville Redbirds Best

1998 Syracuse Skychiefs Grandstand