tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81738861421106598202024-03-13T17:42:25.256-07:001987 DonrussDedicated to the best Donruss baseball card set of the 1980s.Eric Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01779194379393056699noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173886142110659820.post-54490016994708555442009-02-09T08:39:00.000-08:002009-02-09T14:46:02.570-08:00The First One To Go<p style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0G49ziY46TF7Jp7_i14woHqEQZ32KNNrjtTfd2bHC_OBplJpRmlv0xRjYa8inisRUBRVkQlNLFvL100u8biwn0FFbHhz0BgIhpaSXi7q5Xmud6YQjJGiHUcyD9_Z00-hwSH-PfYjloHk/s1600-h/455-lopes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 489px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0G49ziY46TF7Jp7_i14woHqEQZ32KNNrjtTfd2bHC_OBplJpRmlv0xRjYa8inisRUBRVkQlNLFvL100u8biwn0FFbHhz0BgIhpaSXi7q5Xmud6YQjJGiHUcyD9_Z00-hwSH-PfYjloHk/s320/455-lopes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300843318700320658" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p>The Dodgers, led by <a href="http://1987donruss.blogspot.com/2008/12/infield.html">their much celebrated infield</a> -- the one that had been together as a foursome for 8½ years -- were fresh off a World Series championship in 1981. The group had achieved much success together -- four pennants and one championship in an 8-year span. However, the team was getting older, especially the infield. Here were the ages heading into 1982 (baseball ages, meaning their age as of June 30):<br /><br />1B Steve Garvey: 33 years old<br />2B Davey Lopes: 37<br />3B Ron Cey: 34<br />SS Bill Russell: 33<br /><br />The writing was on the wall, with heralded minor leaguers waiting in the wings, that the infield would not be together much longer. Davey Lopes had struggled greatly in 1981. He was injured and missed over 50 games, almost half of the strike-shortened year. He only hit .206/.289/.285, a mere 66 OPS+ (although much better than <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2009/1/15/724826/redefining-worst-case-scen">2008 Andruw Jones</a>).<br /><br />On February 8, Lopes was traded to Oakland for 19-year old middle infielder Lance Hudson. Hudson would never make the majors. Lopes was healthy again in 1982, and rebounded to hit .242/.304/.371, a 90 OPS+. Meanwhile, 22-year old Steve Sax hit .282/.335/.359, a 97 OPS+, easily winning Rookie of the Year honors, the fourth straight such award for the Dodgers.<br /><br />Lopes would actually go on to be a productive player through 1987, his age 42 season. After he left the Dodgers, Lopes hit .265/.348/.410, a 111 OPS+. Although not an everyday player, Lopes hit slightly better in his post-Dodger career than during his time with LA (.262/.349/.380, 105 OPS+). He also stole 139 bases in six seasons, at a great 82.7% clip, including a <a href="http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/Wqac">record 47 bases as a 40+ year old in 1985</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28MBlYK2_5a7kDM8oCcYaL49wmvHC4vmmG5tn7y4GF3dxGAXm15T8XAzjx0nJhLSL6zeMjNJPMDsM2raGjaUclypRTBsgPuxV0FmXgWUysVpHOwbGRwsr_youPFlNcK_yXnjWG9-d6oZb/s1600-h/455-lopes_back.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28MBlYK2_5a7kDM8oCcYaL49wmvHC4vmmG5tn7y4GF3dxGAXm15T8XAzjx0nJhLSL6zeMjNJPMDsM2raGjaUclypRTBsgPuxV0FmXgWUysVpHOwbGRwsr_youPFlNcK_yXnjWG9-d6oZb/s400/455-lopes_back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300847208855674674" border="0" /></a><br />What stands out from Lopes' 1987 Donruss card is his position. Lopes is remembered as a 2B, but he was converted from the outfield while in the minors with the Dodgers. Here are his games started by position after leaving the Dodgers:<br /><br />2B: 250 games<br />3B: 40 games<br />LF: 63 games<br />CF: 31 games<br />RF: 47 games<br /><br />After starting 16 games at 2B in 1984, he never started another game at 2B again. I do wish for his picture here Lopes would have been wearing one of the classic rainbow Astros uniforms, but this will have to do.<br /><br />On to the count...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Set: </span>18 of 660 (2.7%)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">HOF</span>: </span>4 (none)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Former Dodgers: </span>3 (+1)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Future Dodgers: </span>5</p>Eric Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01779194379393056699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173886142110659820.post-51972188212930115912008-12-20T00:07:00.000-08:002008-12-20T00:14:36.851-08:00New GigI have joined forces with the good people at <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/">True Blue LA</a>, a wonderful Dodger blog on the SB Nation network. That doesn't mean the end of this blog however! I still plan on reminiscing through 1987 Donruss cards quite often. My Dodger-related content will be over on True Blue LA, but that will be the only change.<br /><br />With the holiday season upon us, my posting might be sparse over the next two weeks, but I'll sneak a post or two in when I have the time. Best wishes to all of you, and Happy Holidays to everyone.<br /><br />Also, thanks to the the great people at <a href="http://78topps.blogspot.com/">78 Topps</a>, <a href="http://garveyceyrusselllopes.blogspot.com/">GCRL</a>, and <a href="http://nightowlcards.blogspot.com/">Night Owl Cards</a>, with whom I have traded cards over the last week or so.Eric Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01779194379393056699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173886142110659820.post-83588834509862487152008-12-10T21:15:00.000-08:002008-12-10T21:20:11.945-08:00Lefties<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGujyyuZKU1PFw4YacwID7Z18SeaZc6RLhNb9Uj25TfdBpJF7Ubnp1_8gC46MgKts0-pLNqbtIcGQxkhuyUUIwlWmE2pZU3ZPAvc9H45cmwIaT7Gr59zrModXVH6FANY4YSLzg0bTVBP-/s1600-h/lefties.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGujyyuZKU1PFw4YacwID7Z18SeaZc6RLhNb9Uj25TfdBpJF7Ubnp1_8gC46MgKts0-pLNqbtIcGQxkhuyUUIwlWmE2pZU3ZPAvc9H45cmwIaT7Gr59zrModXVH6FANY4YSLzg0bTVBP-/s400/lefties.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278397720561637218" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I don't have kids (did I just hear a collective sigh of relief from the readers?), but you can be sure if I did I would try to steer them toward throwing left-handed. My ultimate goal is to gravy train off my kids, and there aren't many trains <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">gravier</span> than those of a major league pitcher.<br /><br />When have left-handed pitchers not been in demand in baseball? It seems since the dawn of time managers and general managers everywhere have searched the world far and wide to find the next southpaw. After all, what's not to like about a species that turned feared slugger Ryan Howard into a very tame .224/.294/.451 hitter in 2008?<br /><br />Left-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">handers</span> are on my mind today, because it has been reported that the biggest lefty of them all, CC <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Sabathia</span>, has signed the <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AulrXwqAdSvKO2bY9LLofbU5nYcB?slug=ap-yankees&prov=ap&type=lgns">largest contract for a pitcher in baseball history</a>. That's $161 million over 7 years for Mr. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Sabathia</span>, a contract that must be shocking to the players in the 1987 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Donruss</span> set, especially these lefties featured here.<br /><br />I chose these cards because I like how each is at roughly the same spot in their windup, about to unleash their left-handed fury upon the batter.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricky Horton - #234</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WCJ0GY3aeAJyxlM8AlRSQeHOhjohPUpwW5Jqyaap4vFgwkr97_J-t-jmeprMw01X4iR6PdNKJm6gKPGeZI22i08KSr5Vl3LXdsSstFCeX227TujJnS1dV8aXWzP7k6wN5bQRY7gSldM9/s1600-h/234-horton_back.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WCJ0GY3aeAJyxlM8AlRSQeHOhjohPUpwW5Jqyaap4vFgwkr97_J-t-jmeprMw01X4iR6PdNKJm6gKPGeZI22i08KSr5Vl3LXdsSstFCeX227TujJnS1dV8aXWzP7k6wN5bQRY7gSldM9/s400/234-horton_back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278397256007923810" border="0" /></a><br />Horton was solid out of the bullpen <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">for</span> the Cardinals. He is one of only <a href="http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/wN5y">seven Cardinals</a> to have a 100 ERA+ or higher in each of his first four seasons. Horton gets an all-time pass from me since he was a member of the 1988 Dodgers, even if it was only for a month. He did throw 4.1 scoreless innings in the playoffs against the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Mets</span>, but never appeared in the 1988 World Series.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Charlie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Leibrandt</span> - #220</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEGR3WoVDfviSfZnyUrA6O2kw3LGnNMpLNBje1V6mwrKcZz7h-eHxaqWj7D4uMWjcLp0dlXaHs_M3nx2fVOrtzXalkyrj4OgMlFnipeAocQbgDb_8L9pmUMeabDrNxz79U1Oib1NBX1Fzx/s1600-h/220-leibrandt_back.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEGR3WoVDfviSfZnyUrA6O2kw3LGnNMpLNBje1V6mwrKcZz7h-eHxaqWj7D4uMWjcLp0dlXaHs_M3nx2fVOrtzXalkyrj4OgMlFnipeAocQbgDb_8L9pmUMeabDrNxz79U1Oib1NBX1Fzx/s400/220-leibrandt_back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278397250024958354" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Leibrandt</span> is probably best remembered for giving up the "Touch 'em all, Kirby Puckett" to end <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIN/MIN199110260.shtml">Game 6 of the 1991 World Series</a> (also known for Jack Buck's memorable "We'll see you tomorrow night" call), but he was actually a pretty solid pitcher for a long time. His 76 wins with Kansas City ranks <a href="http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/u56D">8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">th</span> in Royals history</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Floyd Bannister - #211</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfwr2YUa3u18NIjW2hNod5y5K4hxBCExUKER88f12_Ba_N0wqwECynMxrhs05iHg8WRFjbcFX_lf8ZHRx8_bV8JxQV7NCWHcY_WgMihcZ_WVYpx8IPla5rCo-E75ZkIN83us3x2oUuTJB/s1600-h/211-bannister_back.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfwr2YUa3u18NIjW2hNod5y5K4hxBCExUKER88f12_Ba_N0wqwECynMxrhs05iHg8WRFjbcFX_lf8ZHRx8_bV8JxQV7NCWHcY_WgMihcZ_WVYpx8IPla5rCo-E75ZkIN83us3x2oUuTJB/s400/211-bannister_back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278397247537562162" border="0" /></a><br />Bannister, the father of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">current</span> Royals' pitcher <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/bannibr01.shtml">Brian</a> (36<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">th</span> on the all-time Royals win list, by the way), was the #1 pick in the 1976 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">MLB</span> draft (side note: will the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">MLB</span> draft ever be as big as the NFL or NBA draft? Probably not, since nobody watches college or high school baseball and thus doesn't know many of the players drafted). Bannister struck out a fair amount of hitters in his day, and he ended up posting five seasons with a 120 ERA+, but he was also prone to the long ball. For the 5 seasons covered on the back of this card (1982-1986), Bannister gave up the <a href="http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/qANH">4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">th</span> most HR in baseball</a> (tied with Louisiana Lightning himself, Ron <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Guidry</span>).<br /><br />On to the count...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Set: </span>17 of 660 (2.6%)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">HOF</span>: </span>4 (none)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Former Dodgers: </span>2 (none)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Future Dodgers: </span>5 (+1 with Horton)Eric Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01779194379393056699noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173886142110659820.post-59533957707583934792008-12-08T18:59:00.000-08:002008-12-08T19:48:59.597-08:00Maddux The Great<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy09jKNa2lXSiq-3sEv6v1lafHnARfeOpe4sI3EkWxpEH2j_aeUJadoQX2DOWyPoIeQIgG4A7lPgZHqknecIkHrCdnZmXgP4TvZDMamBy9KSZCMK4KN96vRVf_6w1p3WNj7MJfoPYVyFh/s1600-h/36-maddux.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy09jKNa2lXSiq-3sEv6v1lafHnARfeOpe4sI3EkWxpEH2j_aeUJadoQX2DOWyPoIeQIgG4A7lPgZHqknecIkHrCdnZmXgP4TvZDMamBy9KSZCMK4KN96vRVf_6w1p3WNj7MJfoPYVyFh/s320/36-maddux.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277630276163897954" border="0" /></a><br />One of the greatest pitchers of any generation officially hung up his spikes today, as Greg <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Maddux</span> retired from baseball. It's hard to believe that anyone with the mustache displayed on this card would end up among the all-time leaders various categories, but it's true:<br /><br />Starts: 740 (4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> all-time, behind only Cy Young, and <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/ryanno01.shtml">two</a> <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/suttodo01.shtml">other</a> men featured later in this set review)<br /><br />Innings: 5,008.1 (13<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span>)<br /><br />Wins: 355 (8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span>; no one alive has more)<br /><br />Strikeouts: 3,371 (10<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span>)<br /><br />The numbers are simply mind-boggling. Starting in the year after this set was introduced, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Maddux</span> started a 17-year strike of winning 15 games or more. He won 4 Cy Young Awards, and probably could have won more. He led the league in adjusted ERA+ 5 times, and finished 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">nd</span> three other times. Only Lefty Grove had <a href="http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/em6b">more 150 ERA+ seasons</a> than the 9 by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Maddux</span>. Unbelievable.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Maddux</span> helped the Dodgers as a late-season acquisition in two of the final three years of his wonderful career. In 2006, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Maddux</span> played a much more pivotal role than 2008 (he was relegated to bullpen duty in the playoffs this year), going 6-3 with a 136 ERA+ down the stretch. His Dodger career was highlighted by two amazing games:<br /><br />1) In his <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN200608030.shtml">first start as a Dodger</a>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Maddux</span> took the ball in the rain in Cincinnati, and pitched beautifully for 6 innings, allowing no hits. He actually walked 3, a shocking figure for the control expert. A long rain delay ended <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Maddux's</span> night, but it was a great "welcome to the club" moment. This was game 6 of an 11-game winning streak for the club, which started a 17-1 stretch for the Dodgers.<br /><br />2) <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN200608130.shtml">Only 10 days later</a>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Maddux</span> hooked up with soon-to-be-Dodger-albatross Jason Schmidt on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball, and the two were locked in an amazing pitching duel. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Maddux</span> pitched only 8 innings (in the latter stages of his career, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Maddux</span> seemed to know when he was physically done, and would take himself out even with low pitch counts), but what an 8 innings they were! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Maddux</span>, ever the efficient master, threw only 68 pitches (50 for strikes). After allowing two singles to the first 3 <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWLwwTd-EXX_CRMDu_svbSBggTBqhOvkqBBPB8BkKGsE56bNTgKrNhYplr4rzxmfaEq5VfOeY3a0ICUF_gR1KWJFIuI7_b1OIpX2UoojMY8iiwRgoxCaC1WHJpK5x4phwwioT2f48eKDc/s1600-h/36-maddux_back.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWLwwTd-EXX_CRMDu_svbSBggTBqhOvkqBBPB8BkKGsE56bNTgKrNhYplr4rzxmfaEq5VfOeY3a0ICUF_gR1KWJFIuI7_b1OIpX2UoojMY8iiwRgoxCaC1WHJpK5x4phwwioT2f48eKDc/s200/36-maddux_back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277630379761148866" border="0" /></a>batters of the game, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Maddux</span> retired the final 22 batters he faced. The Dodgers would later win on a walk-off HR by then-rookie Russell Martin<br /><br />Even when he wasn't a Dodger, I loved watching <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Maddux</span> pitch. He was, simply, a master of his craft. Joe <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Posnanski</span>, one of the finest sportswriters around, <a href="http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/12/06/1260/">recently reminisced</a> about his favorite <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Maddux</span> game, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Posnanski</span> found a way to make a pitch-by-pitch analysis of an 11-year old game exciting.<br /><br />Thanks for everything, Mr. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Maddux</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 85%; color: black;"><br /></span>On to the count...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Set</span>: 14 of 660 (2.1%)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">HOF</span></span>: 4 (+1 with Maddux -- major foreshadowing here)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Former Dodgers</span>: 2 (none)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Future Dodgers</span>: 4 (+1 with Maddux)Eric Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01779194379393056699noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173886142110659820.post-50413311444255081412008-12-07T00:01:00.000-08:002008-12-07T00:01:00.200-08:00Rickey<span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">"Some people asked me did I think Rickey Henderson was a Hall of Famer. I told them, "If you could split him in two, you'd have two Hall of Famers"" -Bill James</span><br /><br />There has never been a baseball player quite like Rickey Henderson. He is the greatest leadoff hitter of all-time, only partially due to the ha</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >voc h</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzKypdN65EOGa-C9U3xJkH87IaW7lcpFAQXpByYS53ISTcmyRUYpxD8ivE1zi4yx0vVSRDo5W8gEL8nzG5lcCdXhAEFVv1T89zdFhyphenhyphen6E_C8wpgDzQi4a_lhLfcX5eJwybB6P9ImSry_n7/s1600-h/228-henderson.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzKypdN65EOGa-C9U3xJkH87IaW7lcpFAQXpByYS53ISTcmyRUYpxD8ivE1zi4yx0vVSRDo5W8gEL8nzG5lcCdXhAEFVv1T89zdFhyphenhyphen6E_C8wpgDzQi4a_lhLfcX5eJwybB6P9ImSry_n7/s320/228-henderson.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275986031236886514" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >e wrought on the basepaths. He hit more HR leading off a game (81) than anyone in history. Nobody else has scored more runs than Henderson (2,295). Only Barry Bonds has more career walks. Rickey has more steals than anyone is history, with a shocking total (1406) 50% higher than the #2 man, Lou Brock. The 468 SB that separates Henderson and Brock is a career stolen base total reached by only 42 players in MLB history.<br /><br />Look at this card. Rickey's </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >confidence is practically leaping through the cardboard. The Yankee logo blends nicely with the interlocking NY on Rickey's jersey. Rickey played with a number of teams, including e</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >nding his unique career with the 2003 Dodgers, but I always think of him an an Oakland Athletic. Yet here is Rickey after his 2nd year with the Yankees. It seems Rickey was destined to be on the big stage in the bright lights on New York City.<br /><br />Rickey's first two years in The Big Apple couldn't have gone much better, at least for him. Thanks to the back of this card, #228 in the set, we note that the 146 runs scored by Rickey in 1985 were the most in MLB since Ted Williams scored 150 in 1949. What I like ab</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >out Rickey's first two Yankee years was that he unleashed the previously unheard of 20/80 season. Prior to Rickey's time as a Yankee, no player had ever combined 20 HR and 70 SB in one season. Rickey blew by that with ease, with back-to-back 24/80 and 28/87 seasons. To this day, only Rickey and Eric Davis have reached the <a href="http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/6rNf">20/80 plateau</a>. I miss those days.<br /><br />Look at the back of Rickey's card, and you will see how Donruss denotes league le</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >aders. At the top right of the stat portion of every card, there is the note that an asterisk "Denotes Led League." I feel bad for normal, run-of-the-mill players who must wonder where their asterisks are. Anyway, outside of leading the league in SB for every season depicted on this card (Rickey would lead the league for <span style="font-weight: bold;">each of the first 12 full seasons</span> of his career, except for <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/reynoha01.shtml">Harold Reynolds</a> in 1987 when Rickey only played 95 games...but still stole 41 bags), the thing that jumped out at me was that Rickey led the league in both steals and walks in 1982 & 1983. I thought this was unique, and in fact it is: the only other player in MLB history to achieve this double duty was <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/careyma01.shtml">Max Carey</a> in 1918 & 1922.<br /><br />Here's the best thing about Rickey: even if he was a horrible baseball player, I would still love him, for a few reasons. First, he always talks in the third person. Rickey this, </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoa3stLejr_3xDJdREyEgDhxBsgocrl9ZXzQquFZN-l0u_TeW_1Ze7rDXkPXy8haiDgCwfAu6U_ijiHj3DFkQxQrRb06FruIGv0eu3oZnqT2JfxBv0Y6-KfkIIVzDnOHCbaYAGWJb3DcM/s1600-h/228-henderson_back.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoa3stLejr_3xDJdREyEgDhxBsgocrl9ZXzQquFZN-l0u_TeW_1Ze7rDXkPXy8haiDgCwfAu6U_ijiHj3DFkQxQrRb06FruIGv0eu3oZnqT2JfxBv0Y6-KfkIIVzDnOHCbaYAGWJb3DcM/s320/228-henderson_back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275986120043492082" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >Rickey that. I love it! Second, there are just too many legendary stories about him. Whether true or untrue, I don't care; I still love the stories. Here are my two favorites:<br /><br />1) Rickey saved the first $1 million dollar check he received from the A's, and framed it on his wall. Later in the season, the club's accounting department noticed a rather large discrepancy in the books. So they called Rickey to see where the check was. Rather than framing a copy, he had kept the original check. He never cashed it!<br /><br />2) On the 2000 Mariners (or perhaps it was the 1999 Mets), Rickey noticed his first baseman wore a helmet while playing in the field. He went up to the helmeted one, who happened to be John Olerud, and said, "you know, I used to play with a guy in Toronto who also wore his helmet in the field." Olerud simply smiled and told Rickey, "that was me."<br /><br />Rickey was born on Christmas Day 1958. Perhaps there has been no better Christmas present ever given to the world than Rickey Henderson.<br /><br /></span>On to the count...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Set</span>: 13 of 660 (2.0%)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">HOF</span></span>: 3 (+1 with Rickey, even though it won't be official until January 7)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Former Dodgers</span>: 2 (none)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Future Dodgers</span>: 3 (+1 with Rickey)Eric Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01779194379393056699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173886142110659820.post-52283068031350039932008-12-05T00:01:00.000-08:002008-12-05T05:31:08.308-08:00USC v. UCLAThis Saturday, the 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span>-ranked <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">USC</span> Trojans will take on their crosstown rivals, the UCLA Bruins, at what will hopefully be the first of two straight games at the Rose Bowl. I didn't attend <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">USC</span>, but I grew up watching them. My brother and uncle both have graduate degrees from the school, so that adds to their appeal. I graduated from UCSD, but since my school has no D-1 sports, my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">fandom</span> of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">USC</span> continued.<br /><br />I am very happy about the decision made by Pete Carroll, to <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-sp-uscfyi2-2008dec02,0,3049298.story">wear cardinal jerseys on the road</a>, meaning the rivalry will feature the reds versus the blues for the first time since 1982.<br /><br />Since this is a rivalry game between the two schools, I figured this would be a good time to pit Trojans against the Bruins from the 1987 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Donruss</span> set.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">USC</span></span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmFXXezl_E391tJGI9Y0jMuS1RwDS_OgHmInRO7WDDkkjqz0E_z1T72yzzAaKo1pUoB31RHt1k7mIdMPfYG3C_LmN-7rpjzaWAHIIc9tSVnlmHiy3j0WgswthFp7vmEkRe0EQAblst7KG/s1600-h/375-seaver.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 144px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmFXXezl_E391tJGI9Y0jMuS1RwDS_OgHmInRO7WDDkkjqz0E_z1T72yzzAaKo1pUoB31RHt1k7mIdMPfYG3C_LmN-7rpjzaWAHIIc9tSVnlmHiy3j0WgswthFp7vmEkRe0EQAblst7KG/s200/375-seaver.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275812255156178114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8Q5cDDxIkkCaP9Bca1jKu6Ms6aqjKJqCkKpGEGvY9eqzC4AOlkyY3pzAZHGsqlCGIAJn99MZ6djIuR3pMCpnsJ32b6iFJhMYzlxuoU485a1LtFSpLlNOEOUAJfoqpn0vOjBjuTpzv5q8/s1600-h/375-seaver_back.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8Q5cDDxIkkCaP9Bca1jKu6Ms6aqjKJqCkKpGEGvY9eqzC4AOlkyY3pzAZHGsqlCGIAJn99MZ6djIuR3pMCpnsJ32b6iFJhMYzlxuoU485a1LtFSpLlNOEOUAJfoqpn0vOjBjuTpzv5q8/s200/375-seaver_back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275812553341199826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tom Se</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">aver</span> - #375: Tom Terrific, the 3-time Cy Young Award winner (he probably could have won a handful more too) and slam dunk Hall of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Famer</span>, is the jewel of this group. I don't know how close the Dodgers came to dealing Don Sutton straight up for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Seaver</span> in 1977, but I can't think of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Seaver</span> without thinking of what might have been in blue. Also, thanks to the back of his 1987 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Donruss</span> card, he was once traded straight up for current Dodger announcer and one-time pants-dropper Steve "Psycho" Lyons!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkNSjKEJ7rRV2NkFcPSyioJXk-weE9bfM38U2teYy-Hcl36D_hlcVG2nHwSAFAjXEq8EoSVzvHRkhmMWlwRnHN_mrYZIQdURQldZhL707pKE0o_XTcyNkcwy6wuH4qbhEU1CPK93z_vQI/s1600-h/46-mcgwire.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 141px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkNSjKEJ7rRV2NkFcPSyioJXk-weE9bfM38U2teYy-Hcl36D_hlcVG2nHwSAFAjXEq8EoSVzvHRkhmMWlwRnHN_mrYZIQdURQldZhL707pKE0o_XTcyNkcwy6wuH4qbhEU1CPK93z_vQI/s200/46-mcgwire.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275812562574398834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-IwMo10jWSz32Z5Qu_vydwIB_OPtuSDkbpprvBslGc1UW2W9GPHOrxH9f7BEXvTPZOToad_P7r_KfKxTxWpls6M61K7dBlaxq8-ottP7vt5lD89X31gC8orc_3wXFGqKmgFvwUF638hYP/s1600-h/46-mcgwire_back.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 135px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-IwMo10jWSz32Z5Qu_vydwIB_OPtuSDkbpprvBslGc1UW2W9GPHOrxH9f7BEXvTPZOToad_P7r_KfKxTxWpls6M61K7dBlaxq8-ottP7vt5lD89X31gC8orc_3wXFGqKmgFvwUF638hYP/s200/46-mcgwire_back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275812565228147090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mark <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">McGwire</span></span> - #46: Who knows if Big Mac will ever see the Hall of Fame (I personally would vote for him), but in this card he has the look of a man about to shatter the rookie record for HR.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDZmgjsCi8Bgj5PB6ZzqXcXwOGu2jaSg_kganc9hHLx0QKY7KAP1_ts6W48VDJdTAkYJrUD0u4Jtt6Ldi3YLm3Y3MxIWWE94tr23YBQaYo8dE3mbkGLwbUqEw0IJOyM0D8ZEyYtbbQslq/s1600-h/425-kingman.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 142px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDZmgjsCi8Bgj5PB6ZzqXcXwOGu2jaSg_kganc9hHLx0QKY7KAP1_ts6W48VDJdTAkYJrUD0u4Jtt6Ldi3YLm3Y3MxIWWE94tr23YBQaYo8dE3mbkGLwbUqEw0IJOyM0D8ZEyYtbbQslq/s200/425-kingman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275813432240153634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrT4n1WVpoSg7GrOK2aaJU10aYQT244-jWHMDyTXT5kKNqqhekO98LPFkRJmiYkdavfI0UThPH6WTM8waeuScqgx3B4KacGnCHh0YmdPo5o7i8SGg0dKrz_LoYV_P7ganYHVRLwu5C_Lk/s1600-h/425-kingman_back.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrT4n1WVpoSg7GrOK2aaJU10aYQT244-jWHMDyTXT5kKNqqhekO98LPFkRJmiYkdavfI0UThPH6WTM8waeuScqgx3B4KacGnCHh0YmdPo5o7i8SGg0dKrz_LoYV_P7ganYHVRLwu5C_Lk/s200/425-kingman_back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275813437160213970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dave <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Kingman</span></span> - #425: For a one-dimensional <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">basher</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Kingman</span> sure hit a lot of bombs. He hit 35 HR in what would be his final <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">MLB</span> season in 1986. Ask Tommy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Lasorda</span> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPx327SbBQ0">what he thought of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Kingman</span></a> (skip to about the 1:23 mark).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_A21hruFuq0O6uH8iNR4Xhwp2CkHdYE5WJxSNk0EJSKAw_A5b8Yzrteh3amyrMGdyItFDA1FU-ByZ2HAyTl46ABoCl1bulW38jnDzpUO_66X5ZSlnTFS91vvPbM-0Vi-lh1R9Rb4-u0-n/s1600-h/108-lynn.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 144px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_A21hruFuq0O6uH8iNR4Xhwp2CkHdYE5WJxSNk0EJSKAw_A5b8Yzrteh3amyrMGdyItFDA1FU-ByZ2HAyTl46ABoCl1bulW38jnDzpUO_66X5ZSlnTFS91vvPbM-0Vi-lh1R9Rb4-u0-n/s200/108-lynn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275812899083858146" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFiCD3G2cWD30sL0ASZ8WNBvTmaKUTGFdKOkIr70P8JczCIgxPuAZP0kYk6DRQ1cdeRMy8NePxpoQeTCbXHmqgmS8PjdtBLvTDK5bGgH8DJ85VeoRyZznRLSdNuG0aldolElUUOtfGpdMJ/s1600-h/108-lynn_back.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFiCD3G2cWD30sL0ASZ8WNBvTmaKUTGFdKOkIr70P8JczCIgxPuAZP0kYk6DRQ1cdeRMy8NePxpoQeTCbXHmqgmS8PjdtBLvTDK5bGgH8DJ85VeoRyZznRLSdNuG0aldolElUUOtfGpdMJ/s200/108-lynn_back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275812901889360802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fred Lynn</span> - #108: Growing up, when I thought of Fred Lynn I always thought of his HR off of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Atlee</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Hammaker</span> in the <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ALS/ALS198307060.shtml">1983 All-Star game</a>. Upon further review, he was a very good to great player. I go back and forth on this, but you could make a case he was the best of the 3 young outfielders that guided the 1975 Red <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Sox</span> to the World Series. That had to be the <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/shareit/mMru">best young OF of all time</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">UCLA</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_Ezj9CcCpXfaGplMJiIUk9vKQ7TByLQv-oMBO7WOO8FNFTZRbTFrP4-g70mNIaRzpM73AI3kTKh5_pnh_Ku1T8dIMUv0r0ox_nBr7cjiP6gs_O1j13ToTNUyNUsMPKxvnC0y1v-27NiS/s1600-h/232-leary.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 144px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_Ezj9CcCpXfaGplMJiIUk9vKQ7TByLQv-oMBO7WOO8FNFTZRbTFrP4-g70mNIaRzpM73AI3kTKh5_pnh_Ku1T8dIMUv0r0ox_nBr7cjiP6gs_O1j13ToTNUyNUsMPKxvnC0y1v-27NiS/s200/232-leary.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275813173105663682" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJuBhSkKQg3IrwUaYCfefuHPIijrIV36blGhNdRmyiRq4vS2D6Ej3QTKY0w09PEd-BWjGLWO3qq36YcpcB7qkGFnDDymzh9izu-Tc-yIINUFYHIUoAsNCLLjF_I-srY7VAk4hOqs9mkyb/s1600-h/232-leary_back.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJuBhSkKQg3IrwUaYCfefuHPIijrIV36blGhNdRmyiRq4vS2D6Ej3QTKY0w09PEd-BWjGLWO3qq36YcpcB7qkGFnDDymzh9izu-Tc-yIINUFYHIUoAsNCLLjF_I-srY7VAk4hOqs9mkyb/s200/232-leary_back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275813181931082610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tim Leary</span> - #232: Leary will always have a special place in my heart for winning 17 games for the 1988 Dodgers, my favorite baseball team of all-time. He will be remembered for two memorable performances: 1) his 9<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">th</span>-inning, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN198808130.shtml">pinch single to beat the Giants</a> in August 1988; and 2) his 3 innings of shutout relief in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, keeping the Dodgers in the game before...well, you know.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5b7tMGszbb9fBUn9adkrDhgYZAURm8xBLBSZqO-5zpzWreRQmwRn5VHOuSAj2mZoBqKQm1-IWolL9bcNxp63Co16wza0gbyOQTdjqYXAwmUZEByROudtRaYWJCR095Z72HCgnj7HoPNVI/s1600-h/412-roenicke.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 145px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5b7tMGszbb9fBUn9adkrDhgYZAURm8xBLBSZqO-5zpzWreRQmwRn5VHOuSAj2mZoBqKQm1-IWolL9bcNxp63Co16wza0gbyOQTdjqYXAwmUZEByROudtRaYWJCR095Z72HCgnj7HoPNVI/s200/412-roenicke.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275813431038500658" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjWlD5OLeM77WiFYEr77lpSnXhfISIHm8ghH275CK-KZvzDWFctY476b4dqBaI7B3hyZJqGgyzuLJFH1wDjuAKfZzPtdIQlu4qvNph6ddGCJ0lnWt-pICiJh4KrOVmCuyKMKoaodRENKV/s1600-h/412-roenicke_back.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjWlD5OLeM77WiFYEr77lpSnXhfISIHm8ghH275CK-KZvzDWFctY476b4dqBaI7B3hyZJqGgyzuLJFH1wDjuAKfZzPtdIQlu4qvNph6ddGCJ0lnWt-pICiJh4KrOVmCuyKMKoaodRENKV/s200/412-roenicke_back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275813431626928290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ron <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Roenicke</span></span> - #412: He got a ring with the 1981 Dodgers, and he had his best career game in 1986 against LA, getting 4 hits and a HR in a <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI198606020.shtml">June game</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJ1tnZFHY7cqQZNLWRKqlGFXdXRGfJT0UmGkwUlR0M8qqz0cn7neaVwwjrC03PHOaZdU1XKr7lHzgKrMfXu5BcxqwOXAFzhvlbsTUEoipagJrOLtRaM3YCmZvvxWxLpXGwsSV3NA85WBP/s1600-h/44-dodson.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 146px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJ1tnZFHY7cqQZNLWRKqlGFXdXRGfJT0UmGkwUlR0M8qqz0cn7neaVwwjrC03PHOaZdU1XKr7lHzgKrMfXu5BcxqwOXAFzhvlbsTUEoipagJrOLtRaM3YCmZvvxWxLpXGwsSV3NA85WBP/s200/44-dodson.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275812559019963106" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qIAjqEZuJQA7HUC7AF4rOQvHzlbwsbidKujkcWyOcbxcef-YlikDRsc1CdgYhPOh_IApiq7H02ZFjvC_2pSoUSj_GE54bSSzn3_V_NMFGEJPWCKR7k4ZjB8ZcvcxRJgQFGz0gldx2s4p/s1600-h/44-dodson_back.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qIAjqEZuJQA7HUC7AF4rOQvHzlbwsbidKujkcWyOcbxcef-YlikDRsc1CdgYhPOh_IApiq7H02ZFjvC_2pSoUSj_GE54bSSzn3_V_NMFGEJPWCKR7k4ZjB8ZcvcxRJgQFGz0gldx2s4p/s200/44-dodson_back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275812556186970322" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pat Dodson</span> - #44: Unlike his fellow "Rated Rookie" 1B <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">McGwire</span>, Dodson didn't do much in the majors.<br /><br /> <table str="" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 428px; height: 162px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><col style="width: 62pt;" width="83"> <col style="width: 162pt;" width="216"> <tbody><tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl22" style="height: 12.75pt; width: 62pt; font-weight: bold;" width="83" height="17"><br /></td> <td style="width: 162pt; font-weight: bold;" width="216">Dodson</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl22" style="height: 12.75pt; font-weight: bold;" num="" height="17">1986</td> <td>.417/.533/.833, 265 OPS+</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl22" style="height: 12.75pt; font-weight: bold;" height="17">Post-1986</td> <td>.172/.282/.368, 73 OPS+, 3 HR</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl22" style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"><br /></td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl22" style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"><br /></td> <td style="font-weight: bold;">McGwire</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl22" style="height: 12.75pt; font-weight: bold;" num="" height="17">1986</td> <td>.189/.259/.377, 77 OPS+</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl22" style="height: 12.75pt; font-weight: bold;" height="17">Post-1986</td> <td>.263/.395/.590, 163 OPS+, 580 HR</td> </tr> </tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkdZ45P7TLskKzkAFkBXZAjf6YsCbApKHe8lKgEKluEZochdXJCfFl1rGn4QgMySx_O-SZ5cQEeIQBUaLAM2LGsOU4BdpQ9yLanc8UkZ_nW8EyG8u4zZPCoB-lfwB_OoF1tGMzZSq5Pp6/s1600-h/136-slaught.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 144px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkdZ45P7TLskKzkAFkBXZAjf6YsCbApKHe8lKgEKluEZochdXJCfFl1rGn4QgMySx_O-SZ5cQEeIQBUaLAM2LGsOU4BdpQ9yLanc8UkZ_nW8EyG8u4zZPCoB-lfwB_OoF1tGMzZSq5Pp6/s200/136-slaught.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275812904347348354" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjS0a4X4_fB0dpSDtQXzDKHlgEZCZpXnqihg8XkO26JnFLDOpqmNcOI0B5_VdG9s1bILvmfJ_vfQRlMk8ADZY8Sue7NaHgIPa5RYSRW__cLdfEUILopSoIfg3hi7PHfW-inEt6N-QsTvWP/s1600-h/136-slaught_back.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjS0a4X4_fB0dpSDtQXzDKHlgEZCZpXnqihg8XkO26JnFLDOpqmNcOI0B5_VdG9s1bILvmfJ_vfQRlMk8ADZY8Sue7NaHgIPa5RYSRW__cLdfEUILopSoIfg3hi7PHfW-inEt6N-QsTvWP/s200/136-slaught_back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275812905353905474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Don <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Slaught</span></span> - #136: Thanks to the thoroughness of the folks at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Donruss</span> (or Leaf, Inc.), we find out that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Slaught</span> was involved in a 4-team trade in January 1985 with Tim Leary. While Leary went from the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Mets</span> to the Brewers, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Slaught</span> was sent from the Royals to the Rangers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRenzsam0RCkBVXLiRDxFh0wo4voXKy6HVqYOxFAqhYQOHm0DzViVNzdexWZkTB1odLlS_Zm8ehyhoggvOuhTqnV663yQCAf3Hs5Y4mf12-9r4U8XoQNAAmDY9WYukteO3oLMesWmx64jO/s1600-h/390-clements.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRenzsam0RCkBVXLiRDxFh0wo4voXKy6HVqYOxFAqhYQOHm0DzViVNzdexWZkTB1odLlS_Zm8ehyhoggvOuhTqnV663yQCAf3Hs5Y4mf12-9r4U8XoQNAAmDY9WYukteO3oLMesWmx64jO/s200/390-clements.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275813177926217170" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_cvkJAcnD6LvkJi2i0t_ILVjp7G2X5PF3tf02ZJmDBLrSdAiWMP4LPP2uJb5BQeJattKCYUh2wiu34kKzhjhf-fe6FEql8-ncWNul3vhPEj7Oscf4JYC1kYxNCNNS6DnFEjFKOAYd78y/s1600-h/390-clements_back.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_cvkJAcnD6LvkJi2i0t_ILVjp7G2X5PF3tf02ZJmDBLrSdAiWMP4LPP2uJb5BQeJattKCYUh2wiu34kKzhjhf-fe6FEql8-ncWNul3vhPEj7Oscf4JYC1kYxNCNNS6DnFEjFKOAYd78y/s200/390-clements_back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275813186772145554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pat Clements</span> - #390: Yet another sweet Pirates hat! Clements, a career reliever (only 2 of his 288 appearances were starts), ended up with a 17-11 career record (a nice .607 winning %), but was 0-6 as a Pirate. Maybe the hat didn't suit him.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSficUIn9iLAMNtMbPUNQfBGbZzrOz7gc8LMB8bnrBi1HpbS3OxzAdiHneugicBzCEVbAJJE7OWSDnEw2ZE_btEgoJOwJBK8m7Xf8kOSTf5DjyD4F8qKJHnjfRzsM6n6a6E-9Ae-5ky0b/s1600-h/182-schmidt.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 144px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSficUIn9iLAMNtMbPUNQfBGbZzrOz7gc8LMB8bnrBi1HpbS3OxzAdiHneugicBzCEVbAJJE7OWSDnEw2ZE_btEgoJOwJBK8m7Xf8kOSTf5DjyD4F8qKJHnjfRzsM6n6a6E-9Ae-5ky0b/s200/182-schmidt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275812913332926994" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPM63v8P28wRHYc1nVEJOKgc_BezUPCqpqDU18mACAg___sJfE_6KlxEPg4BVUCjeNkHaISYDCy2cqIhM4SSlBEQuQZid-Uztk90sQdeDN6Cd9zPlPhZmFrWNsMhh7D7z-jjOCMMNDiwEm/s1600-h/182-schmidt_back.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPM63v8P28wRHYc1nVEJOKgc_BezUPCqpqDU18mACAg___sJfE_6KlxEPg4BVUCjeNkHaISYDCy2cqIhM4SSlBEQuQZid-Uztk90sQdeDN6Cd9zPlPhZmFrWNsMhh7D7z-jjOCMMNDiwEm/s200/182-schmidt_back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275813169641316706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dave Schmidt</span> - #182: Schmidt wasn't a bad pitcher. In fact, only seven pitchers in the 1980s had more 100 ERA+ seasons than the <a href="http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/VCXP">eight produced by Schmidt</a> (in the first 8 seasons of his career).<br /><br />If we look at this as a competition, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">USC</span> easily takes the cake, quality over quantity. The four <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">USC</span> players above combined for 33 all-star appearances, 3 Cy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Youngs</span>, 1 MVP (and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">McGwire</span> should have won over Sosa in 1998), and 1 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">HOF</span> (perhaps one day a 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">nd</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">McGwire)</span>. The six Bruins, however, combined for a big goose egg.<br /><br />Back to football, my prediction for Saturday is that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">USC</span> will win 41-3.<br /><br />On to the count...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Set</span>: 12 of 660 (1.8%)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">HOF</span></span>: 2 (+1 with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">Seaver</span>)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Former Dodgers</span>: 2 (+1 with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">Roenicke</span>)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Future Dodgers</span>: 2 (+1 with Leary)Eric Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01779194379393056699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173886142110659820.post-80179534455494740852008-12-04T18:43:00.000-08:002009-02-09T08:37:00.249-08:00"The Infield"I'm trying to collect every regular issue <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Topps</span> card of "The Infield," the Dodger foursome of Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell, and Ron <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Cey</span>. You might recognize them from the great <a href="http://garveyceyrusselllopes.blogspot.com/">Garvey <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Cey</span> Russell Lopes</a> blog.<br /><br />For my collection of these guys, even the non-Dodger cards are cool. As you can see, I don't need any 1980 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Topps</span> cards of this group. Here are the holes in my collection (all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Topps</span>, unless otherwise indicated):<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOhX7I9cKeSMPu2-ddydl1ocjAbTtkizrUYhB9bbdMxvM3BFG8gOVdXE8K_HSB9h6tpoYCgUA_jDjuY-vlWGckv-VmiVvvbue6u6Uaw93OwVqWn1pmK5XoI1rG1jYb2m9dIKKO5_fEqZ1/s1600-h/garvey80.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 148px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOhX7I9cKeSMPu2-ddydl1ocjAbTtkizrUYhB9bbdMxvM3BFG8gOVdXE8K_HSB9h6tpoYCgUA_jDjuY-vlWGckv-VmiVvvbue6u6Uaw93OwVqWn1pmK5XoI1rG1jYb2m9dIKKO5_fEqZ1/s200/garvey80.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276138623386244450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Steve Garvey</span><br />1985 #450<br />1984 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Donruss</span> #63<br />1982 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Fleer</span> #5<br />1984 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Fleer</span> #300<br />1985 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Fleer</span> #32<br />1986 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Fleer</span> #321<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_7b02HfDBDJYSTBJjVLuheHPOzuwl7-JZw7XJzvGUkDF65PUAW3ec1Aq2xe1ILYympMgcFxUx6dS5jYXxHncnCDiV8HtqFIoesLKowjqDSSWu8rTy-z5Ssa4dvmKImTc4j2yemqLge0o/s1600-h/lopes80.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 142px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_7b02HfDBDJYSTBJjVLuheHPOzuwl7-JZw7XJzvGUkDF65PUAW3ec1Aq2xe1ILYympMgcFxUx6dS5jYXxHncnCDiV8HtqFIoesLKowjqDSSWu8rTy-z5Ssa4dvmKImTc4j2yemqLge0o/s200/lopes80.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276138628262120226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Davey L</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">op</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">es</span><br />1985 #12<br />1987 #445<br />1988 #226<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVMcPJZbYJnH0XEIiUKk-EjLvYlIE14ilT9WxLMhliWSVK2RJQf_BPSyNjzM5iB_k0oPYq7MEKZwj3rP8ZdEsG1a_PYSZNxVwDKSdr9im0D6NI2ka-jJIPGmh5H03Xs2pe6ViZhdnid8A/s1600-h/russell80.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 141px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVMcPJZbYJnH0XEIiUKk-EjLvYlIE14ilT9WxLMhliWSVK2RJQf_BPSyNjzM5iB_k0oPYq7MEKZwj3rP8ZdEsG1a_PYSZNxVwDKSdr9im0D6NI2ka-jJIPGmh5H03Xs2pe6ViZhdnid8A/s200/russell80.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276138625588140402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bill Russell</span><br />1972 #736<br />1975 #23<br />1983 #661<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9Js6KSAHt5ZvM6YkhCqcwFsvGLgrxySC0uHj9F-EghtiTEgIm53C_6TFPPjusfZA52ejZsBO9eovKQzG8Ow_k8jKbvP75tn0ukIVrE6N5p7bHIIGSAzOEdcYJYFP2QIUoAY3qwevTvZB/s1600-h/cey80.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 144px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9Js6KSAHt5ZvM6YkhCqcwFsvGLgrxySC0uHj9F-EghtiTEgIm53C_6TFPPjusfZA52ejZsBO9eovKQzG8Ow_k8jKbvP75tn0ukIVrE6N5p7bHIIGSAzOEdcYJYFP2QIUoAY3qwevTvZB/s200/cey80.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276138619038508130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ron <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Cey</span></span><br />1972 #761<br />1973 #615 (the one with Mike Schmidt, darn it)<br />1984 #357<br />1987 #767<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />If you have any of these, please email me at <a href="mailto:ericdstephen@gmail.com">ericdstephen@gmail.com</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">UPDATE</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">: I would have used pictures of 1987 Donruss cards -- that is the subject of this blog, after all -- but only Lopes and Garvey had cards in this set. Cey and Russell both had 1987 cards in the Topps and Fleer sets though.</span>Eric Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01779194379393056699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173886142110659820.post-62585975175674239462008-12-04T00:01:00.000-08:002008-12-04T00:01:01.354-08:00This R.J. Reynolds Does Not Cause CancerHow unfortunate is it that Robert<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfEz4GCRAqKTnHh6VtX5AYVw2IGmxleo-iW6DZ_zBdvYCJ2HM8_36HbXrSz-P86NUUTDKtyM6FKhGIdyQ3VjTrmsSucftxUQuY8wYsAd_seUnu9vxySCTF0x-pdaTz39CAy32V6AOskvn/s1600-h/65-reynolds.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfEz4GCRAqKTnHh6VtX5AYVw2IGmxleo-iW6DZ_zBdvYCJ2HM8_36HbXrSz-P86NUUTDKtyM6FKhGIdyQ3VjTrmsSucftxUQuY8wYsAd_seUnu9vxySCTF0x-pdaTz39CAy32V6AOskvn/s320/65-reynolds.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275643714680461026" border="0" /></a> James Reynolds shared a name with a prominent tobacco company? I always felt bad for him because of that. But you don't get to choose your names. Both of my parents died of cancer, each brought on by 30+ years of smoking, so perhaps I would be more likely to not go by the name R.J. Reynolds if it were my choice. I would certainly want to change my name, or at least go by Robert, Rob, or even Bobby, but then again who am I to tell R.J. what his name should be?<br /><br />R.J. Reynolds' 1987 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Donruss</span> card, #65 in the set, is classic for a couple of reasons. First, look at the glorious majesty of that classic Pirates' hat! The renegade mentality in the refusal to wear normal caps is fitting for a team called the Pirates. I really should buy this hat. It doesn't get much better than that.<br /><br />On the front of this card, as is the case with almost all 660 cards of this set (the first 27 cards -- Diamond Kings and the checklist -- are different), <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Donruss</span> not only has the logo but also "87", as to not confuse its customers. Personally, I like this as a quirk, even though a savvy collector should be able to look at the card design and immediately deduce the year and brand. Maybe <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Donruss</span> saw the competition in 1987 and decided it simply couldn't compete with <a href="http://nixagamemaster.com/images/bball%20pics%201%20029%20%282%29.JPG">wood paneling</a>.<br /><br />Even though there is a slight scowl on his face, Reynolds surely was happy to escape the bench in Los Angeles. 1986 marked a career high in many categories (plate appearances, runs, hits, doubles, HR, RBI, walks, slugging percentage, and OPS+) for Mr. Reynolds. He even started the year as the Pirates' regular <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">leadoff</span> hitter, and for the first two months of the season hit mostly first or second in the lineup, until the Pirates decided on <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/bondsba01.shtml">some kid from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ASU</span></a> in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">leadoff</span> spot at the end of May.<br /><br />Perhaps Reynolds isn't happy in his picture on the front of this card because he knows his best baseball moment was already behind him. On September 11, 1983, Reynolds delivered a squeeze bunt to cap a 4-run 9<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">th</span> inning rally to <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN198309110.shtml">beat the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Brav</span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0N1Z4W4klk-pzjqukon_YRrON86h3LZ7EtTPgDjg2OM4mIPchfUxahhv50vczPIthpYhWTaYnEEBoHUx7tgabvzb-qAhy7F0cWN8l1fC87XshqJ5u88JrWhaj6gh2zeYoeQbzMF1-8emZ/s1600-h/65-reynolds_back.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0N1Z4W4klk-pzjqukon_YRrON86h3LZ7EtTPgDjg2OM4mIPchfUxahhv50vczPIthpYhWTaYnEEBoHUx7tgabvzb-qAhy7F0cWN8l1fC87XshqJ5u88JrWhaj6gh2zeYoeQbzMF1-8emZ/s320/65-reynolds_back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275643999146643842" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN198309110.shtml">es</a> in a heated pennant race. This amazing game, perhaps the 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">nd</span> greatest regular season game in Dodger Stadium history, has been <a href="http://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/798063.html">chronicled eloquently</a> by Jon <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Weisman</span> on the amazing Dodger Thoughts website on numerous occasions.<br /><br />Reynolds came to Pittsburgh in September 1985, along with Cecil Espy and future pennant-winning run-scoring speedster Sid Bream, in a 3-for-1 trade for 3B Bill <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Madlock</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Madlock</span>, a 4-time batting champion, hit .360/.422/.447 down the stretch for the Dodgers, helping them win the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">NL</span> West.<br /><br />On to the count...<br /><br />The Set: 2 of 660 (0.3%)<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">HOF</span>: 1<br /><br />Former Dodgers: 1 (+1 with Reynolds)<br /><br />Future Dodgers: 1Eric Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01779194379393056699noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173886142110659820.post-27632455226419657142008-12-03T08:14:00.000-08:002008-12-03T11:30:11.168-08:00My FavoriteI recently re-entered the baseball card collecting game, after an absence of over 15 years. I have discovered some outstanding websites dedicated to the hobby, most notably the wonderful <a href="http://cardboardgods.baseballtoaster.com/">Cardboard Gods</a> (featuring the mind-blowing prose of Josh <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Wilker</span>). However, the purpose of this blog is to relive the joy of my youth.<br /><br />Inspired by the card-by-card review of both the <a href="http://88topps.blogspot.com/">1988 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Topps</span></a> and <a href="http://78topps.blogspot.com/">1978 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Topps</span></a> blogs, I decided that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. However, I could not decide which set to review. That is, until I was going through some old photos and discovered a photo of Christmas 1986.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0ErVVPBeL807DrU4a3QhqPIfDQdZNFnQ_fzINr2USTEsjeqmoqAEgxOSwb8Hlty_JN9WkR-gb59ECuOnPUtTP8qZOks3IfbJ8Xh35LgzpUVLq2jvIvuNkg_id50j8E8XyLkoKhIdbzTS/s1600-h/xmas1986.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0ErVVPBeL807DrU4a3QhqPIfDQdZNFnQ_fzINr2USTEsjeqmoqAEgxOSwb8Hlty_JN9WkR-gb59ECuOnPUtTP8qZOks3IfbJ8Xh35LgzpUVLq2jvIvuNkg_id50j8E8XyLkoKhIdbzTS/s320/xmas1986.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275604380415414866" border="0" /></a><br />There I am, all of 11 years old, wearing some classic 1980s-style short shorts, opening what was without a doubt my most prized holiday gift, a box of 1987 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Donruss</span> cards. That, folks, is what we call a sign.<br /><br />I do plan to review every single card of this set, all 660 of them. How<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1vAbWJ3DeIIHWpqTDv5s0q1R0n9QcnNBbm5pgDD8JjieiANaTuQtpcMVoI5MlA3kw7Mue1UPDSRdz-nQrfT4FWRxMIzoLNSX8tqkQCo5LWveMMFhxBmUMbk84ARd1ASSw-3J5eyUK314/s1600-h/48-murray.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1vAbWJ3DeIIHWpqTDv5s0q1R0n9QcnNBbm5pgDD8JjieiANaTuQtpcMVoI5MlA3kw7Mue1UPDSRdz-nQrfT4FWRxMIzoLNSX8tqkQCo5LWveMMFhxBmUMbk84ARd1ASSw-3J5eyUK314/s320/48-murray.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275611956925569010" border="0" /></a>ever, I don't want to fall into the formulaic trap of going in numerical order. Sometimes I will pick cards at random, sometimes I will pick cards based on newsworthy items or whatever happens to be spinning inside my head at the time.<br /><br />For the initial card review, I had to choose my all-time favorite player: Eddie Clarence Murray, card #48. Back in 1987, Eddie wasn't yet my favorite player. It was probably Fernando Valenzuela or Pedro Guerrero, maybe even Orel <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Hershiser</span>. Because, you see, I am a Dodger fan. I always appreciated Murray from afar, but didn't fully embrace his greatness until 1989 when he donned an LA cap.<br /><br />The design of the 1987 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Donruss</span> card is a classic design, kind of a grown-up version of their previous six sets. There is simple design with an understated trim/background of baseballs. The front of this card is great, too, as it captures Murray in a smile. Murray wasn't exactly known, at least by reporters, as a joyous fellow, so it's always nice to see a smile, or at least a grin.<br /><br />One thing I love about the back of the 1987 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Donruss</span> cards is that each player's contract status was displayed. Salary wasn't disclosed of course, but this was a wonderful piece of information anyway. Thanks to <a href="http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/cover/featured/9059/index.htm">Sports Illustrated</a> in April 1987, I learned <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">th</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRakm1cEkBTo3EkHG1d9sLI_MAGEpgm30iSLdSCxjvfIHKl2tR5w8LTpg55FRrDxEw4c8f2pEiGZnF056RBpfnFsIsaWqFqs77mNPpYJ1TOu6wFaVWtVrsfQu63T3Yf08Ez4Jp4Cc-tTt/s1600-h/48-murray_back.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRakm1cEkBTo3EkHG1d9sLI_MAGEpgm30iSLdSCxjvfIHKl2tR5w8LTpg55FRrDxEw4c8f2pEiGZnF056RBpfnFsIsaWqFqs77mNPpYJ1TOu6wFaVWtVrsfQu63T3Yf08Ez4Jp4Cc-tTt/s320/48-murray_back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275612294671245586" border="0" /></a>at Murray was the highest paid player in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">MLB</span> in 1987, at $2.46m. That April 20, 1987 issue was amazing, as the salary of every major <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">leaguer</span> was displayed. In the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">pre</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">internet</span> era (we didn't have access to the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">outstanding</span> <a href="http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/">Cot's Baseball Contracts</a> for almost two decades).<br /><br />Another staple of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Donruss</span> cards of the 1980s was only displaying the previous 5 years of stats, instead of the entire careers shown on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Topps</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Fleer</span>. I'll talk about this in future posts, but I kind of liked this because the stats were more readable. I have never had vision problems, but some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Topps</span> cards required a magnifying glass. Anyway, in the 1982-1986 period covered on the back of this card, Murray had the <a href="http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/XtgP">4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">th</span> best OPS+</a> (151) in baseball, and was also <a href="http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/sV98">4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">th</span> in HR</a> (142) and <a href="http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/VH8c">3rd in RBI</a> (539).<br /><br />Let's get a count going, that will appear on each post going forward:<br /><br />The Set: 1 of 660 (0.2%)<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">HOF</span> Count: 1<br /><br />Former Dodgers: 0<br /><br />Future Dodgers: 1Eric Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01779194379393056699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8173886142110659820.post-22276206297648856162008-12-01T00:00:00.000-08:002009-02-08T20:47:48.979-08:001977 Topps - Want ListIn my attempt to complete every regular issue Topps set of my lifetime (1976-present), I am a mere 20 cards away from completing the 1977 set, modeled here by Dodger starter Burt Hooton.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIkZ6fy4RBhA-cLVbaqEsAB3wd0ZCjZafyRDRVpLQmfrr8swoknHs7WqqeKcbNkm8X_w75p9oqDQtqMjgnhpGMea0bXewSbZ1dXOkvMySGwti09nAdG_oMQ8UGIMB5e_lwADQpQhSmFfq/s1600-h/1977topps.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 137px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIkZ6fy4RBhA-cLVbaqEsAB3wd0ZCjZafyRDRVpLQmfrr8swoknHs7WqqeKcbNkm8X_w75p9oqDQtqMjgnhpGMea0bXewSbZ1dXOkvMySGwti09nAdG_oMQ8UGIMB5e_lwADQpQhSmFfq/s200/1977topps.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275787556971102050" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzQ6k8d0MHJX-AcR5YhLyJ72uoE0VaxfKaeDFHqo64-t94lxSid9J22rqgKyli1aur839SvuSS7qA74-Lx5omxZNYT71JlzX6_Zbxi7Wh2_OtCKK3ykRmdHVIaw51qVZq29w9Gaj0xAW5/s1600-h/1977topps_back.jpg"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzQ6k8d0MHJX-AcR5YhLyJ72uoE0VaxfKaeDFHqo64-t94lxSid9J22rqgKyli1aur839SvuSS7qA74-Lx5omxZNYT71JlzX6_Zbxi7Wh2_OtCKK3ykRmdHVIaw51qVZq29w9Gaj0xAW5/s200/1977topps_back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275787675980844946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>Here are the cards I need. I am not concerned about the condition of the cards. To paraphrase Billy Beane, I'm not selling blue jeans here. Feel free to email me at <a href="mailto:ericdstephen@gmail.com">ericdstephen@gmail.com</a> to suggest any trades.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">UPDATE: Thanks to the wonderful </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://garveyceyrusselllopes.blogspot.com/">Garvey Cey Russell Lopes blog</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">, I now only need 13 cards to complete this set!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">UPDATE #2: Thanks to the Indiana Jon</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">, I now only need 7 cards to complete this set!</span><br /><br />2 - Nettles/Schmidt HR Leaders<br /><strike style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">4 - Lopes/North SB Leaders</strike><br />51 - Alex Grammas<br /><strike style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">70 - Johnny Bench</strike><br /><strike style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">146 - Dusty Baker</strike><br /><strike style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">152 - Gaylord Perry</strike><br />265 - Mark Fidrych<br /><strike style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">276 - AL Championship</strike><br /><strike style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">277 - NL Championship</strike><br /><strike style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">285 - Brooks Robinson</strike><br />287 - Reds Team Card (Sparky Anderson)<br /><strike style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">319 - Rich Gossage</strike><br />345 - Reggie Smith<br /><strike style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">359 - Willie Randolph</strike><br />412 - Johnny Bench / World Series<br /><strike style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">450 - Pete Rose</strike><br /><strike style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">488 - Rookie OF (Jack Clark)</strike><br /><strike style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">490 - Rookie SS</strike><br /><strike style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">491 - Rookie P (El Presidente)</strike><br />518 - Cubs Team Card (Herman Franks)Eric Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01779194379393056699noreply@blogger.com1