My First Cards

Blogging The 1982 Topps Baseball Card Set

Danny Darwin

March 10, 2010 @ 11:10 pm

Danny Darwin's 1982 Topps card, thumbnail

Danny Darwin played for 8 teams in a 21 year career, and in 1982 he was possibly the single reason the Texas Rangers didn’t lose 100 games.

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Mark Belanger

March 9, 2010 @ 3:38 pm

Mark Belanger's 1982 Topps card, thumbnail

To me, this is one of the worst cards in the whole set. Mark Belanger, known for his glove for a generation, and this card shows him…standing at the plate. Sad. Although, he got a hit in his final career PA. He wasn’t even an Oriole anymore, by the time ‘82 began.

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Ron Davis, ‘81 Highlight

March 4, 2010 @ 4:55 pm

Ron Davis, ‘81 Highlight's 1982 Topps card, thumbnail

Reliever Ron Davis was on fire when he took the mound in Anaheim on May 4, 1981. Nobody could hit him, and from the photo on this card, you can understand why. He looks like he’s going to beat up anyone who dares step up to the plate next. That’s rather intimidating.

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John Verhoeven

March 3, 2010 @ 5:02 pm

John Verhoeven's 1982 Topps card, thumbnail

John Verhoeven was 28, when he became the last Twins pitcher for another 28 years to throw pitches outdoors in a home game. He didn’t have much of a career, but he had some fun while he was a major leaguer.

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Bob Boone

March 2, 2010 @ 2:18 am

Bob Boone's 1982 Topps card, thumbnail

Bought from Philadelphia for $300,000 in late ‘81, Bob Boone became a very important part of the why the Angels won the AL West in ‘82.

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Dan Ford

February 24, 2010 @ 9:27 pm

Dan Ford's 1982 Topps card, thumbnail

“Disco Dan” Ford was traded to the Orioles in January ‘82 and proceeded to have the worst season of his career up to that point. Very disappointing to Baltimore fans, since Dan was hailed as a star slugger who’d be the bulk of the offense.

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Gary Hancock

February 4, 2010 @ 10:34 pm

Gary Hancock's 1982 Topps card, thumbnail

Is Gary Hancock standing there disgusted with you and turning his nose up like a bratty rich sissy, or is he lookin’ off daydreaming of having a better career? Considering he only played 11 games in ‘82, he’s probably daydreaming…

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Jerry Reuss

January 31, 2010 @ 5:38 pm

Jerry Reuss's 1982 Topps card, thumbnail

Opening day starter for the ‘82 Dodgers, Jerry Reuss, played a key part of the team’s pitching staff late in the season during a slump to help Los Angeles make a push for the playoffs. Most everyone knows about his near perfecto in ‘80 in Candlestick, but did you know he nearly threw a perfect game against the Reds this season?

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New York Yankees Future Stars

January 29, 2010 @ 3:06 pm

New York Yankees Future Stars's 1982 Topps card, thumbnail

At the beginning of ‘82, nobody viewed the Yankees as a team in need of talent. They either had it, or could buy it when they needed it. Of course, history tells us that ‘82 was the start of the Yankees playoff drought and time for some rebuilding of the franchise during some dark years.

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Nolan Ryan’s 5th Career No-Hitter

January 27, 2010 @ 10:40 pm

Nolan Ryan’s 5th Career No-Hitter's 1982 Topps card, thumbnail

Card #5 in the set celebrates September 26, 1981, when Nolan Ryan tossed his 5th career no-hitter against the Dodgers. Most anyone had ever thrown. This game actually came in the middle of a 24 inning scoreless streak for the Ryan Express. He’d go on to toss 7 no-no’s for his career.

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