Vern Ruhle
Vern Ruhle was a great Astros pitcher for a few years when they were contending to ruhle the NL West, but he suddenly broke down into a below average pitcher in 1982. He had his moment in the sun, even if it was in a dome.
Tim Raines Sets The Rookie Steals Record
This is the only ’81 highlight card that celebrates an entire season, not a specific event. Tim Raines had an awesome rookie season to set fire to a great career that was, in some ways, better than many Hall of Famers. Don’t believe me? Read on.
Reid Nichols
Reid Nichols was 23, and trying to break into the Boston outfield when they already had Rice and Evans. Tough to do in ’82. He made the most of it, especially after June 9th.
Atlanta Braves Team Leaders
Is it just me or does Claudell Washington look kinda goofy here? Rick Mahler looks like a perfect fit for a southern team with that shave. I’ve always imagined he’s in the middle of telling about a fish he caught earlier.
Lee Smith
Current Hall of Fame candidate Lee Smith’s rookie card, from his breakout season of 1982. A top quality reliever in his time who saved 478 games, but doesn’t quite look like a Hall of Famer when you compare his ERA to his peers.
Lee May
Lee May’s another player who finished his career in ’82. He’d played 18 years, and is probably most famous for hitting a ball in the 1970 World Series to Brooks Robinson.
Baltimore Orioles Future Stars
The Jeff Schneider rookie card is the most valuable card of the whole ’82 Topps set. This is my least favorite card in the entire set, because I just don’t think any of these players should’ve been on this particular card. Seriously, I’d put 3 different guys on here.
Manny Trillo
Manny Trillo’s another one of the best cards in the set, as this also has 3 All-Stars in it (one of them being a Hall of Famer). How cool is that? Manny was one of the best gloves in his day, but he can sympathize with Bill Buckner …or laugh at him.
Tony Armas
One of the best cards in the set. Great photo, that shows 3 All-Stars on one card. Not only did Tony Armas have a great card in ’82 but he also had some great perfomances on the field that season, including a record setting defensive game in Toronto
Rick Burleson
The first of a trio of related cards, Rick Burleson was a star shortstop entering the ’82 season, having already been an All-Star 4 times and just won his first silver slugger award. But an injury during the April 17, 1982 game, would change his career forever.
Broderick Perkins
The expression of a player with a career .313 OBP & .352 SLG, staring at the ball as it’s crossing home plate. That look of fascination and utter confusion and amusement about it. Almost like he’s asking himself, “hey, am I a glazed donut?”. He also looks clueless in a cameo on Joe Lefebvre’s card in this set.
Alex Trevino
Alex Trevino was traded to the Reds just before the season, then hit awful for the year but managed to hit his 1st major league HR and hit well against the best team in the majors. Did you know there’s a stat mistake on the back of this card?
Joe Lefebvre
The ups and downs of Joe Lefebvre. He had some wide split stats, and I’m not even sure why the Padres left him in the majors so long in ’82. By the way, we know who the other 2 players in this card are, and approximately what game this is.
Brian Allard
Brian Allard pitched his heart out for a month leading up to the strike in 1981, but then never threw another pitch in the majors again. I have no idea why. You’d think a sub-3.00 ERA for a month would at least earn you one more start.
Bob Sykes
Another player who never made it back to the major leagues after ’81, is Bob Sykes. He was a key part of the Cardinals World Series victory in ’82 though and perhaps a key reason the Yankees never made it to the series during Don Mattingly’s career.
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