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.
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