In 1981, Mike Schmidt was busy earning his 2nd straight National League MVP award, 6th straight gold glove, while earning his 6th trip to the midsummer classic. The first month of the season, he showed everyone why he was 1980′s NL MVP, by producing a 13 game hitting streak in which he batted .327/.431/.755 with [...]
It’s incredible how many Yankees cards there are in this set. I’ve been trying to even out the deck by getting a lot of Yanks cards out of the way. So, here’s Graig Nettles – in action (’cause Topps really didn’t understand that action shots should be on every card anyway) I remember being disappointed [...]
Not only does he sport one of the great mustache’s of the ’82 card sets, but it’s a great action shot, and we get a Dusty Baker cameo in the background. This is also awesome ’cause it’s the guy who caught the final out of the 1981 World Series to finish the 9-2 beat down of the Bronx Bombers in Yankee Stadium to clinch the Dodger championship.
In his first season wearing his new Sox, Carlton Fisk earned his eighth All-Star appearance. He didn’t just sneak in because of his reputation like some guys who weren’t having very good years in ’81. Carlton Fisk was an asset to the pitching staff and a deterrent to base thieves when he was behind the [...]
Whoever designed this card, had to be a perfectionist. Everybody’s facing the same direction like they’re some kind of singing group in the middle of a synchronized dance step.
Gar Alexander’s one of those mystery players in this set. Guys that, I just don’t know whatever happened to them. All I know is that the Pirates “asked waivers on Gary Alexander for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release”. The way that’s worded, sounds like they were doing the man a favor. What [...]
I’m trying to figure this card out. Is that pop rocks? Sunflower seeds? Pistachios maybe? Gum? I doubt Topps would show a player dipping into their chewing tobacco. Whatever the case, John Harris could be mistaken for a fan instead of a pro ball player.
Hopes were high for Steve Stone as 1981 began. He’d just won the Cy Young award on the strength of 25 victories, and looked like he was simply a late bloomer. Unfortunately that’s not the direction his story goes. Arm troubles quickly followed, chasing him from the game into the broadcast booth with a year and a half.
What always fascinates me about Stan Papi, is that his career major league batting totals, are equivalent to a full single season of play. He had 562 PA’s, due to a combination of his playing skill and the teams he played for. All these teams, except for the Expos, were above .500 clubs. Those Expos, [...]
Boston actually had a shot at a playoff spot in ’81 until an ugly 8th inning in Cleveland on October 2nd tore that dream to shreds. When the following season started, they were seen as a mediocre team just trying to hang in there with Milwaukee, Detroit, Baltimore, and New York. The only reason the [...]
Bob Babcock chiseled out a 2.20 ERA in ’81, but he allowed 46% of inherited runners to score. He may not have been the best pitcher in the American League, but he shouldn’t be forgotten. He should be proud of his last time on a mound in the show. He played in the minors in ’82.
Joe Strain finished his major league career on June 2, 1981 as a pinch hitter. Scoring a run was the last thing he did in the show. He spent the next two and a half seasons in AAA before retiring and becoming an excellent minor league manager for the rest of the 1980′s.
Poor Silvio Martinez. In November ’81 he was traded from a contender, to Cleveland. When it was time to fly back to the states in February for training camp, he couldn’t even get to there on time due to some problem with his visa. The guy pitched decently when he finally got to training camp, [...]
Paul Splittorff was an original Royal, being drafted during the team’s first drafts. He stayed in KC his entire playing career, helpin bring the Royals from expansion to eliteness.
Interesting stuff about this card. This photo is from May 16, 1981, his first start after throwing his no-hitter. In fact, there’s good reason to suspect this card wouldn’t exist if he never threw a no-hitter. Unfortunately Charlie’s career was cut short by shoulder injuries.