#167 1981 Earned Run Average Leaders
Nolan Ryan was awesome, while Steve McCatty got credit for an ERA title he really didn’t win.
#404 Dickie Thon
Dickie Thon was a rising star in 1982, part of a group of young shortstops who could field AND hit. He might’ve gone on to the Hall of Fame if not for a nasty beaning in early ’84 that changed his career forever.
#5 Nolan Ryan’s 5th Career No-Hitter
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.
#539 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.
# Dave Roberts
Dave Roberts was drafted by the Padres about 4 years after he was drafted by the Padres. If that ain’t weird enough for you, Dave Roberts played his first big league game on the same day he was drafted, and 3 weeks later, he hit a ball pitched by Dave Roberts. Dave Roberts was traded to the Astros before he was in the big leagues, and even later he was traded from the Padres to the Astros without ever being on the Padres a 2nd time. What’s all this nonsense about?