My First Cards

It’s the penguin swinging a bat, man!

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?

The epitome of streaky. About every 30 days or so in 1982, Dave Goltz managed to be a different pitcher. It was such predictable inconsistency that you have to wonder why the Angels put him on the post-season roster.

Fernandomania was put on hold the day this photo was shot. His only start in Wrigley Field was a disaster in ’81. You’d never know it though from this classic shot of him in action, about to fire that pitch over home plate. “El Toro” had a great rookie season just as the card celebrates.