The Sorting of 5000: 1992 Topps

This round has some good ones. Just sitting here typing in the cold of Chicago waiting for my wife to get off work so we can meet at the local watering hole. As I wait I shall educate myself on some of these players.

This is the year that Aguilera's career really hit overdrive. It was in 1991 that he got his first invite to the all-star game on the back of 42 saves that season. He would go on to the next two all-star games as well. Having taken a few years to adjust to the role of a closer, he found career resurgence this year and continued to dominate the league with his veteran arm coming out of the bullpen.

Woohoo a Cardinal. This journeyman player was making a two year stop playing for the redbirds. In Rex's 14 year career he played every position but pitcher and catcher. He even went on to play in Japan for two years and won their series one of them. He is now a color commentator for the Royals. That would be a sweet job.

So many catchers already in this set. Currently the manager of the Ogden Raptors, a minor league team in Utah under the Dodger umbrella. I can't help but wonder what Ogden, Utah is like.

Tom replaced the previously posted Buck Rogers as captain of the cellar dog Expos. He only lasted a year after some questionable moves were made by him, and an eerie episode where he came to spring training in marine fatigues, reportedly channeling Norman Schwarzkopf. He is currently a bench coach for the Rockies.

The Sorting of 5000: 1992 Topps

Currently a home mortgage specialist in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, Chris had a short 6 years playing in the big leagues. The back of the card says he is 5-0 in games attended by his Mother. Here's betting he's a wicked little league coach for his kids.

At 6'8" and 275 pounds Jeff was one of the top high-school prospects of all time to come out of Massachusetts. He never quite found his groove in the Big Leagues. However, on August 25, 1995 he holds the record as being the only pitcher to be the third pitcher to hit a grand slam in a season. Lot of heavy swingin' pitchers that season!

This card is Epic! Man, what a great Senior Photo. The back of the card lists Scott's freshman through junior year stats at Baylor. He was drafted by the White Sox but had a mediocre 5 years. He is now a High School baseball coach in Austin, Texas.

Look at the form of that wacky knuckle-baller. Considered a strikeout artist during his career, he now announces for the Arizona Diamondbacks. In what is a testament to the ergonomics of the knuckle ball he led the league in 1986 with 17 complete games. 17! Perhaps the coolest think about Tom is that he is in the International Bowlers Hall of Fame, unfortunately the only Hall he will find himself in.

Craig here is from Munich, and if I know anything, I know that that is one sweet Pilsner sippin' mustache. A solid 11 years left him with the record for most games by a Padre at 86. He is also currently the last pitcher to hit a walk-off home run. On April 25, 1986 in the bottom of the 12th inning this lanky pitcher swung the big lumber. I tell you, this post has pitchers that can hit!

I watched old Mac here play during my youth growing up in Missouri. He was an above average catcher and held the record for most games as a catcher for the royals in 1994, surpassing the record held by John Wathan. He now owns a baseball training facility with Kevin Seitzer. Mac-N-Seitz.

It looks like Chico is thinking to himself "What the hell did they put the camera up here for?"

The Sorting of 5000: 1992 Topps

Continuing along. A couple of nice ones collated.

This is the last year for the veteran catcher. In what was a rather lackluster 18 year big league care he still managed to win the big one with the Royals in 1985.  Now he is a bench coach for the Chicago Cubs and promises to help pull that team out of the doldrums. I like this action photo Topps has chosen for his card this year. Catcher's always seem to have the best photos in my opinion.

Besides a couple of interesting book ends to his career recounted on Wikipedia I always felt that this guy below was the better of the two.

Gotta love Twicki.

Bill was drafted by the Brewers in 1981 and played all of his eleven years with that team. His career year happened in 1991 where he won 15 games and had a 2.84 ERA. Something about that old uniform I think is sharp.

This is my second card posted with Mickey here. In the earlier post I attached a video of his fruit loop commercial, a short fad. Somehow I don't think that lump in his cheek is fruit loops?

The sorting of 5000: 1992 Topps

#14 Wes Chamberlain, not alot to say about him. I grew up around the corner from one of his teammates, Phil Bradley. For some reason he had a home in Columbia, Mo. None the less Wes had six mediocre seasons in the Big Leagues.

#15 El Presidente. 23 big league seasons, won 100 games in both leagues, first Nicaraguan player in the big leagues. Awesome. The year this photo was snapped he pitched the 13th perfect game in baseball history. He also lead the league this year in CG and SHO, 9 and five respectively. 5 shutouts, solid.

#16 Jeff Montgomery. I grew up in central Missouri loving this guy. He was the Royals go to closer for a large part of my youth. He distinguished himself by having four go to pitches, double what most relievers have. He is now broadcasting for the Royals on the station he sits as Vice-President. This guy is a mid-western ball player through and through. I am glad there are still gigs inside the game for guys like this.

The Sorting of 5000

I am back!!! I'm not going to buy any new cards  . . . alright maybe a few, but no seriously. I'm going to catalog this giant, semi-cool ebay purchase. I got 5000 cards. That's alot to sort, and file in my OCD way. That is actually part of this hobby I like, the sorting and organizing. I imagine Dewey, of Dewey Decimal fame, enjoyed the hobby of sport card collecting as well.

So I'm gonna sort, catalogue and record. Here goes, with the first of a ton of posts regarding 1992 Topps. I was in 10th grade, loved soccer, Primus, and driving.

The first is #5 Dave Winfield:

Nearing the end of a Hall of Fame career, Winfield had a descent year, becoming the oldest person in history to hit for the cycle on June 24th against the Royals. Breaking Honus Wagners record. When you're breaking a Honus Wagner record that is saying something! The very next year Dave hits a double to win the world series for his new team the Blue Jays. Well done sir, well done.

#7 Jim Olander fought for a spot 12 years in the minor leagues. In this card from 1991 Jim finally played 12 games in the big league. With 12 games, 9 at bats, and 2 Runs he had a good showing. A broken leg the next year spelled doom for the old goat, and he never played another major league game. He is a scout now for the Detroit Tigers, and considered a quality baseball guy.

#8 Bryan Hickerson pitched from '91-'95 in the Major leagues to an even record of 21-21. He recorded 279 strikeouts and traveled from the Giants to the Cubs to the Rockies. He stays involved with baseball via UPI, a christian outreach group using baseball to reach youth.

My First 3rd

I have never really understood the Jr. or III convention of naming children. How confusing must it have been at the Smalley house when "Roy" was called, and three generations of Smalley men turn around. By god, it's like shouting "Mom" at the grocery store.

Was the Smalley family of so little imagination that they had to use the same name time and time again.

Here and now I vow to never sire a Tim Graham Jr. Although, a wicked side of me could see skipping the Jr. and going straight to the third for my son. In some kind of manufactured nobility play, I would propel my son up the WASP ranks.

We'll see what the wife thinks of my plan. Could have some issues with it.

III here had quite a year during this cards release. The Twins win the Series, his second trip back to Minnesota finally yielded a ring in his second to last year in the Bigs.

III was an All-Star shortstop in 1979, having lit up the first half of the season with a .341 batting average.

Jr., III's father, was a shortstop in the Bigs as well.

Well you know how the saying goes:

Like Jr. like III.

Where's The Wood?

Putting away some of my 2012 Topps base cards I came across another card that made me beg the question: "Where's the wood?"

The card below is from 1987 Topps, a 25th anniversary reprise of the 1962 design. There was some speculation before this years Topps base design was spoiled, where it was thought that this year may have wood borders as well. Alas, nothing for the 50th anniversary.

This card is from one of the sets released during my first brief stint collecting baseball cards as a kid. Not only is it a sharp design (perhaps my favorite use of a team logo), it carries so much nostalgia I can't help but like it.

Dickie Ray Noles may best be known for brushing George Brett off of the plate in Game 4 of the 1980 World Series. This moment is identified as the turning point for the Phillies who had struggled against the Royals up 'til then.

The year this card was issued Dickie gained the dubious distinction of being traded for himself. He was dealt from the Cubs to the Detroit Tigers for a player to be named later. After four games as a Tiger, when the teams were unable to agree on the "player to be named later" Dickie was sent back to the cubs on October 24th, 1987. I'd call that an even trade!!!

Having returned to baseball cards only recently, I don't have that large of a collection of cards older than 2 years. I have bought some 30 dollar random boxes on ebay, and enjoy being exposed to different sets through that. I'm pretty sure that's where Dickie came from.

Here's where the design came from, the 25th anniversary homage:

Through the Topps online redemption last year, I managed to score two cards from the 1962 set. They are both in this glorious condition, however, I don't really care. To me they are still cool, and the oldest cards I have.

Does Jim's hat look strange to you? I think it is airbrushed, as he began the 1962 season playing for the Mets then was traded to the Pirates for the last 55 games of his major league career. Who knows which teams logo was to be on that hat? An M, or a P? The world may never know.

Jim's cool tale doesn't end there though. For after the 1962 season he played two years in the Japanese baseball league. That had to be crazy in the 60's?!? He is currently the Arizona Diamondbacks director of Pacific Rim operations. He probably has pretty good insight into the baseball culture in Asia, after being involved with it for 48 years. Perhaps he brought Takashi Saito, a little used reliever, to the team.

There it is. I look forward to sprinkling more of the '62's into my collection, and learning about players from quite a bit before my time.