I Love the 80s - 1981 New York Yankees

This is a series of posts on a 1980's Frankenset. Each page features a different team, with 9 of my personal favorite cards from that year's team. You might find players repeated, you'll definitely see brands repeated, but hopefully you'll agree that there are some interesting selections from the 1980s!



In 1980 , The Yankees won the AL East with a record of 103-59. They ran into a buzz saw in the ALCS and were swept by the Kansas City Royals. To be fair, game one of that series was the only one that wasn't close. The following season, they would once again win the AL East (in the 1st half) to earn a playoff berth. This time, the Yankees would beat 2nd half champion Milwaukee in the Division series, then took care of Billy Martin's Oakland A's in the ALCS. They would fall short of the ultimate goal, however, when the Dodgers would beat them out for the World Series.

1981 was the end of the Reggie Jackson era in New York. During his time with the Yankees, they would win the AL East in 4 out of 5 seasons, go to 3 World Series, and win 2 of them. Of course, Jackson alone was not enough to secure that success, his tenure was the high watermark for the franchise in the 70s and 80s.

The Cards:
Donruss #231 Luis Tiant - "El Tiante" won 229 games over his 19 year career, and spent 2 years as a Yankee. In 1979, he compiled a 13-8 record with a 3.91 ERA. He was a 20 game winner 4 times, and twice led the league in ERA. Tiant's 1980 season Saw his ERA climb to a career high, but he made 25 starts for the Division champs.

Fleer Star Stickers #118 Rich Gossage - It was with New York that Gossage solidified his Hall of Fame resume, as the team's closer on both the 1978 and 1981 World Series teams. He was already a perennial All-Star, defining the role of the late inning reliever in the 70s and 80s. He was the AL Saves leader in 1980, and in 1981 he had a 0.77 ERA during the regular season. In the 81 ALDS, he saved all 3 Yankee victories. Over his career, he closed out 8 World Series games, notching 2 saves. 

Topps #400 Reggie Jackson - As the straw that stirs the drink, Reggie made the biggest splash in the post season. He has 10 career homers in the World Series, including a streak of 4 homers in 4 swings starting with his final at bat in game 5 of the 1977 World Series. Jackson is the All-Time MLB leader in Strikeouts, but also was on 5 World Series winners, which is certainly a fair trade off.

Fleer #86 Ron Davis - Davis was an unlikely All-Star in 1981, as a middle reliever for the Yankees. In his first full season of 1979, he racked up 14 victories out of the bullpen. He would be traded to the Twins and served as their closer for several seasons. He even pitched in the Senior Professional League, also as the closer for Sun City. 

Topps (Traded) #855 Dave Winfield - The biggest free agent available heading into the 1981 season was Dave Winfield, so that 's who George Steinbrenner was going to sign. There was some concern that Winfield and Jackson would clash, but the pair both had productive seasons that secured the 1st half championship. Winfield was the team leader in hits , doubles, and RBI. Over 9 seasons with New York, he'd have over 1300 hits, 205 homers, and more than 800 RBI. 

Fleer #87 Graig Nettles - While Reggie Jackson gets a fair share of credit for the success of the late 70s Yankees dynasty, one could make a case for Graig Nettles as well. In 1977, it was Nettles that was the team leader in Wins Above Replacement. He was a Gold Glove 3rd baseman in 1977 and 1978. In 1981, he would be the hero of the ALCS, hitting .500 with 9 RBI in 3 games. 

Kellogg's 3-D Super Stars #3 Reggie Jackson - The 1977 and 78 seasons get a lot of attention in Reggie's illustrious career, but his best season as a Yankee was probably his 1980 campaign. He was the runner up for the MVP award and led the AL in homers. He hit a career high .300 and had a stratospheric OPS+ of 172.

Topps #550 Tommy John - Tommy John finished 4th in the Cy Young balloting in 1980, sporting a 22-9 record and league leading 6 shutouts. He was a Dodgers ace before he came to the Yankees, and an Angels Ace after that. Of course, before he came to New York, he had an experimental surgery done to repair a torn ligament in his elbow. He made a painful and difficult recovery and resumed his career where so many pitchers before him had been forced into an early retirement. He had 3 20 Win seasons and 3 All-Star appearances post surgery, and ranks 26th All-Time in Career Wins. 

Donruss #351 Yogi Berra - With the volatility of the Yankees' manager position, having Yogi appear on a card as a bench coach could have been a smart bet for the next Yankees' skipper. Steinbrenner would make a change mid way through the 1981 season, firing Gene Michaels and re-hiring Bob Lemon, who was a previous Billy Martin replacement. Berra would have to wait until 1986 to get his shot again. He won the AL pennant in 1964 and the NL pennant in 1973 with the Mets. As a player, of course, Berra was a 3 time MVP, 14 time All-Star, and 10X World Series Champ. Not too shabby.

I Love the 80s - 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers

This is a series of posts on a 1980's Frankenset. Each page features a different team, with 9 of my personal favorite cards from that year's team. You might find players repeated, you'll definitely see brands repeated, but hopefully you'll agree that there are some interesting selections from the 1980s!

In 1980, the Dodgers finished just 1 game (Game 163!) behind NL West Division winners, the Houston Astros. The team finished with a 92-71 record. The team also retired the number of Brooklyn-era great Duke Snider, and Don Sutton set a club record with his 52nd career shutout. The team's ultimate goal of making the playoffs and winning the World Series would have to wait.

Everything came together for the Dodgers in 1981, including the emergence of Fernando Valenzuela. He essentially replaced the team's ace from 1980, Sutton, who had left via free agency to Houston. But the strong start by the rookie and the energy behind Fernando-mania was more than enough to weather the challenges of the 1981 Strike, and the Dodgers found themselves champions of the NL West, and ultimately World Series champs over the Yankees.

The Cards:
Donruss #176 Steve Garvey - The only thing that could keep Garvey from the lineup was a player's strike. If there was a game being played, Garvey would be in it. He played in a National League record 1,207 consecutive games. Garvey would lead the NL in base hits in 1980 with an even 200, the 6th time he recorded 200 or more hits in a season. 1981 would be his 8th straight All-Star appearance. Garvey would also excel in post season play. In the 1981 World Series he hit .417 and scored 3 runs in the 6 game series. Over his career he hit .338 in the post season and was the 1984 NLCS MVP.

Fleer #122 Rick Monday - Monday is famous for a play he made during a game in 1976. A Man and his son ran onto the field with an American Flag, with the intention burning it. Monday ran towards them and snatched the flag up before it could be set ablaze, then carried it to the Dodger's dugout to safety. It turned out that the flag burning was not a protest against the Bicentennial or U.S. involvement in wars overseas, but because the man's wife had been institutionalized and he thought this act would bring attention to his family's plight. No matter the reason, Monday acted based on his principles. As a former U.S. Marine Corps Reservist, Monday believes that the flag is sacred. He is also known as the crusher of dreams to Montreal Expos fans, as his ninth inning 2 run homer in the 9th inning of the clinching game of the 1981 NLCS propelled the Dodgers to the World Series. 

Topps (Traded) #850 Fernando Valenzuela - In 1980, Valenzuela gave fans a taste of what was to come. He pitched in 10 games at the tail-end of the season, allowing 0 earned runs over 17.2 innings pitched. But even that impressive debut could not have adequately foreshadowed Fernando's rookie year. The 1981 Cy Young winner and Rookie of the Year led the National League in strikeouts, Shutouts (with 8!), innings pitched, and complete games. The first shutout of the season for Fernando came on Opening Day and he didn't look back (except during his windup, when he would look back, and up, to the heavens). He would finish 5th in the NL MVP voting as well. He threw a complete game in the '81 World Series, and over his career was a tremendous post season pitcher. He had a 1.98 ERA over 8 starts and struck out 44 batters. To put those 8 shutouts in perspective, only one pitcher has had more than 8 shutouts in a season since 1981 (John Tudor with 10 in 1985), and Valenzuela did in a strike shortened season!

Fleer #126 Ron Cey - For a guy that had made 6 consecutive All-Star Games and was considered to be one of the game's best 3rd Basemen, the 1980 and 81  regular seasons could be called disappointing from a personal standpoint. In 1980, Cey saw his batting average drop 30 points from the year before, missed the All-Star game for the first time since his rookie season, and failed to drive in 80 runs for the first time. More importantly, the team was on the outside looking in at Houston, who defeated the Dodgers in game 163, with Cey not playing at all due to injury. He would be playing in pain in 1981 as well, missing several games at the end of the year after breaking his forearm as a result of a hit by pitch. Cey would save his best for the World Series in '81, earning MVP honors with a .350 average and 6 RBI in the 6 game series.

Donruss #420 Tommy Lasorda - Lasorda took over the managerial duties for the Dodgers in 1976, and won two NL championships in his first two full seasons. In 1980 he kept his club close to the division winning Astros despite injuries to half of his infield and subpar performances from his starting pitching. Lasorda is known for his bombastic nature, in stark contrast with his predecessor Walter Alston. The fiery skipper was a World Series champ as a player with the 1955 Dodgers, though he did not pitch in the Fall Classic. He was a 2 time Manager of the Year winner, and was selected to the Baseball Hall Of Fame in 1997. Lasorda is a baseball lifer and bleeds Dodger blue. When asked if he ever gets burned out, he reportedly said "How can you get burned out doing something you love? I ask you, have you ever got tired of kissing a pretty girl?"

Kellogg's 3-D Super Stars #29 Davey Lopes - Just like Cey, injuries derailed the end of the 1980 pennant race for Davey Lopes. He was able to suit up for the Dodgers in game 163, however Lopes was 0-4 in the leadoff spot and made an error in the field that led to the Astros' first run of the game. While Cey provided homers and Garvey provided base hits, Lopes' greatest asset to the team was his speed on the bases. Over his career he had 557 steals, and twice led the National League. While he was an All-Star both seasons, Lopes hit just .239 (a career low) over those two seasons combined, and just .206 in 1981. But there was no slump to his speed, stealing 10 bases in the 1981 Post season, 4 of them in the World Series. He scored 6 runs in the series.

Topps #231 Joe Beckwith - The injury news continued with Joe Beckwith, who had a career year in 1980 as a middle reliever for the Dodgers. He would miss all of 1981 following an injury to his eye in Spring Training. He would miss all of the Dodger World Series appearances, as he debuted in 1979 and was out of commission for the 1981 run. In 1980, he led the Dodger bullpen with a 1.96 ERA, allowing just 1 home run in nearly 60 innings of relief. He would get his chance at post season glory, however, in 1985 as a member of the World Champion Kansas City Royals. He gave the Royals 2 innings of scoreless relief with a trio of strikeouts in Game 4, though the team would need to crawl back from a 3-1 deficit to win in 7 games.

Donruss #180 Rudy Law - Law had a very good rookie season in 1980, but a crowded outfield in 1981 left the 25 year old Law on the outside looking in. He did make the best of things, however, hitting .335 with 9 triples and 56 stolen bases in AAA. It is somewhat surprising that Law did not receive any rookie of the year consideration for his 1980 season, when he accumulated 1.9 WAR. The NL ROY that year? His teammate, closer Steve Howe. In 1981, the Dodgers were content with Dusty Baker, Rick Monday, and Ken Landreaux- as well as a young fella named Pedro Guerrero in the outfield. He was traded to the White Sox prior to the start of the 1982 season, where Law would be the everyday CF in Chicago for the next few seasons. Law stole 77 bases for the ChiSox in 1983, and helped the Tony LaRussa-led team "win ugly." Despite his blazing speed, Law did not hit for average in the majors, and was not rated as a particularly strong defensive player, mostly due to his arm. Even so, he stole 228 career bases in the big leagues.

Topps #265 Bill Russell - You've already seen the rest of the Dodger infield that formed the nucleus of the Dodgers of the 70s and early 80s. Russell was the George Harrison of the group - he wasn't the superstar like Garvey, the Speedster like Lopes, the power hitting "Penguin" Ron Cey - Russell was the quiet genius. While it is understandable to look at his offensive numbers in comparison to the rest of his Dodger teammates, a better measuring stick would be his contemporaries at the shortstop position. Russell was an excellent contact hitter who rarely struck out, and he provided top-notch defense at shortstop. While it is customary for players to move away from short to less demanding positions on the diamond, Russell actually went in the other direction. Starting his career in the outfield, Russell then shifted to 2nd base, and finally moved to short to solidify the 1B Garvey 2B Lopes SS Russell  3B Cey infield. Russell was a 3 time All-Star. He would finish his career with 1,926 hits second most among the famous quartet.  


If Bill Russell is the George Harrison of the Dodger infield, who is Ringo?

I Love the 80s - 1981 Cleveland

This is a series of posts on a 1980's Frankenset. Each page features a different team, with 9 of my personal favorite cards from that year's team. You might find players repeated, you'll definitely see brands repeated, but hopefully you'll agree that there are some interesting selections from the 1980s!

In 1980, Cleveland finished in 6th Place in the AL East with a 79-81 record. The following season, the team finished above .500, but still finished in 6th place in the highly competitive AL East. 

The bright spot of the 1980 season was rookie Joe Charboneau, who inspired a hit song in the Cleveland area with his team leading 23 homers. Outside of his performance, not much went well for the Cleveland 9. 1981 featured a much improved pitching rotation, but unfortunately the team struggled to score runs. "Super Joe" was suffering through a sophomore slump, and the rest of the team offered very little power. The team hosted that year's All-Star Game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, held in August due to the 1981 Strike.

The Cards:

Topps #39 Tom Veryzer - Former Topps All-Star Rookie Tom Veryzer was Cleveland's starting Short Stop in 1980 and 81. In 1980, he had a career high .271 batting average over 109 games. He was a reserve on the 1984 Cubs Division Championship team.

Topps #697 Rick Waits - 1980 was the third straight 200+ inning season for Rick, who recorded a career high in season strikeouts. Over his peak, Waits hurled 10 shutouts and won 74 games for Cleveland.

Fleer #402 Gary Gray - Gray was an outstanding player in AAA, hitting .305 with 17 bombs in 1979. In 1980, he had a brief stint with Cleveland before moving on to the Mariners. They played  Gray in AAA Tacoma, where he once again showed power and hit for average. He was finally getting an opportunity to play regularly in Seattle in 1981 when the strike interrupted his season. He had hit 13 homers before the strike, but by the time the league returned to action, other players were inserted into the lineup as everyday players. He would also go on to play in the Mexican League for three seasons.

Topps #738 Bert Blyleven - A new addition to the Cleveland staff in 1981, Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven was the team's ace. He was not given the best run support in Cleveland, and finished with an 11-7 record. He had 9 complete games and tossed a shutout. He led the team with a 2.88 ERA and had a league best 5.6 WAR. Injuries would limit him to just 20 innings pitched in 1982, but he would come back strong and would have one of the best seasons of his career in 1984, when he finished 3rd in the Cy Young voting.

Donruss #82 Joe Charboneau - The 1980 AL Rookie of the Year Joe Charboneau had one of the best debuts of a player to have it all come crashing down. After his rookie season, Charboneau played in just 70 more MLB games over 2 seasons.

Fleer #404 Bo Diaz - Cleveland Catcher Bo Diaz led the team in homers in 1981, with 7. He split duties with Ron Hassey and Chris Bando, after being the backup in 1980. Diaz was named to the All-Star team in 1981, and had a great 1982 with Philadelphia. He came to Cleveland in a trade with Boston for Dennis Eckersley and Fred Kendall. He would become an All-Star again in 1987 with Cincinnati.

Kellogg's 3-D Super Stars #54 Joe Charboneau - In 1980, Charboneau hit .289 and cracked 23 homers with 87 RBI for Cleveland. He starred in the California League in 1978, then he hit again in 1979 in the Southern League, hitting .352 with 21 homers. He got his chance with Cleveland in 1980 because Andre Thornton was injured, but the injury bug would bite Charboneau back the following season. He was famously quoted saying that "Baseball has peaks and valleys - when you're hurt, it's even valleyer."

Topps #612 Duane Kuiper - Kuiper had 4 seasons as the everyday second baseman for Cleveland. In 1980, Kuiper played in just 42 games. He led the AL in fielding pct in in 1976 and 1979. He is probably best known today for his second baseball life as a long time announcer for the San Francisco Giants. His lone career MLB Home Run? He hit it off long time Cubs and White Sox broadcaster Steve Stone.

Fleer #401 Mike Paxton - A Memphis pitching legend, Paxton starred for Oakhaven High and then in College at Memphis State. He was named to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. He came to Cleveland in the same trade as Bo Diaz. In his first year with the club in 1978, Paxton struck out 4 batters in a single inning. The 5'11" hurler had a somewhat bowlegged gait and earned the nickname "Bulldog." He would pitch in just 4 games in 1980, and would retire after a pair of minor league seasons.

I love The 80s - 1981 St. Louis Cardinals

This is a series of posts on a 1980's Frankenset. Each page features a different team, with 9 of my personal favorite cards from that year's team. You might find players repeated, you'll definitely see brands repeated, but hopefully you'll agree that there are some interesting selections from the 1980s!

In 1980, the Cardinals finished 4th in the NL East with a 74-88 record. The following season, despite having the best overall record in the National League East, the team missed the playoffs entirely. The strike split the season into two halves, but the Cardinals finished 2nd in both halves, thereby being shut out of post season play. It could, should and did leave a bitter taste in their mouths, but it would be fleeting as the team would win the World Series in 1982. 

The Cardinals in the 1980s were the result of the painstaking architecture of Whitey Herzog. As General Manager and field Manager, Herzog oversaw the transactions that nearly completely overhauled the roster in just two seasons, while also being the main on-field decision maker in games. Herzog stressed defense and speed, both due in no small part to the playing conditions on the fast Astroturf found all over National League stadiums at the time. While the team was not known for power hitting, they were rarely hurting for offense.

The Cards' Cards:

Topps #420 Keith Hernandez - Hernandez won a Gold Glove in 1980, and deservedly so. It was his 3rd straight fielding award, and he'd win 11 over the course of his 17 year pro career. He was coming off an MVP season in 1979, and in 1980 led the NL in OBP and Runs Scored. He was the team leader in Hits, doubles, Avg, and obviously Runs and OBP as well. 

Donruss #427 Leon "Bull" Durham - By the time this card was printed, the trade sending Durham to the Cubs for Bruce Sutter had already taken place. He would have several solid seasons with the Cubs, hitting over 20 homers a season 5 times. Before converting to 1B, he was a fleet footed outfielder as well, stealing 20+ bases 3 times in the early 80s. Durham was best known to me for his role in the film "Little Big League" which was filmed in MN in 1993, while Durham was playing Independent League ball for the Saint Paul Saints. I attended one of the games that was used for crowd footage in the film, but good luck finding me in the nosebleeds of the upper deck!

Topps #353 Terry Kennedy - The four time All-Star for the Padres, Kennedy was still a young utility player in St. Louis in 1980. Kennedy would be dealt to San Diego in the trade that netted Whitey Herzog the relief ace Rollie Fingers, who would be flipped to the Brewers in a mover that greatly bolstered both franchises. His first season with the Padres in 1981 would see him become the team's primary catcher. He responded by hitting a career high .301 and making his first All-Star squad as a 24 year old. In 1982, he became the first catcher in MLB history to hit 40 doubles. 

Fleer #456 Silvio Martinez - I really dig the bokeh effect of the background in this photo, which is why it made the cut instead of some more prominent St. Louis players. Silvio had a very good season in 1979, going 15-8 with a 3.27 ERA and 2 shutouts for the Cardinals. His 1980 campaign was a hard luck mirror image, with a 5-10 record and a bloated 4.81 ERA. He was part of a three team deal that sent Lonnie Smith to the Cardinals in time for the 1982 World Series run. 

Donruss #71 Bobby Bonds - This is the infamous "986 Career Home Runs" error card. If you make the case that Bobby was responsible for all of Barry's career homers, then you would actually be able to go a little higher - the duo accounted for 1,094 MLB home runs. They also teamed up for 975 career stolen bases, which is the highest father son combo as well. 

Fleer #545 Keith Hernandez - In 1981, the strike broke many player's streaks for milestones like 100 hits or 200 innings pitched, but Keith actually kept a streak going. It was his 3rd consecutive season with a batting average above .300 and an OBP above .400. It was also his 4th straight season with double digit stolen bases. He would finish his career with over 2,100 hits, over 1,100 Runs scored, over 1,000 RBI and a .296/.384/.436 career slash line. The 5 Time All-Star was a World Series Champion with the Cardinals in 1982 and with the Mets in 1986. 

Topps #563 Jim Kaat - I mostly enjoyed this card for the very fine print on the back. We thought Joe Niekro was getting up there in 1981, but Jim Kaat was pitching in his 4th decade in the big leagues. He debuted with the Washington Senators in 1959, and moved to Minnesota with them in 1961 where he spent the bulk of his career. In 1980, Kaat was the main weapon used by Whitey Herzog out of the bullpen, leading the relief corps in innings pitched. He also started 14 games for the Cardinals, but it was his bullpen contributions that made the big difference for the ball club. He made 4 appearances in the 1982 World Series, his first World Series action since the 1965 Series against the Dodgers. 

Coca-Cola Topps #7 Darrell Porter - The 1982 NLCS and WS MVP came to the Cardinals in 1981, and was stuck as the back up to future Hall of Fame Catcher Ted Simmons. Porter had 3 All-Star games under his belt already as the Royals' primary backstop in the late 70s, and had led the American League in walks while driving in 112 runs for the club in 1979. Herzog created the logjam only to quickly resolve it by dealing Simmons and Rollie Fingers to Milwaukee. In the 1982 NLCS Porter had a .714 OBP thanks to 5 walks and 5 hits over his 14 plate appearances. He was the MVP though he only drove in 1 run in the series. During the World Series, he hit a key Homer and drove home 5 Cardinals over the 7 game marathon. At the time, he was just the 2nd player to win both LCS and WS MVP honors in the same post season. I also liked that this Coca-Cola card featured Porter's iconic "Coke Bottle" glasses.

Fleer #548 Bobby Bonds - By 1980, the best days of Bonds' playing career were behind him. He would play one more season in Chicago in 1981, but was out of baseball for some time after that. His 1980 season was hampered by an injury sustained when he was hit by a pitch on his hand in  April, though he would not go on the injured list until July. In his prime, few could equal Bobby's combo of power and speed. He was the league leader 9 times in a stat called "Power/Speed" which takes the following formula : 2X (Homers X Steals) / (Homers + Steals). He ranks 5th All-Time in that category, behind his son, Rickey, Willie Mays, and ARod. 

I love The 80s - 1981 Seattle Mariners

This is a series of posts on a 1980's Frankenset. Each page features a different team, with 9 of my personal favorite cards from that year's team. You might find players repeated, you'll definitely see brands repeated, but hopefully you'll agree that there are some interesting selections from the 1980s!

In 1980, The Mariners finished 7th in the AL West, tallying over 100 losses. The following season they would come out flat,  finishing in 6th place in the first half. They improved slightly in the second half of the season following the strike, with a 23-29 record which was 5th best in the division. 

The "highlights" from this era of Mariners baseball included Manager Maury Wills attempting to enlarge the batter's box to gain an edge, for which he was fined (and soon after, fired) Later in 1981, the team's equipment was stolen before a game in Texas, forcing them to wear their batting practice jerseys, Rangers helmets, and Brewers hats. Why Brewers? The hats were purchased from the Rangers' souvenir shop, which did not carry any Mariners merchandise. Ouch. The franchise was still building itself up since becoming a member of the American League in 1977. The players here all have varied stories - some bizarre, some tragic.

Here are the cards:

Donruss # 168 Joe Simpson -  Simpson came over to the Mariners from the Dodgers in 1979, and was productive in his first full MLB season, hitting .283 over 120 games in various parts of the outfield. He was primarily used in right field in 79 and 80, center field in 81, then a more even mix of all three spots in 1982. He finished his MLB career in Kansas City in 1983, where he even got work in on the mound with a pair of late inning pitching appearances. He became a broadcaster after his playing career ended, and has been with the Atlanta Braves TV team since 1992.

Fleer #610 Dave Edler - Dave Edler was a successful AAA hitter, hitting over .300 in 1982 and 1983. Following his playing days, Edler became a pastor, then a politician - he was the mayor of Yakima, Washington from 2006 - 2010. 

Topps #187 Mike Parrott - A year after going 14-12 with a 3.77 ERA, Mike had a disastrous 1980, with just one victory against sixteen defeats. His lone win came in the season opener. having a mix of hard luck and poor performance plague the rest of his 1980 campaign. His 1979 season set team records for victories and innings pitched for the fledgling franchise, and he would go on to a lengthy coaching career in the minors that continues to this day.

Topps #33 Rick Honeycutt - Honeycutt is known more recently as the long-time pitching coach for the Dodgers, but he also had a 21 year playing career that somewhat resembled his Oakland teammate Dennis Eckersley. He started games early in his career, even winning an ERA title in 1983 in the AL. He would be converted to the bullpen (also under Tony LaRussa in Oakland) and found a second leg to his career there. In 1980, he represented the Mariners at the All-Star Game, and was caught red-handed (and red foreheaded) with a thumbtack taped to his pitching hand. He was suspended and fined, but still was the key piece in a trade that brought Richie Zisk to Seattle in 1981.

Fleer Star Stickers #8 Bruce Bochte - Not to be confused with Bruce Bochy, Bruce Bochte came to the Mariners in their second season and established himself as their offensive leader. In 1979, he was an All-Star and drove in 100 runs for the team. In 1980 he was the team leader in batting average, OBP, hits, doubles, homers and sported a 128 OPS+, the only Seattle regular to surpass league average in that category in 1980. 

Donruss #501 Dave Roberts - Not to be confused with the 70s infielder Dave Roberts, or the outfielder turned Dodger skipper Dave Roberts, this Dave Roberts was a member of the 1979 Pirates "We are Fam-A-Lee" champs and split 1980 with the Mariners and Buccos. Roberts was a very good hitting pitcher, with 7 career homers hit. Roberts was a stalwart member of the early 70s Astros rotations, particularly in 1973 when he had a 17-11 record. Roberts passed away in 2009 from cancer caused by asbestos he was exposed to early in his career when he working as a boilermaker in the offseason.  

Drake's Big Hitters # 25 Bruce Bochte - (pronounced BOCK-tee) Became a cosmologist (studying the universe) following his playing career, during which he led his team in hitting 4 different times. His All-Star appearance was also the year the event was hosted in Seattle, thrilling the crowd with a double off future teammate Gaylord Perry. The Big Lefty is a proponent of Environmental issues as well, working with the San Francisco Bay institute in efforts to keep the Bay clean(ish). 

Fleer #597 Rodney Craig - The switch-hitting Craig played in a career high 70 games for the 1980 Mariners, mostly in center field. Craig was the Opening Day starter for the Mariners in 1980 in CF, but poor hitting led to a demotion to AAA Spokane. After a lengthy minor league career than included stops in Mexico and three different MLB orgs. Sadly, Craig fell on hard times following his playing career and became homeless. In 2013, Craig was involved in an altercation outside of a shelter and was stabbed to death by another man.

Topps #583 Larry Milbourne -  Former Topps All-Star Rookie Larry Milbourne had some of his best MLB seasons with the Mariners in the late 70s and early 80s.  329 of his 623 career hits came with Seattle, finding a niche as a solid utility player for the team and several other orgs throughout the 80s. He was a member of the 1981 Yankees team that made it all the way to the World Series - he hit .462 in the ALCS against Oakland. For the Mariners in 1980, Milbourne filled in a 2nd, 3rd, and Short while also DHing from time to time. He attended High School in Millville, NJ the same school as Mike Trout. He also hit .363 playing in the Senior Baseball league in 89 and 1990. and was a minor league manager for 3 seasons in the Cardinals organization. 

I Love The 80s - 1981 Milwaukee Brewers

This is a series of posts on a 1980's Frankenset. Each page features a different team, with 9 of my personal favorite cards from that year's team. You might find players repeated, you'll definitely see brands repeated, but hopefully you'll agree that there are some interesting selections from the 1980s!

In 1980, The Brewers finished 3rd in the AL East, ultimately falling short to a pair of 100 win teams in New York and Baltimore. The following season they would come out strong, again finishing in 3rd place in the first half. They came roaring out of the gate in the second half of the season following the strike, with a 31-22 record which was the best in the division. They would fall in the divisional series to New York, the first half winners of the AL East.

Ok so I can already hear you say "where's Robin Yount?" But I just wasn't a fan of his cards in 1981. If the series moves into the rest of the 80s, Yount will definitely see some time on these posts in the future. Ben Oglivie probably deserved some love too - He'll probably be in future installments as well.

The Brewers actually had a case for being a hard luck team - playing in the AL East with Boston, New York, and Baltimore was rough at the time. Since there were no Wild Cards, the Brewers could routinely win 90-95 games a year with a combo of speed and power to go with good pitching, and still be shut out of the post season. They'd break through in 1981 thanks to their tremendous 2nd half, and go even further in 1982.

The Cards:

Topps #701 Bill Travers - Travers was the team's 4th Starter in 1980, going 12-6 with a 3.91 ERA in 154 innings pitched. He was an All-Star in 1976, and collected all 65 of his major league victories as a Milwaukee Brewer. He became a free agent following the 1980 season, and signed with Angels. He struggled to get on the field however, and made his final MLB appearance in 1983 for California. 

Fleer Star Stickers #82 Paul Molitor - The future Hall of Famer from Saint Paul, MN didn't travel too far to get to the big leagues. Despite his great success over the course of his career, it was still a very bumpy ride, especially in the early days. Molitor missed 50 games in 1980 after pulling a muscle in his rib cage. Even with the shortened season, he managed to steal 34 bases and hit .305 with 29 doubles. 

Topps Traded #761 Rollie Fingers - Ace relief pitchers can be overrated for the impact they have on a team's fortunes, but you shouldn't think that about Rollie Fingers and the 1981 Brewers. The AL MVP, Cy Young Winner and Saves leader had a microscopic 1.04 ERA in 1981. Fingers was brilliant, finishing 41 games for the Brewers. He came over with Ted Simmons from the Cardinals in what amounted to a log-jam clearing move by Whitey Herzog, but a team re-defining move to Milwaukee.

Kellogg's 3-D Super Stars #53 Paul Molitor - If you do the math (and who doesn't love doing the math?) counting time lost to 2 player's strikes and multiple trips to the injured list, Molitor could have played in more than 500 more games before his retirement in 1999. He finished his career with more than 3,300 hits. with another 500 games, it's possible he could have gotten close to 4,000 for his career. As it was, he has the 10th most hits all-time. 

Topps #135 Gorman Thomas - From 1977 to 1982, there were few hitters in baseball more menacing than Gorman Thomas. He led the AL in homers twice, and strikeouts twice, confirming the stereotype of the big hulking slugger. In 1980, Thomas cracked 38 homers and drove in 105 Brewers runs. 

Fleer #519 Lary Sorenson - Sorenson was a key part of the Brewers rotation in the late 70s, making the All-Star team in 1978 with an 18-12 record. In 1980, still just 24 years old, Sorenson would win 12 games and toss a pair of shutouts. He was also the centerpiece of the trade that brought Fingers, Simmons, and Pete Vukovich to Milwaukee. Sorenson would pitch just one season in Saint Louis, and would be on the move again for 1982, now in a 3-team deal that netted Lonnie Smith for the Cardinals. 

Fleer #527 Dick Davis - At 26 years old, Davis was playing in his last productive season for the Brewers in 1980. He peaked with 12 homers and 41 RBI a year earlier, and would find his greatest success overseas playing for Kinetsu in the Japanese Leagues. In 1985 he had a career year, hitting 40 homers and driving in 109 Buffaloes. Davis would find controversy in Japan, once for charging the mound after a beaning, then for an off-field incident involving drugs found at his home that resulted in his suspension from the team. 

Fleer Star Stickers #77 Gorman Thomas - Gorman Thomas made his lone All-Star Appearance in 1981, following the great season in 1980 with another solid campaign in the strike shortened 1981 campaign. Following his time with Milwaukee, Thomas had a career renaissance for the Seattle Mariners in 1985, belting 32 homers as the team's primary DH.

Topps #555 Cecil Cooper - Cooper was Milwaukee's best hitter in 1980, finishing the season with a .352 Average. He had a team leading 219 hits, and led the AL with 122 RBI and 353 total bases. He finished 5th in the MVP vote. In '81 he would lead the AL in doubles, and again hit well as the team's first baseman. Cooper's career numbers may fall a little short, but it surprises me that he was not given more Hall of Fame consideration. He'd fit right in with guys like Garvey, Dave Parker, Tony Oliva, Mattingly, and Will Clark. Maybe he's worth another look by the veteran's committee the next time around. 

Well, we're getting close to the end of the list here, just a few more teams to go from each league from 1981. I plan on moving straight over to 1982 teams once these are done, will need to do a little re-organizing to be sure I've filled those pages up.   

I love the 80s : 1981 Kansas City Royals

This is a series of posts on a 1980's Frankenset. Each page features a different team, with 9 of my personal favorite cards from that year's team. You might find players repeated, you'll definitely see brands repeated, but hopefully you'll agree that there are some interesting selections from the 1980s!

In 1980, The Royals won the American League pennant, ultimately falling short in the World Series 4 games to 2 against the Phillies. The following season they would falter a bit out of the gate, with a 5th place first half. They rebounded in the second half of the season following the strike, with a 30-23 record which was the best in the division. They would fall in the divisional series to Oakland, the first half winners of the AL West.

The Royals were a formidable opponent in the late 70s and early 80s. Future Hall of Famer George Brett led the offense both seasons, but had key contributions from Willie Aikens, Frank White, Hal McRae, and the speedy Willie Wilson. On the mound, Dennis Leonard anchored a talented starting rotation, and Dan Quisenberry locked down the late innings in relief. They mixed power and speed to go with great defense.

The Cards:

Fleer #29 Willie Wilson - Wilson was one of the best players in baseball in 1980, leading the AL in hits, runs, and triples. He hit .326 and stole 79 bases as the Royals leadoff hitter. He also reeled in a Gold Glove award. The only real knock on his hitting was a lack of home run power, but he was everything the Royals could hope for. He didn't really draw walks, either, with just 28 bases on balls in 1980 despite being the league leader in plate appearances.

Topps #401 A.L. Championship - Featured here is George Brett, who ran away with a batting title in 1980 with a .390 average, the highest in the AL since Ted Williams cracked .406 in 1941. The Royals swept the Yankees in the ALCS. Frank White earned MVP honors with 6 hits, 3 RBI, and 3 runs scored in the 3 game set. Dan Quisenberry had a save in game 2 and was the winning pitcher in the clinching game 3. Brett's 3 run shot in the 7th inning was the decisive blow to complete the sweep.

Donruss #223 Willie Wilson - Wilson's dominance of the league in 1980 was no isolated incident. He was the 1979 stolen base leader, and had a streak from 1978 thru 1982 with batting averages over .300. He led the AL in triples 5 times, and ranks 56th all time with 147 triples for his career.

Topps #218 Paul Splittorff - Despite over 160 career victories, Splittorff was never named to an All-Star team. He was a 20 game winner in 1973, and was still an effective and valuable part of the Royals' rotation in 1980 and 81. For 1980, he was 14-11 with an ERA just north of 4.00. By this point in his career, he would primarily pitch to contact and rely on the defense behind him. He struck out just 2.3 batters per 9 innings.

Donruss #491 George Brett - Brett was the 1980 AL MVP, thanks in no small part to his otherworldly .390 batting average, though he also led the league in OBP and slugging. His OPS+ was a ridiculous 203. In some ways, his 1980 season is a case of what could have been - he missed time due to injury, playing in just 117 games out of the 162 game schedule.

Topps #585 Amos Otis -  The Royals' everyday centerfielder had a great season in 1979, and again in 1982, but was limited by injury in 1980. He still played over 100 games in 1980, but hit just .251, more than 20 points below his eventual career average. Otis led the league in doubles twice, and stolen bases once, early in his career. He made 4 straight All-Star appearances in the 1970s and was a 3 time gold glove winner.

Fleer Star Stickers #102 Larry Gura -  The lefty Gura was 18-10 in 1980, making his lone all-star appearance. He would follow that up with another solid season in 1981, improving his ERA and WHIP. Gura had 6 of his 16 career shutouts in 1980 and 81. We was a winner in game 1 of the 1980 ALCS, and had a pair of quality starts in the World Series as well.

Fleer #46 John Wathan - It's a nice luxury to have a "back-up" catcher that can also play the corners in the infield and outfield. Essentially a utility man, Wathan still appeared in 126 games in 1980. He hit .305 and had an OPS of .783. Wathan also had sneaky speed for a catcher / corner guy, stealing 17 bags in 1980, 11 in 81, then 36(!) in 1982. He would be a reserve on the 1985 Royals championship team in his final MLB season.

Kellogg's 3-D Super Stars #34 Willie Wilson - Wilson may not have the star power recognition of George Brett, but for my money, Wilson was the best all-around player on those 80s Royals teams. Wilson won his batting title in 1982, and was the the pillar at the top of the lineup for both World Series teams in 1980 and 1985. Wilson finished his MLB career with over 2,200 hits, 1,100 runs scored, and 668 stolen bases.  To go with his Gold Glove in 1980, he also had a pair of Silver Slugger awards. 13 of his 41 career homers were inside-the-park homers. His 1982 batting title was the first in the AL by a switch hitter since Mickey Mantle.

I Love the 80s : 1981 Baltimore Orioles

This is a series of posts on a 1980's Frankenset. Each page features a different team, with 9 of my personal favorite cards from that year's team. You might find players repeated, you'll definitely see brands repeated, but hopefully you'll agree that there are some interesting selections from the 1980s!

In 1980, The Orioles finished in 2nd place in the AL East though they did win 100 games. The following season they would once again play runner-up to the Yankees, with a 2nd place first half. They faded a bit in the second half of the season following the strike, with a 28-23 record which was 4th best in the division. 

The Orioles had a legacy dating back to the mid 60s as a top AL East Contender. Staff Ace Jim Palmer was a direct line from those 60s teams, having debuted for Baltimore in 1965. Mark Belanger was along for the ride as well, the team's everyday shortstop since 1968. More recently, Al Bumbry and Eddie Murray joined the team in the 1970s. Murray would be a foundational cornerstone for the new dynasty that was just getting started in the 1980s.

The Cards:
Drake's Big Hitters #6 Eddie Murray - The Switch Hitting Slugger Steady Eddie had a phenomenal 1980, just a couple years removed from his Rookie of the Year campaign. 1980 saw Murray achieve career highs with a .300 average, 100 runs scored, 32 homers, and 116 RBI. 

Topps #425 Al Bumbry -  The 1973 Rookie of the Year had a great 1980 season as well. He led the team in stolen bases and a .392 OBP as the O's leadoff man. He scored 118 runs and had 205 base hits, making his lone All-Star apprearance. Even in the strike shortened 1981, Bumbry would steal 22 bags. He would retire in 1985 after one season with the Padres. 

Kellogg's 3-D Superstars #2 Jim Palmer - Palmer was nearing the end of his illustrious career in 1980, but still a very effective lefty righty starter. He was technically not the team's best starting pitcher that year, but the wealth of experience he brought to the starting staff was invaluable. He sported a 16-10 record with a 3.98 ERA. 1981 was a bit of a lost season, but he would bounce back in 1982, leading the AL in WHIP and winning percentage with a 15-5 record. 

Topps #210 Jim Palmer - The lefty righty with the golden arm was a 3 time Cy Young award winner, 3 time World Series champ, and 4 time Gold Glove winner. He won 20+ games in 8 seasons, and was elected to the Hall Of Fame in 1990, his first year of eligibility. He nearly became the first active player enshrined in Cooperstown when he attempted a comeback in 1991, but he wasn't named to the final roster and ultimately stayed retired.

Donruss #591 Steve Stone - The team's ace in 1980 was Steve Stone. He won 25 games for the Orioles that season, no O's pitcher has matched it since then. Stone was part of the trade that sent Ron Santo to the South Side. The heavy workload in 1980 (250 innings pitched) took its toll on Stone's arm. 1981 would be his final season, though he would go on to a second career alongside play by play announcer Harry Caray with WGN.

Fleer #180 Dennis Martinez - El Presidente was used both in the starting rotation and in relief for the Orioles in 1980, starting 12 games and appearing in 13 more out of the bullpen. The role was somewhat surprising given that he led the AL in complete games and innings pitched in 1979, and would lead the league in victories in 1981. Martinez was the first person from Nicaragua to play major league baseball, and his 245 MLB victories were the most by a Latin American pitcher at the time of his retirement, surpassed only by Bartolo Colon.

Fleer Star Stickers #117 Eddie Murray - Eddie Murray would hit over 500 career homers and eclipse 3,000 career hits, joining an exclusive club with Willie Mays and Hank Aaron to reach both milestones during his playing days. Murray was never voted as the league's MVP, but he finished 2nd two times and was a top 10 finisher eight times. He is the All-Time MLB leader in intentional walks. 

Donruss #475 Tim Stoddard - The team's closer in 1980 with 26 saves, Stoddard appears to have been lost in a sandstorm on Tatooine, never to be seen again. But he would actually appear on major league rosters for another 9 seasons, though his 1980 campaign was probably his best year. 

Topps #615 Rick Dempsey - Orioles catcher Dempsey was a world series champion in 1983 and 1988, winning MVP honors for his .385/.467/.923 slash line in the 83 series. A career .233 hitter, Dempsey was best known for his excellent defensive skills behind the plate. He is one of just 29 MLB players (and just 3 catchers) to play in 4 different decades in the major leagues. He is the Orioles' all-time leader in games caught.   

I Love the 80s : 1981 Atlanta Braves

This is a series of posts on a 1980's Frankenset. Each page features a different team, with 9 of my personal favorite cards from that year's team. You might find players repeated, you'll definitely see brands repeated, but hopefully you'll agree that there are some interesting selections from the 1980s!

In 1980, Atlanta finished in 4th place in the NL West (that's right, West) with an 81-80 record. The following season they would win 25 games in the first half, then 25 more following the strike. It led to a 5th place finish for the team whose games were now aired regularly on a relatively new medium - satellite television. 

Ted Turner owned the team and a television network then called SuperStation WTBS, based in Atlanta. 1980 was the year the station began airing it's own original programming, including a short lived comedy show featuring locals Bill Tush and future SNL cast member Jan Hooks. It was a heady time in Atlanta! The baseball team, was getting national attention for being on T.V., but not so much for their performance on the field. Manager Bobby Cox would be let go following the 1981 season, having never finished higher than 4th place. The team would find success the following year under Joe Torre, but would not make the post season again until 1991, after Cox had returned as manager.

The Cards:
Donruss #99 Bob Horner - In 1980, the 22 year old slugger would lead the team in homers with 35, then repeat the feat in 1981. Horner hit 4 homers in a single game in 1986, his final season with Atlanta. Horner was the #1 Overall pick in 1978, and bypassed the minors completely. He would win the 1978 Rookie of the Year award, and was a fearsome slugger throughout the early and mid 80s. Collusion robbed him of a 1987 MLB contract, so he crushed 31 homers for a season in Japan. When he returned to the states, an injury shortened season in St. Louis ultimately became his last. He would retire having never appeared in a minor league game. 

Donruss #597 Tommy Boggs - Tommy was the Opening Day Starter in 1981, following a career year in 1980 when he posted a 12-9 record with a 3.42 ERA. Boggs was acquired by Atlanta in a crazy 4 team trade that involved Bert Blyleven going to Pittsburgh, Al Oliver to Texas, Willie Montanez to the Mets, and several other minor players switching between the 4 participants. Boggs was not much of a hitter, though he did slug a solo homer in his first year with Atlanta. A first round pick of Texas in 1974, his first two major league starts were complete games.  

Donruss #339 Jerry Royster - Following several seasons starting at 3rd and 2nd base, Royster spent 1980 all over the field for Atlanta, used as their utility player. He led the team in steals, with twice as many as the next player on the team. Despite being used in a reserve role throughout the 80s, Royster still finished his career with over 1,000 career base hits. He had a successful stint in the Senior Professional Baseball League, hitting .337 in his lone season there. He would go on to be a steady coach and manager, and was even a pioneer of sorts when he was named manager of the KBO Lotte Giants, the first foreign born manager in the Korean league. He led that team to their first playoff appearance in nearly a decade.

Topps #387 Phil Niekro - Niekro was the 1980 winner of the Roberto Clemente Award - the first pitcher so honored. He had the dubious record of having led the NL in losses 4 straight years by the end of 1980, but that can come with the territory of being a Knuckleball pitcher. He also led the NL games started those years, as well as complete games, innings pitched, and batters faced from 1977 through 1979. He was a 20 game winner 3 times in his career and is the all-time leader in victories for a knuckleball pitcher. He finished in the top 10 in Cy Young voting in two of those seasons, and won Gold Gloves in 78, 79 and 80. All told he won 5 Gold Gloves and was on 5 All-Star teams. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1997.

Topps #504 Dale Murphy - 1980 and 81 were the beginning of something great for Dale Murphy. He started his career as a catcher and was being moved farther and farther from home plate as the years went on, finding that Center Field would be the place to find his greatest success. 1980 was his first All-Star appearance, but starting in 1982, he would go on a run of 6 straight All-Star seasons. He was the MVP of the NL in 1982 and 1983. He would lead the NL in at least one major offensive category in each of those six years. He led the league in homers, runs batted in, and slugging percentage twice. He'd lead the league in Runs scored and walks once each. He was a 4 time Silver Slugger winner, and a 5 time Gold Glover in Center Field. 

Topps #247 Glenn Hubbard - Many card collectors know Hubbard from his Fleer card with the snake around his neck, but he was also a regular contributor to the 1980s Atlanta teams. Primarily a second baseman, Hubbard was an All-Star in 1983, and 5 times surpassed 100 base hits in a season. He led the NL in errors committed in 1979, but would become an excellent defender, leading the NL in range factor/9 innings 6 times. He's currently the All-time MLB leader in that defensive metric. He turned 975 double plays in his career, good for 32nd All-time. He was a member of the 1988 A's World Series roster as well at the end of his career. 

Fleer #247 Bobby Cox - His first tour with Atlanta was a rough one- he compiled a decent record of 266 wins and 323 losses. While he was improving the team from a 90 loss club to a .500 club, the success of his rebuilding efforts would not be realized while he was the manager. The team would win the NL West in 1982, one year after his departure, no doubt due in part to his leadership in the leaner years. He would get a second chance however in the 1990s and would make the team a dynasty. He was a 4 time manager of the Year winner, and finished in the top five in voting 18 times over his career. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2014. 

Fleer #254 Bill Nahorodny - Atlanta's 3rd string catcher in 1980, Nahorodny slugged .414 in limited duty behind the plate. He was the catcher for the 1978 Topps All-Star Rookie team, a squad which was denied the little trophy on their 1979 Topps baseball cards. Despite being used sparingly, he was able to rack up extra base hits for Atlanta in 80/81. He would move on to Cleveland, Detroit, Seattle, and Philadelphia in the following years, though he'd spend more time at those orgs AAA Affiliate than the big league club. 

Fleer #251 Garry Matthews - "Sarge," as he was known to fans and teammates, was playing in his final season for Atlanta in 1980. An All-Star in 1979, and the 1974 NL Rookie of the Year, he was the only player valuable enough to acquire the indomitable Bob Walk in a trade prior to the 1981 season. Matthews would go on to have a great season in 1984 with the Cubs, finishing 5th in the MVP balloting while leading the NL in walks, OBP, and Sac Flies. He scored 101 runs that season, the only time he surpassed the century mark in his career. His son would do the same in 2006 in an All-Star campaign for the Texas Rangers. 


Do you have any fond memories of the 80/81 team? Did you watch the SuperStation?