Operation Topps – Topps 1986 (Pack 26)

We have hit 26 packs, down to single digits of packs remaining in the box. The 1986 gods have been very good to us of late. The last 4 packs have been very low on the double front. Maybe as you get lower into the box, the less doubles you get? We shall see when we take a look at the next box. I am fearful though that the doubles machine will be cranked up. But we shall cross that bridge when we come to it. Last night I was thinking of opening a pack and getting a jump on the review, but I decided not to. I like it best when it’s fresh and not a review a little, come back to it. I like to free type as I am reviewing these cards. So off to pack 26 we go. . .

1. Cal Ripken – AL All Star – 715 – Before I flipped over the card, I tried to guess which stat he would have on the back. Turns out it was Game-Winning RBI’s. By the way Ripken was 6th. I figured maybe they would do games played? Or maybe home runs? Did you know that Mattingly had 21 GW RBI’s in 1985. So 21 of the games he was personally responsible for winning. That’s nuts!

2. Dion James – OF – Brewers – 76 – Dion was your typical 4A player. Great in the minors but so so in the majors. He was known for his speed, but oddly enough didn’t use it much in the majors. 1986 was yet another year spent in the minors for him. Not much to report on for Dion . . .yet.

3. Tome Browning – P – Reds – 652 – This is going to be weird to say, but I liked Tom Browning. Ever since he threw that perfect game I followed his career. In 1985 he was a rookie and won 20 games, he had a 11 game win streak at the end of the season. 1986 was supposed to be a big year for him. Well it was kind of mediocre. He went 14-13 with a 3.83 ERA and a WHIP of 1.21. Not bad, but definitely not what they were looking for after the 1985 season he had.

4. Checklist – cards 529 – 660 – 659 – Well I need to get all of these and this is my first. So I better get cranking because I believe there are 7 of them.

5. Joe Cowley – P – Yankees – 427 – It took him 8 years to make the pros but when he did, he did well. He was 21-8 the first 2 seasons in the bigs, a sign of things to come? No, although his stats were similar to his other two seasons, he went 11-11 for the White Sox. Had he stayed a Yankee, who knows what would have happened.

6. Al Pardo – C – Orioles – 279 – 1985 was a cup on joe in the majors, just 75 at bats and hitting a jaw dropping 0.133. Unfortunately for Al that would be the most at bats he would ever receive in a season. In 1986 he had 51 at bats and hit a equally numbing 0.137. He would only get 17 hits in his entire career and they all fell between 1985 and 1986.

7. Terry Whitfield – OF – Dodgers – 318 – Terry was another one of those guys that didn’t bring a whole lot to the table offensively but managed to eek out a 10 year career. Too bad for Terry, but 1986 would be his last season. His stats for the year, 14 at bats, 1 hit. Ouch, that’s tough to go out like that. Real tough.

8. Tony Pena – C – Pirates – 260 – Man who didn;t like Tony Pena in the mid eighties. He was the quintessential team player at that time. In 1986 he would have his 3rd straight All Star appearance. Almost guaranteed to go 0.280/10/70 every year. A nice last round catcher for you in your fantasy league. His most important value though was in the clubhouse where he kept everyone tight.

9. Kurt Bevacqua – Padres – 3B/1B – 789 – Wow, I looked at the back of the card and I realize that even though Kurt was a back-up his entire career, his career spanned 15 years. 1985 would be his last season in the majors. One notable achievement by Kurt, in 1975 he was the Bazooka Bubble Gum blowing champion. I bet he kept that trophy in his locker.

10. George Vukovich – OF – Indians – 483 – Oddly enough, he has no relation to Pete. George was a backup who didn’t put up too much in the way of stats. In 1985 his contract was purchased by the Seibu Lions of the Japanese Baseball League.

11. Von Hayes – OF – Phillies – 420 – I remember as a kid, I didn’t think he was that good a player. Now that I’m older and I can understand stats more, I realize he was a decent player, who hit for average, had some pop and some speed. In 1986 he hit 0.305/19/98/24. An outstanding year which led him to 8th in MVP voting for the year.

12. Paul Zuvella – SS – Braves – 572 – I was always infactuated with this guy mainly because he was the only major leaguer with the last name that started with a Z. Up to 1985 though he was a seldom used back up player, who only had 221 at bats in his first 4 seasons. 1986 was another miserable year where he only batted 0.083 in 48 at bats.

13. Wayne Gross – 3B – Orioles – Wayne could definitely hit the longball. Through his first 10 major league seasons he hit 121 homeruns in part time work. He would usually hit around 0.230 with around 350 at bats.  In 1986, that would be his final year, he only got 2 at bats, and no hits.

14. Joe Price – P – Reds – 523 – This pack has got to be one of the worst packs I have ever gotten.  There isn’t a single good regular issued card.  Price was yet another crappy starter with a 35-28 record heading into 1986.  This was around the time he was transitioned from a starter to a middle reliever.  He went on to pitch for a number of years, but was truly an average pitcher for his whole career.

15. Milt Wilcox – P – Tigers – 192 – Milt was a pretty good pitcher in the late 70s and early 80s but by the time 1986 rolled around he was 36, had just been released from the Tigers, signed with the Mariners, in what is a continuing trend in this pack, would be his last season.  He went 0-8, a 5.50 ERA and a WHIP in the 1.8 region.  He was way past his prime at this point, time to move on.

Overall I am glad I finished this pack.  I don’t think I have ever seen so many back-ups / washed – up players in a single pack.  The only good card wasn’t even a regular issued card, it was the Ripken All Star card.  I would have to rate this pack 1.0 stars and that’s only because of the Ripken, otherwise I would have given it 0.0 stars.  there were just so many back-ups / retirees in this pack it was crazy.  Easily one of the Baddest Wax packs I have ever gotten. Please don’t forget to check out my other daily blog badhits.