Operation Topps – Topps 1986 (Pack 40)

We are cruising around and onto the 40′s I have to go back and update the Operation Topps page, I think I am a good 4 packs behind. Actually I updated it in the midst of this post and it turns out that with 480 cards left in the box and I am missing 351 cards, if we stay on the 25-26% double rate, I can complete the set. If that doubles number goes up drastically though, I’m toast. Either way it’s been a pretty fun ride so far. I love the discussions that are going on in the comment section. I learn a lot just by reading those. Let’s see if this pack was better than the last which was pretty bad. Here in all it’s glory is pack 40.

1. Gary Ward – OF – Rangers – 105 – Let me tell you something, Gary Ward was not afraid to rock the facial hair. He wanted to test it to the limit and often came up with some great looks, like the one below. Brandon Walsh and Dylan McKay would definitely be jealous. So enough talk about facial hair and let’s talk about long ball. Gary was a nice slugger to have in the 5 slot. He had 25 homer potential season in and season out. Unfortunately for Gary 1986 was an injury plagued season and he could only muster 0.316/5/51 with about half his normal at bats. He is never remembered with the great ones, but he sure was pretty good.

2. Steve Yeager – C – Dodgers – 32 – Just like Ward is to facial hair, Steve, doesn’t mind letting the ladies see his chest hair. He has to do something to keep people from seeing the wrinkles on his face. He was 37 in this picture but he looks 47 easy plus it’s hard to tell where the hair ends and the trees begin. To be honest Yeager was one of the more recognizable people in the league in the mid 70s to early 80s. He never had overwhelmingly good numbers, but he had charisma and was a solid catcher. What is sad though, is he played his entire career on the Dodgers and in 1986 (his last year) he was traded to the Mariners before the season started. He didn’t last long because he only amassed 130 at bats and hit 0.208/2/12 to close out a nice career.

3. Jamie Easterly – P – Indians – 31 – Another middle reliever in what has become a set that nearly a third of the players are middle relievers (boring!) In 1986 Jamie had a brutal season, he went 0-2/7.64/2.21 in just 13 games pitched. Amazingly though, Cleveland brought him back for another season in 1987, I know I wouldn’t have!

4. Mike Scott – P – Astros – 268 – Mike had 6 relatively unproductive seasons, first with the Mets, then later with the Astros, then in 1985 something clicked and he became an outstanding pitcher, posting a 18-8/3.29/1.236 and I remember him as being dominating that season. So in 1986 he came back with what would be one of his best seasons 18-10/2.22/0.93 Anytime you have an ERA under 2.5 and a WHIP under 1 is outstanding to say the least, but under 0.95 is incredible.

5. Steve McCatty – P – A’s – 624 – Steve was actually a pretty solid pitcher in the early 80′s, but that all cooled off after the 1981 season. By 1985 he was at the end of the line when he went 4-4/5.57/1.59, the A’s grew tired of him for not living up to the potential he showed in 1980 and 81, and 1985 would be his last season.

6. Razor Shines – 1B/3B – Expos – 132 – Hands down the best name in baseball in 1986. Also how appropriate is it thtat with a name like that, he even has a shiney batting helmet, just look at the reflection of the M on the brim. Unfortunately for us, he didn’t have a very long career and he didn’t even make the pros in 1986. He had a grand total of 81 at bats for 15 hits, a double was his only extra base hit.

7. Joel Skinner – C – White Sox – 239 – In 1986 Joel was a back up catcher for both the Yankees and the White Sox. He went 0.232/5/37 so as you can see there justisn’t enough to talk about on this one. I think I’ll bail now before it gets anyworse, insert your own Joel Skinner tale in here.

8. ’85 Record Breaker – Dwight Gooden – 202 – I remember this card from the set, just because if you lived in the New York are, you loved Gooden and how amazingly good he was. This card commemorates the fact that Dwight was the youngest 20 game winner in MLB history. Is that not a classic picture of Dwight?

9. Darnell Coles – 3B – Mariners – 337 – It’s funny I don’t remember him playing 3rd too much more of an outfielder. I knew that Presley was the M’s 3rd baseman, what I didn’t know was that thhey tradedColes to Detroit where he was a starter. He rewarded Detroit with a 0.273/20/86 season, unfortunately for him and Detroit, it would be his finest season, by far.

10. Bob Melvin – C – Tigers – 479 – With Lance Parrish entrenched at the catcher position, Melvin was shipped off to San Francisco, where he started his streak of backup catching duties. Not known for his offensive prowess, he was mainly brought in for his defensive ability, which was very good.

11. Pete O’ Brien – 1B – Rangers – 328 – Double, first reviewed in pack 18.
12. Tom Browning – P – Reds – 652 – Double, first reviewed in pack 26.
13. Bob Boone – C – Angels – 62 – Double, first reviewed in pack 29.
14. Bob Forsch – P – Cardinals – 322 – Double, first reviewed in pack 7.
15. Daryl Sconiers – 1B – Angels – 193 – Actually Daryl’s last year was in 1985, he was mainly a backup, but his numbers weren’t bad enough to hurt you. In 1985 he went 0.286/2/12 in very limited playing time. But with Rod Carew and Wally Joyner in the mix, there was just no room for him in Anaheim.

Overall a pretty lackluster pack. I’ll be generous and give it 1.5 stars. I must be in a good mood. Maybe it was getting a Razor Shines or Gary Wards facial hair. Either way this pack was entertaining. So the stars it did get were merited by that. Hopefully, the next pack will bring some more stars. Either way, I’m just happy I got as many non doubles as I did. Now don’t forget to stop by badhits later to see my latest entry there.