Operation Topps – Topps 1986 (Pack 57)

I just tabulated the set so far and we are at 561 cards. We have 15 packs left of 15 cards. Which is 225 cards left. Now here is the heart breaker, we have 231 cards left in the set. Now comes the guessing game. We know that we aren’t going to finish the set with 2 boxes, so the question now becomes how many cards will we be short. My guess is our doubles rate is going to bump to 35%. My over under is 84 cards short. But with so many people willing to help finish the set, I don’t think it will be a problem. My migraine is finally gone, although last night’s sleep sucked because of it, but on a bonus side, this should be a goofy review. Let’s take a look at pack 57.

1. Johnny Grubb – DH/OF – Tigers – 243 – Johnny started out his career in 1972. He started for a couple of years early on in his career and then became a backup for the rest of it. A typical year for him was 0.270/5/35. As far as the era is concerned he was a pretty capable backup with is why his career lasted 16 seasons. In 1986 he was with the Tigers, batted 0.333/13/53 in what would be one of his best seasons. He did that in only 250 at bats.

2. Shawon Dunston – SS – Cubs – 72 – Is it just me or did everyone expect him to develop into a stud. He never actually did, his career in current terms would be like Corey Patterson. Expected to do big things but ended up doing jack. In 1986 he started at short stop and went 0.250/17/68/13. Not too shabby for a second year guy playing full time for the first time in his career. Expect he would end up with stats like those throughout his career.

3. Steve Ontiveros – P – A’s – 507 – He was another guy I expected big things from and never did get to see it happen. He was part of the youth movement by the A’s in 1986 and figured to be one of the bright pitchers on that staff. In 1986 he went 2-2/3.85/1.335 with 10 saves. Not a bad season for his second year either. In time though he would become an effective middle relief guy, but not before some failure as a starter.

4. Kevin Bass – OF – Astros – 458 – Bass was not a bad little player for the Astros in the mid 80s and 1986 was probably his best season in the bigs. He even finished 7th in MVP voting that year. He went 0.311/20/79/22 in what would be his only 20/20 season. He came close again next year but missed it by a homer.

5. Atlee Hammaker – P – Giants – 223 – What a funny name, who names their kid Atlee especailly with a last name of Hammaker. That’s just asking for beat downs in elementary school. Atlee himself, was not a bad pitcher at all. In 1986 he missed a full season due to arm injuries. In 1985 though he went 5-12/3.74/1.21 for a real bad Giants team.

6. Gerald Perry – 1B – Braves – 557 – He had a tough time staying in the majors, his first few seasons but after hitting just 0.214 is 1985, he spent almost all of 1986 in the minors. In just 70 at bats, he hit 0.271/3/11 in what was enough to get him a permanent job in the bigs.

7. Brewers Leaders – 426 – Slowly but surely we are finally getting all of these cards. The hitting leaders were Molitor and Cooper, while the pitching leaders were Higuera and Fingers. Just to stay consistent with the review of these, the Dean of the Brewers was Charlie Moore.

8. Dave Anderson – 3B/SS – Dodgers – 758 – Double first reviewed in pack 23.

9. Ricky Adams – 3B/SS – Giants – 153 – Double, first reviewed in pack 9.

10. George Bamberger – MGR – Brewers – 21 – Double, first reviewed in pack 15.

11. Jerry Royster 2B – Padres – 118 – Double, first reviewed in pack 24.

12. Ryne Sandberg – 2B – Cubs – 690 – Double, first reviewed in pack 23.

13. Mark Gubicza – P – Royals – 644 – Double, first reviewed in pack 42.

14. John Tudor – P – Cardinals – 474 – Double, first reviewed in pack 23.

15. Chris Codiroli – P – A’s – 433 – Double first reviewed in pack 6.

Kind of a who’s who of players that had bright starts but failed to continue. I liked the Tudor, Perry, Gubicza, and Bass cards. But if you had to give it a rating, it’s still less than average and that means a 2.0 star rating. Is it brutal? Not really since basically if Sandberg wasn’t in the pack, we wouldn’t even have made it to 2 stars. So chuck up 7 more for the set and 8 more to the land of doubles. If I were a betting man I would take the over right about now.