Operation Topps – 1986 Topps (Pack 63)

We have reached the les than 10 packs level. Sorry about the delay in getting this post out today. I had the day off of work, slept in (so to speak), took 2 of my dogs to go get groomed, did our weekly shopping with my wife, cleaned our 3 fish tanks, vacuumed the house and then went to go pick them up. So I am beat and I knew I would be late in getting this one out. Hey at least I took care of everything I had to and now it’s time to kick back and open up a pack of 1986 Topps for your reviewing pleasure. SO let’s get ready and start to make fun of pack number 63.

1. Herm Winningham – OF – Expos – 448 – You would figure with a last name like Winningham, he would be a great player. The truth is though he was a back up his entire career and the most time he got in the field was when he was platooning. In 1986 he went 0.261/4/11/12, it’s always sad when you have more stolen bases than RBIs. I guess that’s when he stayed in the league as long as he did.

2. Dan Gladden – OF- Giants – 678 – I always remembered him as a Twin, but he spent the first part of his career with the Giants. At this point in his career, he was a starter and in 1986 he went 0.276/4/29/27 clearly known more for his average and speed than power.

3. Wayne Krenchicki – 3B/SS – Reds – 777 – Another back up guy. He came into the league in 1979 and by 1986 he was with his 4th team (Montreal). It would be his last year in the league as he went 0.240/2/23/2. Basically at that point he had nothing left in the tank to give to baseball.

4. Rafael Santana – SS – Mets – 587 – I am scratching my head as to why I remeber him so well, I mean other than the fact that he was a Yankee. His stats were pedestrian at best, yet he had a lot of fans believing in him. In 1986 he was with the Mets and went 0.218/1/28 as a full time player. I’m sorry but year in and year out he didn’t bring much to the table except a defensive specialist.

5. Checklist 133-264 – 263 – Finally, another one of these I think we are still 2 more of them to find.

6. Dave Stewart – P – Phillies – 689 – I had no idea that he was a Phillie at one point in his career. He was with his 3rd team at this point since he came into the league in 1978 and no one was using him correctly (as a starter) after only pitching 13 games in his Phillies stint, he was released by the Phillies and signed by the A’s and became one of the best pitchers in baseball. It’s amazing what a pitching coach who knows what he is doing can do. He went 9-5/3.95/1.36 that year and was the only year he was with Oakland and not considered for the Cy Young award.

7. Bryn Smith – P – Expos – 299 – I could swear I did a review of Smith, but I couldn’t find it on a search of my site. In 1985 he was coming off a super year of going 18-5/2.91/1.05. Amazingly enough he didn’t make the All Star team and didn’t even get a vote for the Cy Young award. However because of that year, big things were expected for him in 1986 and unfortunately he disappointed them going 10-8/3.94/1.31.

8. ’85 Record Breaker – Keith Hernandez – 203 – Kieth set the single season mark of 24 game winning RBIs. It was the most ever in a season. He broke Harold Baines record of 22 in a season done in 1983.

9. Mike Fitzgerald – C – Expos – 503 – Another one of those platoon type guys. In 1986, he was still playing for Montreal and went 0.282/6/37. Nothing to write home about, but enough so that he can stick around for one more year.

10. Turn Back the Clock Fernando Valenzuela – 401 – This one is of a picture of Nando in his 1981 baseball card. In 1981 Nando had an amazing season. Not only winning the Cy Young award but also the Rookie of the Year. His stat line for 1981 was 13-7/2.48/1.05, which was pretty amazing for a 20 year old that came out of nowhere.

11. White Sox Leaders – 156 – The Dean of the White Sox is Richard Dotson. THe offensive leaders were Harold Baines and Carlton Fisk. The pitching leaders were Britt Burns and Tom Seaver.

12. Dave Stieb – P – Blue Jays – 650 – Stieb was that guy you loved to hate. He was always punishing my Yankees every time he faced them. He was definitely one of the better pitchers in the AL in the early to mid 80s and probably doesn’t get the respect he deserved. In 1986 he went 7-12/4.74/1.59 in an injury filled year. In 1987 he would bounce back, so don;t worry.

13. Spike Owen – SS – Mariners – 248 – Duplicate, first reviewed in pack 1.

14. Steve Carlton – P – Phillies – 120 – Duplicate, first reviewed in pack 15.

15. Bobby Meacham – SS – Yankees – 379 – Duplicate, first reviewed in pack 1.

Hey anytime I can get 12 new cards this late in the game, I can’t complain and that’s why I am ranking this pack a 2.5 star pack. Mainly I did it for the Nando, Kieth Hernandez and the Daves (Stewart and Stieb). But basically this moves me down to the 160s and the like I said, 12 new cards rock! Well have a nice rest of your Friday and I will see you tomorrow.