Operation Topps – 1987 Topps (Pack 4)

I think today is the day that I see my first double. Usually around pack 5 or 6 I would think that it would come, but in 1986 box it was in pack 3. So far your comments about the new format has been helpful. I am glad I have some fans of the site. It is such a fun thing to do and I can’t wait for each new year to happen. The 1987 set is probably the set I bought the most cards from. With boxes running about $10 a shot, I know I spend a lot of dollars getting not only Topps but also Donruss cards. I shied away from Fleer that year, but I do have a Fleer tin set, so at least I have the set. Without further ado, here is pack 4.

1. Steve Trout – P – Cubs – 750 – Steve had been in Chicago for almost a decade by 1987 but it would be the last year playing in Chicago, mid season he was traded to the New York Yankees. In 1987 he went 6-7/4.38/1.54 in 25 starts, not very good, but then again, he only has 2 more years left so it makes sense. No fun fact for Steve.

2. Rob Deer – OF – Brewers – 547 – This was after a monster 1986 where he whacked 33 homers. Sure he only batted 0.232, but he hit a lot of moon shots. In 1987 he went 0.238/38/80/12 in what was probably his best season. Did you know he works for his father’s construction firm? Probably where he got his muscles to swat all those homers.

3. Mike Young – OF – Orioles – 309 – Mike was actually a pretty good player in the early 80s, but somewhere along the way he lost his power stroke and by 1987 he was platooning in the OF and went 0.240/16/39/10 in just over 350 at bats. His fun fact was that he played college ball at Chabot Junior College and St. Mary’s College. Boring!

4. Doug DeCinces – 3B – Angels – 22 – After a long and fairly decent career, Doug would retire after the 1987 season. He split time between the Angels and the Cardinals that year, going 0.234/16/34. Not a bad career though going 0.259/237/879 for his career.

5. Harold Baines – DH – White Sox – 772 – 1987 was pretty early in Harold’s career, he was still with the White Sox and went to his 3rd All Star Game. He went 0.293/20/93 in an excellent season. His fun fact is that he and his wife have two daughters.

6. Reggie Williams – OF – Dodgers – 232 – Reggie had an extremely brief stint in the majors. In 1987 he was only up in the bigs for 36 at bats where he went 0.111/0/4. His fun fact is that he graduated from Southern University.

7. Jay Tibbs – P – Expos – 9 – Not a bad starter for the first 3 seasons with the Reds and Expos, but in season 4 (1987) he didn’t do so hot. He went 4-5/4.99/1.55, his career spiraled downward from there. He has no fun facts on his card.

8. Cal Ripken Jr. – AL All Stars – 609 – This was his 5th trip to the All Star game. On the back of the card we have the AL leaders for GW RBI’s, of which he finished 3rd with 15.

9.Milt Thompson – OF – Phillies – 409 – Milt had been around for a long time, toiling in the minors since 1979. He finally made it up to the majors in 1984, but he didn’t stick until 1987. He went 0.302/7/43/46 and was voted 17th in MVP voting. His fun fact is that he and his wife have one daughter.

10. Jim Presley – 3B – Mariners – 45 – After coming in 21st in MVP voting in 1986 he had a down tick in his career in 1987. He ended up going 0.247/22/88, in a season where he just couldn’t pull it together. His fun fact is that he led his team to the 1974 Little League world series. Also in 1979 he was a star on his high school baseball team. What major leaguer wasn’t a star on their baseball team?

11. Dwight Gooden – NL All Stars – 603 – Of course on the back of his cards is strikeout leaders and Doc was 5th with 200. He would only crack 200 K’s one more time in his career

12. TR Bryden – P – Angels – 387 – TR got a cup of coffee in the majors, it was more like a thimble. His only season was 1986 when he went 2-1/6.55/1.72 for the Angels. No fun facts either.

13. Mike Brown – P – Mariners – 271 – Mike was another guy up and down between the majors and the minors. 1987 was his last season in the majors, and he went 0-0/54.00/9.00 but only a third of an inning pitched. How sad is that? His fun fact is that he averaged 24.5 pts. (basketball and 40 yards (football) during his high school career. First off, was he a QB, RB, or WR, either way 40 yards a game is not very impressive. Second, he might have wanted to rethink his basketball career, because baseball was not his strong suit.

14. Allan Anderson – P – Twins – 336 – 1987 was his second season, but he only pitched in 12 innings. He stats for the year was 1-0/10.95/2.43, which is awful, but good enough that he got to come back next year. Wow, his fun fact is that he threw 4 no hitters, and 2 of them on consecutive starts and he was a felty, no wonder why he was drafted second overall.

15. Bert Blyleven – P – Twins – 25 – The print is so small on the back of his card that you need a magnifying glass to read it. In 1987 he went 15-12/4.01/1.31, usually when you see print that small, the person is close to retirement, that isn’t the case for Bert, be prepared for a microscope next time.

16. Ron Hassey – C – White Sox – 667 – He was still on the Sox in 1987 and ended up going 0.214/3/12 in 125 at bats. His fun fact was that his father Bill played pro ball too, from 1949-1952. I guess Ron was better than his old man.

17. Ken Griffey – OF – Braves – 711 – This was when Ken was on one team a year until his career ended. He was just holding out until his son made it to the pros at this point. In 1987 he went 0.286/14/64 in what would be his last full season on the Braves. Ken and his wife are parents of 2 sons. How bad would it be to be the “other” son, the one who didn’t play ball?

Overall it was a pretty good pack which included cards from Rob Deer, Cal Ripken, Bert Blyleven, Doc Gooden, and Ken Griffey. So overall, let’s call this one a 2.5 star pack. Sorry about the delay in getting this one out, but I am swamped at work. Might be a late one tomorrow too.