Bad Wax

Another day, another post. I was starting to get bored with my content on here, so I am going to mix it up a bit. I want to do some more features, not just operation topps. In the future, you are going to see the bad hits that I posted on my bad hits blog, also my Hall of Bad Wax (information to follow), I will also try to include more videos and maybe, if I am feeling brave, make a few of my own doing some box breaks. In short, I am going to try and make this blog as entertaining as possible and to really mix it up for my dedicated readers. And now for what you’ve been waiting for, pack number eleven.

1. Terry Pendleton - 3B - Cardinals - 8 - Terry put together quite a few good seasons, but this was probably his first splash of what he could do as a starter. In 1987 he went 0.286/12/96/19, and finished 18th in MVP voting. He was a big reason as to how the Cardinals got into the World Series that year. His fun fact was that as a youngster he rooted for the Dodgers. What’s interesting is that he never played for them, you would figure he would try and sign at least a one year contract towards the end of his career, just to play on the team.

2. Pete Ladd - P - Mariners - 572 - Unfortunately for Pete, 1986 was his last year so nothing to report for 1987. In 1986 he went 8-6/3.82/1.23 in 52 games. These aren’t bad stats and the only reason I could think that he wouldn’t come back for another season is either injury or collusion. Since it was right around this time that we started to see that. His fun fact is that his nickname is Big Foot and he and his wife have a daughter named Lindsey.

3. Billy Beane - OF - Twins - 114 - Yes, it’s that Billy Beane. Mr. Moneyball himself. Billy may be one of the best GMs in baseball history but his numbers as a player were abysmal. In 1987 he went 0.267/0/1 in 15 at bats. His fun fact was that he was a member of Cal - San Diego’s 1981-82 D III Volleyball Championship team.

4. Buddy Bell - 3B - Reds - 545 - This would turn out to be Buddy’s last year as a third baseman for the Reds. As next year it would be Chris Sabo’s job. In 1987 though he went 0.284/17/70 proving that even at 35 he was a force at the plate. His fun fact is that he has 3 sons and 2 daughters.

5. Red Sox Leaders - The 1986 team leaders for the Red Sox were for hitting, Wade Boggs and Jim Rice. The pitching leaders were Roger Clemens and Bruce Hurst.

6. Jim Deshaise - P - Astros - 167 - What I remember most about Jim was that I was at the Yankee game when he was announced as warming up in the bullpen and then not 15 minutes later it was announced that he was traded to the Astros for Joe Niekro. Since I had no idea who he was and I knew who Joe was, I was thrilled. In 1987 he went 11-6/4.62/1.36 in what would be a nearly a yearly average for him. his fun fact was that he graduated from LeMoyne College in Syracuse. He and Tom Browning.

7. Jaime Cocanower - P - Brewers - 423 - “HI-me” as his fun fact says his name is pronounced (Spanish for Jim) didn’t get a fifth season in the bigs. His last season was 1986. In 1986 he went 01-/4.43/1.75. His other fun fact is that he is an accountant in the off season and he enjoys going deep sea fishing. Does that mean fishing in the ocean? I am a novice at fishing.

8. Tony Phillips - 3B/2B - A’s - 188 - Tony was part of this very young and upcoming A’s team, he was never a superstar but always added a nice bat when needed. In 1987 he went 0.240/10/46. His fun fact is that he attended the New Mexico Military Institute and that he has a daughter.

9. Herm Winningham - OF - Expos - 141 - Herm was a long time backup and in 1987 he logged the most at bats of his career (347). He went 0.239/4/41/29 in what was typical production from him. At first I thought this might be the University of Washington head football coach but I was wrong. His fun fact was that he graduated from Orangeburg High School where he played both basketball and football.

10. Jim Rice - AL All Star - 610 - This was his eighth and final All Star appearance. On the back of his card it lists the on base percentage leaders in which Jim was 10th overall with 0.384.

11. Matt Young - P - Mariners - 19 - Matt was the closer for the Dodgers in 1987. He wasn’t a very good closer. In 1987 he went 5-8/4.47/1.46 with 11 saves. Like I said he was nothing special. His fun fact was that he has a daughter and a son, and enjoys handball as a means of relaxation. I don’t know about you, but I find TV and movies as a means of relaxation, ahndball is work to me.

12. Bip Roberts - 2B - Padres - 637 - He actually was down in the minors for all of 1987 and most of 1988. In 1986 he was taken in the rule 5 draft and allowed to play for a half a season. He went 0.253/1/12/14 in 241 at bats. His fun fact was that his uncle was Roy Shivers, who played in the NFL.

13. Bruce Bochte - 1B - A’s - 496 - Well we all know he wasn’t a starter at first for the A’s in 1987, That was Mark McGwire’s year. It turns out that 1986 was his final season in the bigs. He went 0.256/6/43 in 407 at bats. No fun fact for Bruce.

14. Dennis Eckersley - P - Cubs - 459 - This was the year that changed everything for Eckersley. The A’s took a shot on a 3 time loser and hoped he would evolve into their closer. Well, things worked out pretty well for the Eck as her went 6-8/3.03/1.00 with 16 saves on a marginal A’s team.

15. Tim Burke - P - Expos - 624 - This has to be one of the best seasons for any middle reliever in baseball history. Keep in mind, no All Star appearance or Cy Young voting, not one vote. He went 7-0/1.19/0.89 in 55 games for the Expos. With that many games, this was no fluke. He put together a great season. His fun fact was that his hobby is reading.

16. Larry Herndon - OF - Tigers - 298 - 1987 was towards the end of his career. Other than two years in the early 80s he was not really an offensive threat. In 1987 he went 0.324/9/47 in just 174 at bats. No fun facts for Larry.

17. Bobby Bonilla - OF/1B - Pirates - 184 - Bobby was one of the key rookies for the Pirates in 1987. What was interesting is that I think in 1987 he was more well known than Barry Bonds. In 1987 he went 0.300/15/74 and you just knew he was going to be a monster. His fun fact was that his dad (Juan) played in the bigs and that his hobby is paddleball.

A pretty decent pack. I saw the Pirates logo and was hoping to find Barry, but Bobby was just as good. Overall I have to give this pack a 2 star rating. Along with Bonilla, we also have Rice, Pendleton and Eck cards. I look foward to seeing what the next pack brings, out of the first 11 packs only 8 doubles. That is outstanding.