I bet you thought I was not gonna write a post today since I did one late last night. Well you couldn’t be further from the truth. This is going to be a slower week at work, so I decided to knock out this one early. Of course by the time I post this, it might be pretty late. That’s the beauty of the internet, at least it’s early somewhere. So after another 17 card non double pack, we push the set over the 400 mark to 402, meaning we now have 51% of the set and the doubles rate is now at 5%. I hope we run into the other half of the set with the other box. That would be fantastic. Now for pack 27.
1. Bill Almon – SS/3B – Pirates – 447 – 34 years old – Traded to Mets mid season
1987 Stats – 0.230/0/5 in just 74 at bats (68 games means he was mainly a defensive replacement)
Awards – None
Player Notes – For a guy that really only brought RBIs and moderate speed to the table, he carved out a nice long career (15 seasons)
Fun Fact – None
2. Hal McRae – DH – Royals – 573 – 41 years old – LAST SEASON
1987 Stats – 0.313/1/9 in just 32 at bats.
Awards – None
Player Notes – After a few back to back declining years, and quite a few injuries, Hal walked away from the game with a very solid 0.290 batting average.
Fun Fact – None
3. Carl Willis – P – Reds – 101 – 27 years old
1987 Stats – Did not play in the majors in 1987.
Awards – None
Player Notes – Carl was coming off shoulder surgury in 1987 and missed the entire season. His picture on his card from 1987 is a very scary looking guy, I would definitely cross the street before I ran into him. He looks like he has been in his fair share of bar fights.
Fun Fact – He was a star in baseball and basketball in high school.
4. Curt Young – P – A’s – 519 – 27 years old
1987 Stats – 13-9/3.45/1.18
Awards – None
Player Notes – This was his big season, his breakout as a starting pitcher, unfortunately he never really fully broke out and after 2 more years, he’d be back to spot starting.
Fun Fact – He pitched for the US team in the World Amateur Baseball Tournament in Japan in 1980.
5. Rick Rhoden – P – Pirates – 356 – 34 years old – Played for the Yankees
1987 Stats – 16-10/3.86/1.35, he was a big free agent signing for the Yanks in 1987.
Awards – None
Player Notes – One of two Ricks on the the Pirates in 1986, I guess Reushell got too jealous of not getting all the Rick fan mail, so Rhoden was dismissed from the team.
Fun Fact – None
6. Eddie Milner – OF – Reds – 253 – 32 years old – Played for the Giants
1987 Stats – 0.252/4/9/10, was the 4th outfielder on that Giants team.
Awards – None
Player Notes – Eddie was the 3/4th outfielder on the Giants, he platooned mainly. Never really developed into a full time guy.
Fun Fact – He and his wife have one daughter.
7. Lance Parrish – C – Tigers – 791 – 31 years old – played with Phillies
Nickname – Big Wheel
1987 Stats – 0.245/17/67
Awards – None
Player Notes – Right in the middle of his career. His stay with the Phils will be a short one since Dutch Daulton is there, but he had a productive couple of years there.
Fun Fact – Lance and his wife have three children
8. Mike Felder – OF – Brewers – 352 – 25 years old
Nickname – Tiny
1987 Stats – 0.266/2/31/34
Awards – None
Player Notes – No one knew what to expect from Mike, as he came up with Gary Sheffield. He had the speed, but never really had the stick to make him dangerous. Never became a full time starter either.
Fun Fact – He earned MVP and All-League baseball honors in high school.
9. Mariano Duncan – SS – Dodgers – 199 – 24 years old
1987 Stats – 0.215/6/18/11
Awards – None
Player Notes – This was pretty early on in his career, he was not quite as productive this year as he had to deal with some injuries during the season. Known for running on a slant, it was awkward to jog next to him during warm-ups, a few of his teammates said.
Fun Fact – He never played short stop until spring 1985.
10. Mets Leaders – 331
Offensive leaders – Kieth Henandez, Darryl Strawberry, Gary Carter and Lenny Dykstra
Pitching leaders – Dwight Gooden and Roger McDowell
11. Mike Morgan – P – Mariners – 546 – 27 years old
1987 Stats – 12-17/4.65/1.44
Awards – None
Player Notes – Mike was the 4th overall draft pick in the 1978 draft and was on the A’s roster by the end of 1978 at just 18 years old. He didn’t fair well his first 2 seasons in the bigs and was traded to the Mariners where he never really took off either. Pretty big bust considering Kirk Gibson and Cal Ripken were still available.
Fun Fact – He won MVP honors in football and baseball. He enjoys sailing in his down time.
12. Frank Pastore – P – Twins – 576 – 29 years old – RETIRED
1987 Stats – None, he was retired
Awards – None
Player Notes – This was the 72 ounce steak guy! Every year he would drive to spring training and stop in Amarillo, Tx, where he would consume a 72 ounce steak (if eaten in one hour it’s free). He completed this seven of his 11 spring trainings. Currently is the fastest eater too (9 1/2 minutes).
Fun Fact – He graduated from Damien (Cal.) High School.
13. John Cangelosi – OF – White Sox – 201 – 25 years old
1987 Stats – 0.275/4/18/21
Awards – None
Player Notes – Does he not look like Jon Favreau? Spooky! Seriously though, he got a shot as a full time guy with the Sox, but it never really panned out for him, was a 4th outfielder everywhere he went.
Fun Fact – John took part in a triple play on 6/24/85 . . . where were you?
14. Jerry Reed – P – Mariners – 619 – 31 years old
1987 Stats -1-2/3.42/1.26 with 7 saves
Awards – None
Player Notes – Jerry was a career middle reliever, but in 1987 he did save a few games, he had 18 in his whole career.
Fun Fact – He pitched the first no hitter in Western Carolina University history.
15. Jack Clark – 1B – Cardinals – 520 – 31 years old
Nickname – Jack the Ripper
1987 Stats – 0.286/35/106
Awards – All Star (4th and final), Silver Slugger (1st), 3rd in MVP voting
Player Notes – As you can see from the photo Jack’s hair liked to take on a life of it’s own as he gets dragged back to third base.
Fun Fact – None
16. Ed Correa – P – Rangers – 334 – 21 years old – LAST SEASON
1987 Stats – 3-5/7.59/1.93
Awards – None
Player Notes – He never really grew into the starting role they desperately needed at the time and gave up on his at a young age. He never made it back to the bigs.
Fun Fact – He was a highly touted basketball prospect.
17. Bill Madlock – 3B – Dodgers – 734 – 36 years old – LAST SEASON – Also played with Tigers
Nickname – Mad Dog
1987 Stats – 0.264/17/57
Awards – None
Player Notes – A final year to a very good career. Like Parrish, he was a nice guy to stick in the 5 or 6 slot and just let him hack.
Fun Fact – Bill’s nickname is Mad Dog.
Another pack down and another 17 cards to add to the set. This is one of the best boxes I have ever gotten. Overall I have to give the pack 2.0 stars. There were no superstars in this one, but a couple of very good players but mostly because there were no doubles. I appologize for getting this out late, but I knew work was going to pick up at some point.
