I think it’s been since Thursday since I cranked one of these out. Well after much heaving and sneezing I finally feel halfway decent to finish one of these posts. Just to catch everyone up, at 30 packs in we have the better part of 510 cards of the 792 card set. Yes you heard that right, almost 75% of the set. Some of the major cards missing are a few future stars, the Canseco card, most of the Turn Back the Clock cards and oddly enough the checklist cards. Be prepared for a new rant tomorrow morning as I go off on Beckett magazine again. I was surprised that I didn’t get more response on my last one. Well let’s see how you feel about their starter sets section.
1. Rick Dempsey – C – Orioles – 28 - 37 years old – Played with Cleveland in 1987
1987 Stats – 0.177/1/9 in 144 at bats.
Awards – None
Player Notes – Rick hold his head up high in this shot, but those wrinkles are starting to show not only on his face but in his game as well.
Fun Fact – None
2. Max Venable – OF – Reds – 226 – 30 years old
1987 Stats – 0.143/0/2 in 7 at bats
Awards – None
Player Notes – Max never really caught on anywhere he went. He was always the 4th or even fifth outfielder. 1987 was a classic example. He spent most of the season in AAA.
Fun Fact – None
3. Todd Worrell – P – Cardinals – 465 – 27 years old
1987 Stats – 8-6/2.66/1.27 with 33 saves
Awards – None
Player Notes – Was among two rookie closers to make in impact in 1986, he and Mark Eichhorn. It’s amazing though when you think about it that he went on to close 36 games as a rookie in 1986, then turned around and had another great season in 1987
Fun Fact – He participated in the Pony League program.
4. Ron Kittle – DH – Yankees – 584 – 29 years old
1987 Stats – 0.277/12/28 in 149 at bats
Awards – None
Player Notes – Ron was a starter early in his career but once Baines took over the DH role in Chi-town, Ron was expendable and ended up on a bad Yankees team where he actually hit the ball pretty well considering he only had around 150 at bats.
Fun Fact – Ron was All-Indiana in high school basketball.
5. Craig Reynolds – SS – Astros - 779 - 34 years old
1987 Stats – 0.254/4/28/5
Awards – None
Player Notes – He was so happy in that picture, but it seems forced, like the photographer told him, I’m going to snap your picture just after you hit the ball, remember to say cheese. Funny how some people just seem happier when the play.
Fun Fact – None
6. Rangers Leaders – 656
Offensive Leaders – Oddibe McDowell and Scott Flether
Pitching Leaders – Charlie Hough and Ed Correa
7. Roger McDowell – P – Mets – 185 – 26 years old
1987 Stats – 7-5/4.16/1.38 with 25 saves
Awards – None
Player Notes -As you can see in the picture, he was known for having one of the thickest and sickest necks in baseball, are you in awe just like I am, now all bow to Roger’s neck! Seriously though, he had a rough season in 1987 and because of it, found himself traded in 1988.
Fun Fact – He recovered from elbow surgery in 1984 to earn 2 wins for Jackson in the Texas League Playoffs.
8. Enos Cabell – 3B/1B – Dodgers – 509 - Retired
1987 Stats – None
Awards – None
Player Notes – Retired after the 1986 season with the Dodgers
Fun Fact – He and his wife have 2 sons (one of them is Enos Jr.)
9. Dale “The Murph” Murphy – OF – Braves – 490 - 31 years old
1987 Stats – 0.295/44/105/16
Awards – All Star (7th and final time), 11th in MVP voting
Player Notes – People either think he is a superstar and underated or completely overated (depending on where you are in the country). Personally I think any 2 time MVP deserves to be in the Hall.
Fun Fact – Dale has developed into a chess enthusiast.
10. Rafael Ramirez – SS/3B – Braves – 76 – 29 years old
1987 Stats – 0.263/1/21 in 179 at bats
Awards – None
Player Notes – Usually a starter, Raffy was injured early and often in 1987 and missed most of the season.
Fun Fact – He gives Braves tickets to youth groups.
11. Terry Harper – OF – Braves – 49 - 31 years old – Slit season between Detroit and Pittsburgh
1987 Stats – 0.246/4/17 in 130 at bats
Awards – None
Player Notes – This was the last season in Terry’s career. He beat the odds, drafted in the 16th round, he turned out ot be a servicable player.
Fun Fact – He attended real estate school in Atlanta.
12. BJ Surhoff – C – Brewers – 216 – Future Star – 22 years old
1987 Stats – 0.299/7/68/11
Awards – None
Player Notes – This is rare for the Topps people a rookie card of a true rookie, he had no MLB at bats in 1986. This is one of the most famous cards from the set. He had a nice career and this was his first card. Everyone remembers this card if you were collecting in 1987.
Fun Fact – He earned All – ACC honors 3 times at UNC. He batted 0.303 as a member of the 1984 US Olympic team. His brother Rich is a pitcher in the Rangers farm system.
13. Curt Wilkerson – SS/2B – Rangers – 228 – 26 years old
1987 Stats – 0.268/2/14 in just 138 at bats
Awards – None
Player Notes – The Rangers had huge aspirations for Curt, but he never became that full time guy they needed.
Fun Fact – He played baseball and football in high school. Also he played in the Babe Ruth League.
14. Tom Nieto – C – Expos – 416 – 26 years old – Played in Minnesota in 1987
1987 Stats – 0.200/1/12 in 105 at bats
Awards – None
Player Notes – It’s a little known fact that Tom was actually thawed out of ice after being trapped for almost 10,000 years, he is the last caveman ever to play in the MLB.
Fun Fact – None
15. Ken Dixon – P – Orioles – 528 – 26 years old – Final season
1987 Stats – 7-10/6.43/1.48
Awards – None
Player Notes – Never really put together a solid season for the Orioles and never made it back to the bigs after this terrible season.
Fun Fact – Ken likes to play the drums.
16. Rafeal Palmiero – OF – Cubs – 634 – 22 years old – Future Star
1987 Stats – 0.276/14/30
Awards – None
Player Notes – Another classic card from this set.If you look closely you can see the needle marks on his arm.
Fun Fact – He hit 0.415 with 29 homers and 94 RBI at Mississippi St. in 1984 to become the first Triple Crown Winner in SEC history.
17. Tony Phillips – 3B/2B – A’s – 188 – 28 years old
1987 Stats – 0.240/10/46
Awards – None
Player Notes – Not quite on par with the stars of the day, but he was regarded as a star. Basically though, he was a decent hitting good second baseman. No pop and not much speed.
Fun Fact – He attended New Mexico Military Institute. He and his wife have one daughter.
Overall what a nice pack! I am going to give this one a 3.5 star rating. You had Raffy and BJ, not to mention Dempsey and Worrell. Not bad at all, plus and I have to double check this, no doubles! How crazy is this box, I definitely don’t remember boxes as good as this one when I was back in 1987 opening them. Hope you enjoy tomorrow’s rant. Also llok for another Operation Topps.
