Player: Alan Trammell / Paul Molitor
Set: 1978 Topps
Card Number: 707
Why is This Card a Must Have?: I love the 4 rookies to a card look. I really do think Topps should bring this back.This has to be one of the best talent – wise rookie cards Topps ever produced. Molitor of course is a Hall of Famer. Trammell could very well make his way in at some point. UL washington had a fairly good career as well. Of course Mickey Klutts is the dead weight on the card (129 career hits). The pure greatnessof course is Molitor, who was a first ballot Hall of Fame inductee in 2004, he is a 7 time All Star, and had over 3300 hits. He without a doubt deserves to be in the Hall. He was one of the most clutch hitters in the 80s and 90s. As far as Trammell goes, his close to 2400 hits puts him Ryno country, which as you know is a trip to the Hall. I don’t think Alan would ever get in, but I am always going to be a fan of his. I remember year after year, when everyone had written him off I always took him in my fantasy draft as my SS. One of my favorite Trammell moments was when he and Lou Whitaker appeared on Magnum PI in 1984 (see below).
On a Scale of 1 to 10, How Must Have Is This Card?: A 10, in the late 80s and early 90s this was one of the cards to own, right up there with the Schmidt rookie. One Hall of Famer and one very good player on the same card. It is a must have and you should get this card if you don’t have it. You can get it on eBay for around $2 – $3.
Love those 70′s style mustachios like Mickey Klutts had. I haven’t seen a facial caterpillar like that since… uh… Jason Giambi and his Yankees finished the regular season…