Player: Orel Hershiser
Set: 1985 Donruss, Fleer and Topps
Card Number: 581, 371, and 493 respectively
Why is This Card is a Must Have?: Again, I guess another controversial decision but he does have a Cy Young and that massive consecutive innings streak record which has since been eclipsed. The thing is I remember him as an absolutely dominating pitcher in his prime. I remember thinking every time he went out to pitch something special was going to happen. As with every player he got older, but after he was traded to the Indians, he became wiser and learned to adapt and dominate again. The pinnacle of his career was by far and away them 1988 World Series. Where he was named the WS MVP. He has a career 204-150/3.48/1.26 stat line. Something that isn’t widely known, he was one of the best hitting pitchers in his generation and in 1996 he bat 0.356 which at the time was a record for a single season by a pitcher. He isn’t a Hall of Fame guy, but he’s no slouch to add to your collection.
On a Scale of 1 to 10, How Must Have Are These Cards?: A 2, he wasn’t the best pitcher of the 80s, but he was wildly popular and for a brief time during his prime years, one of the most consistent pitchers you’ll ever see. You can find this card for no more than a dollar on eBay.
The Dodgers always had good-hitting pitchers back then. Not only was there Hershiser, but Valenzuela could hit, Rick Rhoden and a couple others.
Hershiser’s scoreless inning streak still stands!
Hershiser was a fierce competitor. But he does not look fierce on that ’85 Fleer card. In fact, he looks quite timid.
Fleer must have had a thing with posed shots of Hershiser:
’86
http://www.checkoutmycards.com/Cards/Baseball/1986/Fleer/131/Orel_Hershiser
’87
http://www.checkoutmycards.com/Cards/Baseball/1987/Fleer/441/Orel_Hershiser
Ahhh! The ’87 is as blue as the ’85 is gray.
At least he looks kind of sinister on the ’86 Fleer. That’s what I think of — the bulldog!