Thursday, August 21, 2014

Four Topps, #622


Back into the fancy-free world of Four Topps we go!  Same rules as always: Random.org selects a number from 1 to 792 and we take a peek at the corresponding cards from the four favorite card sets of my youth (1987-1990 Topps).  So easy, a caveman (or a Yankees fan) could do it!

Today, we've been given card No. 622.  Be forewarned, this edition in particular is not for the faint of heart.  If you are a brave soul and don't mind some truly boring and (perhaps) downright bad junk wax, read on, dear reader!  If not, turn away while you still can.

Still with me?  Okay then, here we go...


1987

If you have this card, you can tell your friends that you have Glenn Braggs' rookie card.  By the looks of it, not even Braggs is impressed by such a fact.  Both Donruss and Fleer also featured Braggs in their '87 base sets, while Sportflics beat everyone to the punch by putting the California native in it's 50-card 1986 Rookies set.  Hey, Stat Man:  First career home run came off Texas' Charlie Hough, August 2, 1986.


1988

This is Daniels' second Topps card; his rookie appeared in the previous year's flagship set.  Judging from the darkened background, I'm gonna suppose that Kal is hanging out in the dugout.  Otherwise, maybe this photo was snapped during a solar eclipse?  Hey, Stat Man:  Tied Dave Parker for second on the '87 Reds with 26 home runs.


1989

If you can get beyond Javier's creepy facial expression (a big IF, I concede), you get treated to a pretty neat view of the Tiger Stadium outfield grandstand.  Stangely, this is Javier's second Topps card, but his first since 1987's flagship.  It seems he didn't have an '88 Topps card.  As a matter of fact, only Score featured Javier in its main baseball set in 1988.  Hey, Stat Man:  Led the league in stolen base percentage in '88, swiping 20 bags in 21 attempts (95.2%).


1990

Before his infamous game-winning slide beat the Pirates in Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS, Sid Bream was himself a Bucco.  He had a few pretty good years in Pittsburgh in the late '80s, but 1989 wasn't one of 'em.  In fact, Bream only appeared in 19 games for the '89 Pirates.  Nonetheless, I guess he was established enough to still get a Topps card in 1990.  Hey, Stat Man:  Managed just eight base hits in 36 ABs in 1989.

****

And the Winner Is:  Woof!  I guess the ultimate winner is YOU if you bothered to read today's post.  Not the easiest foursome of cards to digest.  But, it comes with the territory, right?  Anyhow, the winner of card No. 622 supremacy is scary Stan Javier.  When in doubt, the default tie-breaker is always '89 Topps!

MK

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