
1988 Topps
Baseball
Every card has a story to tell. In this 700+ episode series, Matt Kuzma and David McEllis discuss a different 1988 Topps baseball card every week. Send your questions and suggestions to 1988ToppsPodcast@gmail.com.
Location:
United States
Description:
Every card has a story to tell. In this 700+ episode series, Matt Kuzma and David McEllis discuss a different 1988 Topps baseball card every week. Send your questions and suggestions to 1988ToppsPodcast@gmail.com.
Language:
English
Website:
https://anchor.fm/1988topps
Episodes
Jim Presley (#285)
7/31/2025
If there are three true outcomes in baseball, this Mariners bomber had two of them (the HRs and Ks) nailed.
Card 285 on Beckett -
https://marketplace.beckett.com/item/1082/1988-topps-285-jim-presley_53873437
Escambia Mascot Riots in 1976 New York Times -
https://www.nytimes.com/1976/03/07/archives/racial-animosity-turns-to-violence-in-pensacola-fla-on-issue-of.html
Opening Day Walk Off Grand Slam -
https://youtu.be/b34n3DBbiIg?si=rFPrEBtb43HJ_O6g
2nd Walk off Grand Slam -
https://www.mlb.com/video/presley-s-walk-off-slam-in-11th-c1709636783
2016 Interview with Jim -
https://www.kvue.com/article/sports/one-on-one-with-express-coach-jim-presley/269-270797388
Duration:00:35:21
Ken Williams (#559)
7/24/2025
Inside: Everything you ever wanted to know about the 2005 World Series-winning Chicago White Sox. RIP Bobby Jenks
Card 559 on Beckett
https://marketplace.beckett.com/baseballcardconnection_794/item/1988-topps-559-ken-williams-rc_34326910
SABR Bio by Bill Pruden
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/ken-williams/
SABR Bio of the other Ken Williams by Joseph Wancho with poem
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/ken-williams-2/
Base path antics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SInxwZTZp8&t=1s
2005 ALCS dropped third strike?
https://youtu.be/9Tn5CQ9vyYQ?si=fRkkNbwQcxAPRkgi
Williams on race and racism in America in 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U9nJ7S9KeI
Duration:00:58:22
Felix Fermin (#547)
7/14/2025
Before this defensive specialist became a legendary manager in the Dominican League, he was almost a landmark trade in Yankees' history.
Card 547 on Beckett -
https://www.beckett.com/baseball/1988/topps/547-felix-fermin-3915004
Baseball Hall Card Corner - https://baseballhall.org/discover/cardcorner-1988-topps-felix-fermin
Pablo Cruz and the death of Alfredo Edmead - https://www.si.com/mlb/2021/06/18/alfredo-edmead-jr-pablo-cruz-life-after-death-daily-cover
Mariano for Felix Fermin? https://www.mlb.com/news/mariano-rivera-almost-got-traded-to-mariners
Felix makes a sweet double play - https://youtu.be/AjGcyaQ3N0o?si=MBhrvVJzDfk7ChzH
Felix shows great range - https://youtu.be/nqelGxZjj_8?si=7J_i2gKdVtePp05J
Duration:00:43:53
Don Mattingly (#2/300/386)
7/4/2025
Plain and simple, he had the best-known name, face, and sideburns of 1980s baseball and baseball cards.
Base card #300
https://marketplace.beckett.com/item/1082/1988-topps-300-don-mattingly_53873452
Record Breakers #2
https://marketplace.beckett.com/cardgallery_900/item/1988-topps-2-don-mattingly-rb_62538603
All Star #386 on eBay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/225908282343
World of Baseball Don Mattingly - https://baseballcards.substack.com/p/1988-topps-world-of-baseball-don
SABR Bio by James Lincoln Ray - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Don-Mattingly/
Don’s HOF Case at MLB https://www.mlb.com/news/don-mattingly-hall-of-fame-case
Don’s 1987 Topps Birthday Mystery - https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29043681/cracking-birthday-mystery-don-mattingly-1987-topps-baseball-card
Don talks about the Hit Man poster - https://youtu.be/1iRtD14A9Io?si=dMwC5kZb8426ZaCu
Don and Niekro in a New Coke Ad - https://youtu.be/OxjZfs3OUmM?si=4jnF0NzCM_l7QTHq
1989 SI Article - https://vault.si.com/vault/1989/02/06/the-hit-man-hits-back-after-his-most-trying-year-as-a-yankee-don-mattingly-is-now-back-home-in-indiana-preparing-to-attack-the-upcoming-season
1995 ALDS Home Run - https://youtu.be/LrAU5Kxnr04?si=6MzcQxKMzuh-7McZ
Duration:01:24:53
Moose Haas (#606)
6/25/2025
Of all the celebrities named Moose, the most famous is probably the actor / Jack Russell Terrier who played Eddie on Frasier. RIP
Card #606 on Beckett
https://marketplace.beckett.com/item/1082/1988-topps-tiffany-606-moose-haas_66153931
SABR Bio by Dennis Degenhardt - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/moose-haas/
Hall of Fame Card Corner 1981 Moose Haas - https://baseballhall.org/discover/CardCorner-1981-Topps-Moose-Haas
1985 UPI Article about Moose- https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/07/01/Off-the-field-Bryan-Edmond-Moose-Haas-is-a/1092489038400/
Game Used Jersey - https://www.memorabilia.expert/shop/1987-moose-haas-game-worn-as-jersey/
1982 ALCS Don Baylor Grand Slam - https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1aAj8BTcqJ/
Duration:00:39:29
Charlie O'Brien (#566)
6/19/2025
Little known fact: Tina Turner originally wanted to write a song called "Personal Catcher" about backups who create that trusted relationship with ace pitchers, but she couldn't get the lyrics to fit her melody. She went with "Private Dancer" instead, and the rest is history.
Card 566 on Beckett
https://marketplace.beckett.com/item/900/1988-topps-566-charlie-obrien-rc_27922483
Charlie’s Sabr Bio by Steve West https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/charlie-obrien/
Brian Boru
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Boru
Charlie’s SI Cover https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/r4YAAOSwpjlghelD/s-l1600.webp
Charlie Keeps his career alive at SI https://vault.si.com/vault/1999/04/26/catch-as-catch-can-the-angels-charlie-obrien-uses-all-his-tricks-to-keep-his-career-alive
Charlie’s Book at Texas A&M Press https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781623492922/the-cy-young-catcher/
Popular Mechanics story about Charlie’s mask https://www.popularmechanics.com/adventure/sports/a236/1283166/
Puck Junk the evolution of Baseball goalie masks https://puckjunk.com/2018/03/29/the-evolution-of-baseballs-goalie-mask/
1995 NLCS Homer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyiGRE7eRRs
Duration:00:44:07
Gene Garber (#597)
6/8/2025
Welcome to Season 6 of the 1988 Topps Podcast!
In 1932, Australian farms were threatened by an increase in the population of the emu, a large flightless bird. The Australian military tried to cull the flocks of emus for 40 days, but ultimately failed in a debacle that would come to be known as The Great Emu War.
#597 on Beckett
https://www.beckett.com/baseball/1988/topps-tiffany/597-gene-garber-3915858
SABR Bio by Don Massey
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Gene-Garber/
Garber irked by modern game
https://lancasteronline.com/sports/baseball/mlb/elizabethtown-native-gene-garber-irked-by-aspects-of-baseball-today-commentary/article_5228dabe-985f-11e8-90b0-2f795df2f570.html
Gene ends Rose streak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1sm1rOUfTg
HOF Card Corner - 1975 Topps
https://baseballhall.org/discover/card-corner/1975-topps-gene-garber
The Curse of Gene Garber
https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/752808/ATL18_v1-1.pdf
Buy us a coffee?
http://coff.ee/1988ToppsPd
Duration:00:49:31
Mike Fiore (#38T)
5/11/2025
When ... the ...
Card has a guy that looks like all the guys, that's Fiore (that's Fiore)
When the card of the day comes from Team U.S.A. that's Fiore (that's Fiore)
Bells will ring for the Pope ting-a-ling-a-ling and you'll sing "Vita bella"
He's a Sox fan at heart, and to us that means he's quite a fella!
* Card 38T on eBay
* Induction video into College Baseball Hall of Fame and Mike's speech
* Mike interviewed about his experiences in Omaha
* Greatest 21 Days
* University of Miami Hall of Fame
This is the final episode of Season 5. Five years down, only 15 to go? New episodes return soon. Thank you for supporting the show! https://buymeacoffee.com/1988toppspd
Duration:00:33:54
Jeff Musselman (#229)
5/6/2025
This All-Star Rookie had his life saved by a call to the pen, er, apartment.
Card 229 on Beckett
https://marketplace.beckett.com/item/1036/1988-topps-229-jeff-musselman_44463551
SABR Bio by Malcolm Allen
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/jeff-musselman/
Jeff at Harvard talking about sobriety
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1993/11/2/come-back-to-life-sobriety-and/
The Fall of '87
https://garejoyce2022.substack.com/p/the-fall-of-87-and-the-fail-of-2017
M.U.S.C.L.E.
http://blog.uofmuscle.com/34574/what-is-a-muscle-figure/
The Jersey Devil
https://pinelandsalliance.org/learn-about-the-pinelands/pinelands-history-and-culture/the-jersey-devil-and-folklore/
Duration:00:43:21
Jeff Ballard (#782)
4/28/2025
This Stanford grad from Montana had one good season on the mound in Baltimore -- then had a change of plans after a snowy night in Idaho.
Card 782 on eBay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156065903677
Watch the Diamond King now! https://www.thediamondkingmovie.com/
Listen to Cement City about Donora, PA - https://www.cementcity.org/
SABR Bio by Malcolm Allen - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/jeff-ballard/
Ballard in Montana - https://www.montanaseniornews.com/jeff-ballard/
Ballard’s double ball found - https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidseideman/2018/01/11/big-leaguer-recovers-priceless-baseball-25-years-later/
Looking back at Ballard’s 1989 - https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/95581/cold-takes-jeff-ballards-luck-ran-out/
The Athletic finds out that Ballard is in The Office - https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3271009/2022/05/10/tiktok-sleuth-movies-tv-clips/
Why Not song - https://youtu.be/jSAohY4o-0E?si=y3mhS263zcpU8fLn
Duration:00:47:30
Ken Griffey (#443)
4/24/2025
The third-best baseball player of all time born in Donora, PA.
* Card 443 on Beckett
* SABR Bio by Charles F. Faber
* Braves at Mets, Apr. 11, 1987
* Donora Smog Disaster
* Grandma's Reds Scorebook Griffey entries
*Reds 1976 All-Star Game highlights
* Griffey wins the 1980 ASG MVP
* Father-Son back to back jacks
* Ken and Buddy
* Stan and Ken and Donora, PA
Duration:00:49:06
Todd Benzinger (#96)
4/6/2025
Although the 1987 rookie season for "Benz" was a good one, there is no proof that he was the inspiration for the 1988 No. 1 hit "Mercedes Boy" by Pebbles.
* Card 96 on Beckett
* Sabr Bio by Bill Nowlin
* Catching up with Benz
* Todd Benzinger 1987 Highlight video
* Benzinger hits a big homer in 1988
* Todd catches the final out of 1990 World Series
Duration:00:38:28
Chili Davis (#15/32T)
4/1/2025
Legendary artist Dick Perez and filmmaker Marq Evans join the pod to talk about their new movie "The Diamond King" along with Dick's favorite Donruss Diamond King card, the 1995 Chili Davis.
* Card 15 on Beckett
* Card 32T on Beckett
* Watch The Diamond King, opening April 25, 2025!
* Diamond King trailer
* SABR Bio by Rory Costello
* Chili signs with the Angels in 1987
* 1991 World Series Homer
* JD Davis: "Chili is my Dog"
* Chili Bowl Mullet Man at the Video Store
Duration:01:00:22
Lloyd McClendon (#172)
3/23/2025
True, Lloyd McClendon holds the all-time single series record for batting average and on-base percentage in a playoff series. But his Little League World Series performance makes that look like child's play.
Plus: MLB needs to stop caving to pathetic authoritarians who would like to paint over baseball history in a ugly shade of white.
* Card 220 on Beckett
* The story of Legendary Lloyd in SI
* Full video of the 1971 LLWS Final!
* Valpo Mag on Lloyd
* Indiana story on Lloyd
* Grandma's Scorebook: First Game, First Hit
* Lloyd literally steals first
* Stathead Search: Career Playoff OPS, 10+ PA
* Little League Hall of Excellence
Duration:00:44:58
Cookie Rojas (#97T)
3/19/2025
A managerial rookie card! This Cuban national played every field position and was an All-Star in both leagues. Definitely not a bozo.
* Buy Me a Coffee, especially when we're sick
* Card #97T on Beckett
* SABR Bio by Peter Gordon
* The questionable hats
* Stathead Search: WAR 2B 1971-1973
* Gene Mauch talks about Cookie
* Cookie and His Cupcakes: Mathilda
* Cookie's 1972 All-Star Homer
* Cookie shoves an ump
Duration:00:45:16
Bob Melvin (#41)
3/5/2025
This catcher and future manager was great on defense, but he really hit for power when tubers were on the line.
* Card 41 on Beckett
* Star Union Spirits
* SABR Bio by Malcolm Allen
* The State: $240 worth of pudding
* Nice catch, questionable announcing???
* Bob's childhood friends reflect
Duration:00:34:18
Guy Hoffman (#496)
2/26/2025
James from the "Remember That Guy" podcast joins to answer a simple question:
How good of a Guy can Guy be so he can be a "Guy" while not being too good to be a "Guy?"
* Card 496 on Beckett
* Remember That Guy
* Episode with David and Matt
* Mike Lange highlights
* Guy inducted into local Hall of Fame
* Joe Labek and his 40 K game
* 1980 Topps Guy Hoffman Future Star
* Grandma's Scorebook and Marilyn Monroe connection!
* Guy and Guyette numbers retired
Duration:00:44:16
Dave Palmer (#732/79T)
2/16/2025
It wasn't officially a *perfect* game, but it was still simply irresitible.
* Card 732 on Beckett
* Card 79T on Beckett
* SABR Bio by Norm King
* Palmer's Perfect* Game SABR Game Story
* 15 of 15 Cardinals outs of the game
* Dave Palmer Day!
* Braves/Mets Brawl
* Face Plant
Duration:00:45:00
Buddy Bell (#130/13T)
2/9/2025
In a discussion of famous people named "Buddy," your hosts somehow forgot the most famous Buddy of the 1980's, 1985 Chicago Bears Defensive Coordinator (and coach of some other teams) Buddy Ryan.
*Card 130 on eBay
*Card 13T on eBay
* SABR Bio byJoe Wancho
* Buddy Miles"Them Changes"
* Buddy Bell asks "What Would Gus Do"
* Carbo vs Bellscrappin'
*Hall of Fame Card Corner - 1986 Topps
*Levi Weaver case for Buddy in the Hall
* 3Bunderrepresentedin the Hall
* Stathead Search:1978-1984 Position Players by WAR
* Stathead Search:Top WAR not in Hall of Fame
Duration:00:42:11
Mike Marshall (#249)
1/29/2025
Jeff Snider of Locked on Dodgers returns to the show to discuss his first favorite player growing up — a power hitter we're sure you'll go Head Over Heels for.
BeckettBill NowlinBuffalo Grovelove storyBaseball Boogiebrawlhomer
Duration:00:51:20