1988 Topps

If you have evidence that Tom Sandoval tried to inspire his high school classmates to victory by telling them to "Win one for the Nipper," please contact us immediately.

For this Florida native, 100% of his career hits as a Met were game-winning doubles with 9-year-old Mark Simon in the stands. Mark joins the pod to tell us the story! Card 169 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/item/1394/1988-topps-tiffany-169-ross-jones_96618635 88 Topps Blog - https://88topps.blogspot.com/2008/02/169-ross-jones.html Mark Simon’s Journalism Salute Podcast - https://marksimonsports.com/journalism-podcast/ Mark’s 1986 Mets Rewatch newsletter - https://1986-mets-rewatch.beehiiv.com/ Rising Apple interview - https://risingapple.com/2021/10/30/ny-mets-ross-jones-exciting-time/ Ross Jones IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0429182/

The 1980's were a big time for guys with 2 first names: Elton John, Billy Joel, Juan Samuel? Card 398 on eBay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/286511994193 Card 705 on Fanatics Collect - https://www.fanaticscollect.com/buy-now/4f356043-1344-4d98-99af-0056e04ae582 Hall of Fame Card Corner - https://baseballhall.org/discover/card-corner/1988-fleer-juan-samuel SABR Bio by Thomas J Brown Jr. - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/juan-samuel Baseball Card Snark on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/baseball.card.snark/ Harry Kalas narrating Juan’s Highlights - https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1171137844119983 1984-87 2B WAR leaders - https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/tiny/AoaDi 1989 NY Times article about Juan - https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/15/sports/samuel-is-making-an-impact.html Juan Interviewed on the Dirt Podcast - https://youtu.be/8a4MHn8dhNM?si=9XCLe9QeCUNkjMx6

This Team USA standout won a gold medal, played baseball in five countries, married a cheerleader, and became a stock broker. No chagrin to be found. Card #130T on ebay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/197023560084 Randy from PeeWee’s playhouse - https://youtu.be/tjlFMKQ2UiE?si=Y4p1gSbTuK2tP-QM Greatest 21 Days blog about Traxler - https://www.greatest21days.com/2025/10/brian-traxler-took-fundamentals-to-9.html Greatest 21 Days blog about Wood - https://www.greatest21days.com/2020/04/ted-wood-added-strength-in-minors.html Ted Wood SABR bio by Rory Costello - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Ted-Wood/ Chagrin Falls by the Tragically Hip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40zlzmXvkpw

CAUTION: Sliding headfirst can lead to broken bones ... and marriages?? Card 441 on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/1988-Topps-Baseball-Card-Manning/dp/B00JE215JA SABR Bio by Kelly Boyer Sagert: https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Rick-Manning/ Rex Manning Day! https://youtu.be/gf3MsD5FCug?si=r1ibnaojiUppE4CB Eck Throws Shade at Rick: https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/94es0c/dennis_eckersley_throws_shade_at_former_teammate/ The 1978 Cleveland Indians: https://www.coveringthecorner.com/2023/12/11/23996213/75-years-and-counting-the-story-of-the-1978-cleveland-indians Rick Catches the final out of Len Barker’s Perfecto: https://youtu.be/tvnkj8sbpVg?si=67kBJnhmX-ttdC0W The Baseball Bug: https://www.milb.com/news/baseball-bug-x6063 Robin Yount moves to Centerfield: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1b4mm4KgRD/ Rick robs a home run: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S31r1jN6Lm4

This tough Texan was a two-time MLB All-Star, but will forever be a Superstar. Card 113 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/cardgallery_900/item/1988-topps-113-kelly-gruber_31263128 SABR Bio by Mark Davis - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/kelly-gruber/ Inside the Fog Home Run - https://youtu.be/zNANPZgcZGc?si=1gbwYaLVa7ay9A-G Kelly with the First Blue Jays Cycle - https://youtu.be/_sgfrVqQ4EQ?si=PAO3kHtiyA6tJRZG Kelly on Superstars - https://mopupduty.com/blast-from-the-past-kelly-gruber/ Kids in the Hall reference Kelly - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzjJ27yaeyI Kelly hits an ALCS Homer - https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3113518208760610 A World Series Triple Play…or was it? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4MO4v5-zPU Kelly made the tag - https://ik.imagekit.io/mopupduty/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/gruber-triple-play.jpg World Series HOmer - https://www.mlb.com/video/gruber-s-game-tying-homer-c31116859?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share World Series face plant - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBvnmgeOmo0 Kelly interviewed after he was traded - ​​ https://youtu.be/Msw8Zn0a__E?si=8it0-ezlQ7mbtlxR Kelly is rude in 2018 - https://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/mlb/kelly-gruber-innappropriate-comments-1.4708196 Kelly interview in Athletic - https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/392391/2018/06/14/20-questions-with-former-blue-jay-kelly-gruber-on-singing-water-skis-and-an-old-stance-he-just-will-not-surrender/

If your minor league manager tells you you're getting sent on the next plane down to Kinston, check the ticket before you get too upset. Card 576 on Beckett - https://www.beckett.com/baseball/1988/topps-tiffany/576-tommy-hinzo-3915837 1989 LA Times -​​ https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-03-16-sp-1810-story.html Tommy on Brett Davis Unleashed - https://www.facebook.com/IQPodcasts/photos/a.116370870008228/129760832002565/

"A rolling stone gathers no moss" is a clever proverb credited to Erasmus, but we like the modern version: "Minor league pitchers should not cancel their apartment leases mid-season" Card 643 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/item/21/1988-topps-643-rocky-childress_26981142 Greatest 21 Days - https://www.greatest21days.com/2010/02/rocky-childress-back-to-bend-354.html?m=0 Halifax Explosion at the Maritime Museum - https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/vincent-coleman-and-halifax-explosion Canadian Heritage Minute - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw-FbwmzPKo Rappin Rodney - https://youtu.be/mWTKhQzQl1A?si=LTXJW4ln36-f5JGS Sunset Plumbing Videos - https://www.youtube.com/@sunsetplumbingofbend6859

This Hall of Famer is emphatically NOT the pride of Vermont, but he is one of our host's all-time favorites. Card #385 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/ziggys_672/item/1988-topps-385-carlton-fisk_32570197 Card #321 on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Baseball-Topps-White-Leaders-NM-MT/dp/B0F561QTDT SABR Bio by Brian Stevens - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/carlton-fisk/ Fisk vs Deion article - https://andscape.com/features/deion-sanders-carlton-fisk-fight-yankee-stadium/ Fisk in the National Portrait Gallery - https://npg.si.edu/blog/carlton-fisk-tough-guy Fisk’s page at the Hall of Fame - https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/fisk-carlton 1991 Topps Fisk Card - https://lifetimetopps.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/1991-topps-best-action-fisk.jpg Fisk Hall of Fame speech, all 37 minutes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUjfOUy5jnw That Home Run, you know the one - https://www.mlb.com/video/top-postseason-hrs-carlton-fisk?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share How a Rat led to that iconic waving shot - https://youtu.be/eMtFUN6vXug?si=MgTIQBT1_9Qrion1 1981 White Sox Opening Day at Fenway - https://www.mlb.com/video/fisk-s-opening-day-monster-homer-c63708483?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share Fisk makes a bang bang double play - https://www.mlb.com/video/running-it-back-to-a-crazy-play-at-the-plate?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share Fisk and Deion squabble - https://www.mlb.com/video/fisk-s-confrontation-with-deion?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share 1991 All-Star Game Pudge makes a tag - https://www.mlb.com/video/fielder-throws-out-clark-at-home-c530298483?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share

Some lessons, like "Don't foul the ball off your own eye," have to be learned the hard way. Card 428 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/threestarssportscards_925/item/1988-topps-428-john-shelby_43464379 Briggs Card Company on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586280361464 Sarasota Magazine Interview with Shelby - https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/news-and-profiles/2024/03/john-shelby-mlb SABR Bio by Malcolm Allen - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/john-shelby/ Shelby with a World Series RBI - https://youtu.be/N9g21AxcbGg?si=xgDfquia5OxpzzCK&t=5969 Shelby Robs Fisk - https://www.mlb.com/video/shelby-robs-fisk-of-extra-bases-c37202907?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share Shelby catches the final out 1988 NLCS Game 4 - https://www.mlb.com/video/shelby-catches-final-out-c25631733?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share Shelby catches the final out of 1988 NLCS Game 5 - https://www.mlb.com/video/shelby-s-catch-ends-game-5-c494898583?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share Shelby vs Clemens - https://youtu.be/zMJ3lXj-thA?si=m48TpfssEvfa8HuR Shelby vs Frazier Standoff! https://youtu.be/jKQ66Ghuthw?si=Ndjp8wbjOtM8ss-o

When this speedster was in his prime, there were fireworks every time he was on base. It's Episode 250! Thank you for listening! Card #260 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/bigmacsportscards_709/item/1988-topps-260-vince-coleman_21227922 Card #1 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/item/900/1988-topps-1-vince-coleman-rb_31263029 SABR Bio by Zac Petrillo - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/vince-coleman/ The Tarp eats Vince - https://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/benjamin-hochman/35-years-ago-the-day-the-tarp-ate-vince-coleman/article_5e47b555-a52b-5106-9d17-58b5303ca0f5.html?mode=nowapp Vince MLB’s most exciting player - https://www.mlb.com/news/vince-coleman-mlb-most-exciting-player-one-season Vince Beats Miami on the gridiron - https://x.com/Stitch_Head/status/1643482155962753025?s=20 Inside the Park Vince - https://youtu.be/Xs2wZ5JY6qU?si=a7m1AuenH9Qsr-u9 https://sqdc.st/s/yimYv2x 7 minutes of pickoffs - https://www.mlb.com/video/chris-welsh-s-17-pickoff-attempts?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share 8 minutes of RBI Vince - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0j5hbY5id8

This left-hander turned his 1989 NL Cy Young into a fat contract worth 13 million packs of Phillies' Franks. Card #482 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/cardinvestors_1277/item/1988-topps-482-mark-davis_86912470 Hall of Fame Card Corner for this card: https://baseballhall.org/discover/cardcorner-1988-topps-mark-davis A Sad $13 Million Man - https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-06-08-sp-781-story.html SABR Article about Mark’s First Win: https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/july-30-1983-mark-davis-earns-first-win-for-giants-with-shutout-of-rival-dodgers/ Hot Dog ad: https://youtu.be/dOfFdykWS5M?si=p4XKfvZfqW2nuNqe Mark in the 1989 All Star Game: https://youtu.be/g8SErfKgyFo?si=VR79KEnGXi8eI9UU&t=7711

This 6-time Gold Glover caught everything, whether it was drive to the gap in right or a great deal at Taco Bell! Card #424 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/threestarssportscards_925/item/1988-topps-424-dwayne-murphy_43464375 SABR Bio by Dan Schoenholz - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/dwayne-murphy/ Hall of Fame Card Corner - https://baseballhall.org/discover/cardcorner-1988-donruss-dwayne-murphy Archived article about Hammer lawsuit - https://web.archive.org/web/20070817071129/http://www.millslawfirm.com/media-15.html 1982 Topps Blog post about Dwayne- https://1982topps.blogspot.com/2014/04/card-29-dwayne-murphy.html Dwayne the Football coach - https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-06-25-sp-8439-story.html Mark Langston on Sabrina - https://bsky.app/profile/1988toppspodcast.bsky.social/post/3ma4swh2gfc2p DUAAAAANE - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI-aDjb2sAA Murphy and Norris Gold Gloves - https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/mike-norris-and-dwayne-murphy-of-the-oakland-athletics-news-photo/1125839394 1980 A’s season in Review - https://youtu.be/hWcYNNgef50?si=r7VRX_mc9NwKpJqi&t=923 1981 Taco Bell Commercial - https://youtu.be/bdAeBULUbI8?si=fkAuHGwPJVMJZDHA Klingon Pop Warrior on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/TheKlingonPopWarriorjenbom

The 1952 classic, "Botch-a-me," by Rosemary Clooney, is a play on "Bacia me" which means "kiss me" in Italian. It has nothing to do with a guy named Butch. Card #737 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/hooplasportscards_1082/item/1988-topps-737-butch-wynegar_82605424 Hall of Fame Card Corner - https://baseballhall.org/discover/cardcorner-1978-topps-butch-wynegar SABR Article about Butch’s big year - https://sabr.org/journal/article/butch-wynegar-from-single-a-to-the-major-league-all-star-game-in-one-year/ 1986 Article about Butch leaving NY - https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/08/04/New-York-Yankees-catcher-Butch-Wynegar-who-left-the/9117523512000/ BP interview with Butch - https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/8101/prospectus-qa-butch-wynegar/ Minor League Interview - https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-350176 Twins Daily article about Early Butch - https://twinsdaily.com/forums/topic/70808-butch-wynegar-had-an-incredible-two-year-start-to-a-13-year-career/ Opening Day Homer - https://youtu.be/EV5g8PD7-Us?si=KVjevlzyMeJV3qF8

This "dandy little glove man" is one of only 15 players in MLB history to complete an unassisted triple play. Card #71T on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/bigmacsportscards_709/item/1988-topps-traded-71t-mickey-morandini-oly-xrc_32209640 88 Topps Blog - https://88topps.blogspot.com/2008/10/71t-mickey-morandini.html Buy us a coffee? https://buymeacoffee.com/1988toppspd BallNine interview - https://ballnine.com/2023/03/09/mickey-morandini/ Mickey the Ace’s obstacle - https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/06/sports/baseball/baseball-aces-obstacle-on-way-to-hall-of-fame-mickey-morandini-a-268-hitter.html Mickey’s high School Coach interviewed - https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/hsother/2020/04/15/mickey-morandini-bob-oberdorf-leechburg-blue-devils-philadelphia-phillies-chicago-cubs-toronto-blue-jays-wpial-baseball/stories/202004150028 Tony Lucadello SABR Bio - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/tony-lucadello/ Mickey’s Unassisted triple play - https://www.mlb.com/video/morandini-turns-triple-play-c26319797 Mickey hits a NLCS Triple off Maddux - https://www.mlb.com/video/morandini-s-two-run-triple-c31254281?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share Mickey hit in the head with a Blauser throw - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wW1Oa9ISIrk

While this veteran hurler threw righty, lefty, starter, reliever, and closer, there was one jam he couldn't get out of: 1988 Topps Picture Day. Card #369 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/item/709/1988-topps-369-greg-harris_21228031 SABR Bio by Bill Nowlin - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/greg-a-harris/ Bob Brittain cards on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TTMBob64 Switch Pitcher article from Hall of Fame - https://baseballhall.org/discover/switch-pitchers-caught-a-piece-of-history 1981 Tides card - https://marketplace.beckett.com/item/434/1981-tidewater-tides-tcma-23-greg-harris_31782349 Greg pitches ambidextrously! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4ozn8kaTTU Greg and Venditte - https://wpln.org/post/a-switch-pitcher-the-nashville-sounds-have-one-and-his-6-fingered-glove-is-awesome/

Fine, he didn't invent "The Wave," but he was still a very good pitcher. Card #80 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/cardgallery_900/item/1988-topps-80-mark-langston_61023426 Krazy George unleashes The Wave - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sqGxQoORYE Hall of Fame Card Corner - https://baseballhall.org/discover/CardCorner/1990-Fleer-Mark-Langston SI Langston signs his big contract in 1989 - https://vault.si.com/vault/1989/12/11/rich-mans-game-with-the-collapse-of-collusion-and-with-clubs-prospering-as-never-before-baseball-salaries-are-now-out-of-sight 1989 SI Article about Mark - https://vault.si.com/vault/1989/04/24/a-wanted-man-when-the-talk-is-trade-the-name-heard-most-often-is-that-of-seattles-mark-langston Is it Safe to Throw a Breaking Ball? - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10293565/ Mike Witt Closes out Combined No-Hitter - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29jZckxXli0 Mark discusses his heart attack - https://youtu.be/KhJmU2Rjw-s?si=c_Lw8HcM8WxUhtpY&t=103 Mark pitches in Letterman’s hallway - https://youtu.be/04zpzh22BSo?si=oVTVL0w-b1kmTz49

The member of the 1997 World Series-winning Florida Marlins who most resembles a Les Miserables character. Card #506 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/item/900/1988-topps-506-john-cangelosi_31263472 John interviewed for MILB - https://www.milb.com/news/herd-chronicles-john-cangelosi-career-included-plenty-of-hits-stolen-b-309537676 John talks about 1997 World Series - https://www.mlb.com/news/john-cangelosi-reflects-on-1997-world-series-win Rick Cerone’s YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAKT__QBx7KzxL_b589fhTg Adam Darowski talks about the 4000 Hit Club https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lwFzvM8240 Most Rookie stolen bases since 1920 - https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/tiny/blrn8 Cangelosi Pitches - https://www.mlb.com/video/cangelosi-pitches-scoreless-9th-c539434683

This Jersey-born catcher was chosen instead of Bo Derek for a fashion ad and had a #1 hit on the country charts (in Syracuse.) Card 561 - https://marketplace.beckett.com/cardshack_727/item/1988-topps-561-rick-cerone_15842271 Card 27T - https://www.sportscardspro.com/game/baseball-cards-1988-topps-traded/rick-cerone-27t Hall of Fame Card Corner - https://baseballhall.org/discover/CardCorner-1978-Topps-Rick-Cerone SABR Bio by Steve Friedman - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/rick-cerone/ A Long Run Home - https://youtu.be/XenZSo3tnwA?si=d-gZQojJVO4CnLDT NJ News story about Long Run Home - https://www.nj.com/yankees/2023/06/the-wild-story-of-a-nj-baseball-legends-long-forgotten-country-song.html Line drive kills a rally - https://youtu.be/g__TmBglW9U?si=KZbZbqE0NSFg4js8&t=5785 10 Jeans ads - https://youtu.be/tNUbjCDXHHs?si=5bTStbCRJyw1m9b8 Rick Shuts up George - https://youtu.be/awQtGTg8XX4?si=_FKaItH5P4TO8nWI Geo Cities site - https://www.geocities.ws/cesarano/ceronesings.html NJ News story about Rick - https://newjersey.news12.com/positively-new-jersey-yankees-legend-dishes-on-little-known-singing-stint

We've got a new jingle! If you want to win, here's what they say: Just start Rick Mahler on Opening Day Card 706 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/gamesandcards_87/item/1988-topps-tiffany-706-rick-mahler_30276986 Rick on Opening Day - https://www.si.com/mlb/braves/news/rick-mahler-thrived-on-opening-day-for-the-braves Rick in Santurce - https://beisbol101.com/rick-camp-and-rick-mahler-santurce-crabbers-imports-and-atlanta-braves-teammates-part-i/ Hall of Fame Card Corner - ​​https://baseballhall.org/discover/cardcorner-1982-donruss-rick-mahler Rick’s Obituary - https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/2005/03/03/rick-mahler-dies-at-51/31685396007/