1987 Topps Mookie Wilson World Series Highlights

I have always wished that Topps would've made more World Series Highlight cards. They made some in the '60's and '70's, but if I'm not mistaken, the last year they made them in the '80's was 1981, and they didn't bring them back until 1998. They missed out on cards like a 1989 Kirk Gibson, a 1994 Joe Carter, a 1996 David Justice, and this one, a 1987 Mookie Wilson. This game is one of the most remembered games of all-time, and for Topps not to showcase it on a card is a shame. Here is my attempt at a 1987 Topps Mookie Wilson World Series Highlights card.

1998 Topps Buck Showalter

Card #32 in my set has had a lot of changes made to it. Originally, I had planned to do a 1986 Topps Traded Greg Maddux. The 1986 is kind of blah and easy to do, so I decided to put off doing that card, and substitute it for a card that was towards the end of my set that I really looked forward to making.

Growing up in Lakeland, Florida, I remember in 1993 when the San Francisco Giants appeared to be heading to Tampa Bay, Florida. But Bill White decided that other potential owners from California could bid on the team even after the Florida group signed the contract, and the Giants ended up staying in San Francisco. I longed for a Major League team in Florida that was near me, and finally, in 1996, it was announced that Tampa Bay was awarded a franchise. I looked forward to it, and was excited to pull cards of the new Devil Rays players out of packs of (mostly) 1998 Topps. If I were a little older then and Check out my Cards were around, I would've spent a lot of money chasing those early Rays cards.

The idea popped into my head to give 1998 Topps cards for every player the Rays drafted in the 1997 Expansion Draft, as well as some of the Free Agents that didn't get '98 Topps cards. In one of the later series (12), I planned on starting to make those cards. I started off the series with a card of Larry Rothschild, the first manager of the Rays. After deciding to pull the 1986 Traded Maddux, I thought the '98 Topps Rothschild would be a great card to substitute. Then, last night, I toyed with the idea of doing a 1998 Topps Buck Showalter instead. He is more well-known, and I decided if his Baltimore Orioles beat my Detroit Tigers, that I would do the '98 Showalter. Well, Nelson Bleeping Cruz killed Detroit again, hitting another crushing Homer. I would like to think that when he had his 3-HR game in the 2011 ALCS that he didn't use steroids. I would like to think that he isn't on them now. It would be a shame that the 1 hitter who almost single-handedly crushed my favorite team's post-season hopes TWICE was juiced up when he did it. I do hope that Buck Showalter can get a ring finally. I think he really deserves his due. Plus, I would love to see my former high-school classmate Steve Pearce get one too. I think the Orioles can beat the Royals (although it would be sweet to see the Royals make it all the way), and they have a shot against some of the NL teams. I would hate to see the Giants or Cardinals win another title, don't really care for LA, but would love to see Washington win a title. We will all know who wins in a few weeks. For now, here is a 1998 Topps Buck Showalter card as promised. Congratulations on beating my team!

1993 Topps Rick Dempsey

Rick Dempsey recieved his final Topps card in 1991, even though he played his final game in 1992. He was left off of the 1992 and 1993 Topps sets. He was one of only a few players to play in 4 decades ('60's, '70's, '80's and '90's to be exact), and won World Series championships with the Baltimore Orioles in 1983 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988. The 1993 Topps set is one of the most difficult sets to make custom cards of in my opinion because of the odd angles of the printing on the back. Here is my humble attempt at a 1993 Topps Rick Dempsey.

1990 Topps Mo Vaughn Draft Pick

Mo Vaughn was left off of the 1990 Topps #1 Draft Pick subset. I guess Topps thought Roger Salkeld and Tyler Houston were better players to put in the set. They did get it right with Frank Thomas, though. Topps gave Mo his first card in their 1991 Traded set. I remember the 1995 season where Albert Belle broke the 50 Home Run mark and thought for sure he would win the AL MVP award, but I think Vaughn's media-friendly personality won voters over. I think this card would've been pretty hot back in '95 had Topps made it.

1978 Topps Ted Turner

Recently, I made the last 2 cards for the 1st Series (1981 Minnie Minoso, and 1997 Alejandro Pena), and made the first 3 for the Second (1980 Disco Demolition Night Highlights, 1990 Bo Jackson All-Star Game Highlights, and 1993 Topps Stadium Club Derek Jeter 1st Day Issue). I had saved them as drafts, and planned on posting them 1 by 1, maybe 2 per week, until I was caught up. Unfortunatly, Blogger had other ideas, and posted them on the days they were first made as drafts, so I am now up to card #29, but some of the last 5 cards are out of order, so just throwing that out there in case you missed the last few cards.

Today's card is a 1978 Topps card of Ted Turner, who managed the Atlanta Braves for 1 game in 1977 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. I don't believe any card company has made a card of Mr. Turner, and I only saw 2 customs when I went searching on Google. Ted took over for manager Dave Bristol after the Braves lost 15 games. Ted had the Braves rallying in his lone game, down 2-1 in the 8th. With a runner on, he sent Darrel Chaney to pinch-hit, and Chaney hit a ground-rule Double. If it wouldn't have went over the wall, the run would've scored and the game would've been tied. Pirates manager Chuck Tanner (who would manage the Braves later in his career) sent in Goose Gossage, who retired the side and got the Save. After the game, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn declared that someone who owned part of a team couldn't manage it, and that was Turner's last game on the field. Braves coach Vern Benson took over for Turner, and later in the season, a man named Bobby Cox would manage the team. 34 years later, Cox would be inducted into the Hall of Fame, so it wasn't a totally bad year for the Braves in 1977. Turner would own the Braves until 1996, the year after they would win their only World Championship Trophy for him.

1982 Topps Ryne Sandberg

A 1982 Topps Ryne Sandberg isn't a new idea. Heck, Topps even made one for their eTopps set a few years back. I decided I'd try my hand at one. I didn't realize that Ryno's first year was 1981. I figured that he debuted in 1982. That begs the question: Why didn't Topps make a card of him in 1982 or 1981? I may have to create a 1981 Topps Traded card. I will get some practice on the 1981 design, as the next card in Series 1 is a 1981 Topps Minnie Minoso.

1993 Stadium Club Derek Jeter 1st Day Issue

I hate the Yankees. I hate Derek Jeter. So why am I making a card of him? Because Topps Stadium Club didn't feature him in their 1993 set. They had many other rookies, but failed to include any of the 1992 #1 Draft Picks. Since Stadium Club came out with the 1st Day Issue cards for the first time in 1993, which were limited to 2,000 of every card, this card would probably be one of Jeter's most popular cards. It should be mentioned that Jeter also didn't appear in the 1993 Topps Finest set. Beckett did a 1993 Finest Jeter, and Topps included him in their 2001 Finest reprint set, and I may try a stab at a '93 Finest Jeter in the future as well. For now, here is his 1993 Stadium Club 1st Day Issue card.