1984 Topps #109 - Brad Wellman

• Brad Wellman was originally signed by the Kansas City Royals in 1978. He played in the Royals' system from 1978-1981.
• Wellman was traded (with Atlee Hammaker, Renie Martin, and Craig Chamberlain) to the Giants on 30 March 1982 for Vida Blue and Bob Tufts.
• Brad batted .324 for AAA Phoenix and got his first taste of major league action at the end of the 1982 season.
• Wellman batted .311 in 45 games for Phoenix in 1983 and was called up at the end of May to replace the injured Duane Kuiper. Brad was given a shot at the starting second base position but he didn't provide enough offense (.214 in 82 games).
• Brad's 1984 season looked a lot like his 1983 season. He started with Phoenix, hit pretty well, and was called up after a couple of months. Wellman improved his average to .226, but it wasn't enough improvement.
• The Giants were wretched in 1985 (62-100). Brad backed up Manny Trillo at second base. Wellman outhit Trillo during the season (but neither player broke .240).
• The coming of Robby Thompson in 1986 spelled the end of Brad Wellman's time in San Francisco. Brad batted .282 in Phoenix, but he only got into twelve games for the Giants. After the season Wellman became a free agent and signed with the LA Dodgers.
• He played in the Dodger organization in 1987 and then spent the last two years of his career in the Royals' organization. Wellman retired after the 1989 season.
• Brad Wellman now owns Wellman Sports in San Ramon, CA and teaches baseball to youngsters.
• Brad has a son (Casey Wellman) who plays for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League.
• Brad Wellman had a pretty good minor league career (.298 lifetime average in eight seasons).
• Stats:
• 1982 - .250 (1 for 4)
• 1983 - .214 in 82 games
• 1984 - .226 in 93 games
• 1985 - .236 in 71 games
• 1986 - .154 (2 for 13) in 12 games

1986 Topps Giants Part 2 - infielders

This picture was most likely taken at the old Scottsdale Stadium during spring training. The Giants have been training in Scottsdale, AZ since 1984. The new Scottsdale Stadium opened in 1992.

Robby Thompson (#113T) was a 24-year-old rookie in 1986. He finished 2nd to Todd Worrell in Rookie of the Year voting (ahead of guys like Barry Bonds, Will Clark, and Barry Larkin). Thompson played in 149 games and batted .271. He stole 12 bases but was caught 15 times. Robby spent his entire career (1986-1996) with the Giants. He actually signed with the Cleveland Indians as a free agent in 1997 but didn't play for them.

Dan Driessen (#65) was at the end of his career in 1986. He batted .188 in 16 at bats for the Giants before being released on May 1. Dan signed with the Houston Astros a month later and eventually finished his career with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1987.

Brad Wellman (#41) batted .154 in 13 at bats for the Giants in 1986. He played in 79 games for AAA Phoenix and became a free agent after the '86 season. Brad played sparingly for the LA Dodgers in 1987 then played two years for the KC Royals before calling it a career after the 1989 season.

Will Clark (#24T), like Mr. Thompson, was a rookie in 1986. The 22-year-old Clark was recalled from AAA Phoenix after playing six games there. Clark was in single-A ball in 1985. He played in 111 games for the Giants and batted .287 with 11 HR and 41 RBI. Will batted .300 or higher in 10 of his 15 seasons and never batted below .282. He played for the Giants from 1986-1993 and eventually finished his career with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2000.

Jose Uribe (#12) was a fixture at shortstop in 1986. He played in 157 games and batted .223. Jose played one season for the St. Louis Cardinals (1984) then spent most of the rest of his career with the Giants (1985-1992). Uribe played one season (1993) with the Houston Astros before hanging 'em up.

1984 Topps Giants - Part 2

Joel Youngblood played 3B for the Giants and batted .254 with 10 HR in 134 games.

Johnnie LeMaster was the starting shortstop and batted .217 with a .265 OBP in 132 games.

Duane Kuiper batted .200 in 115 at bats (mostly as a pinch hitter).

Dave Bergman didn't play for the Giants in 1984. After the 1983 season he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for Alejandro Sanchez. The Phillies turned around and traded him to the Detroit Tigers before the 1984 season.

Tom O'Malley batted .120 in 13 games. He spent most of the season in AAA Phoenix. Tom had a stint in May, played a few games in July, and then was on the major league team in September.

Joe Pettini didn't play for the Giants in 1984. He started the season on the Phoenix Giants then moved on to AAA Louisville (Cardinals). He didn't play in the majors after 1983.

Darrell Evans didn't play for the Giants in 1984. He signed with the Detroit Tigers as a free agent after the 1983 season.

Brad Wellman batted .226 in 94 games as a utilityman.

Other infielders who didn't get a regular 1984 Topps Giants' card:

• Al Oliver (1B - batted .298 in 91 games)
• Manny Trillo (2B - batted .254 in 98 games)
• Scot Thompson (1B - batted .306 in 245 at bats)
• Fran Mullins (IF - batted .218 in 110 at bats)
• Chris Brown (3B - batted .286 in 23 September games)
  Joe Pittman (IF - batted .227 in 22 at bats)
  
  
  
  

1985 Topps Giants Part 2

Brad Wellman (#409) batted .236 in 174 at bats as a utilityman.

David Green was acquired as part of the Jack Clark trade before the season. David only played for the Giants in 1985. He batted .248 with 5 home runs in 294 at bats.

Manny Trillo batted .224 in 451 at bats as the starting second baseman. He used to drive my dad nuts with his constant smiling. He would say things like, "You're having a bad year and so is your team--why the %#$@ are you smiling?"

Jose Uribe was another guy acquired by the Giants in the Jack Clark trade. Jose batted .237 in 476 at bats as the starting shortstop. I can hear it now-------OOOO---Ribe! OOOO---Ribe!

Chris Brown was the starting third baseman and batted .271 with 16 home runs in 432 at bats. He was 4th in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Fran Mullins did not play for the Giants in 1985. He spent the season in AAA Phoenix and was sold to the Cleveland Indians after the season.

Duane Kuiper played in nine games (either pinch hitting or pinch running appearances) and was 3 for 5 with a walk and two sacrifices. He was released on June 28.

Scot Thompson batted .217 with 0 home runs in 111 at bats and was traded with Bill Laskey to the Montreal Expos for Dan Driessen on August 1.

Johnnie LeMaster was 0 for 16 and was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 7.

Other infielders who did not get Topps Giants cards in 1985:

Dan Driessen 1B (.232 with 3 home runs in 54 games)

Rob Deer UT (.185 with 8 home runs in 162 at bats)

Ricky Adams IF (.190 in 121 at bats)

Gary Rajsich 1B (.165 with 0 home runs in 91 at bats)

Mike Woodard 2B (.244 in 82 AB)