sunday morning target dodgers

this week's sheet from the 1990 target dodgers giveaway set is a nice one.  two members of the 1978 topps dodger team, plus this guy - jackie robinson

what more can one say about robinson?  he is one of the best things about being a dodger fan, although he certainly does not only belong to the dodgers.

reggie smith

smith is the first of two players on the sheet who were members of the team of my youth.  he was one of four dodgers to hit at least 30 home runs in 1977, the same year that he led the league with a .427 on base percentage.  injuries slowed him down beginning in 1979, but he still was able to start in the 1980 all-star game held in los angeles.  that's the all-star game patch on his left shoulder, as a matter of fact.

lee lacy

lacy was a dodger double dipper, but i've already covered that.  i've also visited and re-visited his career a number of times, thanks to his status as a member of the 1978 topps dodgers, and he was also the former dodger who was signing in autograph alley the last time i was able to get back to chavez ravine. he was the utility player on the team of my youth, spending time everywhere on the diamond except for the mound, behind the plate, and at first base.

enos cabell

cabell finished his major league career with the dodgers in 1986.  he had been acquired from the astros during the 1985 season, and he hit .292 for the dodgers down the stretch.  initially, the dodgers moved him back to what i considered to be his 'normal' position of third base (he had been playing first for the astros since 1981 but spent the five seasons before that at third), but he wound up back at first after the dodgers picked up bill madlock.

doug camilli

camilli was a second generation dodger, as his dad dolph had played for brooklyn in the 1930's and 40's.  doug was the dodgers' back up catcher in the early 1960's, appearing in a total of 163 games over the course of five seasons.  he hit .204 with la and caught sandy koufax's third no-hitter before moving on to the senators prior to the 1965 season.

oris hockett

hockett broke into the big leagues with the dodgers in 1938, and hit .329 for them in 21 games.  he followed that up in 1939 with a .231 average in only 9 games, however, and never played for brooklyn again.  he resurfaced with the indians in 1941, and even made the all-star team in 1944 as a member of the tribe.  he finished his big league career with the white sox in 1945, which must be when the photo used on his card was taken.

steve howe

howe was the second of four consecutive dodgers to win the rookie of the year award from 1979 through 1982.  he followed rick sutcliffe to receive the award in 1980, and preceded fernando valenzuela and steve sax, the winners in 1981 and 1982, respectively.  he spent 4-plus seasons over 6 years with the dodgers from 1980 - 1985 (he was suspended for the entire 1984 season), and also pitched for the twins, rangers, and yankees.  during his career, howe was suspended from baseball 7 times due to various drug related offenses, including a permanent ban in 1992.  that ban was overturned, however, and he returned to pitch for the yankees until they released him during the 1996 season after he was arrested at jfk with a loaded gun in his suitcase.  ten years later, in 2006, howe was killed in a single vehicle auto accident when his truck rolled in the california desert.  i best remember steve as the guy who was on the mound when the dodgers won the 1981 world series.

bill joyce

joyce was a third baseman and hit .245 in 97 games for the brooklyn grooms in 1892, one of eight seasons he spent playing in the major leagues.  the last three of those seasons, 1896-98, he was the player-manager for the new york giants.  his .435 career on base percentage ranks 7th all-time, although in his lone season with brooklyn, his obp was 'just' .392.

doug mcweeny

mcweeny pitched for the robins for four seasons, from 1926-29, amassing a record of 33-45.  his 4 shutouts led the league in 1928, but so did his 114 walks.

rip repulski

repulski was one of the players the dodgers received prior to the 1959 season from the phillies in exchange for george 'sparky' anderson.  rip's real name was eldon, by the way, and this native minnesotan appeared in 53 games and won a world series ring with the dodgers in 1959.  he returned to la for the 1960 season, but was dealt to the red sox after just a few games.

ferdie schupp

schupp was acquired by the robins in march of 1921 by way of a trade with the cardinals.  he appeared in 20 games for brooklyn, and was 3-4 with a 4.57 era in them.  he is best remembered for his time spent with the new york giants, including 1917, when he was 21-7 with a 1.95 era.

billy sullivan

the dodgers purchased sullivan's contract from the tigers early in the 1942 season.  he wound up playing in 43 games for brooklyn, hitting .267 and serving as a backup catcher.  sullivan was out of the majors from 1943-46 while serving in the navy, but returned to the big leagues with the pirates in 1947.

tom sunkel

sunkel had pitched for the cardinals and giants before joining the dodgers for one season in 1944.  he was 1-3 for brooklyn in 12 appearances.

stan williams

williams began his big league career with the dodgers in 1958.  he threw a 2-hit shutout in his first major league start (second big league appearance), and later was named to the 1960 national league all-star team.  he was a part of the dodgers' 1959 world championship club (he appeared in relief in one game of the world series that year), but missed out on their 1963 title as he was traded to the yankees for bill skowron prior to the start of that season.

clarence wright

clarence here actually went by his middle name of eugene, or at least by a shortened version of it.  big gene wright broke into the major leagues with the superbas in 1901.  he made one start, and threw a complete game, allowing only 1 run.  he also went 1 for 3 at the plate.  that game would be his only start and appearance for the brooklyn franchise, as he somehow wound up with his hometown cleveland bronchos for the 1902 season.

topps dodger autograph project - 1984 through 1989

the mid-80's were still heady days in southern california.  the dodgers were in the postseason, in odd years at least (through 1985), and also if 1988. and, they still had a few members of the team of my youth kicking around through the middle of the decade.  let's take a look at some of my ttm successes from 1984-1989.  as usual, thanks to the lost collector for the inspiration for these posts.  these autographs were obtained through the mail for free, and the players shown have not shown up in the topps dodger autograph project before.

1984 topps, fernando valenzuela

fernando is a fickle signer, at least in my experience.  i'm not complaining, though - he has signed a few cards for me.  i also have received 1984 topps cards signed courtesy of dave anderson, candy maldonado, mike marshall, jose morales, tom niedenfuer, jerry reuss, derrel thomas, and pat zachry, as well as joe beckwith and rafael landestoy.

i only have one 1984 topps traded card signed, though, and it's mike vail.

1984 topps traded, mike vail

i don't count the traded sets towards the successful completion of this project, but if i have 'em i will show 'em.

1985 topps, burt hooton

hooton has signed for me a few times.  i have also had success with 1985 topps cards from dave anderson, greg brock, rick honeycutt, mike marshall, candy maldonado, tom niedenfuer, jerry reuss, steve sax, franklin stubbs, fernando valenzuela, and pat zachry.  plus sid bream.  i should show his cards sometime.

here's where the topps traded successes come to an end.  i would love to get al oliver to sign one of his cards, and i have sent a card to mariano duncan without success.  bobby castillo and ken howell are the other dodgers to appear in the set.  castillo has signed for me, with a fee, but i didn't sent his '85 tt card.  howell has also signed for me, but again, i didn't send an '85 card.

1986 topps, enos cabell

cabell was one of many who tried to replace ron cey.  he hit .292 down the stretch for the dodgers after they acquired him during the 1985 season.  in the nlcs against the cardinals, however, he was just 1 for 11.  1986 was the final season of his career - he went out a dodgers.  other dodgers who have signed their 1986 topps card for me include bob bailor, greg brock, rick honeycutt, jay johnsone, tom niedenfuer, jerry reuss, bill russell (dodgers leaders card), steve sax, len matuszek, and bill russell.  i also have a ken howell signed card that i picked up in a lot on ebay.

1986 topps traded is another shutout for me.  my options there are ed vande berg (sent, but not yet received), franklin stubbs (i should send - he's a good signer), and alex trevino (haven't sent - don't think he signs ttm).  if i get the vande berg back, i'll update the post.

1987 topps, steve sax

saxy!  when i first started sending cards ttm, sax didn't sign.  but then he started signing profusely.  i am grateful.  other 1987 topps cards i have successfully obtained with signatures through the mail came from greg brock, ron perranoski, mariano duncan, rick honeycutt, mike marshall, tom niedenfuer, jerry reuss, bill russell, steve sax (regular base card), franklin stubbs, reggie williams, ed vande berg, maury wills (with fee) as well as len matuszek, and bill russell and a fernando valenzuela card i picked up by trade.

1987 topps traded, matt young

back with a traded success in 1987.  there were 7 dodgers in the set, and i think tim leary and mickey hatcher might sign as well.  but, i only have the young card signed.  he signed some other cards for me, too.

1988 topps, len matuszek

matuszek's final season was in 1987, so this would be his final tribute card.  he's signed a couple of other cards for me, which i don't think i have featured here yet.  other dodgers who have signed their 1988 topps cards for me include phil garner, tim leary, ken howell, mike marshall, steve sax, franklin stubbs, matt young, and glenn hoffman.

i'm without a success from the 1988 topps traded set. kirk gibson, mike davis, and jesse orosco don't sign, but i might be able to get a tim belcher, alfredo griffin, or jay howell success.  i'll have to work on that.  not sure why mickey hatcher wasn't in the traded set that year; i'm sure he would sign for me.  oh wait, he did.

1989 topps, mickey hatcher

the stunt man has signed for me a couple of times.  i am glad to see him back with the dodgers even though i don't know exactly what he does.  i have also received 1989 topps cards signed by dave anderson, alfredo griffin, ricky horton, jay howell, tim leary, franklin stubbs, john tudor, tracy woodson, plus ramon martinez (with fee), and tim belcher.

no dice from the 1989 topps traded set.  the only dodgers in that set were eddie murray, willie randolph, and mike morgan.  i think my best chance would be to find a morgan card for sale somewhere.  maybe even around here, since he pitched for the twins (no surprise there) at one point during the latter years of his career.

until then, here's the list of each year's representative card (so far):

1951 topps - preacher roe (purchased)
1952 topps - rocky bridges
1953 topps - bobby morgan
1954 topps - billy herman (purchased)
1955 topps - don zimmer (purchased)
1956 topps - randy jackson
1957 topps - carl erskine
1958 topps - joe pignatano
1959 topps - fred kipp
1960 topps - chuck essegian
1961 topps - bob aspromonte
1962 topps - norm sherry
1963 topps - ed roebuck
1964 topps - ken mcmullen
1965 topps - dick tracewski
1966 topps - john kennedy
1967 topps - phil regan
1968 topps - jim campanis
1969 topps - jeff torborg
1970 topps - al mcbean
1971 topps - sandy vance
1972 topps - manny mota
1973 topps - wes parker
1974 topps - claude osteen
1974 topps traded - jim wynn
1975 topps - ron cey
1975 topps mini - joe ferguson
1976 topps - bill russell
1976 topps traded - dusty baker
1977 topps - steve garvey
1978 topps - dave lopes
1979 topps - charlie hough
1980 topps - jerry reuss
1981 topps - doug rau
1981 topps traded - ken landreaux
1982 topps - dave goltz
1982 topps traded - jose morales
1983 topps - ron roenicke
1983 topps traded - rafael landestoy
1984 topps - fernando valenzuela
1984 topps traded - mike vail
1985 topps - burt hooton
1986 topps - enos cabell
1987 topps - steve sax
1987 topps traded - matt young
1988 topps - len matuszek
1989 topps - mickey hatcher

west virginia, mountain mama, take me home, country (cards)

not sure if billy at west virginia cards is pleased or not that i referenced the thing i think of first when i think of west virginia, but hey - john denver rocks. although, i think i first heard that song performed by donny osmond on 'the love boat'.

anyway, billy sent me a bunch of cards a little while back. here are some highlights:

1981 donruss rick sutcliffedonruss was in love with wrigley field for their 81 set. at least for the dodgers. the 1979 nl roy, sut actually debuted in 1976! in 3 short years after this release, rick would be doing his best work in wrigley, winning the 1984 cy young award. now he's slurring his words in the booth on espn. he looks pissed here, like he knows tommy is going to leave him off the post season roster.

another wrigley shot - 1981 donruss bill bucknercheck out that growler! why would buckner shave around that? it's like a brazilian wax on his neck. oh well, buckner was a guy i always rooted for. it was easy to do, since he was a former dodger, a good player, and the dodgers were successful. if they had sucked while billy was winning batting titles, i probably wouldn't have liked him as much.

1986 donruss enos cabellnow donruss is in dodger stadium. enos was one of those guys they threw at third base in the years after the penguin left. in 86, though, he only played a handful of games there. by that time, the mad dog was manning the hot corner. good times.

1985 opc steve yeageryet another neck shot for steve. with the unbuttoned jersey. a bit magnum pi-ish. i was disappointed that adam sandler didn't use yeager in his 'hanukkah song' instead of hall of famer rod carew (he converted), but the rhyme didn't work so i understand.

a couple of white sox double plays:

2008 topps juan uribeturning it over v-mart, and

1991 upper deck scott fletcherjumping over oh my omar. pretty sure that's omar.

2003 upper deck vintage adrian beltrei love love love this set. heavy stock. 1965 topps design. awesome. perfect. i need to collate my singles to see if i have the set. will do that this weekend.

billy - thanks a lot for all the great cards!