sunday morning target dodgers

the undisputed star of this week's sheet (although not the only hall of famer) is sandy koufax.

over the last 6 seasons of koufax's career, his record was 129-47 with a 2.16 era.  he struck out 1713 batters, threw 1632.2 innings, hurled 115 complete games, and weaved 4 no-hitters.  he also won an mvp award, three cy youngs, and two world championships.  has there ever been a better or more impressive run for a pitcher?

jim barbieri

barbieri spent half of one season in the big leagues.  he was called up in july of 1966, and stayed with the dodgers for the remainder of the season, including the world series.  he hit .280 during the regular season, but was 0 for 1 in the fall classic.  still, he became the first player to have appeared in the little league world series and the major league world series, and he also got a card in the 1967 topps set.

ed brandt

brandt pitched for the braves from 1928 through 1935 (he was a teammate of babe ruth's that last year) before joining the dodgers for a single season in 1936.  as a dodger, he was 11-13 in 38 appearances, and was traded to the pirates after the season ended.  a few years after his retirement, brandt died at the age of 39 after being hit by a car while crossing the street.

tommy corcoran

corcoran played shortstop for the bridegrooms during the 1890's - from 1892 through 1896 to be exact. his best season out of the 18 he played came for brooklyn in 1894 when he hit .300 and scored 123 runs.

henry cruz

cruz obviously played for the white sox, but before that, he was a dodger.  in fact, he played more games as a dodger from 1975 through 1976 than he did as a member of the white sox from 1977 to 1978.  in 102 games with the blue, cruz hit 4 homers with 19 rbi and a .225 average, while in 69 games with chicago, he hit 4 homers with 15 rbi and a .235 average.  there are a couple of cards of cruz in a dodger uniform - he's got an sspc card from 1975 (or 1976 depending on how you catalog it), and he shows up on a 4-player rookie card in 1976 topps as well.  oddly enough, cruz is one of two players from the virgin islands to show up on this sheet.

jay johnstone

johnstone was a dodger double dipper, but i have already told that tale.  instead of rehashing that, i will note that all three of his home runs in 1981 came as a pinch hitter, which is not really a surprise.  the first two came in consecutive at bats, however, which is interesting but not as impressive as del unser and lee lacy hitting home runs in three consecutive pinch hitting appearances.

john kennedy

kennedy was acquired by the dodgers as part of the big trade with the senators following the 1964 season.  good timing on his part, as he played for the national league champions in both 1965 and 1966, winning a world series ring in '65.  kennedy saw action in both postseasons with the dodgers, and was traded to the yankees following the 1966 series.  interestingly enough, this john kennedy was born on may 29, 1941 - 24 years to the day after president john f. kennedy was born.

bill madlock

madlock was a 4-time national league batting champ who joined the dodgers for the pennant run in 1985.  he helped the team reach the nlcs that year, hitting .360 after joining the club, and then hit .333 with 3 homers and 7 rbi in the championship series against the cardinals. unfortunately, madlock wasn't able to direct tommy lasorda to not pitch to jack clark with first base open, and the dodgers lost the series.  madlock returned to the team for the entire 1986 season, but was released by the team following a slow start in 1987.

al mcbean

mcbean is the second player on this sheet to hail from the virgin islands.  he is from st. thomas, while cruz is from st. croix.  anyway, mcbean was a dodger for parts of two seasons - 1969 and 1970.  he joined the dodgers following a one game stint as an original padre in 1969 and went 2-6 in 31 games for the blue.  in 1970, he appeared in just one game for the dodgers before being released which was strange because he threw a scoreless inning in that game.  he signed with the pirates following his release, and returned to pittsburgh where he had pitched for the first 8 seasons of his career.

joe orengo

orengo came to the dodgers in a midseason swap with the new york giants back in 1943.  the dodgers gave up dolph camilli in the deal, and later in the season they wound up sending orengo to the saint paul saints, who would become the dodgers' aa affiliate the following year.  in between, he appeared in 7 games as a dodger,  hitting .200 in 19 plate appearances.

doug rau

dougie was a pitcher on the team of my youth, and i saw him pitch in person quite a few times.  he won at least 13 games every season from 1974 through 1978, and helped the dodgers to the postseason in three of those campaigns.  unfortunately, an arm injury effectively ended his career in 1979, although he did return to the majors for a short stint with the angels in 1981.  he's probably best known for trying to convince tommy lasorda to let him stay in the game during an argument (warning - tommy and rau and even davey lopes all have potty mouths) on the mound in the 1977 world series.

mike vail

like cruz earlier, vail is obviously not shown wearing a dodger uniform.  i suppose this can be forgiven, as vail appeared in only 16 games for the dodgers after he was acquired during to the 1984 season.  he was just 1 for 16 in those games, but at least his lone hit was a walk-off single against the cardinals on july 6.

gus weyhing

weyhing joined the brooklyn superbas during the 1900 season and was 3-4 in 8 games pitched.  until former dodger mike morgan came along, weyhing held the distinction of having pitched for the most number of teams (11).  which reminds me, i need to get to my travels of mike morgan post someday.

hoyt wilhelm

so we start and end the post with hall of famers.  wilhelm ended his hall of fame career with the dodgers in 1972.  he managed 1 save in his final season, which was ended when the dodgers released him - just a few days shy of his 50th birthday.

you may have noticed that there were only 14 cards featured in this post - that's because, once again, one of the players featured was a double dipper.  he'll get a separate post later on.

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

1984 fleer got along well with dodger stadium

back in 1984, i got a sense of how yankee fans might have felt in 1978 with their stadium turning up as the background on so many cards of other teams' players.  fleer photographers set up camp in chavez ravine and worked their craft.  here's jim barr, standing in front of the screen behind home plate.

lee tunnell is standing in a similar spot, though not quite as close to the limits of foul territory behind the plate.  he is distracted by something, perhaps a comely dodger usher in her skirt and fancy straw hat.

steve bedrosian is not the only, nor the first brave ( see len barker's 1984 fleer card) to be captured hanging out in dodger stadium

based on where he is standing, maybe lee tunnell was looking at bedrock and not an usher.  weird.

terry forster returned to dodger stadium, sans chaff of wheat, on his 1984 fleer card

i understand that forster may be ill - here's hoping he's ok.

i don't know who scott holman is, but he gets an 'in action' shot on his card

similar to steve carlton's card.  here's some more action, and another brave, it's bob horner

that glove belongs to steve yeager, mike scioscia or maybe even jack fimple.
the grinch, ed lynch, is almost smiling with the right-center field part of the pavilion behind him

much better than his 1987 topps card

lee mazzilli strikes a 1978 topps richie hebner pose, without the laid back smile

biff pocoroba, on the other hand, gets his squinty smile on

squinting, perhaps, to try to figure out what is going on behind manny sarmiento

someone should tell sarmiento that black mesh offers little protection when the photographer uses a flash.  good thing he has an undershirt on.

here's the link to steve carlton's card i mentioned earlier.  mike scott gets a similar look

while rod scurry celebrates movember in style.

finally, tom terrific looks terrific in dodger stadium.

i think seaver's 1982 fleer card also features the house that o'malley built.  i don't know exactly how many cards in the 1984 fleer set feature dodger stadium as a backdrop, but i am sure there are more (i don't have a 1984 joe beckwith card scanned, but i know his card is one).

but fleer didn't stop there - they sent the photographers back out to dodger stadium to populate photos for their landmark 1984 traded set.
here's former dodger johnnie b. baker

who returned to the stadium in the enemy's clothing.  boo, hiss.
ron darling may have been standing next to ed lynch

he and scott proctor are two pitchers i can think of quickly that wore number 44, traditionally a hitter's number.  are there others?

ron hassey - finally a card not featuring a brave, met or pirate

it looks like there is a dodger lurking behind hassey in the visitor's dugout.  i can't quite figure it out, but it might be gilberto reyes.  there's a name from the ether.
future dodger ricky horton gets his squint on

his 1989 topps card had him revisiting the stadium, with a prettier background.  i'll have to show that card soon.
back to the braves with brad komminsk

in all my visits to dodger stadium, i never made it to the stadium club restaurant (the windowed level behind komminsk).  as a youngster, i didn't understand the draw to sitting in a restaurant instead of out in the sun with a dodger dog.  i still don't, really.
speaking of which, the dude behind jerry martin has probably already eaten 2 dogs and downed a bud or two

he's also checking out an usher.
gerald perry

and gene richards strike similar (curious?) poses

they feel the heat, the heat between me and you.  yes, i just worked a 'when doves cry' lyric into this post.  not that any of you are still reading at this point.
here's one of the jeff robinsons.

not sure which one.  i guess it's jeff d, since jeff m didn't break into the league until 1987.
former dodger rick sutcliffe paid a visit to the stadium when he returned from his banishment to the american league

security wouldn't let him get near tommy lasorda's office this time, however.

here's alex trevino, who in a couple of years would be wearing dodger blue, with maybe the nicest background of them all

palm trees!
finally, mike vail

wearing dodger blue in dodger stadium!

not a 'brut' sign to be seen anywhere.  take that, yankee stadium.

mike vail through the mail success!

it's been almost two years since i received a couple of my cards back from mike vail.  he signed 'em in about a week.  being a dodger fan, i included the only two mike vail dodger cards i knew of (aside from the 1990 target card) - a 1984 fleer update card and a 1984 topps traded card, along with a 1978 topps card because i like to get those signed too.  he wound up keeping the fleer card, but he signed the topps traded

and the 1978 card.

he's got a little quentin tarantino thing going on in those photos.  i remember being disappointed in 1984 when the traded set came out and topps used the same photo for both the main image and the inset on vail's traded card.

he wasn't actually traded, either.  he had been released by the expos in march of '84 and signed by the dodgers in june.  that would explain why he didn't get a nice o-pee-chee variation, even though he was included in the set.  in fact, there were no 'now with dodgers' in the 1984 o-pee-chee set at all (where were you, bob bailor?) so i went ahead and made a card for vail, just because.

it would have been my favorite card in the set! vail had originally been drafted by the dodgers, way back in 1970. he chose not to sign and instead began his professional career in 1971 after being selected by the cardinals.  he went from saint louis to the mets while still a minor leaguer in a deal for future dodger ted martinez.  as a rookie in 1975, vail singled in his first big league at bat, and then a few games later started a 23-game hitting streak.  unfortunately, he was injured in an offseason basketball game and never really reached the level so many expected.

after a few years in new york, he split the 1978 season between cleveland and the north side of chicago.  then there were stops in cincinnati, san francisco, and montreal before vail ended his career in los angeles.  as a dodger, vail was used almost exclusively as a pinch hitter and was just 1 for 16 at the plate.  his lone hit was a big one though - a walk-off single against neil allen and the cardinals in the 12th inning on july 6th.

here's to you, mike vail!  thanks for signing my cards!