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 -
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/
Meet Flan, the coolest guy in the set.
SABR Bio by Bob Webster - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Tim-Flannery/
Card 513 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/gamesandcards_87/item/1988-topps-513-tim-flannery_30570624
88 Topps Blog - https://88topps.blogspot.com/2008/06/513-tim-flannery.html
Flannery in 1984 NLCS - https://youtu.be/H5qOcuKn4oU?si=iOUFTnOhYlgeXg_d
1988 Fleer Surfboard card - https://baseballdimebox.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-gems-of-junk-wax-pt-51-1988-fleer.html
Flannery as the Mascot - https://www.mlb.com/news/tim-flannery-gets-ejected-dresses-as-mascot
Flannery sends Pagan home - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SjFx0h-v5M
Bochy and Flannery, The Odd Couple - https://youtu.be/fqEQUOmcvo0?si=hXRIjugeOvGXU5Hk
NY Times story about Tim - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/14/sports/baseball/tim-flannery-lunatic-fringe.html
Waiting on a Miracle - https://youtu.be/ZDzwdbcDM14?si=7MjO4B3o2b3bqjAU
The Eyes of Texas were upon him... and Steve Goodman thought he should keep his eyes on the ball.
Card 416 on Beckett -
https://marketplace.beckett.com/cardgallery_900/item/1988-topps-tiffany-416-keith-moreland_52217595
Card 72T on ebay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/256599166743?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&google_free_listing_action=view_item&srsltid=AfmBOorX-wMs_y7VE54PdANUHAJtW5heoqxpLVAZqPyt4M3gHYLi7WkzXpE
Brian Dayett’s RIP Baseball Obit - https://ripbaseball.com/2025/09/19/obituary-brian-dayett-1957-2025/
Baseball Hall of Fame Card Corner - https://baseballhall.org/discover/card-corner/1981-donruss-keith-moreland
1975 Keith Moreland photo - https://www.facebook.com/bruce.weirauch/photos/keith-moreland-1975/10226878910590919/
Keith has a health scare - https://www.kvue.com/article/sports/ncaa/longhorns/ut-baseballs-keith-moreland-shares-his-story-of-survival/269-56a334e1-2c57-4197-ba7a-95d307ce41d8
Keith in the Longhorn Hall of Honor - https://texaslonghorns.com/honors/hall-of-honor/keith-moreland/724
Keith drives in a run in the World Series - https://youtu.be/oU687r6KCIs?si=4DJ8l_KVuvP_TVAN&t=10346
Keith charges Ed Lynch - https://youtu.be/txJl8Gr38Ks?si=RAVIthN6A-nFWqCf&t=4222
Keith does a Drug PSA - https://youtu.be/8lJDoEjTb-0?si=5QTSiX2W39hJOm8q
Steve Goodman’s A Dying Cubs Fan’s Last Request - https://youtu.be/7xBxZGQ1dJk?si=mukizA86X6UlytPz
Clutch hitting defined: this guy hit two home runs the night he was supposed to be laid off, saving his job and probably 10 more years of solid Quad-A ball.
Card 136 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/cardgallery_900/item/1988-topps-tiffany-136-brian-dayett_52217315
Newsweek Obit - https://www.newsweek.com/sports/mlb/former-yankees-cubs-outfielder-passes-away-2126503
MILB interview with Brian - https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-17914562
Brian hits a double - https://youtu.be/atkHXEDH73o?si=HMFczPED3HuE0L8u
Brian hits a grand slam - https://youtu.be/TFnSF7ZcoQY?si=job7EfZ2m-v_rHCU
Brian’s Obituary - https://www.watsonfhtn.com/obituaries/Brian-Kelly-Dayett?obId=45239942
Charlene Kuzma’s Obituary - https://www.heritageofandover.com/obituary/charlene-kuzma
Counterintuitively, when Rod Carew says your pitching is "Little League Slop," it probably means you are doing something right.
Card 725 on Beckett -
https://marketplace.beckett.com/ziggys_672/item/1988-topps-725-mike-boddicker_32570532
SABR Bio by Bill Johnson https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Mike-Boddicker/
SABR Game story about Boddicker’s World Series win - https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/october-12-1983-orioles-knot-world-series-on-mike-boddickers-gem/
Baseball Prospectus interview - https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/9805/prospectus-qa-mike-boddicker/
Hawkeye Hall of Fame - https://hawkeyesports.com/hof/class-of-2024/mike-boddiker
Baseball Hall of Fame Card Corner - https://baseballhall.org/discover/cardcorner-1984-donruss-mike-boddicker
Boddicker ends 1983 ALCS Game 2 - https://youtu.be/IlOOwoaiNYQ?si=imlQaGVxXLDkdg4_&t=7947
Boddicker Ks Schmidt to end World Series Game 2 - https://youtu.be/YbBzLXq4MEY?si=gW8ct02IHtEmmNOP&t=9945
This controversial pitcher closed off opportunities for women umpires for decades by opening his big mouth.
Card 151 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/baseballcardconnection_794/item/1988-topps-151-bob-knepper_34326495
SABR Bio by David E. Skelton - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/bob-knepper/
Hall of Fame Card Corner - https://baseballhall.org/discover/card-corner/1989-topps-bob-knepper
Where did all the Bobs go? -
https://www.mlb.com/cut4/where-did-all-the-bobs-in-baseball-go-c301633434
"Careless and Insensitive" -
Knepper apologizes -
https://www.efootage.com/videos/108045/knepper-statement-sexist-comments
Bob in the SI Vault -
https://tht.fangraphs.com/tht-live/25th-anniversary-pitcher-misses-perfecto-in-debut-by-one-pitch/
Article about Female Umpires - https://baseballhall.org/discover-more/stories/baseball-history/woman-in-blue
Jeff from Two Strike Noise joins David for a Giants game and a pack of legends.
Two Strike Noise - https://twostrikenoise.podbean.com
A card so great, we just had to sing about it.
Card 102T on Beckett -
Kenny Williams and Jerry Krause - https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/how-jerry-krause-before-he-built-a-dynasty-with-michael-jordan-was-shaped-by-his-time-in-baseball/
Nelson and Bill and Ted - https://ultimateclassicrock.com/nelson-bill-and-ted/
Miami Hidden Ball Trick - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j45ztPQ6i2I
Article about the Grand Illusion - https://miamihurricanes.com/news/2007/04/13/205542924-2/
Canadian Baseball Network (behind paywall) - https://www.canadianbaseballnetwork.com/canadian-baseball-network-articles/2015/5/7/santovenia-hopes-to-make-mo-town
Nelson's Coaching Bio
https://mdcathletics.com/information/directory/bios/Nelson_Santobenia
If there are three true outcomes in baseball, this Mariners bomber had two of them (the HRs and Ks) nailed.
Card 285 on Beckett -
https://marketplace.beckett.com/item/1082/1988-topps-285-jim-presley_53873437
Escambia Mascot Riots in 1976 New York Times -
Opening Day Walk Off Grand Slam -
2nd Walk off Grand Slam -
https://www.mlb.com/video/presley-s-walk-off-slam-in-11th-c1709636783
2016 Interview with Jim -
https://www.kvue.com/article/sports/one-on-one-with-express-coach-jim-presley/269-270797388
Inside: Everything you ever wanted to know about the 2005 World Series-winning Chicago White Sox. RIP Bobby Jenks
Card 559 on Beckett
1988 Topps in Sports Illustrated
https://www.si.com/collectibles/the-five-essential-baseball-cards-of-1988-topps
Leadbelly in Lincoln, NE
SABR Bio by Bill Pruden
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/ken-williams/
SABR Bio of the other Ken Williams by Joseph Wancho with poem
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/ken-williams-2/
Base path antics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SInxwZTZp8&t=1s
2005 ALCS dropped third strike?
https://youtu.be/9Tn5CQ9vyYQ?si=fRkkNbwQcxAPRkgi
Williams on race and racism in America in 2020
Before this defensive specialist became a legendary manager in the Dominican League, he was almost a landmark trade in Yankees' history.
Card 547 on Beckett -
https://www.beckett.com/baseball/1988/topps/547-felix-fermin-3915004
Baseball Hall Card Corner - https://baseballhall.org/discover/cardcorner-1988-topps-felix-fermin
Pablo Cruz and the death of Alfredo Edmead - https://www.si.com/mlb/2021/06/18/alfredo-edmead-jr-pablo-cruz-life-after-death-daily-cover
Mariano for Felix Fermin? https://www.mlb.com/news/mariano-rivera-almost-got-traded-to-mariners
Felix makes a sweet double play - https://youtu.be/AjGcyaQ3N0o?si=MBhrvVJzDfk7ChzH
Felix shows great range - https://youtu.be/nqelGxZjj_8?si=7J_i2gKdVtePp05J
Plain and simple, he had the best-known name, face, and sideburns of 1980s baseball and baseball cards.
Base card #300
https://marketplace.beckett.com/item/1082/1988-topps-300-don-mattingly_53873452
Record Breakers #2
https://marketplace.beckett.com/cardgallery_900/item/1988-topps-2-don-mattingly-rb_62538603
All Star #386 on eBay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/225908282343
World of Baseball Don Mattingly - https://baseballcards.substack.com/p/1988-topps-world-of-baseball-don
SABR Bio by James Lincoln Ray - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Don-Mattingly/
Don’s HOF Case at MLB https://www.mlb.com/news/don-mattingly-hall-of-fame-case
Don’s 1987 Topps Birthday Mystery - https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29043681/cracking-birthday-mystery-don-mattingly-1987-topps-baseball-card
Don talks about the Hit Man poster - https://youtu.be/1iRtD14A9Io?si=dMwC5kZb8426ZaCu
Don and Niekro in a New Coke Ad - https://youtu.be/OxjZfs3OUmM?si=4jnF0NzCM_l7QTHq
1995 ALDS Home Run - https://youtu.be/LrAU5Kxnr04?si=6MzcQxKMzuh-7McZ
Of all the celebrities named Moose, the most famous is probably the actor / Jack Russell Terrier who played Eddie on Frasier. RIP
Card #606 on Beckett
https://marketplace.beckett.com/item/1082/1988-topps-tiffany-606-moose-haas_66153931
SABR Bio by Dennis Degenhardt - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/moose-haas/
Hall of Fame Card Corner 1981 Moose Haas - https://baseballhall.org/discover/CardCorner-1981-Topps-Moose-Haas
1985 UPI Article about Moose- https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/07/01/Off-the-field-Bryan-Edmond-Moose-Haas-is-a/1092489038400/
Game Used Jersey - https://www.memorabilia.expert/shop/1987-moose-haas-game-worn-as-jersey/
1982 ALCS Don Baylor Grand Slam - https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1aAj8BTcqJ/
Little known fact: Tina Turner originally wanted to write a song called "Personal Catcher" about backups who create that trusted relationship with ace pitchers, but she couldn't get the lyrics to fit her melody. She went with "Private Dancer" instead, and the rest is history.
Card 566 on Beckett
https://marketplace.beckett.com/item/900/1988-topps-566-charlie-obrien-rc_27922483
Charlie’s Sabr Bio by Steve West https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/charlie-obrien/
Brian Boru
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Boru
Charlie’s SI Cover https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/r4YAAOSwpjlghelD/s-l1600.webp
Charlie Keeps his career alive at SI https://vault.si.com/vault/1999/04/26/catch-as-catch-can-the-angels-charlie-obrien-uses-all-his-tricks-to-keep-his-career-alive
Charlie’s Book at Texas A&M Press https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781623492922/the-cy-young-catcher/
Popular Mechanics story about Charlie’s mask https://www.popularmechanics.com/adventure/sports/a236/1283166/
Puck Junk the evolution of Baseball goalie masks https://puckjunk.com/2018/03/29/the-evolution-of-baseballs-goalie-mask/
1995 NLCS Homer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyiGRE7eRRs
Welcome to Season 6 of the 1988 Topps Podcast!
In 1932, Australian farms were threatened by an increase in the population of the emu, a large flightless bird. The Australian military tried to cull the flocks of emus for 40 days, but ultimately failed in a debacle that would come to be known as The Great Emu War.
#597 on Beckett
https://www.beckett.com/baseball/1988/topps-tiffany/597-gene-garber-3915858
SABR Bio by Don Massey
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Gene-Garber/
Garber irked by modern game
Gene ends Rose streak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1sm1rOUfTg
HOF Card Corner - 1975 Topps
https://baseballhall.org/discover/card-corner/1975-topps-gene-garber
The Curse of Gene Garber
https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/752808/ATL18_v1-1.pdf
Buy us a coffee?
When ... the ...
Card has a guy that looks like all of the guys, that's Fiore (that's Fiore)
When the card of the day comes from Team U.S.A. that's Fiore (that's Fiore)
Bells will ring for the Pope ting-a-ling-a-ling and you'll sing "Vita bella"
He's a Sox fan at heart, and to us that means he's quite a fella!
* Card 38T on eBay
* Induction video into College Baseball Hall of Fame and Mike's speech
* Mike interviewed about his experiences in Omaha
* University of Miami Hall of Fame
This is the final episode of Season 5. Five years down, only 15 to go? New episodes return soon. Thank you for supporting the show! https://buymeacoffee.com/1988toppspd
This All-Star Rookie had his life saved by a call to the pen, er, apartment.
Card 229 on Beckett
https://marketplace.beckett.com/item/1036/1988-topps-229-jeff-musselman_44463551
SABR Bio by Malcolm Allen
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/jeff-musselman/
Jeff at Harvard talking about sobriety
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1993/11/2/come-back-to-life-sobriety-and/
The Fall of '87
https://garejoyce2022.substack.com/p/the-fall-of-87-and-the-fail-of-2017
M.U.S.C.L.E.
http://blog.uofmuscle.com/34574/what-is-a-muscle-figure/
The Jersey Devil
https://pinelandsalliance.org/learn-about-the-pinelands/pinelands-history-and-culture/the-jersey-devil-and-folklore/
This Stanford grad from Montana had one good season on the mound in Baltimore -- then had a change of plans after a snowy night in Idaho.
Card 782 on eBay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156065903677
Watch the Diamond King now! https://www.thediamondkingmovie.com/
Listen to Cement City about Donora, PA - https://www.cementcity.org/
SABR Bio by Malcolm Allen - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/jeff-ballard/
Ballard in Montana - https://www.montanaseniornews.com/jeff-ballard/
Ballard’s double ball found - https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidseideman/2018/01/11/big-leaguer-recovers-priceless-baseball-25-years-later/
Looking back at Ballard’s 1989 - https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/95581/cold-takes-jeff-ballards-luck-ran-out/
The Athletic finds out that Ballard is in The Office - https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3271009/2022/05/10/tiktok-sleuth-movies-tv-clips/
Why Not song - https://youtu.be/jSAohY4o-0E?si=y3mhS263zcpU8fLn
The third-best baseball player of all time born in Donora, PA.
* Card 443 on Beckett
* SABR Bio by Charles F. Faber
* Braves at Mets, Apr. 11, 1987
* Grandma's Reds Scorebook Griffey entries
*Reds 1976 All-Star Game highlights
* Griffey wins the 1980 ASG MVP
* Father-Son back to back jacks
* Stan and Ken and Donora, PA
Although the 1987 rookie season for "Benz" was a good one, there is no proof that he was the inspiration for the 1988 No. 1 hit "Mercedes Boy" by Pebbles.
* Card 96 on Beckett
* Sabr Bio by Bill Nowlin
* Catching up with Benz
* Todd Benzinger 1987 Highlight video
* Benzinger hits a big homer in 1988
* Todd catches the final out of 1990 World Series
