#506 - Franklin Stubbs

What a card: This is Franklin Stubbs' rookie card. He received his own card in the 1985 Topps, Donruss and Fleer sets. The following year, he appeared only in Donruss (although Topps made an Update card of him in '86).

My observation on the front: Stubbs is featuring the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics Games Dodger Stadium patch on his left sleeve.

More opinion from me: It's a good thing that Stubbs hit in the 1988 World Series, because he was one disappointing at-bat after another during the rest of his Dodger career.

Something you might know: One of those stellar early '80s Albuquerque Dukes prospects, Stubbs hammered Triple A pitching in 1984 and flew through the minors, only to struggle at the plate in the majors with a career .232 average over 10 seasons.

Something you might not know: Stubbs led the National League in fielding percentage by a first baseman in 1987 at .994.

My observation on the back: For you newbies, that's Jack Morris. And Dan Petry and Guillermo (Willie) Hernandez

The blog wants to speak now: The News category is updated.

#505 - Jim Beattie

What a card: Jim Beattie had just completed what would be his last full season in the majors when this card was issued. He'd endure injury-plagued seasons for the Mariners in 1985 and 1986 before calling it quits.

My observation on the front: There are stripes everywhere on that uniform.

More opinion from me: I've never forgiven Beattie for winning Game 5 of the 1978 World Series. Prior to that game I thought the Dodgers had a 3-2 lead in the Series made. Then Burt Hooton imploded. ... OK, so I've really never forgiven Hooton.

Something you might know: Beattie was a top-line Yankees prospect who went to Seattle in the deal for Ruppert Jones. Beattie later became known as a general manager, both with the Expos and the Orioles. And he was the guy who traded Pedro Martinez to the Red Sox.

Something you might not know: Beattie's wife, Martha, was a talented rower for Dartmouth, where both attended school. When Beattie was pitching for the Yankees, Martha taught a rowing team at a school in Massachusetts.

My observation on the back: When I was a kid I would puzzle over people "playing squash." How could they play a game with a vegetable?

The blog wants to speak now: The News category is updated.

#504 - Jerry Willard

What a card: This is Jerry Willard's first appearance on a Topps card. Donruss beat Topps to the punch with a Willard card in its 1984 set. Donruss did that a lot with its '84 set, which is one of the reasons it's so great.

My observation on the front: Watching batting practice is a very appropriate picture for a rookie backup.

More opinion from me: Ever since the Mike Schmidt card, we've been going to the end of the bench for cards.

Something you might know: Willard was a backup for most of his career, but he did have a shining moment in the 1991 World Series. While playing for the Braves, he was sent up as a pinch-hitter during the ninth inning of Game 4 with the score tied 2-2. Willard hit a fly ball that scored Mark Lemke from third with the winning run.

Something you might not know: Willard was out of baseball between the time he was released by the A's in December 1987 and when he was signed by the White Sox in February 1989. He worked in construction in 1988, but didn't like it, and started looking for a baseball job again.

My observation on the back: Little League ball, you say? That Jerry was a regular hipster as a kid.

The blog wants to speak now: The Pop Culture tab is updated.

#503 - Tim Conroy

What a card: Tim Conroy was entering his final season with the Oakland A's when this card hit packs. He would be traded in December 1985 for Cardinals starter Joaquin Andujar.

My observation on the front: Conroy looks like the camera flash woke him up.

More opinion from me: This recent run of 1985 Topps photos is not inspiring.

Something you might know: Conroy was a pitching phenom out of high school. The Oakland A's drafted him in 1978 and he was pitching for the major league team two weeks later without any trip to the minors, thanks to a publicity stunt by A's owner Charlie Finley. After two appearances, he went to the minors and didn't return to the majors until 1982.

Something you might not know: Conroy once struck out 22 batters in a seven-inning high school game.

My observation on the back: A Rusty Kuntz trivia question! Kuntz hit a short pop fly in the fifth inning of Game 5, and Kirk Gibson scored to put the Tigers ahead 4-3.

The blog wants to speak now: The News category is updated.

#502 - Rick Miller

What a card: Rick Miller was entering his final major league season when this card was released. He'd play in just 41 games in 1985, mostly as a pinch-hitter.

My observation on the front: The people in the background appear to be discussing the plant growing out of Miller's head.

More opinion from me: Miller's card here isn't all that different from one of his very early cards.

Something you might know: Miller was a terrific defensive outfielder who won a Gold Glove with the Angels in 1978.

Something you might not know: As a high school player, Miller was invited to a pregame workout by the Detroit Tigers. Another high school player there was future Cardinals and Brewers catcher Ted Simmons.

My observation on the back: Miller married Janet Fisk a year after Carlton Fisk won the 1972 AL Rookie of the Year Award.

The blog wants to speak now: The Music category is updated.

#501 - Dan Schatzeder

What a card: Dan Schatzeder was entering his final season as a sometimes-starter-sometimes-reliever when this card was issued. He'd spend the next six years of his career as a reliever.

My observation on the front: That's a mug shot. Pure and simple.

More opinion from me: Topps did not make a lot of progress with Schatzeder's cards if you compare this one to his card in the 1979 set.

Something you might know: Schatzeder was the winning pitcher in Game 6 of the World Series in 1987. He pitched the fourth and fifth innings for the Twins, who scored four runs in each inning of that game against the Cardinals.

Something you might not know: Schatzeder hit .240 for his career, including a .385 batting average in 1986 in which he walked five times, homered once, and provided five pinch-hits, the most for a pitcher in 27 years.

My observation on the back: The good ol' days when ballparks were named after real people instead of pet stores.

The blog wants to speak now: The News category is updated.

#500 - Mike Schmidt

What a card: Mike Schmidt delivered his usual impressive output in 1984, but the team that made the World Series in 1983 was in trouble. The Phillies finished at .500 in 1984 and were about to plummet into some dark years.

My observation the front: I've been a little harsh on the photos selected for Schmidt for Topps cards. But some of them are pretty good and this one isn't bad. Schmidt on the base paths. It's different.

More opinion from me: Schmidt looks like he could break anything in half just by looking at it.

Something you might know: The greatest power hitter of the 1980s and in Phillies history, Schmidt led the league in home runs eight times.

Something you might not know: On the day that Schmidt hit four home runs in a game in 1976, he used the bat of pinch-hitting reserver infielder Tony Taylor. The bat was an ounce lighter and an inch shorter than the one he normally used.

My observation on the back: This is the 4th of 5 straight years that Schmidt received a card number with a double zero. Also, there is just no need to abbreviate Ohio to "O."

The blog wants to speak now: The News category is updated.

#499 - Danny Cox

What a card: This is Danny Cox's first Topps card. It was quite sought-after at the time as Cox enjoyed a breakout year in 1985 with 18 wins and two starts in the World Series.

My observation on the front: Cox doesn't look right without his mustache.

More opinion from me: Cox was one of several Cardinals of the mid-1980s that kicked off a dislike for the team that continues to this day. Prior to '85, I enjoyed the Cardinals.

Something you might know: Cox formed a devastating rotation for the Cardinals with John Tudor and Joaquin Andujar in 1985. Later he pitched the NLCS-clinching win against the Giants in 1987.

Something you might not know: Cox is one of less than 40 major league ballplayers born in England.

My observation on the back: Thanks to collecting cards in 1976, I've known the answer to that trivia quiz since I was 10.

The blog wants to speak now: The Pop Culture tab is updated.

#498 - Ed Romero

What a card: Ed Romero played in a career-high 116 games in 1984 -- one of only two seasons in which he played in at least 100 games. He was the beneficiary of the Brewers' decision to shut down Paul Molitor, who underwent season-ending elbow surgery early in the season.

My observation on the front: A batting cage AND choking up on the bat? This is like my dream card.

More opinion from me: The front says Romero plays short, second and the outfield. Yet, he played most of his games at third base in 1984.

Something you might know: Romero spent 12 seasons as a utility infielder, mostly for the Brewers and Red Sox. And like any good utility infielder, he parlayed that into a managing career after his playing days were over. He's managed in the New York-Penn League the last 3 seasons.

Something you might not know: Romero made his major league debut on my 12th birthday. ... Yeah, I know I'm the only one who cares.

My observation on the back: "One-base hits" is just a fancy way to say "singles."

The blog wants to speak now: The Pop Culture tab is updated.

#497 - Gary Pettis

What a card: This is Gary Pettis' first Topps flagship card, except it isn't. The photo is actually of Pettis' 16-year-old brother, Lynn Pettis, making this card the biggest gaffe in the entire set. 

My observation on the front: I don't know how this got past anybody. That's a high school kid plain as day.

More opinion from me: I'm just noticing a weird green blotchy streak on the card. Bummer.

Something you might know: Topps claimed this was the result of a practical joke put on by Gary and his brother, but Gary said it was just an old photo from an Angels family day, featuring Lynn wearing Gary's uniform, and the picture somehow ended up in the set. (For what it's worth, Topps got the correct Pettis for the 1984 Traded card).

Something you might not know: Pettis was such a good fielder, particularly early in his career, that longtime Angels coach Jimmie Reese once said, "I'd compare him to Joe DiMaggio, Paul Blair and Willie Mays."

My observation on the back: At the time this card was issued, Mike Schmidt had hit 425 of the 548 homers in his career.

The blog wants to speak now: The Ballgames category is updated. The Royals are in trouble.