Monday, June 25, 2018

#11T - Tom Browning


What a card: This is the third rookie card in the 1985 Topps Traded set and one of the most coveted at the time as Browning was busy winning 20 games in his rookie season in 1985.

My observation on the front: Depending on your perspective, Browning's Topps rookie card is much better than or not nearly as interesting as his Fleer rookie card.

More opinion from me: You throw a no-hitter against the Dodgers, you're not on friendly terms with me.

Something you might know: Browning pitched the 12th perfect game in major league history against the Dodgers on Sept. 16, 1988.

Something you might not know: Browning grew up in Wyoming, but his high school years were spent in Upstate New York. He pitched in the same high school league as another future major league pitcher, Jim Deshaies. The pair, who each attended Le Moyne College, became the best pitchers to come out of Upstate New York since Johnny Podres. (My newspaper happens to cover the high school league in which Browning and Deshaies pitched, and, believe me, it is still a shock that talent like that came out of that league).


My observation on the back: After Browning threw his perfect game, Reds owner Marge Schott tried to include a clause in Browning's contract that said if Browning pitched another perfect game in 1989 that Browning's wife, Debbie, would receive a $300,000 bonus. The National League office nixed that clause.

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

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