#80T - Len Matuszek

What a card: Len Matuszek came to the Blue Jays in an April 1, 1985 deal with the Phillies. Toronto sent Philadelphia three players I have never heard of, who collectively played in 36 major league games.

How'd that go: Matuszek played in 62 games for the Blue Jays in 1985, batting .212, before getting shipped to the Dodgers on July 9 of that season in exchange for Al Oliver. To this day, Matuszek can tell people he was traded one-up for Al Oliver.

Backatya: I always enjoy when a player's games played grow progressively each year. Matuszek would continue this trend in 1985 when he appeared in 105 games. But then in 1986, the string was broken as he recorded just 91.

Back-to-back: Matuszek grew a beard with his new team. Also, by moving from the National League to the American League, he was able to add the designated hitter to his position repertoire. 1985 is the only season in his seven year career that Matuszek was used as a DH.

Matuszek's flagship card is No. 688 in the set and was originally blogged on Aug. 4, 2017.

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

#72T - Gary Lavelle

What a card: Gary Lavelle departed the Giants after 11 seasons in a deal with the Blue Jays that landed San Francisco reliever Jim Gott on Jan. 26, 1985.

How'd that go: Lavelle finally made the postseason in his first year with Toronto in 1985. But he missed all of 1986 with an elbow injury.

Backatya: Several major leaguers have called Scranton, Pa., home but there hasn't been one for a long time. Lavelle is the most recent Scranton native to reach the bigs.

Back-to-back: The flagship card is No. 462 and was originally blogged on Oct. 13, 2015. For whatever reason, it looks like Lavelle dyed his hair on his Traded card.

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

#19T - Bill Caudill

What a card: Bill Caudill went to the Blue Jays in a trade with the Oakland A's on Dec. 8, 1984. Looking to beef up their bullpen, the Blue Jays sent outfielder Dave Collins and shortstop Alfredo Griffin to the A's for Caudill.

How'd that go: Caudill appeared in 68 games for the Blue Jays, but lost his closing job to Tom Henke early in the '85 season. Caudill didn't even receive an appearance in the 7-game 1985 ALCS against the Royals. It was his best shot at pitching in the postseason.

Backatya: With the addition of two Florida teams, there are now eight states with at least two Major League Baseball teams.

Back-to-back: Unless you look closely, the Blue Jays' Caudill appears to be pitching on one leg.

The original card is No. 685 in the set and was blogged on July 27, 2017.

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

#14T - Jeff Burroughs

What a card: Jeff Burroughs arrived with his fifth and final team when he was purchased by the Blue Jays from the A's on December 22, 1984.

How'd that go: Burroughs fared pretty well in his final season, appearing in 86 games with six homers in 191 at-bats for a .257 average, considerably better than the feeble .211 he hit in 1984.

His final at-bat was in Game 7 of the 1985 ALCS, his only postseason appearance. He appeared as a pinch-hitter in the 9th inning with the Blue Jays down 6-1 to the Royals and grounded out to the pitcher.

Backatya: Not much on the back that I didn't address the first time. This does happen to be the third Burroughs card in the '85 set, and the third player in the Traded set with three cards for Topps in '85.

Back-to-back: The original card appeared on Sept. 7, 2012. Topps dropped the "OF" position designation for the Traded card.

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

#774 - Dennis Lamp

What a card: Dennis Lamp was in the middle of his best season in the big leagues when this card came out. In his second season with the Blue Jays, he went 11-0 while pitching all but one of his 53 games in relief.

My observation on the front: At this point it was strange to see Lamp with any other team than the Chicago squads. His first seven years were with the Cubs and White Sox.

More opinion from me: Lamp has some great-looking cards and it's all about that most-impressive mustache. His first few cards are goofy, a combination of glasses and a still fledgling stache. Then, bam, the 1982 Topps card hit the streets.

Something you might know: Lamp gave up Lou Brock's 3,000th career hit on Aug. 13, 1979. Brock's hit deflected off Lamp's hand and he had to leave the game.

Something you might not know: As of 2011, Lamp was working at a fish market in Newport Beach, Calif. Here's a photo of him behind the counter.

My observation on the back: The AL April home run mark is now held by Alex Rodriguez, who hit 14 for the Yankees in 2007.

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

#746 - Jim Clancy

What a card: Jim Clancy struggled through a rough 1984. The normally reliable Clancy won 13 games but posted a 5.12 earned-run average and allowed a league-high 125 earned runs.

My observation on the front: Clancy may or may not be gnawing on one of his fingers. Odd photo.

More opinion from me: I have a soft spot for 1977 Blue Jays.

Something you might know: Clancy was called up in midseason in Toronto's first season. He was the team's only double-figure winner in 1978 (10) and he pitched in the 1982 All-Star Game. But most people remember him now as the pitcher with the most losses in the 1980s -- 126.

Something you might not know: While with the Astros in 1989, Clancy started a game against the Reds, faced seven batters, didn't get any of them out and allowed seven runs. The Reds scored 14 runs on 16 hits in the first inning that game en route to an 18-2 victory.

My observation on the back: Matt Stairs broke Cliff Johnson's record (which was 20 at the end of his career). Stairs hit 23.

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

#702 - Damaso Garcia All-Star

What a card: Damaso Garcia finished second in the American League in being hit by a pitch, getting whacked nine times in 1984.

My observation on the front: So far this subset has a puffy clouds theme going. Let's keep it up.

More opinion from me: This card is ragged on the top and bottom edges. Not quite O-Pee-Chee edges, but it does have cutting issues.

All-Star performance: Garcia went 0-for-1 in the 1984 All-Star Game, coming in as a defensive replacement in the sixth inning. He hit a foul pop up against Mario Soto to close out the eighth inning.

Legitimate All-Star card or fake All-Star card: Once again, fake All-Star. Lou Whitaker started for the American League in 1984, yet Whitaker didn't get an All-Star card. (Although he did appear in the Topps glossy All-Star set issued in '85).

My observation on the back: You can see the miscutting on the back with ever-so-slight evidence of another card on the upper right edge.

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

#698 - Jorge Bell

What a card: Jorge Bell was coming off his breakout season when this card was issued. In his first season as a regular, he delivered 26 home runs and 177 hits for the Blue Jays in 1984.

My observation on the front: Topps was the last holdover in listing Bell's first name as "Jorge." In 1984, Fleer also called him "Jorge." But by 1985, both Donruss and Fleer had gone over to "George." Topps wouldn't list Bell as "George" until its 1987 set.

More opinion from me: Another miscut card. That's two in a row.

Something you might know: Part of Toronto's acclaimed outfield that also included Lloyd Moseby and Jesse Barfield, Bell was the American League MVP in 1987, hitting 47 home runs and driving in 134 runs for the pennant-contending Blue Jays.

Something you might not know: Bell's son, also named George, is a teenage international prospect who signed with the Oakland A's in 2016.

My observation on the back: I wasn't aware (or forgot) that the Brewers once didn't have names on the back of their uniforms. They do now.

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

#673 - Buck Martinez

What a card: Buck Martinez appeared in 102 games for the Blue Jays in 1984, the first time in 15 seasons in the majors that he had appeared in 100 games in a season.

My observation on the front: An interesting choice of a photo, showing Martinez leading off. He stole five bases in 1,049 career games.

More opinion from me: Martinez played a long time, I have lots of cards of him, yet I associated him more with being a broadcaster than a player.

Something you might know: Martinez made one very memorable play at the plate in 1985. He was bowled over by the Mariners' Phil Bradley while making the tag out at the plate. He suffered a broken leg on the play, yet tried to throw out Gorman Thomas advancing on the bases. The throw went into left field and Thomas tried to go home, only to be tagged out by Martinez, who had received the throw from George Bell, despite the broken leg, for the double play.

Something you might not know: Martinez posted a lifetime .225 batting average. He said in a 1983 article that a hunting accident contributed to his inability to hit consistently. During the 1976 offseason, Martinez and Royals teammate and pitcher Doug Bird went hunting. Bird took a shot while he was behind Martinez and a pellet struck Martinez in the eye. His vision in his left eye was 20/200 since.

A word about the back: Martinez met Arlene in Puerto Rico when he was playing winter ball in 1971. But the two didn't see each other again for three more years during a party in Florida in spring training. That's when they started dating.

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

#645 - Damaso Garcia

What a card: Damaso Garcia was coming off the most active season of his major league career when this card was issued. He appeared in a career-high 152 games and was fifth in the AL in at-bats with 633, wrapping out 180 hits.

My observation on the front: This is one time I wish a player was not wearing a cap. Garcia seems to have a ton of hair but he always had a cap on his head on his cards.

More opinion from me: During the 1980s, Garcia was lamented as one of the good players the Yankees let get away. But his career faded out pretty quickly by the end of the decade.

Something you might know: Garcia was part of the Blue Jays' touted middle infield of the mid-1980s, combining with the smooth-fielding Tony Fernandez.

Something you might not know: Garcia has limited use of speech and can't drive a car after he had a malignant brain tumor removed during the early 1990s. His son suffers from hemophilia and Garcia and his wife organized a baseball camp for hemophiliac children in the Dominican Republic.

My observation on the back: There are now three players with more home runs than Stan Musial accumulated (475) who never led the league in homers during a season. They are Rafael Palmeiro (569), Frank Thomas (521) and Gary Sheffield (509).

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

#622 - Luis Leal

What a card: Luis Leal had reached double-figure victories for the third straight year when this card was issued. He won 13 games for the Blue Jays in 1984, but he was entering his final major league season in '85.

My observation on the front: The windbreaker under the uniform is not something you see all that often on '80s cards. It's more of a '60s and '70s look. It's a little strange here.

More opinion from me: Leal has been forgotten by time, but he was considered one of the up-and-coming pitchers on the Jays, just a few steps below Dave Stieb, for a period in the early 1980s.

Something you might know: Leal was the starting pitcher for the Blue Jays against the Indians when Len Barker pitched his perfect game in May, 1981. Leal pitched a complete game, allowing three runs and seven hits.

Something you might not know: During the Tigers' torrid early season run in 1984 in which it went 35-5 to begin the year, the Blue Jays were almost as hot and kept pace through June. On June 6, 1984, the Blue Jays beat the Tigers 6-3 to climb within 3 1/2 games of the 39-13 Tigers. Leal pitched the win and improved his record to 6-0. However, that was close as the Blue Jays would get the rest of the season.

My observation on the back: I wonder if a reference to a major league strike would appear on a baseball card these days. There's quite a bit of a censorship with the MLB/Topps exclusive license, and I bet they wouldn't want to see that messiness on cards these days.

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

#593 - Rick Leach

What a card: This is Rick Leach's first flagship card with the Blue Jays. After three years with the Tigers, he signed as a free agent with Toronto in April 1984.

My observation on the front: I am noticing a stain of some sort on Leach's hat for the first time. I don't know if it's actually on the cap or a printing flaw, but it's on every one of his '85 Topps cards. Seems like something Topps would take care of before it made it to packs. It's a big stain.

More opinion from me: It annoys me how much is made of Leach's time as University of Michigan quarterback. I know he was really good there, much better than he was as a major league baseball player, but college football means next to nothing to me, and MLB everything.

Something you might know: Leach was the first-round draft choice of the Tigers in 1979 (13th pick overall).

Something you might not know: Leach disappeared from the Blue Jays in August 1987 while the team was in Seattle. It was the first sign that Leach had a drug problem, but nobody knew it at the time. Leach was penciled in to start against the Mariners and never showed up. At first a team PR guy passed it off as Leach getting food poisoning, but reporters noticed the concern of the players, one even saying they didn't know whether he was even alive. Leach showed up the next day, but disappeared again while with the Rangers in 1989. He was eventually suspended while with the Giants in 1990 and got treatment.

My observation on the back: Mike Mussina and Roger Clemens now share the ALCS single-game strikeout record with 15 each.

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

#568 - Cliff Johnson

What a card: Cliff Johnson was enjoying the most regular playing time of his career when this card was issued. Thirteen years into his 15-year major league career, he batted above .300 for the first and only time.

My observation on the front: That is the definition of a healthy cut, good sir. Hope it went far.

More opinion from me: Johnson was such an ever-present player when I was growing up -- he played for the Yankees at the height of my Yankee-watching; he played for the Blue Jays during a time when the Blue Jays were available on my TV; I pulled his cards constantly when I was a kid -- that it's still hard to believe he isn't playing anymore and is in fact 69 years old!

Something you might know: While with the Yankees, Johnson got into a famous fight with teammate Goose Gossage in 1979 that put Gossage on the DL for two months with a thumb injury. Johnson was traded to the Indians shortly afterward.

Something you might not know: The fight was started by Reggie Jackson, who said, "Hey Cliff, how did you hit Goose when you were in the National League?" after Gossage's thrown socks inadvertently flicked Johnson in the shoulder.

My observation on the back: I will forgive Cliff for his youthful indiscretion. But only because the Dodgers lit up Bumgarner and his friends tonight.

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

#545 - Lloyd Moseby

What a card: Lloyd Moseby was pretty much at the peak of his career when this card came out. His 1984 season wasn't quite as good as his '83 season, but he led the league in triples and stole a career high 39 bases.

My observation on the front: Opposite field double down the line!

More opinion from me: Why is Lloyd spelled with a double L?

Something you might know: Moseby was the center fielder in a highly praised outfield that included original "Killer Bees" George Bell and Jesse Barfield.

Something you might not know: Moseby featured a notoriously weak throwing arm, and in a 1989 Sports Illustrated poll of third base coaches who were asked which outfielders they would advance runners against the most often, Moseby was mentioned along with Chili Davis and Willie Wilson.

My observation on the back: The write-up there is a little presumptuous. It's entirely possible that if Moseby stuck with catching he would have still made it to the majors.

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

#516 - Roy Lee Jackson

What a card: Roy Lee Jackson was coming off his fourth and final season with the Blue Jays when this card was issued. In fact, he had been released by the Jays by the time many collectors had pulled this card, signed by the Orioles, and then traded to the Padres in a deal for the troubled Alan Wiggins.

My observation on the front: Nice-looking action shot, and like the Royals cards, lots of shades of blue -- which I like.

More opinion from me: As a kid I wondered how pitchers got their arms to curl like that.

Something you might know: Jackson appears on one of the more-often cited cards of the mid-1980s. Jackson sang the anthem (probably "O Canada," but maybe also "The Star-Spangled Banner") before a handful of Blue Jays games.

Something you might not know: Jackson is shown in the introduction to the very first episode of the long-running 1980s public television kids' science show "3-2-1 Contact".

My observation on the back: I was all ready to say, "Yastrzemski is still the last player to win the Triple Crown," since that was the case for most of my life. But of course Miguel Cabrera ended Yaz's reign in 2012.

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

#489 - Bryan Clark

What a card: This is the last card of Bryan Clark in a flagship set. He'll appear in Topps' Traded set when I get to that point of the blog.

My observation on the front: Clark appears saddened that such a boring photo is being used for his card.

More opinion from me: Every time I see photos like this in the 1985 set, I wonder what the hell happened to the excitement that Topps established with its 1983 and 1984 sets.

Something you might know: Clark was a sporadically used relief pitcher who spent most of his time with the Mariners and has one of the more cited baseball cards when people are listing the most comical cards of the 1980s.

Something you might not know: Clark made his major league debut as a pinch-runner on April 11, 1981. He pinch-ran for Mariners designated hitter Richie Zisk in the seventh inning with the Mariners behind 6-3 to the Angels.

My observation on the back: Such a good nickname wasted on such an annoying player.

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

#463 - Dave Collins

What a card: Dave Collins was already a member of the Oakland A's when this card was issued. He was traded by Toronto, along with shortstop Alfredo Griffin, for relief pitcher Bill Caudill in December, 1984.

My observation on the front: That's a pretty appropriate shot of Collins bolting out of the box. He was often referred to as the fastest white guy in baseball.

More opinion from me: Collins seemed to have a dozen different looks on his baseball cards. It didn't help that he changed teams a lot. It was almost as if he was a different person each year.

Something you might know: Collins was the first batter in Seattle Mariners history, hitting lead-off (as the designated hitter) against the Angels' Frank Tanana.

Something you might not know: Collins played for legendary American Legion coach David Ploof, the winningest coach in Legion history, who led the Rapid City, S.D., Post 22 team for 46 years. Ploof's players also included future major leaguers Mark Ellis and Kelvin Torve.

My observation on the back: Those 15 triples Collins hit in 1984 really stand out, since he had no more than six in any other year. He led the AL in triples that season.

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

#436 - Willie Aikens

What a card: This is the last card of Willie Aikens' major league career. He was released by the Blue Jays early in the 1985 season.

My observation on the front: I have no memory of Aikens being a Blue Jay.

More opinion from me: But I do remember well the hubbub over Aikens in 1980, the fact that he was named after Willie Mays, his electric postseason that year, and almost carrying Kansas City to a World Series title. He was almost exclusively referred to as "Willie Mays Aikens" then, but that kind of evaporated in the years that followed, and none of his cards list his name that way (although his signature on his 1980 Topps card says "Willie Mays Aikens").

Something you might know: Aikens burst on the major league scene with the Angels in 1979, hitting 21 home runs before being traded to Kansas City. But most remember him as one of the suspended drug-abusing players connected to the Pittsburgh drug trials, and Aikens' later incarceration after being convicted of distributing cocaine in 1994.

Something you might not know: Aikens, who was released from prison in 2008 after federal drug sentencing laws were changed, said he could have received a lighter sentence than the 20 years if he had helped the police catch a drug dealer that he knew. He said police wanted him to wear a wire tap and buy drugs from the dealer, but Aikens refused.

My observation on the back: The South Carolina doctor who added Mays to Willie's name did so two weeks after the New York Giants won the World Series and Willie Mays made his famous catch of the drive by Vic Wertz.

The blog wants to speak now: Really tired after a night at the ballpark and a lot of driving. I'm taking a research break.

#411 - Bobby Cox

What a card: Bobby Cox was entering his fourth season as the Blue Jays manager when this card was issued. After back-to-back 89-73 seasons, Cox would lead Toronto to what would be its most successful season to date in 1985 as the team made the ALCS.

My observation on the front: Cox doesn't appear to appreciate the home plate ump's call here.

More opinion from me: Cox looks particularly grumpy on his Blue Jays cards. It's not until the 1986 set where he can crack a smile.

Something you might know: Cox led the Blue Jays and Braves to the postseason and was in charge when Atlanta won the World Series in 1995. He's fourth all-time in managerial wins and first all-time in managerial ejections.

Something you might not know: Braves owner Ted Turner gave Cox his first MLB managerial job with Atlanta in 1977 in part because of a recommendation made by then Atlanta Hawks coach Hubie Brown.

My observation on the back: The blurb conveniently leaves out that the Blue Jays' second-place finish was a full 15 games behind the first-place Tigers, who went a torrid 104-58 in 1984.

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

#361 - Alfredo Griffin

What a card: After appearing in all 162 games in back-to-back seasons for the Blue Jays, Griffin managed just 140 games in 1984.

My observation on the front: Griffin looks reflective in what is a very nice shot. A lot of the '85 Topps cards are closely cropped and you can't see much behind the featured player. This is much better.

More opinion from me: I'm still not over Griffin's terrible 1990 season for the Dodgers (his 1988 season was lousy, too, but at least he had an excuse -- Dwight Gooden hit him in the hand with a pitch).

Something you might know: Griffin shared the American League Rookie of the Year honor with the Twins' John Castino in 1979. It's the only time in the AL that the award has been shared.

Something you might not know: Griffin had possibly the worst swing for strike three in baseball history. Yeah, I know a lot of baseball has been played, but look at this thing.

My observation on the back: Take a glance at Griffin's walk total for the 1984 season. That's not a typo. He walked four times in 140 games.

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