#88T - Al Oliver

What a card: Al Oliver arrived with the Dodgers after a trade with the Phillies on Feb. 9, 1985 in which L.A. sent reliever Pat Zachry to Philadelphia.

How'd that go: Oliver, in the final season of his 18-year major league career, played in just 32 games for the Dodgers in 1985 before he was traded to the Blue Jays in July. That allowed him to get into his first postseason series in 10 years in which he hit .375 in five games of the ALCS.

Backatya: I've already written about the cologne reference so let's mention that I enjoy that Topps abbreviated Ohio as "O." so we may continue the theme started on the front as Oliver's uniform number is "0".

Back-to-back: Good timing with this card as reliever Adam Ottavino made news yesterday by becoming the first Yankee player to wear the number 0 on his uniform. Oliver is believed to be the first major leaguer to wear the number 0, which he started while a member of the Texas Rangers in the late 1970s.

The flagship card is No. 130 and was originally blogged on Jan. 3, 2013.

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

#58T - Ken Howell

What a card: This is the 15th rookie card in the 1985 Topps Update set. Ken Howell emerged as one of the top back-end bullpen guys for the Dodgers in 1985, appearing in 56 games and saving 12.

My observation on the front: Howell doesn't seem to be feeling this photo session. What pitcher holds his glove like that? Get it up high, Howell!

More opinion from me: The Howell-Niedenfuer days of the Dodgers bullpen came down to "which one is going to blow it this time?" Although after this past season, I might be willing to take my chances with the '85 pair.

Something you might know: Howell was a fireballing reliever for the Dodgers who had control issues. He ended up as a starter for the Phillies, but injury problems shortened his career.

Something you might not know: Howell has been hospitalized several times due to various diabetes-related conditions. He worked as an assistant pitching coach and bullpen coach for the Dodgers until 2015 when he was unable to report to spring training due to continuing health problems. (EDIT: Howell died at age 57, two days after this post was published).

My observation on the back: My guess is that several players have surpasses Reggie Jackson in the number of Championship Series games. But LCS stats aren't the easiest to find.

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

#32T - Mariano Duncan

What a card: This is the ninth rookie card in the Update set. Mariano Duncan made his major league debut in 1985 and played in 142 games for the Dodgers, finishing third in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.

My observation on the front: That's first base coach Joey Amalfitano in the background.

More opinion from me: Duncan's performance in 1985 was easily his best for the Dodgers. He flat-out stunk after that and became one of those frustrating players who performed much better for succeeding teams (the Reds, Phillies and Yankees).

Something you might know: Duncan's one season with the Yankees in 1996 was so successful that not only did he hit .340 that year but his often-repeated phrase "we play today, we win today" appeared on T-shirts worn by Yankees teammates.

Something you might not know: When pitcher Joaquin Andujar moved out of his home in the Dominican Republic for a bigger house, Duncan and his family moved into Andujar's old place.

My observation on the back: Samuel, Fernandez and Duncan are all from San Pedro de Macoris. This is right when the city started to become known in the baseball public as a goldmine for shortstops.

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

#18T - Bobby Castillo

What a card: Bobby Castillo returned to the Dodgers, where he spent the first five years of his career, as a free agent on Feb. 11, 1985.

How'd that go: Well, he appeared in 35 games, the most since 1982, but his 5.35 ERA signaled the end was near and 1985 was his last season in the majors.

Backatya: Born in L.A., lives in L.A. He should be playing for L.A., right?

 

Back-to-back: The original card is No. 588. It was blogged on Oct. 20, 2016.

I do like photos of pitchers prepared to field their position, but the close-up on the mustache is tough to beat.

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

#782 - Tom Niedenfuer

What a card: Tom Niedenfuer was coming off an injury-plagued 1984 season when this card was issued. After appearing in more than 50 games each of the previous two years, he managed just 33 in '84, but still led the Dodgers in saves with 11.

My observation on the front: I hope that's not a fastball away that Niedenfuer is throwing.

More opinion from me: I probably have been more angry about the outcome of a Dodger game than on Oct. 16, 1985, but I can't think of another instance right now. And most of the anger was directed at Niedenfuer, Tom Lasorda and Jack Clark.

Something you might know: Niedenfuer pitched well in the 1981 World Series against the Yankees, two months after making his big league debut, but became famous for giving up back-to-back decisive home runs to the Cardinals' Ozzie Smith and Clark in Games 5 and 6 of the 1985 NLCS.

Something you might not know: Lasorda nicknamed Niedenfuer "Buffalo" because of his large head.

My observation on the back: Niedenfuer was married to Lisa Anne until 1986, then married actress Judy Landers, known for her buxom blonde roles in many '80s TV shows and movies.

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

#753 - Greg Brock

What a card: Greg Brock produced his second straight season of hitting in the .220s as the replacement for all-star first baseman Steve Garvey.

My observation on the front: It's just occurring to me now that a guy I hired about a dozen years ago, who left almost 10 years ago, looks a lot like Greg Brock. I always knew this guy looked like someone but I couldn't place who.

More opinion from me: I think this card arrived at the height of my disgust for Brock's performance for the Dodgers. I so wanted him gone. I think he sensed it, because 1985 was his best season with L.A.

Something you might know: Brock absolutely tore apart Triple A pitching, convincing Dodgers brass that they didn't need to re-sign mainstay Garvey, who went to the Padres. For a brief, black period, the Padres actually had a better first baseman than the Dodgers.

Something you might not know: Brock is the high school baseball coach for Loveland High School in Loveland, Colo. Loveland is a rival school of Mountain View High School. Brock also coached baseball at Mountain View. In fact, he founded the baseball program.

My observation on the back: Those 3 teams remain the only MLB teams with nicknames that start with "P". But it reminds me that for the most recent year of baseball expansion, baseball picked two teams with nicknames that start with "D" -- the Diamondbacks and Devil Rays, robbing the Dodgers of elite status as the only team with a nickname starting with "D". At least the Devil Rays had the eventual sense to back down and go with Rays.

The blog wants to speak now: The News category is updated (back to Dec. 9th).

#728 - Bob Bailor

What a card: Bob Bailor had completed his first season with the Dodgers as a utility player when this card was issued. He appeared in just 65 games, which was his lowest total as full-time player to that point (strike year excluded).

My observation on the front: Love the "3B-SS-2B" notation squeezed in there.

More opinion from me: As someone who was captivated by the expansion Blue Jays in their first year, I was very pleased when Bailor eventually arrived with the Dodgers. Bailor was one of the Blue Jays' best hitters in 1977 and I wanted L.A. to trade for him (my continued mission to jettison Bill Russell). Of course, by the time Bailor arrived with the Dodgers he hadn't had a season like 1977 since ... 1977.

Something you might know: Bailor was the first player selected by the Blue Jays in the 1976 expansion draft.

Something you might not know: Bailor played in the Venezuelan Winter League in 1974. On New Year's Day, his roommate, pitcher Mark Weems, went out for a swim, was swept out to sea and drowned. Bailor, pitcher Don Hood and player-coach Ray Miller spent three days searching for the body.

My observation on the back: Bailor was discovered by a scout while playing American Legion baseball. Bailor's high school didn't have a baseball team.

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

#680 - Jerry Reuss

What a card: Jerry Reuss was coming off an injury-plagued 1984 season when this card was released. He underwent offseason surgery to remove bone spurs from both heels.

My observation on the front: A baseball card that doesn't show Jerry Reuss smiling is not a baseball card of Jerry Reuss.

More opinion from me: Reuss did two things that solidified him as one of my favorite players of all-time: he signed and returned a couple of cards to me, and he commented on my blog. And he was already a favorite when he pitched for the Dodgers.

Something you might know: Reuss started the 1975 All-Star Game while with the Pirates and pitched three innings. His best season was probably in 1980 with the Dodgers when he finished second in the Cy Young Award voting and pitched a no-hitter against the Giants. He also was the NL Comeback Player of the Year.

Something you might not know: Reuss was traded from the Cardinals to the Astros at the start of the 1972 season because Cardinals owner August Busch didn't like Reuss' mustache.

My observation on the back: Reuss is a music fan and apparently put together a music reference book in the early 1990s that helped readers find music from 1955-79 on compact discs.

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

#654 - Dave Anderson

What a card: Dave Anderson was coming off his first full major league season when this card was issued. In 1984, he was the first Dodger besides Bill Russell to get the majority of starts at shortstop in a decade.

My observation on the front: You can see Anderson displaying the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games patch on his jersey sleeve.

More opinion from me: I remember when Anderson played in his first games with the Dodgers. He was not on my radar as one of the leading prospects for L.A., so I wondered who this guy was with the wonderfully pedestrian name. (He probably should have been on my radar as the Dodgers made him their No. 1 draft pick in 1981).

Something you might know: Anderson might be best known for standing in the on-deck circle before Kirk Gibson came on to pinch-hit in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. Anderson was there to hit for the pitcher as Mike Davis batted. But when Davis walked, Gibson came to the plate instead of Anderson and the rest is history.

Something you might not know: Anderson and pitcher Fernando Valenzuela were both injured late in the 1988 season, but were each eligible to be activated for the World Series when the Dodgers got there. Anderson was activated instead of Valenzuela. Pitching coach Ron Perranoski believed Valenzuela's sore shoulder wasn't ready although Valenzuela disagreed.

My observation on the back: A couple of things:

1. That is not a gum stain. My '85 set was purchased complete in a vending box, so I don't know what that is.

2. The Los Angeles Times spelled Anderson's wife's first name as "Jina". I believe the L.A. Times over Topps.

3. The multiple choice answers for the trivia quiz has a "one of these things is not like the other" feel. Gee, do you think it's Don Hahn?

The blog wants to speak now: The Other Cards tab is updated.

#626 - German Rivera

What a card: This is German Rivera's first and only Topps card. He also appeared in the 1985 Donruss and Fleer sets and then disappeared from major-issued sets.

My observation on the front: Nothing exciting about it, so I'll just mention that this was the first card I ever posted on this blog. It was the image I used when I was testing out the blog at the start.

More opinion from me: This was another player who hit the lights out in Albuquerque during the early '80s and didn't do much in the majors. That got a little annoying as a Dodger fan.

Something you might know: Rivera was the Dodgers' starting third baseman to begin the 1984 season. Pedro Guerrero was played at first base because Greg Brock struggled his rookie year. But Rivera went 4-for-22 in April and was relegated to pinch-hitter and defensive replacement by the end of the month.

Something you might not know: Rivera played in the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series tournament in 2015. Among his teammates on the Boston Wolfpack was Oil Can Boyd. Boyd faced off against Roger Clemens in a well-covered game in that series. Clemens' Houston team won. Rivera got two hits in that game.

My observation on the back: That 1983 Albuquerque Dukes squad was quite a team. Rivera tied for second on the team (with Tony Brewer) with 24 home runs. Sid Bream hit 32. The whole team batted .307.

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

#601 - Tom Lasorda

What a card: Tom Lasorda was entering what would be his fifth NL West-winning season when this card was created. After the Dodgers finished fourth in 1984, Lasorda would place third in manager of the year voting for 1985.

My observation on the front: I can't quite read the uniform name on the back of the person behind Lasorda. That's disappointing.

More opinion from me: That looks like a forced smile from Lasorda. He has much better cards as a manager.

Something you might know: The man who bleeds Dodger Blue and led the team to World Series titles in 1981 and 1988 was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

Something you might not know: Lasorda's name is on a concession stand at Dodger Stadium, called "Tommy Lasorda's Trattoria". It's a typically Italian restaurant and Lasorda chose some of the dishes. It's his second venture into the restaurant business. His first was "Tommy Lasorda's Ribs and Pasta" in South Pasadena in the late 1980s. It was shut down by the health department in late 1988 after reports of rat sightings and 43 code violations. The restaurant reopened but Lasorda later sued a pest control company for failing to get rid of the rat problem.

My observation on the back: The listing of a manager's height and weight has always amused me. I charted Lasorda's listings during his managerial career. On his first manager card, in the 1978 Topps set, he's listed at 175 pounds. It remains that way until the 1983 Topps set when it jumps to 195 pounds. Lasorda's weight remains at 195 pounds until the 1992 Topps set (the card where he's shown jogging with his pitchers) when his weight drops to 180. His Mother's Cookies card from 1995 lists his weight at 185.

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

#575 - Pedro Guerrero

What a card: Pedro Guerrero was coming off a season-long slump when this card was issued. His struggles in 1984 mirrored the Dodgers' issues that year. But he would come back with a vengeance in 1985, probably the best season of his career.

My observation on the front: Man, look at that physique. No wonder Bill James called him "the best hitter God had made in a long time."

More opinion from me: Guerrero was my favorite player at this time. I had waited for him to show his stuff for awhile, since the 1970s. It's sad that he was traded away before he could win a second World Series.

Something you might know: Guerrero was named co-MVP with Ron Cey and Steve Yeager for the 1981 World Series, based on his five-RBI performance in the decisive Game 6 against the Yankees.

Something you might not know: After their World Series win in 1981, the Dodgers considered a potential trade that would have sent Guerrero to the Padres for shortstop Ozzie Smith.

My observation on the back: Guerrero would often wave his finger when he was on camera during a game. That finger wave was for his wife. It was their "signal" and he would do it when she was at the ballpark, too.

The blog wants to speak now: The pop culture tab is updated.

#549 - Mike Scioscia

What a card: Mike Scioscia was coming off a nice comeback season when this card was issued. He missed virtually all of the 1983 season with a torn rotator cuff and came back to play in 114 games with a .273 average in 1984. The 1985 season would be the most productive of his career.

My observation the front: Scioscia is demonstrating his tagging style at the plate. Unlike most catchers of the time, who would clutch the ball in the glove with one hand, Scioscia let the glove do all the work and kept his right hand outside the glove.

More opinion from me: I'm not one to pin a team's success all on the manager, but the Dodgers probably could have saved themselves a lot of managing grief if they had hired Scioscia when they had the chance.

Something you might know: Scioscia was known for his toughness in blocking the plate and holds the Dodgers record for the most games caught behind the plate. His hitting in the 1988 NLCS, in which he went 8-for-23 and hit a game-tying homer off Dwight Gooden in the ninth inning of Game 4, was probably his most notable offensive performance.

Something you might not know: Scioscia signed with the Padres for the 1993 season but didn't play any regular season games for them after suffering another rotator injury in spring training. But that didn't stop card companies -- most notably Upper Deck and Pinnacle -- from issuing cards of him as a Padre.

My observation on the back: A very easy trivia question that is also no longer correct.

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

#523 - Candy Maldonado

What a card: Candy Maldonado had finally reached 100 games in a season in 1984 after kicking around between the minors and majors for four years. He was still a part-time player though, which is all he would be for the Dodgers.

My observation on the front: I wouldn't call that a "bat flip." It's more like a "bat shove."

More opinion from me: Obviously as a young fan of the Dodgers (I was around 16, 17 when I first heard there was someone named 'Candy Maldonado' in the Dodgers' organization), I was quite intrigued with Candy. But he was another one of those Albuquerque stars who didn't deliver on the wild expectations.

Something you might know: Maldonado had better success with the Giants and Blue Jays, playing in the World Series for both teams and delivering the game-winning hit in the ninth inning of Game 3 of the 1992 World Series for the Jays. It was the first walk-off World Series hit struck outside the United States.

Something you might not know: Maldonado lost favor with the Dodgers for what was perceived as a lackadaisical attitude in the field, making unnecessary throws during games just to please the fans, etc.

My observation on the back: That's a mean trivia question to put on the back of a Dodger card.

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

#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.

#493 - Orel Hershiser

What a card: You're looking at another one of the major rookie cards in the 1985 Topps set. Orel Hershiser was coming off a season in which he finished third in the N.L. Rookie of the Year voting, behind Dwight Gooden and Juan Samuel.

My observation on the front: I just love this card. It is very Orel. He's rail thin, looks nothing like an athlete, yet is in complete command.

More opinion from me: There is a moment in time that I remember vividly. I am in my parents' house, bent over a sports section that's on the kitchen table. I'm looking at the Dodgers' write-up and I'm looking at this name: "Orel Hershiser? Orel? Hershiser? Where'd they get this guy?" That's the thought going through my head.

Something you might know: Hershiser won 19 games in his second season (against 3 losses), then in 1988 set a record for consecutive scoreless innings and carried the Dodgers to the World Series title, winning MVP honors.

Something you might not know: After Hershiser's 1988 season, he signed a new 3-year contract that was the richest deal ever at the time. When he reported to spring training and went to his locker, which featured his uniform number 55 on it, someone had put slashes through the 5s to make them look like dollar signs.

My observation on the back: Hershiser was born in the same town as I was. I'm very proud of that.

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

#470 - Steve Sax

What a card: Steve Sax was coming off the first "down year" of his major league career. He batted just .243 with a paltry .300 on-base percentage in 1984.

My observation on the front: There are some issues with this card. It's slightly miscut. There's snow on the card surface. It's a little defective for right-out-of-the-box, I think.

More opinion from me: I'm pretty certain Sax is in the top 10 of athletes who have fans just because of their name.

Something you might know: Sax was Rookie of the Year for the Dodgers in 1982 and then the very next year struggled to even throw to first base, making a career high 30 errors.

Something you might not know: Sax appears in an episode of "Who's the Boss" from 1986. He plays a character in the stands of a pick-up softball game. Tony needs another player and invites Sax onto his team. Sax is playing chess with Billy Martin when he gets the invitation. Bob Uecker also appears in this episode.

My observation on the back: Sax grew up in Sacramento and was indeed a Giants fan. He once told his dad that he wouldn't play for the Dodgers for a million dollars. It turns out he did play for them and signed for a lot less than a million dollars.

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

#440 - Fernando Valenzuela

What a card: Fernando Valenzuela was coming off the first losing season of his career when this card came out. He went 12-17 in 1984 but pitched better than he did in the 1983 season when he went 15-10.

My observation on the front: It appears that this photo is a couple of clicks after Valenzuela's famous habit of looking up to the sky during his wind-up.

More opinion from me: Topps did a lousy job of capturing what was the most talked about aspect of Valenzuela's pitching motion. While Fleer featured the "eyes to the sky" in its second year, and Leaf did in its first year as a "premier" card set, Topps waited until late in Valenzuela's career for whatever reason.

Something you might know: The major league sensation of the 1981 season, Fernando Valenzuela began the year with five straight shutouts to touch off "Fernandomania".

Something you might not know: Valenzuela became a U.S. citizen just two weeks ago, and a few months after his wife, Linda, did.

My observation on the back: Fernando Jr. played first base and the outfield in the Padres and White Sox organizations between 2003-06, getting as high as Double A.

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

#418 - Ken Landreaux

What a card: Ken Landreaux was coming off a disappointing 1984 season in which all of his numbers dipped from the previous season. It was actually the beginning of the end for Landreaux, who was a part-time player with the Dodgers by 1986.

My observation on the front: It appears that Landreaux is wearing the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics patch that the Dodgers wore in '84 to recognize the Olympic baseball games being played in Dodger Stadium.

More opinion from me: I desperately wanted Landreaux to play for the Dodgers when he was with the Twins, and was elated when the Dodgers traded for him. But right about 1985, I finally realized that he wasn't all I hoped he would be for L.A.

Something you might know: Landreaux set a Twins record for hitting in 31 straight games in 1980.

Something you might not know: Landreaux threw out two runners from center field and was part of a relay that gunned down another runner at home plate during his first game in the major leagues. In the sixth inning, Landreaux threw out the White Sox's Richie Zisk, who was trying to tag up from second to go to third. In the ninth inning, he threw out pinch-runner John Flannery at third base who was also trying to advance from second on a fly ball. In the eighth, his throw to shortstop Rance Mulliniks, who relayed to catcher Terry Humphrey, caught runner Bob Coluccio at home. Coluccio was trying to score from first on a Chet Lemon double.

My observation on the back: The second-place pitcher in career wins -- Walter Johnson -- is almost 100 wins behind Cy Young. They're going to have to change the way they define "wins" for this record to ever be broken.

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

#369 - R.J. Reynolds

What a card: This is R.J. Reynolds' first Topps card. He first appeared in a major baseball card set as part of the 1984 Fleer Update set (a card that I just ordered the other day, by the way).

My observation on the front: Reynolds is wearing the number also worn by Dodgers Jimmy Wynn, Kirk Gibson, Eric Karros, Don Zimmer, Claude Osteen and Adrian Gonzalez. Pretty good company.

More opinion from me: For the longest time I couldn't believe that Reynolds was named after a tobacco company, until I realized his full name is Robert James Reynolds.

Something you might know: Reynolds was part of the deadline deal between the Dodgers and the Pirates that brought Bill Madlock to the Dodgers in August 1985. Madlock hit well to help L.A. win the division, but I was disgusted that L.A. traded away Reynolds and Sid Bream.

Something you might not know: Reynolds was part of a dramatic Dodgers win against the Braves on Sept. 11, 1983. His bunt down the first base line drove in Pedro Guerrero for a 7-6 victory for L.A., which was in a pennant race with Atlanta at the time (the Dodgers would win the West, avenging the lost pennant to the Braves in 1982). But here's the part you might not know: It was Nuns' Day at Dodger Stadium that day.

My observation on the back: Templeton and Wilson remain the only two players to get 100 hits from each side of the plate in one season.

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