#57 - Pat Zachry

What a card: This is Pat Zachry's final card as a major league player. He was traded to the Phillies in February of 1985, probably before a lot of collectors had even pulled his card. The Phillies released him in June of '85.

My observation on the front: Every time I see Zachry with his mustache, I think of the metamorphosis that he went through in his career. From a clean-shaven rookie with the Reds, to a mountain-man look when he played for the Mets, to the straight, bushy mustache with the Dodgers.

More opinion from me: Topps isn't starting out with the most memorable Dodgers in this set. First pinch-hitter Terry Whitfield, and now two-save reliever Pat Zachry.

Something you might know: Zachry won N.L. Rookie of the Year honors, along with the Padres' Butch Metzger, as a starting pitcher for the Reds in 1976.

Something you might not know: Kiner's Korner was the postgame show for Mets' broadcasts on WOR-TV in the late 1970s. Pat Zachry was one of the many players that appeared on the studio show with Ralph Kiner. During one visit, Zachry was given a Getty Gas gift certificate as thanks for appearing on the show. Zachry tried to use the certificate at a station. But the attendant didn't know what it was and came after him with a ball-peen hammer.

My observation on the back: I could say this about a lot of cards in this set, but the '85 backs are some of the dullest backs I've ever seen in more than four decades of collecting. Some of the write-ups make them a little interesting, but when Topps goes to the high school stats, it's just agony.

The blog wants to speak now: The Ballgames and Pop Culture tabs were updated. A couple of prominent athletes were born on March 21 of '85.