#416 - Wayne Gross

What a card: This is Wayne Gross' first Topps base cards as a Baltimore Oriole (he's an Oriole in the 1984 Topps Traded set, too). Gross was traded from the A's to the Orioles in December, 1983 for relief pitcher Tim Stoddard.

My observation on the front: Gross is wearing Lee May's old number. Not sure if I approve.

More opinion from me: I've loved Gross' 1978 Topps card (the one with the rookie cup) since I first saw it that year. It's the only Gross card that sticks in my head, even though he had nearly 10 years worth of cards.

Something you might know: Gross hit 22 home runs in his rookie season in 1977, a total he wouldn't match or surpass until he hit 22 with the Orioles in 1984. He was named to the All-Star Game that year.

Something you might not know: Relief pitcher Ed Farmer, whose had experience with baseball brawls, once gave up a home run to Gross and watched Gross trot slowly around the bases. Farmer wanted his revenge, but as a reliever, he had to wait three years. By then, Gross and Farmer were teammates with Oakland and it was spring training. Gross faced Farmer in batting practice and Farmer's first pitch hit Gross squarely in the back. "What was that for?" Gross said. "That was for three years ago!" Farmer said.

My observation on the back: Oh, sure, now you put the Babe Ruth answer on the trivia question.

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

#415 - Ron Darling

What a card: This is Ron Darling's first Topps base card. He appears in the 1984 Topps Traded set.

My observation on the front: Another miscut card directly out of the box that I bought at the start of the '85 season. Argh.

More opinion from me: Darling is a member of the best broadcasting crew in baseball. Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez are indispensable for the Mets, in my opinion, but Darling holds his own.

Something you might know: Darling was a consistent member of the Mets' starting rotation during their glory years in the mid-to-late 1980s. He finished fifth in the Cy Young voting during the Mets' World Series championship season in 1986.

Something you might not know: Darling appeared on Sesame Street when he was a player, talking with puppet "Telly," who is looking through his baseball card collection, and features a card of Ron Darling that may or may not be a real baseball card. Darling wears his uniform featuring No. 44, which was his uniform number when he first came up with the Mets.

My observation on the back: The trivia question is a lacking an answer! But I won't leave you hanging. The answer is Babe Ruth.

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

#414 - Gary Ward

What a card: Gary Ward had completed his first season with the Rangers when this card was created. He posted his second straight season of 170-plus hits in a season (171).

My observation on the front: Black bats are awesome.

More opinion from me: Every time I see a Gary Ward card I'm reminded how he was one of four cards that eluded me when I was trying to complete the 1989 Topps set.

Something you might know: Ward came up with the Twins and was one of the year's top rookies in 1981. He's the father of former major leaguer Daryle Ward, and the two are the first father-and-son combination to hit for the cycle.

Something you might not know: Ward claimed that his trade from the Twins to the Rangers in the offseason of 1983 was racially motivated. The Twins had the lowest number of minorities among all major league clubs at the time (as little as 3 or 4). The Twins denied Ward's accusation.

My observation on the back: I have never seen the statistic "TBB" nor heard of it to describe "Total Bases on Balls." Is there a "THR" for "Total Home Runs"?

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

#413 - Vance Law

What a card: Vance Law was coming off a 1984 season in which he discovered his home run stroke. He hit 17 home runs, 12 more than he had hit in any previous season and the most of his 11-year career.

My observation on the front: You want to know what '80s fashion was all about? A guy wearing a mid-1980s White Sox uniform and giant frames kind of sums it up.

More opinion from me: This is the second appearance of Law in this set and it isn't even the last one. He'll appear in the Traded set, too. That seems like a little too much.

Something you might know: Law is the son of Pirates Cy Young Award winner Vern Law.

Something you might not know: Vance Law could pitch, too. He appeared as an emergency reliever seven times in his career. Seven times! Imagine the Twitter frenzy if it existed during Law's time.

My observation on the back: Vance's siblings names are: VaLynda, Varlin, Vaughn, Veldon and Veryl.

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

#412 - Bud Black

What a card: Bud Black was coming off a 1984 season in which he won 17 games, the most he would win in any one season of his 15-year major league career. He also led the league in WHIP, and I'm sure no one in 1984 knew that he did that.

My observation on the front: It's interesting how the Royals sign is blocking the ball in Black's pitching hand. It's like it's disguising which pitch he's throwing.

More opinion from me: Black, of course, is now the manager for the Padres. He's the first person I think of when I think of pitchers who became major league managers. Yup, even before Tommy Lasorda.

Something you might know: Black is the second longest lasting manager in Padres history. Only Bruce Bochy, who immediately preceded Black, managed for more years.

Something you might not know: Black is only the second person to win 100 games as a pitcher and 600 games as a manager. The other is 19th century Hall of Famer Clark Griffith.

My observation on the back: Black's parents are Canadian. His father came to California because he was recruited to play hockey at USC. The Trojans had one of the best college hockey teams in the country back when Black's dad was playing for them.

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

#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.

#410 - Bob Horner

What a card: Bob Horner's 1985 card appears after a frustrating season in which Horner fractured his right wrist for the second time in a matter of months, missing all but 32 games of the 1984 season.

My observation on the front: The Braves have gone through a variety of uniform and helmet looks during my time as a baseball fan. I actually don't mind this particular combo, although the powder blue pants might not have been the best choice.

More opinion from me: I remember when Horner was a big deal with the Braves in 1978. I didn't like it. The Braves were supposed to be lousy with lousy players. That's all I knew.

Something you might know: Horner moved straight from college ball to the major leagues and won Rookie of the Year honors the same year, hitting 23 home runs in 89 games and 323 at-bats in '78.

Something you might not know: Horner went to Apollo High School in Glendale, Ariz., where the basketball team was a bigger deal than the baseball team. Horner's high school basketball team was disqualified from the state playoffs for playing an unsanctioned scrimmage game.

My observation on the back: The Pirates also set a record during that World Series for the most hits in a seven-game World Series (91).

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

#409 - Brad Wellman

What a card: Brad Wellman had completed what would be his most active year in the majors. He appeared in 93 games with the Giants in 1984, with 265 at-bats.

My observation on the front: Wellman is wearing one white glove and one black glove. It's like one hand is good and one is evil.

More opinion from me: I remember not liking Wellman at all, just based on him being a Giant on his baseball cards.

Something you might know: Wellman was part of the trade that brought Vida Blue to the Royals. Signed by the Royals, Wellman was dealt to San Francisco along with Atlee Hammaker, Craig Chamberlain and Renie Martin for Blue in 1982.

Something you might not know: Wellman shaved his head for $1,000 and his shaven head can be seen on his 1984 Topps card (the larger photo shows Wellman with head shaved, while the inset head shot shows Wellman with a full head of hair). Wellman said it came about due to an off-handed comment. Teammates were trying to get Chili Davis to shave his head for $1,500 when Wellman said, "I'd do it for $1,000." Before he knew it, he was looking at 10 $100 bills.

My observation on the back: Wellman's wife, Jodi, is Tom Candiotti's sister.

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

#408 - Sid Monge

What a card: This is the final card of Sid Monge issued during his career. He spent the 1985 season in the minors and that was it.

My observation on the front: Monge's hat is a tad askew.

More opinion from me: Monge was purchased by the Tigers from the Padres in mid-June of 1984, meaning Topps had just three months to get a picture of Monge in a Tigers uniform. Also, Monge's new team, the Tigers, ended up facing the team he started '84 with, the Padres, in the World Series. But it's a bummer that Monge did not pitch in the Series against his old team.

Something you might know: Monge was a career reliever for 10 seasons and enjoyed his best year in 1979 with the Indians when he appeared in 76 games, saved 19 and went to the All-Star Game.

Something you might not know: Monge gave up Tony Gwynn's first big-league hit. It was an eighth-inning double on July 19, 1982 when the Padres were playing Monge's Phillies.

My observation on the back: The bio is boring me so I'll just say "full career major league stats on the back!"

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

#407 - Bobby Ramos

What a card: This is the last card of Bobby Ramos issued during his career. He had played his last major league game by the time this card came out and was released by the Expos in March of 1985.

My observation on the front: Almost nothing beats a smiling player hanging out at the batting cage.

More opinion from me: 44? Hank's number? Reggie's number? Ramos hit four home runs during his career.

Something you might know: Ramos' first cards featured his name as "Roberto Ramos". That's his name on his 1981 Fleer and 1982 Topps cards.

Something you might not know: Ramos was the Tampa Bay Rays' bullpen coach for six years, including the 2008 season when Tampa Bay went to the World Series. He has spent a great deal of time during his post-playing career helping Latin American players get adjusted to U.S. culture. He taught former major leaguer and native Venezuelan Melvin Mora how to use a washing machine.

My observation the back: Now, the last National League player to hit over 50 home runs in one season is Ryan Howard with 58 in 2006.

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