#468 - Wayne Krenchicki

What a card: Wayne Krenchicki was coming off probably the most productive season of his career when this card was issue. He finished with just 181 at-bats in 1984, but he set career highs in batting average (.298), slugging percentage (.470) and OPS (.827).

My observation on the front: Krenchicki went without the mustache when he was with the Reds because of Cincinnati's no-facial-hair policy. But it always looked weird to me because I first learned of him when he was with the Orioles in '81 and he wore a mustache. You know he wanted that mustache, too, because when he moved from the Reds to the Expos for the '86 season, the stache was back again.

More opinion from me: My brothers and I loved saying Krenchicki's last name. One of the overlooked best baseball names of the '80s.

Something you might know: Krenchicki is known as the player who was sent down to the minors in 1981 so the Orioles could call up Cal Ripken Jr.

Something you might not know: Krenchicki is hailed as the best shortstop that the University of Miami ever had. That may not have been the case had Alex Rodriguez decided to attend Miami. Rodriguez signed a letter of intent with the Hurricanes but then went straight to the majors from high school.

My observation on the back: Bronwinn Krenchicki??? That is now my favorite baseball player wife name ever.

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

#467 - Ed Lynch

What a card: Ed Lynch had completed his fifth season with the Mets in 1984. He was entering what would be his most successful season. After going back and forth between starter and reliever, Lynch was a regular in the Mets' rotation in 1985.

My observation on the front: Some of the photos in this set are hazy. This is one of them.

More opinion from me: When I was collecting in the '80s, I would get Ed Lynch mixed up with Ed Glynn, another Mets reliever who pitched around the same time.

Something you might know: The Mets and Cubs hurler eventually became the Cubs' general manager in the 1990s and was there for five seasons. He oversaw the 1998 Cubs team that made the playoffs and featured the 66-home run season by Sammy Sosa.

Something you might not know: Lynch was good friends with Keith Hernandez when they played together on the Mets. He was also in awe of Hernandez's ability. Once, while describing Hernandez's ability to advise pitchers and hitters alike, Lynch said, "If Einstein starts talking about the speed of light, you better listen to him."

My observation on the back: Lynch played basketball on South Carolina's reserve team. But his scholarship helped him get a baseball career.

The blog wants to speak now: The Ballgames category is updated. It's a famous one.

#466 - Tony LaRussa

What a card: Tony LaRussa's White Sox finished below .500 in 1984 for the first time since LaRussa's first full season managing the team in 1980. But they'd bounce back in 1985, going 85-77.

My observation on the front: I guess LaRussa is giving us the official "manager look" on this card.

More opinion from me: As you may know, I'm not much of a fan of LaRussa, regarding his strategies, his demeanor, his attitude and a couple other things. I didn't really enjoy how he acted when I interviewed him either. But I can't argue with his success or the fact that he agreed to talk to me for 15 minutes or so.

Something you might know: LaRussa won three World Series titles and is third all-time in career managing victories.

Something you might not know: LaRussa's two daughters by a previous marriage sued him for $16 million in the mid-1990s for emotional distress for not being publicly recognized as LaRussa's children. The suit was dismissed and the sisters admitted years later that it wasn't the right way to deal with the situation, calling it a "plea for acknowledgement."

My observation on the back: This is the first time that Topps officially mentions that the White Sox won the AL West under LaRussa in 1983.

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

#465 - Bob Grich

What a card: Bobby Grich played in 116 games for the Angels in 1984, playing a lot more third and first base than he had in the past. He was taking on the role as a utility man later in his career.

My observation on the front: Nice dugout shot. Grich looks like he's having a good time.

More opinion from me: Topps listed Grich as "Bob" throughout his career and refused to call him "Bobby." I have no problems doing it though. And neither does virtually everyone else.

Something you might know: Known for his all-around ability, Grich was part of the smooth-fielding Orioles infields of the 1970s. And he hit the ball out of the park, too.

Something you might not know: Grich has visited all 50 states and traveled several times to Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

My observation on the back: Every time I see Grich's abbreviated 1977 season -- his first one with the Angels -- I remember how he threw his back out carrying an air conditioner during the offseason, which messed up his entire season. Grich was 28 at the time, which seems like a little too young to be throwing out your back.

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

#464 - Mike Mason

What a card: This is the first Topps base card for Mike Mason. He first appears in a Topps set in 1984 Traded, in which the photo is possibly from the same time, if not from the same pitch, that this one was taken.

My observation on the front: Mason appears to have a habit of biting his lip when he's about to throw a pitch.

More opinion from me: I can never get used to an overabundance of red in the Rangers' uniforms.

Something you might know: Mason's rookie season in 1984 was the best of his career. He won nine games with a 3.61 ERA as the Rangers' No. 5 starter, and the numbers declined from there. But he enjoyed success as a minor league pitching coach in the Cubs organization and has been credited for the development of Jeff Samardzija.

Something you might not know: Mason's 1986 and 1987 Topps cards are freakishly similar.

 My observation on the back: Pie Traynor's steal of home helped the National League pull within 8-7 of the American League during a three-run rally in the fifth inning, but that's as close as they would come as the AL won the 1934 All-Star Game, 9-7.

The blog wants to speak now: The Ballgames 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.

#462 - Gary Lavelle

What a card: This is Gary Lavelle's final card a San Francisco Giant. After 11 years of San Francisco failing to make the playoffs, he was dealt to Toronto in January of 1985 and in the postseason 10 months later.

My observation on the front: I miss high leg kicks.

More opinion from me: I was watching video of the All-Star Game from 1977 when all of sudden there was Lavelle on the mound, wearing that radioactive pumpkin uniform top the Giants wore then. I was surprised he made an All-Star team, but it turns out he made two of them.

Something you might know: Lavelle was a durable relief pitcher for the Giants for more than a decade and set team records for appearances (73) and saves (20) in 1977.

Something you might not know: Lavelle was the unofficial leader of "The God Squad," a group of born-again Christians on the Giants that first came to public attention during the Giants' unexpected pennant bid in 1978.

My observation on the back: Lavelle's 127 career saves is fourth all-time in Giants' club history. Ahead of him are Robb Nen, Rod Beck and Brian Wilson.

The blog wants to speak now: The Music category is updated. The new No. 1 song is something about what's good for the goose being good for the gander.

#461 - Marty Castillo

What a card: Marty Castillo was coming off his finest season when this card was issued. He appeared in a career-high 70 games in 1984 and enjoyed his greatest success during the Tigers' successful postseason run to the World Series title.

My observation on the front: Castillo looks reflective and so does the fan with the Tigers cap to the left of Castillo.

More opinion from me: Those dugout overhangs need some padding. They look dangerous.

Something you might know: Castillo delivered some key hits for the Tigers in the ALCS and the World Series. He knocked in the only run in the Tigers' 1-0 victory in the series-clinching Game 3 of the ALCS. In Game 3 of the World Series against the Padres, he hit a two-run home run in the second inning that sparked a four-run inning in the Tigers' 5-2 victory.

Something you might not know: When Castillo was 4 years old, he accidentally burned his family's house down.

My observation on the back: Graig Nettles' inside-the-park home run came in Game 2 of the 1980 ALCS against the Royals. He hit it in the fifth inning against Dennis Leonard, driving in two runs. But K.C. already had three runs by then and won the game 3-2.

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

#460 - Ryne Sandberg

What a card: This is Ryne Sandberg's card coming off his MVP season. Sandberg reached 200 hits for the only time in his career and led the league in triples in 1984.

My observation on the front: I have no idea who that is behind Sandberg. Bob Dernier? Henry Cotto? Steve Lake? Don't know.

More opinion from me: Marvelous use of the black bat in this photo. Every player should have a black bat.

Something you might know: Sandberg is in the Hall of Fame perhaps as much for his fielding as his hitting. He has the best fielding percentage for a National League second baseman ever (at  least 1,000 games played).

Something you might not know: Sandberg admitted last year to eating cat food as a youngster "for about a year."

 
My observation on the back: Ryne and Cindy divorced in 1995 and rumors have lived on for years that it was related to Cindy sleeping with Ryne's Cubs teammates. Sandberg retired abruptly in 1994 and did not play at all in 1995 before returning for a couple of years.

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

#459 - Charlie Leibrandt

What a card: Charlie Leibrandt was entering what would be the best season of his 14-year career when this card was issued. After emerging as a top starter in his first year with the Royals in 1984, he'd go 17-9 for Kansas City in 1985.

My observation on the front: The photo on this card is similar to the one on Leibrandt's first Topps card.

More opinion from me: Leibrandt was a postseason regular with the Royals in the late '80s and the Braves in the early '90s. In other words, I rooted for him in the late '80s and against him the early '90s.

Something you might know: Leibrandt surrendered Kirby Puckett's famous home run for the Twins in the 11th inning of Game 6 of the 1991 World Series.. The home run forced a Game 7 that the Twins would win.

Something you might not know: Leibrandt's son, Brandon, pitched in 2015 mostly for the Phillies' high Class A team in Clearwater, Fla. He went 7-3 with a 3.11 ERA in 17 starts.

My observation on the back: Bobby Richardson still holds the record for most RBIs in a World Series game, but it's been tied twice in the last six years. Hideki Matsui drove in six runs in 2009 for the Yankees and the Cardinals' Albert Pujols knocked in six runs in 2011.

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

#458 - Randy Johnson

What a card: This is the final card of Randy Johnson, even though he enjoyed his best major league season in 1984, receiving 284 at-bats and hitting .279 for Atlanta. He spent all of 1985 in the minors and batted .193.

My observation on the front: According to baseball-reference.com, Johnson didn't play a game at second base in 1984. I am aware that baseball-reference makes no promise that those particular historical fielding stats are completely accurate.

More opinion from me: If Johnson isn't wearing blue spikes in this photo I am going to be very disappointed.

Something you might not know: That is not the Randy Johnson who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this past summer. He is one of three Randy Johnsons who began their major league career in the 1980s. He'd later go on to play in Japan and coach in the Padres organization.

Something you might not know: This card is the last Randy Johnson card to appear in a major card set until the pitcher Randy Johnson made his rookie debut in the Donruss, Fleer, Score, Topps and Upper Deck sets in 1989.

My observation on the back: So what this factoid is saying is that there could have been a Randy Johnson and a Don Johnson in the major leagues before THAT Randy Johnson and THAT Don Johnson. 1985 Topps card back, I think you just blew my mind.

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