#738 - Omar Moreno

What a card: Omar Moreno spent his first full season with the Yankees in 1984 after being acquired in a deal with the Astros in late 1983 for the player featured two cards ago, Jerry Mumphrey.

My observation on the front: Moreno recorded four sacrifice bunts in 1984, way down from the 17 he had in 1978 with the Pirates.

More opinion from me: Moreno doesn't look right in anything other than a Pirates uniform.

Something you might know: Moreno led the National League in stolen bases with 77 in 1979, the year the Pirates won the World Series. Moreno caught the final out in the Series.

Something you might not know: Moreno was signed by the Royals in September 1985 after regular center fielder Willie Wilson had a bad reaction to a penicillin injection.

My observation on the back: Moreno's parents actually signed the contract on his behalf. Moreno was playing in a tournament in Panama when a Pirates scout spotted him. After the game, Moreno's parents told him he was going to the U.S. to play for the Pirates.

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

#737 - Bo Diaz

What a card: Bo Diaz was coming off a 1984 season in which he played in just 27 games when this card was issued. He suffered from knee ailments throughout the season.

My observation on the front: A nice pensive catcher shot. He almost looks like he's getting ready to box.

More opinion from me: Those chest protectors look dated but I prefer them to the ones worn today.

Something you might know: The catcher for the National League champion Phillies in 1983, Diaz is probably most known these days by the way he died: crushed to death by the satellite dish that he was adjusting on the roof of his home.

Something you might not know: When the Giants' Robby Thompson was caught stealing four times in one game in 1986, Diaz was responsible for three of those. The other one occurred when John Franco picked off Thompson.

My observation on the back: I don't know if the Yankees still hold the consecutive opening days streak. I believe the question references opening days regardless of whether the team is at home or on the road. Baseball-almanac.com mentions the 1983-91 Reds and the 2009-17 Tigers (streak still going) as the record-holders at nine in a row. But I believe that refers only to home opening days because it doesn't mention the Yankees.

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

#736 - Jerry Mumphrey

What a card: Jerry Mumphrey was coming off his most productive season since 1980 when this card was issued. He made his only All-Star Game appearance in 1984. Known for his speed, Mumphrey hit clean-up in the Houston lineup that year.

My observation on the front: I love action shots of players in mid-swing.

More opinion from me: Thanks to the reverse of Mumphrey's rookie card, I've known about '50s actress Lucy Marlowe since I was 12. Although Lucy is a brunette.

Something you might know: Mumphrey was one of the Yankees' top hitters for his first two years with the team in 1981 and 1982, but sat the bench for the latter part of the 1981 World Series causing some to wonder whether owner George Steinbrenner was controlling the lineup.

Something you might not know: Mumphrey's three-base error in the 20th inning of a game between the Paders and Astros in 1980 allowed Houston to win 3-1 on Aug. 16 and gain a tie for first-place with the Dodgers. The Astros would go on to beat the Dodgers in a special playoff series at the end of the season.

My observation on the back: It bothered me as a kid when the team names didn't line up in the stats.

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

#735 - Garry Templeton

What a card: Garry Templeton completed his third of 10 seasons with the Padres in 1984. He appeared in 148 games, batting .258, but he hit .324 in the NLCS and the World Series in the only postseason appearance of his career.

My observation on the front: I like many of Templeton's cards, but they are all his early ones with the Cardinals. His Padres cards are pretty boring.

More opinion from me: I just completed the Greatest 100 Cards of the '70s countdown on my main blog and I have no idea how the 1977 Templeton card didn't make the list.

Something you might know: Templeton is the guy the Cardinals traded to San Diego to get Ozzie Smith. (The Padres also received Sixto Lezcano and Steve Mura).

Something you might not know: Templeton is known as the first major league to collect 100 hits from each side of the plate, which was recorded in 1979. But he probably didn't actually achieve it. To this day, Templeton says he should have remained a right-handed hitter. He said he was converted to switch-hitting but was never interested in doing it.

My observation on the back: The Orioles held the ALCS games-won lead 18 to 12 over the Yankees as of 1984. Since that point, the Orioles have won just three more ALCS games and the Yankees have won 36. The new totals:

Yankees: 48
Red Sox: 26
Athletics: 23
Orioles: 21
Royals: 20
Tigers: 18
Indians: 17
Blue Jays: 16
Angels: 13
Twins: 9
Rangers: 8
White Sox: 7
Mariners: 5
Astros: 4
Rays: 4
Brewers: 3

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

#734 - John Henry Johnson

What a card: John Henry Johnson appeared in 30 games, all but three of them in relief, in his second year with the Red Sox in 1984. He was released in April of 1985 and spent all of '85 in the minors before re-emerging with the Brewers.

My observation on the front: Another one of those backgrounds where it looks like the pitcher is the only one in the ballpark.

More opinion from me: I will always associate John Henry Johnson (such a great name) with the bad, old Oakland A's of the late 1970s.

Something you might know: Johnson, a top pitching prospect, was one of the seven players the Giants traded to the A's in March 1978 for all-star pitcher Vida Blue.

Something you might not know: Johnson surrendered the first hit of Rickey Henderson's career, a leadoff double.

My observation on the back: Another trivia topic that features the team shown on the front.

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

#733 - Tony Scott

What a card: Tony Scott split the 1984 season between the Astros and Expos. He was released by Houston in June after batting .190 for the club. The Expos signed Scott a week later.

My observation on the front: This is the fourth Expos player in this set to be airbrushed. Topps must've had a heck of a time finding photographers to shoot new Expos. Maybe problems getting through customs?

More opinion from me: Scott, like Dan Driessen, seems very happy to be airbrushed.

Something you might know: Unable to find his mark in the majors until coming to the Cardinals, he did well enough for St. Louis that the team traded him to the Astros in exchange for pitcher Joaquin Andujar.

Something you might not know: Check out this classic image of Scott with good buddy Garry Templeton in the Dodger dugout.

My observation on the back: That's a lot of info to digest in the write-up! Race cars! Clothing store! The Hammer!

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

#732 - John McNamara

What a card: John McNamara managed the Angels to an 81-81 mark in his second season with the club in 1984. That was good for a tie for second place in the dismal AL West.

My observation on the front: I remember McNamara as kind of crusty, but he positively beams on many of his baseball cards.

More opinion from me: Out of all of the things McNamara is accused of doing/not doing as manager of the Red Sox during the latter stages of Game 6 of the World Series in 1986, I can say the only thing that bothered me as it was happening was Calvin Schiraldi showing up in the ballgame.

Something you might know: McNamara managed six major league teams but he is far and away most associated with the Red Sox and their ill-fated World Series pursuit in 1986.

Something you might not know: McNamara once was assessed a $25 fine by the Red Sox's kangaroo court leader, Don Baylor, for using Right Guard aerosol deodorant as hairspray.

My observation on the back: There is one retired number there, Rod Carew's 29.

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

#731 - Neil Allen

What a card: Neil Allen had completed his first full season with the Cardinals when this card was issued. But he was in the middle of a terrible 1985 when his card was being pulled and was dealt to the Yankees in mid-season.

My observation on the front: It looks cold there.

More opinion from me: The Cardinals cards really look nice in this set with the coordinating red and yellow. Have I mentioned this already? I probably have.

Something you might know: Allen is known as the guy who was traded from the Mets to the Cardinals in exchange for Keith Hernandez (but don't forget the Cards got Rick Ownby, too!).

Something you might not know: Allen was taught to throw a curve ball by his father, Bob, who was blind.

My observation on the back: The internet is really disinterested in League Championship Series records. I don't know if Reggie still holds the record. My guess is Derek Jeter has played in the most now. But I'm not counting them.

The blog wants to speak now: Not today. After work I am ticked off and spent. No more researching for me.