#24T - Vince Coleman

What a card: This is the sixth rookie card in the Traded set and one of the biggest in a set not known for its rookies. Vince Coleman would produce an astonishing rookie season in 1985, recording 110 stolen bases and winning the Rookie of the Year Award.

My observation on the front: I enjoy it when Topps gets it right: Vince Coleman on the basepaths.

More opinion from me: Coleman got on my bad side right away during his rookie year. Not only did his Cardinals beat my Dodgers in the 1985 NLCS, but he famously said, "I don't know nothing about Jackie Robinson."

Something you might know: Coleman missed the 1985 World Series when the automatic tarp rolled over his leg during pregame warmups for Game 4 of the NLCS.

Something you might not know: Coleman, whose cousin Greg was a punter in the NFL for 12 years, once was fined $25 by manager Jim Fregosi, after showing off his own punting abilities to his Triple A Louisville teammates before a game.

My observation on the back: I'll take a moment to mention how bizarre it was to see a card with nothing but minor league stats on the back when I was a kid.

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

#23T - Pat Clements

What a card: This is the fifth rookie card in the Traded set. Pat Clements appeared in 41 games in relief for the Angels in 1985 and then was traded to the Pirates in August of that year, making his Traded card outdated almost immediately.

My observation on the front: Another wonderful photo taken in old Tiger Stadium.

More opinion from me: There's something cool about this being the only set where you can get a card of Clements as an Angel. The Traded set still felt a little exclusive in 1985.

Something you might know: Clements was a well-traveled relief pitcher who competed for the Angels, Pirates, Yankees, Padres and Orioles during an eight-year span.

Something you might not know: Among the notable players that joined Clements in his many trade travels were George Hendrick, John Candelaria, Al Holland, Rick Rhoden, Doug Drabek, Jack Clark and Lance McCullers.

My observation on the back: That is a very Mets trivia question.

The blog wants to speak now: Working a double shift tomorrow. I'll skip the tab update this time.

#22T - Jack Clark

What a card: The Giants dealt Jack Clark to the Cardinals on Feb. 1, 1985 in exchange for pitcher Dave LaPoint, shortstop Jose Uribe and outfielders David Green and Gary Rajsich.

How'd that go: Quite well. The Cardinals reached the World Series in Clark's first year and Clark, playing in his first postseason, hit the decisive blow, a three-run blast in Game 6 of the NLCS against the Dodgers to get St. Louis there. After an injury-filled 1986, Clark enjoyed the best season of his career with St. Louis in 1987.

Backatya: Clark and his wife, Tammy, met in a pharmacy. They also had a son, Anthony. They appear to be no longer married as Clark's bankruptcy filing in March of 2018 mentions an Angela as his wife. 

 
Back-to-back: Somewhat similar photos on each card. The Traded card shows the stance Clark used with the "flat bat." The original card shows him putting that bat into action. Also, I believe the player on the on-deck circle in the Traded card is catcher Darrell Porter.

The original card is No. 740. It was blogged earlier this year, on Jan. 4, 2018. 

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#21T - Bryan Clark

What a card: Bryan Clark signed with the Indians as a free agent on April 15, 1985, a couple of weeks after being released by the Blue Jays.

How'd that go: Clark appeared in 31 games for Cleveland in 1985, but his ERA of 6.32 was even worse than the 5.91 with the Blue Jays the year before and he was released after the season. This is his last Topps card.

Backatya: I'm really trying not to sound old-fashioned here, but I've never heard of a male hygienist. I came across a fairly recent article that said the number of men working as dental hygienists is slowly increasing. But I imagine it had to be pretty rare back in the 1970s when Clark was in college.

Back-to-back: Clark's original Topps card is No. 489. It was blogged on Jan. 8, 2016. Clark was apparently caught talking on his Traded card, which is also probably how his most memorable Topps card   came to be.

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

#20T - Rick Cerone

What a card: Rick Cerone was traded by the Yankees to the Braves for pitcher Brian Fisher on Dec. 5, 1984.

How'd that go: After 10 seasons in the American League, Cerone played his first games in the NL in 1985. He appeared in 96 games but continued to struggle at the plate with a .216 batting average. The Braves traded him to the Brewers before the 1986 season.

Backatya: Cerone has said the best golfer he's ever played with was former pitcher Rick Rhoden, not a surprise as Rhoden was a star on the Celebrity Golf Tour and also played in several Champions Tour events. 

Back-to-back: The original card is No. 429 and was blogged on July 6, 2015.

I like the Traded card because it's a play you don't see a lot on cards. Cerone apparently has corralled a pop-up while converging with the first baseman, I think (I can't tell for sure if that's a first baseman's glove), who sticks out his mitt just in case the ball squirts out.

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

#19T - Bill Caudill

What a card: Bill Caudill went to the Blue Jays in a trade with the Oakland A's on Dec. 8, 1984. Looking to beef up their bullpen, the Blue Jays sent outfielder Dave Collins and shortstop Alfredo Griffin to the A's for Caudill.

How'd that go: Caudill appeared in 68 games for the Blue Jays, but lost his closing job to Tom Henke early in the '85 season. Caudill didn't even receive an appearance in the 7-game 1985 ALCS against the Royals. It was his best shot at pitching in the postseason.

Backatya: With the addition of two Florida teams, there are now eight states with at least two Major League Baseball teams.

Back-to-back: Unless you look closely, the Blue Jays' Caudill appears to be pitching on one leg.

The original card is No. 685 in the set and was blogged on July 27, 2017.

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

#17T - Gary Carter

What a card: This is Gary Carter's first Topps card as a New York Met. He was dealt by the Expos on Dec. 10, 1984 for Hubie Brooks, Mike Fitzgerald, Herm Winningham and Floyd Youmans.

How'd that go: Fantastic. In year two of his time as a Met, he was a key figure on a World Series championship team.

Backatya: Carter's two daughters are Christy and Kimmy. Carter filmed a 7-Up commercial with his daughter, Christy, when she was little.

Back-to-back: The original card is No. 230, blogged on Nov. 5, 2013. Seeing these two cards next to each other, Carter looks like he's already worn out being a Met.

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

#16T - Don Carman

What a card: This is the fourth rookie card in the set. Don Carman appeared in 71 games his rookie year, the most by any Phillies pitcher in 1985. He posted a 2.08 ERA, won nine games and saved seven more.

My observation on the front: Carman is wearing Jackie Robinson's number. Before Major League Baseball retired the number 42 in Robinson's honor, Carman wore the number longer than any other Phillies player (seven years).

More opinion from me: I was long past this stage in 1985, but if this card had been released 10 years earlier when I was a child, I know it would be one of my favorites. Hell, I still like Randy Lerch and Dick Ruthven because of their '70s cards.

Something you might know: Carman was a notoriously poor hitter, even by pitcher standards, striking out 75 times in 239 career plate appearances. Here is video of his first major league hit, after going 0-for-48 to start his career.

Something you might not know: Carman once posted a list of 37 standard responses to reporters' questions because he was growing tired of the same questions. Among the responses were: "we have a different hero everyday," "give the guy some credit, he hit a good pitch," and "I'd rather be lucky than good." The list was printed in several newspapers.

My observation on the back: Now the only artificial turf surfaces in all of MLB are Toronto and Tampa Bay.

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

#15T - Bill Campbell

What a card: Bill Campbell came to the Cardinals in a trade on April 6, 1985. The Phillies sent Campbell and shortstop Ivan DeJesus to the Cardinals for pitcher David Rucker.

How'd that go: Campbell pitched pretty well in his only season for St. Louis in 1985. He also made his only trip to the postseason that year, appearing in three games apiece in the NLCS and the World Series.

Backatya: Campbell was averaging about a team a year at this point. In 1986 he'd be with the Tigers. It's hard for me to think of him as anything other than a Twin or a Red Sock when he was at the height of his success (but I know the 9 million people whose first card set was 1987 Topps will say, "I know him as a Tiger!") 

Back-to-back: I like both of these cards. The Cardinals card is sharp just because I'm not used to seeing a nice action shot like that on early Traded cards.

The original card was blogged on Sept. 3, 2013. 

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

#14T - Jeff Burroughs

What a card: Jeff Burroughs arrived with his fifth and final team when he was purchased by the Blue Jays from the A's on December 22, 1984.

How'd that go: Burroughs fared pretty well in his final season, appearing in 86 games with six homers in 191 at-bats for a .257 average, considerably better than the feeble .211 he hit in 1984.

His final at-bat was in Game 7 of the 1985 ALCS, his only postseason appearance. He appeared as a pinch-hitter in the 9th inning with the Blue Jays down 6-1 to the Royals and grounded out to the pitcher.

Backatya: Not much on the back that I didn't address the first time. This does happen to be the third Burroughs card in the '85 set, and the third player in the Traded set with three cards for Topps in '85.

Back-to-back: The original card appeared on Sept. 7, 2012. Topps dropped the "OF" position designation for the Traded card.

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

#13T - Ray Burris

What a card: Ray Burris arrived in Milwaukee after being traded by the Oakland A's in a deal for pitcher Don Sutton on Dec. 9, 1984.

How'd that go?: Burris, who enjoyed his finest season in years with the A's in 1984, fell back to earth with the Brewers, posting a 4.81 ERA in 28 starts. He was released by Milwaukee before the 1986 season.

Backatya: Ray Burris' granddaughter, the daughter of his son Damon, recently celebrated her first birthday.

Back-to-back: The original card is No. 758, blogged not long ago on Feb. 23, 2018.

In this case, the traded card edges the original slightly because I know that Burris' Brewers card was taken at exactly 1:03 p.m.

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