1988 Topps Podcast

This week…a guy who epitomized “Reds Hot” in the 1990 World Series! It’s Billy Hatcher! Billy slashed .750/800/1.250 as the Reds swept the A’s. Billy also had a notable 1986 NLCS homer for the Astros. He had a productive 12 season career and a long coaching career as well!
Topics: Giant eggs, mystery corked bats, RBI Corner!
Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/1988topps/episodes/Billy-Hatcher-306-e2m9rqs

This week, a great hitting pitcher...and not just from a golf tee! It's Rick Rhoden! Prior to his golf career Rhoden won 3 silver sluggers, and was a very good pitcher for Dodgers, Pirates, and Yankees. He was top 5 in NL WAR 2x and a 2x all star in his career.
Topics: scuffing, Ratboy Summer, Senior Golf
Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/1988topps/episodes/Rick-Rhoden-185-e2m1e41

This week, a two sport star from NC State…Tim Stoddard! Tim was the power forward for the NCAA title winning NC State Basketball team and then won a title with the Baltimore Orioles! He is the only player to win both titles.
Topics: pinstripes, children’s taunts, East Chicago
Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/1988topps/episodes/Tim-Stoddard-359-e2ldbuj

Ok 1988 Topps friends...this young man, Corbin Carroll, has 2 total homers on the season, none since May 7th.

He's gonna hit a 3rd, he HAS TO right? When's it gonna be? And “when hell freezes over” is not the answer!

This week's episode will be out in a day or two...it is a "the only" guy.

This guy is the only player in MLB history to win two specific championship rings.

Any guesses?

This week, Royals great Mike Macfarlane! For a decade Macfarlane was ever present behind the plate for the Kansas City Royals. He was solid at the plate and behind it, and was #22 on a Royals Review list of KC greats!
Topics: asparagus, Scottish clans
Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/1988topps/episodes/Mike-Macfarlane-62T-e2l2nck

This week, James Steels, or according to his 1988 Fleer card Jim Steels or Jim Steele. At AAA he did what his name said, successfully stealing 35 bases in 1986. He never got a chance to play full time in MLB, only 148 PAs in parts of 3 seasons. He was the first 30-30 man in the Mexican League!
Topics: Santa Maria BBQ, probation, Denny’s in Mexico City
Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/1988topps/episodes/James-Steels-117-e2kds5r

Lenn Sakata! California league legend!

San Jose's Lenn Sakata became a legend Lenn Sakata was born and raised in Honolulu and still calls Hawaii home. During the baseball season, however, you can sometimes find him at what he calls his "second house:" 82-year-old Excite Ballpark, home of the San Jose Giants. Sakata, one of the first players of Japanese descent to appear

This week, Duane Ward! Duane was the Toronto Blue Jays first and (to this date) last winning pitcher in the World Series. He was a great setup man and for one year a great closer...and then was done at 31.
Topics: DUANE! New Mexico aftershave
Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/1988topps/episodes/Duane-Ward-696-e2k6fpi

Born May 19, 1956, today should have been Eric Show’s 68th birthday. We discussed Show’s troubled life and tragic death this week. A talented musician, Show remains the San Diego Padres all time winningest pitcher. He pitched in the 1984 World Series, gave up a big hit to Pete Rose and struggled with drugs before dying at 37.
Topics: John Birch Society, record breaking decorum, Padres Win Again
Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/1988topps/episodes/Eric-Show-303-e2jrn42

This week, we discussed a guy who pitched pretty well for 2.5 seasons with a torn elbow ligament…then missed 2 years and came back. John Farrell had a distinguished coaching and managing career with the Boston Red Sox, winning two rings!
Topics: Ron Hrbek?, Macho Man, don’t call him Will
Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/1988topps/episodes/John-Farrell-533-e2jj14i

This week, we discussed a Minnesotan who played his whole career for the Minnesota Twins...it’s Kent Hrbek! Herbie jumped up from A ball to the pros in 1981, was an all star in 1982, and never looked back. A power hitter with more career walks than Ks, Kent won 2 World Series rings, hit a WS grand slam, and had a famous takedown.
Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/1988topps/episodes/Kent-Hrbek-45609-e2j9tpd

This week, Jim Traber! Traber was a talented singer who sang the National Anthem before his MLB debut at Memorial Stadium! He also was the starting QB for Oklahoma State University and had a .389 average as a Cowboy. He played great in the minors but was blocked by Eddie Murray at 1B for the Baltimore Orioles, until a Murray injury in 1986 gave Jim a shot. He hit .342 with 10 homers and 32 RBIs in his first 32 games. He fell back to earth and in 1990 went to NPB where he played well for 2 years for Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes. In retirement, Jim has been a sports radio host in Oklahoma.
Listen here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/1988topps/episodes/Jim-Traber-544-e2j4jtt

This week, a current player? No wait, this is a different Lance McCullers! Lance Sr was nicknamed “Baby Goose” when he stepped into the San Diego Padres closer role briefly to replace Hall of Famer Goose Gossage. He had a few solid years before a trade to the New York Yankees. In New York, blood clots in his arm and other injuries ended his career. His son Lance McCullers Jr followed him to MLB!
Topics: Christmas trees, gooses or goslings
Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/1988topps/episodes/Lance-McCullers-197-e2img0a

Next week's card...a guy with a good nickname and a very similar name to a current major leaguer. Any guesses?

No new episode this week to hopefully regain my voice for next week!

Sorry for the inconvenience!

This week we welcomed Zak Ford - Called Up/Next Up to the show to discuss his excellent book Called Up! Mike Campbell, a 1988 Topps Future Star was included in Zak's book, which covers 100+ MLB players telling the story of their call up to the big leagues. Mike Campbell was a star at University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Baseball and drafted in the first round by his home town Seattle Mariners. Zak joined to talk about Campbell's call up and first game. Campbell was PCL MVP in 1987 and played parts of 6 seasons in MLB.
Learn more about Called Up: https://zakford.com/
Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/1988topps/episodes/Mike-Campbell-246-e2i3j80

This week, a guy who now lives on a 60 foot boat in Florida...Joe Price! A lefty who was effective as a starter and reliever for 11 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, and Baltimore Orioles. He was very good in the 1987 NLCS (1-0, 0 earned runs and 3 hits in 5.2 innings) and played for both Oklahoma and OK State!
Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/1988topps/episodes/Joe-Price-786-e2hpus9

This week, we finally talk about a great New York Yankees player! It's Louisiana Lighting, aka Gator Ron Guidry! Guidry's 1978 was one of the best pitching seasons Yankee history, 25-3 with 1.74 ERA. Ron won a Cy Young, 2 rings, 5 gold gloves, and his #49 was retired in 2003.
Topics: Billy Martin, Acadia, driving Mr. Yogi
Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/1988topps/episodes/Ron-Guidry-535-e2hhl79

This week, Ivan Calderon. We didn’t plan it, but today (3/19/2024) would have been Ivan’s 62nd birthday. Ivan was a top prospect for the Seattle Mariners who gave up on him early and sent him to the Chicago White Sox. He wore a ton of gold chains, had a great 1987, dealt with injuries, was traded for Rock Raines, was an all star in Montreal, and retired at 31.
Ivan was murdered at 41 and no one has ever been arrested in connection with his death. RIP Ivan Calderon.
Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/1988topps/episodes/Ivan-Calderon-184-e2h8j9a

This week, the card says Dodgers but the story has some St. Louis Cardinals history and a dose of Baltimore Orioles Magic! Tito Landrum had a famous minor league teammate, an alter ego named V***r Man, and a huge 1983 ALCS moment! This story had a lot of unexpected twists.
Topics: odd nickname, shirtless posters, J5
Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/1988topps/episodes/Tito-Landrum-581-e2gsqer

What say you!?

Who is the first player that pops into your head when you see these packs? 🤔

No new episode this week...but next week we are back with some true Orioles Magic.

Ohhhh who is gonna be the 1000th like!?

This week, Johnny Marz! Born and raised in South Philadelphia, John Marzano and his dad spent hundreds of hours working on his swing. That work made him a star for Temple Owls and Team USA! He was a first round pick for the Boston Red Sox but never established himself as a starter. But through hard work and a great attitude, Marzano played 10 seasons in MLB! After his playing days, Marzano went into broadcasting with the Philadelphia Phillies, but sadly his life was cut short by an accident. He passed away in 2008 at just 45 years old. RIP John Marzano.

Topics: Ira Einhorn, tomatoes, half ball
Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/1988topps/episodes/John-Marzano-757-e2g906r

No new episode today. We are prepping for spring training, getting loose, stretching, don’t want to strain anything heading into the new season! See you next week!

If you are looking for something to listen to, go listen to our friends Two Strike Noise who did a whole breakdown of Reds Hot this week!

Episode 241 - Reds Hot Baby! | Two Strike Noise - A Baseball History Podcast Spring training has begun but we’re already in midseason form. The Savanna Bananas had a new player but nobody could see him, Tommy Pham likes fantasy football more than the actual game apparently, Jeff Ballard’s IMDB page is better than we expected and some huge Blue Jays news.Our main segment ...

This week, Herm Winningham! Herm was a 3x 1st round pick, finally signing for the New York Mets. He was part of the trade with the Montreal Expos that brought the Kid to NY, was a member of the Cincinnati Reds “Reds Hot” crew, and had a huge World Series hit.
Topics - pig prizes, Mike Sharperson, Orangeburg
Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/1988topps/episodes/Herm-Winningham-614-e2flej8