1988 Topps

Welcome to Season 6 of the 1988 Topps Podcast!

In 1932, Australian farms were threatened by an increase in the population of the emu, a large flightless bird. The Australian military tried to cull the flocks of emus for 40 days, but ultimately failed in a debacle that would come to be known as The Great Emu War.

#597 on Beckett

When ... the ...

Card has a guy that looks like all of the guys, that's Fiore (that's Fiore)

When the card of the day comes from Team U.S.A. that's Fiore (that's Fiore)

Bells will ring for the Pope ting-a-ling-a-ling and you'll sing "Vita bella"

He's a Sox fan at heart, and to us that means he's quite a fella!

This Stanford grad from Montana had one good season on the mound in Baltimore -- then had a change of plans after a snowy night in Idaho.

Card 782 on eBay

The third-best baseball player of all time born in Donora, PA.

Although the 1987 rookie season for "Benz" was a good one, there is no proof that he was the inspiration for the 1988 No. 1 hit "Mercedes Boy" by Pebbles.

Legendary artist Dick Perez and filmmaker Marq Evans join the pod to talk about their new movie "The Diamond King" along with Dick's favorite Donruss Diamond King card, the 1995 Chili Davis.

True, Lloyd McClendon holds the all-time single series record for batting average and on-base percentage in a playoff series. But his Little League World Series performance makes that look like child's play.

Plus: MLB needs to stop caving to pathetic authoritarians who would like to paint over baseball history in a ugly shade of white.

A managerial rookie card! This Cuban national played every field position and was an All-Star in both leagues. Definitely not a bozo.

This catcher and future manager was great on defense, but he really hit for power when tubers were on the line.

James from the "Remember That Guy" podcast joins to answer a simple question:

How good of a Guy can Guy be so he can be a "Guy" while not being too good to be a "Guy?"

It wasn't officially a *perfect* game, but it was still simply irresitible.

In a discussion of famous people named "Buddy," your hosts somehow forgot the most famous Buddy of the 1980's, 1985 Chicago Bears Defensive Coordinator (and coach of some other teams) Buddy Ryan.

Author Marshall Garvey joins us to talk about this blue-collar reliever who changed baseball history with one flap of his butterfly wings. Check out the new book!

This well-traveled reliever and pitching coach had a mustache fit for the OK Corral.

Rejected rhymes include finicky, panicky, and the slant rhyme monarchy.

MVP, All-Star, and Hall of Fame voters rarely gave Chet his due, but we here at the 1988 Topps Podcast bleed Lemon red.

Jeff from Two Strike Noise joins to talk about the coolest card in the 1998 Topps set.

This outfielder from the Bronx had a first career marred by injury, and a second one marred by terrorism.

The Beach Boys' original lyric, "I wish they all could be Quebecois girls" was rejected out of hand.

For a record five times in his career, this speedy outfielder was the only thing preventing his team from losing in a no-hitter.

"Valenzuelunacy" was first proposed, but just never had the right ring to it.

This outfielder stole a record 123 bases in a single season in the minors, but in the majors he had trouble getting up to speed.

Wear a life jacket.

This mild-mannered shortstop and World Series-winning coach was accidentally shot in the head by Robin Yount.

This defensive specialist made a successful return to home run hitting after 10+ years away from dingers. No word yet on how this may have inspired the return of Oasis.

In an alternate universe episode of Boy Meets World, Nails beats up Mr. Feeny and teaches Cory to dip.

It's Episode #200! Our show has finally crossed the Mendoza Line for Podcasts. Thank you for listening!

This crafty left-hander got schooled by Dr. J in college, but he won a Cy Young and a ring thanks to some Orioles Magic.

Adam Darowski of Sports Reference joins the show to discuss one of the most underrated outfielders of the 1980s.

Beware! The mascots of Jamestown, NY will become the mascots of your nightmares!

What present do you get for the Dad who seems to have everything? A contract rider for a sweet performing gig!

Both club soda and seltzer are types of water that are carbonated by injection, with club soda having some additional added salts like sodium chloride and disodium phosphate. Mineral water, however, is naturally carbonated and must contain 250 parts per million of dissolved solids from the source.

Unused puns from this episode:

Something's Gotta Give

Gottem

Winning an EGOT(T)

Caramel, chocolate and nouGott

There was a time when 50 homers in a season was a very big deal. That was the time of the very big Cecil Fielder.

This speedy outfielder went .750/.800/1.250 in a victorious World Series. Then, two years later, he laid an egg.

In 1986, the top player in terms of WAR in the National League was Mike Scott. #2 was Rick Rhoden. What?

This hard-throwing reliever was as comfortable at the free throw line as he was on the mound.

This veteran catcher never pulled a sword from a stone, but he did become Kansas City royalty.

Glenn brags. Mike is done. Randy is ready. Sam and Steve play the horn and sax. But none compare to the onomatopoeia of Lazorko!

This two-time World Series winner was the best sequel to a Terminator since Robert Patrick.

The descent of Eric Show from a talented pitcher and musician -- to hardcore addict -- to dead at age 37 is one of the saddest stories we've covered.

Fun Fact: Most people in New Jersey are born at the racetrack.

Welcome to Season 5!

This Twin Cities slugger had one famous World Series grand slam and one infamous World Series body slam.

Inspired by Jim Traber's singing of the National Anthem before his own baseball game, we offer the 1988 Topps Podcast Triathlon:

Event 1: Bike 10 miles while listening to Ruben Sierra's music

Event 2: Sing a solo from any Broadway musical

Event 3: Beat the Mets with any team in RBI Baseball

An episode about a Florida Man almost losing his hand, but not to an encounter with a snake or gator!

Zak Ford, author of Called Up: Ballplayers Remember Becoming Major Leaguers, joins the pod to talk about this Future Star.

This no-nonsense lefty spent 11 years in MLB and now lives on a 60-foot boat. What more is there to say?

While Yogi Berra once said, “All pitchers are liars or crybabies,” this Yankees legend (and friend of Yogi) may have been an exception.

This Puerto Rican outfielder wore his emotions on his sleeve and his fortunes around his neck.