Ross Jones #169

 

This week, a guy who had one hit for the Mets, but that one hit led to guest Mark Simon suggesting this card...it's Ross Jones! Jones was a Dodgers first round pick out of Miami, but he was stuck in the minors before a trade with Sid Fernandez to the Mets. He was called up in 1984 and got 1 hit that season, a walk-off double witnessed by a young Mark Simon! Mark joined us to talk about that moment and Ross Jones' 67 game MLB career and second career in film. Mark also told us about his 1986 Mets rewatch newsletter!

Topics: Mike Jones phone #, Hobbits and Avatars, 1986 Mets Rewatch

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Juan Samuel #398/705

 

This week, a free swinging, Phillies All Star second baseman...Juan Samuel! Samuel set a rookie stolen base record and finished 2nd in the 1984 NL ROY vote. He had great speed, good power, and led the NL in K's 4 straight seasons. He opened his career with 4 straight seasons of double digit doubles, triples, homers, and steals. He peaked in 1987, moved to centerfield, was traded for Lenny Dykstra, then played 11 more seasons in MLB. He has served in various coaching roles since 1999. 
Topics: La Isla Bonita, Top prospect Baller, Baseball Card Snark
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Ted Wood #130T

This week, an Olympic gold medalist who set records in New Orleans and had a couple cups of coffee with the Giants and Expos...Ted Wood! Ted hit over .400 for Team USA in 1988, the second best average on the team. After a few years in affiliated ball, Ted played in Mexico, Taiwan, and Korea and then went into financial planning. 

Topics: Trax, Chagrin Falls and the Hip, Brother Elephants, Randy

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Rick Manning #441

This week, a one time top prospect for Cleveland who was in part responsible for the team trading Dennis Eckersley...it's Rick Manning! Rick had two very good seasons before a serious injury at 22. When he was recovering, he stayed with his friend Eck, and got a little too close with Eck's wife. The team picked their young centerfielder over the future Hall of Fame pitcher. Rick was never the same after that injury, but had a 13 year career with Cleveland and Milwaukee. He has been in Cleveland's booth since 1990. 

Topics: Rex Manning, Baseball Bug, Niagara Falls

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Kelly Gruber #113

 

Kelly completes a World Series triple play...or did he?

This week, the first baseball player to win the prestigious Superstars title, an All Star and World Series champ...Kelly Gruber! Kelly was scouted to play baseball and football for the Longhorns, but he picked baseball after getting picked #10 overall. He was one of the best third basemen in baseball from 1988-90, but a series of injuries derailed his career. He dealt with a bone spur in his spinal cord and tore his rotator cuff chasing after Deion Sanders. Gruber has had some alcohol related incidents in retirement and he was removed from a Canadian Hall of Fame event in 2018. 
Topics: Grubs and Grubes, good and bad interviews, spinal cord injuries

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Tommy Hinzo #576

This week, a speedy running back turned switch hitting 2B who played 85 games in MLB...it's Tommy Hinzo! Hinzo had opportunities to play D1 football, but chose to focus on baseball at University of Arizona. He won a College World Series, got drafted a few times, set a stolen base record, and ended up with Cleveland. He had a quick route to the big leagues, but after a decent rookie season he was back in AAA and only had one more brief MLB appearance. He played 11 seasons total including stints in Mexico and Taiwan. 

Topics: Chula Vista, flights to New York

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Rocky Childress #643

 

This week, the only Rocky in the 1988 Topps set, Rocky Childress! Childress played parts of 4 MLB seasons and had some eventful years crisscrossing the country from AAA-MLB and back. After a failed trade in 1986, Childress had a successful 1987 for the Astros...only to start 1988 back in AAA. After a few more seasons in the minors, Rocky and his wife moved to Bend, Oregon where they run a plumbing company!

Topics: Rockys, landlord communications, plumbing adverts

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