1988 topps by Matt Kuzma and David McEllis

Welcome to Season 7 of the 1988 Topps Podcast!

No "Looking good, Mr. Kotter" jokes were harmed in the making of this podcast.

The card that is the most explicit ad for undergarments in the 1988 Topps set.

If you have evidence that Tom Sandoval tried to inspire his high school classmates to victory by telling them to "Win one for the Nipper," please contact us immediately.

For this Florida native, 100% of his career hits as a Met were game-winning doubles with 9-year-old Mark Simon in the stands. Mark joins the pod to tell us the story! 

The 1980's were a big time for guys with 2 first names: Elton John, Billy Joel, Juan Samuel?

This Team USA standout won a gold medal, played baseball in five countries, married a cheerleader, and became a stock broker. No chagrin to be found.

CAUTION: Sliding headfirst can lead to broken bones ... and marriages??

This tough Texan was a two-time MLB All-Star, but will forever be a Superstar.

If your minor league manager tells you you're getting sent on the next plane down to Kinston, check the ticket before you get too upset.

"A rolling stone gathers no moss" is a clever proverb credited to Erasmus, but we like the modern version:

This Hall of Famer is emphatically NOT the pride of Vermont, but he is one of our host's all-time favorites.

Some lessons, like "Don't foul the ball off your own eye," have to be learned the hard way.

When this speedster was in his prime, there were fireworks every time he was on base. 

This left-hander turned his 1989 NL Cy Young into a fat contract worth 13 million packs of Phillies' Franks.

This 6-time Gold Glover caught everything, whether it was drive to the gap in right or a great deal at Taco Bell!

The 1952 classic, "Botch-a-me," by Rosemary Clooney, is a play on "Bacia me" which means "kiss me" in Italian. It has nothing to do with a guy named Butch.

This "dandy little glove man" is one of only 15 players in MLB history to complete an unassisted triple play.

While this veteran hurler threw righty, lefty, starter, reliever, and closer, there was one jam he couldn't get out of: 1988 Topps Picture Day. 

Fine, he didn't invent "The Wave," but he was still a very good pitcher.

The member of the 1997 World Series-winning Florida Marlins who most resembles a Les Miserables character.

This Jersey-born catcher was chosen instead of Bo Derek for a fashion ad and had a #1 hit on the country charts (in Syracuse.)

We've got a new jingle!

Meet Flan, the coolest guy in the set.

The Eyes of Texas were upon him... and Steve Goodman thought he should keep his eyes on the ball.

Clutch hitting defined: this guy hit two home runs the night he was supposed to be laid off, saving his job and probably 10 more years of solid Quad-A ball.

Counterintuitively, when Rod Carew says your pitching is "Little League Slop," it probably means you are doing something right.

This controversial pitcher closed off opportunities for women umpires for decades by opening his big mouth.

Jeff from Two Strike Noise joins David for a Giants game and a pack of legends.

A card so great, we just had to sing about it.

If there are three true outcomes in baseball, this Mariners bomber had two of them (the HRs and Ks) nailed.

Inside: Everything you ever wanted to know about the 2005 World Series-winning Chicago White Sox. RIP Bobby Jenks

Before this defensive specialist became a legendary manager in the Dominican League, he was almost a landmark trade in Yankees' history.

Plain and simple, he had the best-known name, face, and sideburns of 1980s baseball and baseball cards.

Of all the celebrities named Moose, the most famous is probably the actor / Jack Russell Terrier who played Eddie on Frasier. RIP

Little known fact: Tina Turner originally wanted to write a song called "Personal Catcher" about backups who create that trusted relationship with ace pitchers, but she couldn't get the lyrics to fit her melody. She went with "Private Dancer" instead, and the rest is history.

Welcome to Season 6 of the 1988 Topps Podcast!

When ... the ...

This All-Star Rookie had his life saved by a call to the pen, er, apartment.

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.

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.

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:

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.

Jeff Snider of Locked on Dodgers returns to the show to discuss his first favorite player growing up — a power hitter we're sure you'll go Head Over Heels for.

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.

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:

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!

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

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.

This all-around athlete only hit 13 homers in the regular seasons of his career, but his 1983 ALCS game-winning blast was as easy as ABC.

This catcher from South Philly wasn't afraid to joke—or spar—with the best of 'em.

Clerk: [announced over speaker] Paging Mr. Herm. Mr. Herm, you have a telephone call at the front desk.

This unassuming reliever twisted batters into pretzels with his unconventional delivery.

This gold medalist never made it to the bigs, but his commitment to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats was major league.

Editor's Note: In 1988, Beany and Cecil returned to TV as The New Adventures of Beany and Cecil. The new version was produced and directed by John Kricfalusi, creator of The Ren and Stimpy Show. We regret the omission of this important information.

When this versatile pitcher went on a losing streak, it was bulletin board material.

This defensive shortshop never made it as a big league prospect, but he continues to make his mark discovering and nurturing future stars. Plus, how does a 1.4 WAR performance make someone an All-Star Rookie AND an All-Star on the premier baseball video game of the decade?

Mark Simon returns to the pod to discuss Elaine Benes' most-famous boyfriend (other than Lloyd Braun, of course.)

This versatile reliever had one of the best closer seasons in Major League history and one of our favorite quotes: 

This versatile lefty joined the pros at age 18 and pitched for 19 years. And as far as we can tell, he never had a case of the Mondays! Card 442 on Beckett SABR Bio by David Moore Antioch pitcher drafted! Tom profiled at Greatest 21 Days Story about 'The Way Down' Nashville Sounds, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, and Baltimore Orioles

This brookie combines brownie batter and chocolate chip cookie dough to create a decadent half brownie, half cookie bar that's fun and easy to make.

This Minnesota journeyman moved 52 times in his 17-year baseball career, but as long as he found a spot in the outfield, he felt at home.