1991 Topps:

1. #261 Bud Harrelson (Manager)
2. #386 Cecil Fielder (All-Star)
3. #623 Jeff Blauser
4. #42 Chris Hoiles
5. #401 Barry Bonds (All-Star)
6. #426 Joe Grahe (Rookie)
7. #364 Dan Pasqua
8. #60 Frank Viola
9. #789 Tom Lasorda (Manager)
10. #121 Eric King
11. #276 Bill Swift
12. #183 Clay Parker
13. #725 Ron Gant
14. #105 Kevin McReynolds
15. #552 Jeff Hamilton

Getting Tommy Lasorda in two consecutive random packs from different years must be a sign.  Therefore today’s feature card is Tom Lasorda lookin’ slim and fast with a jacket slung coolly over his shoulder.

Today, even at the age of 82, Lasorda travels the country promoting his beloved Dodgers.

1991 Topps:

1. #338 Luis Rivera
2. #22 Storm Davis
3. #507 Steve Jeltz
4. #457 Todd Hundley (Rookie)
5. #669 Lou Piniella (Manager)
6. #560 Greg Smith
7. #777 John Candelaria
8. #228 Rex Hudler
9. #360 Rock Raines
10. #321 Bob Rodgers (Manager)
11. #114 Lance Dickson (Future Star) (Rookie)
12. #336 Matt Nokes
13. #499 Melido Perez
14. #469 Chet Lemon
15. #30 Gregg Jefferies

“Rock was selected as MVP of the 1987 All-Star Game.”

The 1987 All-Star Game was Raines’ 7th in a row, but also his final one.  During his 12-year career with the Montreal Expos, he batted .301 and averaged 53 stolen bases per season.  However, he fell from favor after he was traded to the Chicago White Sox after the 1990 season.  Since he left the Expos, he batted .282 and averaged only 16 stolen bases per season.

1991 Topps Traded:

1. #105T Bob Scanlan (Rookie)
2. #21T Rick Cerone
3. #35T Kirk Dressendorfer (Rookie)
4. #51T Jeffrey Hammonds (Team USA) (Rookie)
5. #89T Dave Parker
6. #36T Jim Essian (Manager)
7. #106T Pete Schourek (Rookie)

This November we will hear the final verdict from the Baseball Writers Association of America on whether or not Dave Parker should be in the Hall of Fame.  The 7-time All-Star, 3-time Gold Glove winner, and 1-time MVP is in his final year of eligibility and last year he only received 15.2% of the vote.

1991 Topps:

1. #287 Mark Grant
2. #714 Marvell Wynne
3. #646 Andujar Cedeno (Rookie)
4. #576 Jeff Kaiser
5. #337 Keith Comstock
6. #374 Larry Casian (Rookie)
7. #6 Nolan Ryan (Record Breaker)
8. #651 Alan Mills (Rookie)
9. #96 Trevor Wilson
10. #97 Brady Anderson
11. #672 Shane Mack
12. #535 Ruben Sierra
13. #472 Kirt Manwaring
14. #522 Stan Belinda
15. #168 John Olerud

“When Ruben exceeded 100 Runs and 100 RBI in 1989, he became the first Texas Ranger to achieve feat.”

Ruben Sierra was one of my favorite players when I was growing up in the late 80′s.  I wasn’t aware that he played all the way until 2007 when he was over 40 years old.

My collection just reached 15,000 cards!  Here’s some new 1991 Topps Traded for the collection:

1. #74T Candy Maldonado
2. #117T Wade Taylor (Rookie)
3. #113T Kennie Steenstra (Team USA) (Rookie)
4. #20T Joe Carter
5. #122T David Tuttle (Team USA) (Rookie)
6. #88T Dean Palmer
7. #105T Bob Scanlan (Rookie)

Of the 4 rookies in this pack, Bob Scanlan was the only one who actually “made it” in the Major Leagues.  Between 1991 and 2001, he pitched as a starter, middle reliever, and a closer for 6 different MLB teams.  He is currently a broadcaster for the San Diego Padres flag station and has his own website at BobScanlan.com.

1991 Topps Traded:

1. #125T Devon White
2. #69T Chuck Knoblauch
3. #17T John Candelaria
4. #72T Donnie Leshnock (Team USA) (Rookie)
5. #126T Mark Whiten
6. #84T Otis Nixon
7. #99T Jeff Robinson

“One of North Carolina’s leading batters in 1991, Donnie compiled 10 multiple-Hit games during his freshman campaign.  Named USA Today Male Athlete of the Year in 1988-89, he was All-State performer in 3 sports at Columbus Academy.  Donnie’s father, Donald Lee Leshnock, pitched with the Detroit Tigers in 1972.”

Donnie was drafted in the 5th round of the 1992 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees.  He pitched three seasons in the Yankees bush leagues, but never made it past the single-A level.  He retired from professional baseball in 1996.

Donnie’s father, Don Leshnock, played pro baseball 1968-1975.  However, Don made a brief Major League appearance in 1972.  He was allowed to pitch the final inning of one game for the Detroit Tigers in which he allowed 2 hits, struck out 2.  That’s a career ERA of 0.00 and 18 strikeouts per 9 innings.  Young Donnie has probably heard the story a thousand times, and he’ll never hear the end of it.

1991 Topps:

1. #518 Cris Carpenter
2. #408 Ernie Riles
3. #414 Sammy Sosa
4. #226 Alfredo Griffin
5. #354 Sid Bream
6. #309 Norm Charlton
7. #611 Dave Eiland
8. #330 Doc Gooden
9. #422 Rick Reuschel
10. #665 Mike LaValliere
11. #235 Dave Parker
12. #314 Gary Pettis
13. #637 Bruce Ruffin
14. #296 Mark Williamson
15. #223 Allan Anderson

Dave Parker played in the Major Leagues 1973-1991 and was one of the best players of his time.  He won the 1978 NL MVP award and was selected to the All-Star team 7 times.  He also had a cannon for an arm and won 3 Gold Gloves at right field.  Next year will be his final year on the Hall of Fame ballot, as he is a borderline candidate.

1991 Topps:

1. #6 Nolan Ryan (Record Breaker)
2. #651 Alan Mills
3. #599 Greg Myers
4. #236 Frank Tanana
5. #395 Chuck Finley (All-Star)
6. #593 Mike Walker
7. #198 R.J. Reynolds
8. #730 Barry Larkin
9. #595 Bill Landrum
10. #740 Ryne Sandberg
11. #208 Willie Wilson
12. #781 Darryl Hamilton
13. #511 Steve Balboni
14. #373 Darrin Jackson
15. #250 Dennis Eckersley

“Oakland, California, June 11, 1990:  Rangers’ Nolan Ryan tonight pitched 6-0 No-Hitter.  At 43 years, 4 months and 11 days of age, he becomes the oldest pitcher to hurl gem.  The former mark was 41 years, 3 months and one day by Cy Young, 6-30-08.”

Nolan Ryan’s no-hitter in 1990 was not his last.  on May 1, 1991 he threw another one at the age of 44.