“In 1991 Jason led the Big West Conference with .394 Batting Average.  An All-Big West First Team selection, he led Long Beach State in Batting and Bases on Balls.  Jason collected 3-or-more Hits in a game 10 times during the campaign.  He led the 49ers to a berth in the College World Series at Omaha.”

1991 Topps Traded:

1. #25T Danny Cox
2. #79T Hal McRae
3. #55T Glenallen Hill
4. #44T Gary Gaetti
5. #33T Brian Downing
6. #45T Jason Giambi (Team USA) (Rookie)
7. #92T Doug Piatt (Rookie)

George Brett: 13-time All-Star, 3,154 career Hits, 1999 first-ballot Hall of Famer

1991 Topps:

1. #339 Larry Walker (Topps All-Star Rookie)
2. #92 Danny Jackson
3. #477 Mike Fetters
4. #260 Harold Reynolds
5. #540 George Brett
6. #388 Kelly Gruber (All-Star)
7. #691 Mike Blowers
8. #58 Mel Stottlemyre
9. #218 Rick Parker
10. #538 Bip Roberts
11. #293 Jay Bell
12. #179 Pete Harnisch
13. #164 Edgar Diaz
14. #248 Tom Gordon
15. #191 Willie Blair

“Bo belted 4 consecutive HR in 1990; three at Yankee Stadium, July 17 and the 4th vs. Mariners, August 26.”

1991 Topps Traded:

1. #58T Bo Jackson
2. #125T Devon White
3. #69T Chuck Knoblauch
4. #17T John Candelaria
5. #72T Donnie Leshnock (Team USA) (Rookie)
6. #126T Mark Whiten
7. #84T Otis Nixon

Out of the three Team USA players I found in this pack, Darren Dreifort was the most successful.

“At Wichita State in 1991 Darren was accorded Freshman All-American Honorable Mention by Collegiate Baseball.  He compiled a 2.53 ERA in 1991 NCAA Tournament play following the campaign.  Darren allowed only 6 hits and 3 runs in 10.2 Innings in helping Wichita State to a second place finish in the College World Series at Omaha, Nebraska.”

In a career marred by injuries, Dreifort pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers 1994-2004.

1991 Topps Traded:

1. #124T Jeff Ware (Team USA) (Rookie)
2. #41T Tony Fernandez
3. #34T Darren Dreifort (Team USA) (Rookie)
4. #31T Rich DeLucia (Rookie)
5. #13T Sid Bream
6. #52T Mike Hargrove (Manager)
7. #80T Dan Melendez (Team USA) (Rookie)

“Jose was signed as a Free Agent with the Dodgers, July 24, 1988 by Scouts Ralph Avila & Elvio Jimenez.”

Jose Offerman was banned from baseball in the Dominican Republic last year after he punched an umpire in the face while he was managing a Winter League game.

1991 Topps:

1. #283 Marquis Grissom
2. #761 Larry Andersen
3. #281 Larry Sheets
4. #396 Bobby Thigpen (All-Star)
5. #239 Darren Lewis (Rookie)
6. #723 Candy Maldonado
7. #501 Mike Bielecki
8. #586 Fred Lynn
9. #745 Doug Jones
10. #587 Jose Offerman (Future Star) (Rookie)
11. #785 Scott Fletcher
12. #705 Robby Thompson
13. #217 Chris Bosio
14. #421 Alex Cole (Rookie)
15. #639 Frank Robinson (Manager)

1991 Topps Traded:

1. #99T Jeff Robinson
2. #28T Glenn Davis
3. #131T Ivan Zweig (Team USA) (Rookie)
4. #98T Chris Roberts (Team USA) (Rookie)
5. #118T Garry Templeton
6. #22T Jack Clark
7. #112T Luis Sojo

“Chris was Metro Conference Player of the Year and Atlantic Regional MVP at Florida State in 1991.  His 2-year pitching statistics include 15-4 record and 3.91 ERA with 118 Strikeouts in 29 Games.  Chris batted .320 with 3 HR and 9 RBI at 1990 NCAA South II Regional Tournament.”

Neither of the Team USA players in this pack ever made it to the Major Leagues.

Ivan Zweig only played two seasons of independent pro baseball.

Chris Roberts was the more successful of the two, playing 8 seasons as a pitcher, mostly at the AA and AAA levels.  He retired from professional baseball in 2001.

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.