1980 Topps Expos Future Stars: Bernazard, Miller, Tamargo

Not a lot of household names on this rookie card. One player hadn't played at the big league level since 1978, Another would play his last MLB game in 1980, the year this rookie card was issued.

**************************************************

Tony Bernazard was the only player on this card to play past the 1980 season. Primarily a second baseman, he played back-up second and short for the 1980 Expos. He became an everyday second baseman in 1981 when he was dealt to the White Sox. In the middle of their "Winning Ugly" season the Sox traded him straight up to the Mariners for another switch-hitting second baseman, Julio Cruz. 

After the '83 season, Seattle send Bernazard to the Indians where he played until 1987 when he was traded to Oakland. When the A's released him after the '87 season, he went to Osaka, Japan. He played for Nankai Hawks in 1988. In 1989 they moved to Fukuoka and became the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. Bernazard played there for the 1989 and 1990 seasons. In 1991 he had a short-lived MLB comeback with the Detroit Tigers before retiring.

For his Card That Never Was, I made this 1990 Topps style card of him on he Hawks. In case you can't make out that bad-ass helmet he is wearing. I included a close up of that beast.

**************************************************

Randy Miller had been designated to the Minors after two brief call ups in 1977 and 1978. In 1977, with the Orioles he played a total of two thirds of an inning and gave up four runs, three of them earned on four hits. That gave him a 40.50 ERA. In 1978 with the Expos he worked seven innings surrendering eight earned runs. That dropped his career ERA down to a better but still brutal 12.91.

Since he was already out of the Majors by the time the 1980 rookie card was printed, I gave him a card for his 1978 season. I took the opportunity to recreate the 1978 rookie cards. Some collectors don't like the multi-team rookie cards and prefer the team-based rookie cards. So I made this 1978 Expos Rookie Stars Card That Never Was.  I went with the stacked look that Topps used in 1964, 1970 and 1971. I added a little color to make it fit into the 1978 style.  I teamed Miller up with another 1978 rookie from Montreal. Scott Sanderson went onto play 19 seasons in the bigs. In addition to the Expos, he played with the Cubs. A's, Yankees, Angels and White Sox. He was on the 1991 All Star team but didn't see any action.

**************************************************

By the time John Tamargo appeared on the 1980 rookie card he had seen action in four MLB seasons on three teams. He played for the Cardinals in parts of the 1976, 77 and 78 seasons. In 1978 he was traded to the Giants where he saw action in the 1978 and 79 seasons and was included on this 1979 Giants Rookie Prospects card.

In 1979 he was traded to one of the toughest places for a back-up catcher to see action, Montreal. He played a total of 16 games in 1979 and '80 behind Hall of Fame catcher, Gary Carter. He was released in the spring of 1981. For his Card That Never Was, I gave him a solo card from the 1978 season showing him in his Cardinals uniform.

************************************************** 

By the time this card was issued, two of the three players had most if not all of their short MLB careers in the rear view mirror. Only Tony Bernazard still had a career after 1980. While he had several season as a regular in the starting line up, it was an unremarkable career. No awards or accolades, just a steady career that ended in Japan. I give it a 2.

1980 Topps Brewers Future Stars: Danny Boitano, Willie Mueller, Lenn Sakata

I haven't posted in quite some time, but I still have a backlog of cards that I have created. So I haven't given up yet. I plan to continue this blog along with my other blog, Cards That Never Were. Probably less frequently as demands of everyday life dictate.

This time the random number generator has given me the most recent year to date. And given that I am only going after 1959-1980 rookie cards, there will be nothing newer.

**********

Dan Boitano was a middle reliever that pitched 71.1 Major League innings over 5 years with the Phillies, Brewers, Mets and Rangers from 1978-1982. This 1980 rookie card represents his entire big league catalog. With so many options to choose from, I went with 1982 Donruss for his Card That Never Was. Not only was 1982 his final year but it was also the year in which he had his most big-league exposure. He pitched 30.1 innings in 19 appearances.

**********

Once again we have a middle reliever for whom this is his only MLB card. Willie Mueller pitched 12.2 innings for the Brewers in 1978 then 2 more in 1981. But he was best known as the Yankees closer "Duke" in the 1989 movie "Major League". In 2014, Topps created a subset of cards from the movie with the 1989 design. For Willie Mueller's Card That Never Was, I included him in the subset.

**********

Lenn Sakata was a light hitting utility infielder for the Brewers, Orioles, A's and Yankees. He hit .230 and scattered 25 homers over 11 seasons. Primarily a middle infielder, Sakata was given the opportunity(?) to fill in at catcher for an inning in 1983. Sakata was brought into the game as a defensive replacement in the 8th inning, playing 2nd base. In the 10th inning he was moved behind the plate after a few pinch hitters moves left Baltimore without a catcher. Seeing Sakata behind the plate proved too tempting for the Blue Jays baserunners. Pitcher Tippy Martinez picked off 3 consecutive runners at first to end the rally. Sakata put the finishing touch on that game by hitting one of his 25 career homers in walk-off style.

Sakata was featured on Topps cards from 1980-1988 with the exception of 1987. For his Card That Never Was, I filled in that gap.

**********

I'm getting rusty, I almost forgot to "Rate" this rookie card. (After all that is only the name of this blog.)  This card's only saving grace is Mueller's cameo in "Major League" and Sakata's contribution to Tippy Martinez's incredible feat.  I will give this card a 2 "Good for Flipping".

1977 Topps Rookie Outfielders: Brian Asselstine, Wayne Gross, Sam Mejias, Alvis Woods

Seems like the random number generator has me going back and forth between 4-player rookie cards and single player rookie cards. This time it is this 1977 rookie outfielder card so it will be another nice long post.

First up is Brian Asselstine.  A first round draft pick by the Braves in 1973, Brian spent his entire 6 year MLB career with the team. Although he never rose above the level of utility outfielder/pinch hitter, he was included in every Topps set from 1977-1982, with the exception of the 1980 series. He was also included in the 1981 and 1982 sets by both Fleer and Donruss. A career .254 hitter, he averaged less than 50 games a season and a little over 100 plate appearances a season.

For his Card That Never Was, here is the missing 1980 Topps card of Brian Asselstine:

**********

Although listed as an outfielder on the 1977 Rookie card, Wayne Gross was the A's everyday 3rd baseman in 1977. Gross belted 22 homers his rookie season. This earned him good a good seat to the 1977 All Star Game. He was chosen as a replacement for the injured Vida Blue. But he was behind George Brett and Graig Nettles at 3rd base and never saw action. Topps named him to their All Star Rookie Team, which card geeks everywhere know means he gets that cool little trophy on his sophomore card.

In 1983 Gross was brought in to pitch mop-up-duty. With 2 outs in the bottom of the 6th inning and the Twins ahead 16-3, the A's manager, Steve Boros, called the third baseman to the mound. In all, he pitched the final 2.1 innings giving up 2 singles, 1 walk and 1 hit-batter. But he didn't give up a single run. 

After the 1983 season he was traded to Baltimore. He was eventually released by the Orioles early in 1986. The A's picked him up and he played his final 3 games in an A's uniform. For his Card That Never Was I went with a 1986 Topps Traded. I considered a 1987 card but with only 3 games and zero hits in the 1986 season, a 1987 card would be a stretch, even for me.

**********

Like Gross, Sam Mejias was called in for mop-up duty as a pitcher. In a meaningless September game, the 4th place Expos were losing to the 6th place Mets 9-4 in the 9th inning. The Expos Hall of Fame manager, Dick Williams called upon Mejias. He got the first batter to ground out, then he hit catcher, John Stearns. Two wild pitches later, Stearns was standing on 3rd base with 1 out. Stearns was thrown out trying to score on a grounder to short then Mejias got the final batter to fly out to left. Although far from perfect, Mejias gave up no runs, and no hits in his only appearance as a pitcher.

Oddly, Topps mentions that he pitched an inning in Minor Leagues in 1974 on the backs of both his 1979 and 1981 cards but makes no mention of his MLB pitching.

And like Asselstine, Mejias never rose above back-up outfielder during his entire 6 year MLB career. He also appeared on Topps cards from 1977-1982 with the same exception of the 1980 set. So again here is a 1980 Topps Card That Never Was:

**********

 Alvis Woods was chosen by the Toronto Blue Jays in the expansion draft. He had a pinch hit homer in his 1st MBL at-bat in the 5th inning of the Blue Jays first game ever. However he was not the first Blue Jay to homer. His teammate Doug Ault had homered twice already in that game. Woods remained in that game playing left field. In both his remaining 2 at-bats, he struck out looking.


For most of the expansion Blue Jays in 1977, O Pee Chee made cards with different photos than the ones used in the Topps set. These were usually pictures of the players in their actual Blue Jays uniforms rather than the airbrushed Topps photos. They also included individual cards for many of the rookies. So Al Woods had an individual 1977 card as well as sharing this card.



Woods' MLB career was well documented on cardboard. He played at the major league level for Toronto from 1977-1982. He was traded to the A's after the 1982 season but was cut before the 1983 season. He had cards in all of those years including a 1983 O Pee Chee card paranthetically announcing that he was "Now with Athletics".



From '83-'85 he played minor league ball  with the Blue Jays and Twins organizations. In 1986 he made a brief comeback for the Twins. So for his Card That Never Was, here is one missing from the 1986 Topps set.

Now the grade. Despite the pitching prowess of Mejias and Gross, and the fact that Gross was named to the Topps Rookie All Star Team, overall I'm unimpressed. I have to give it a 2 - "Good for Flipping".