1988 Topps Podcast

06/05/2026

Thanks SABR Baseball Cards for bringing this to our attention! I’m sure our listeners are itching to get their Jay Ballers signed!

05/05/2026

Look at this young man! Julio Franco, hero of the pod!

01/05/2026

This week we discussed some beautiful cards we got from Briggs Card Co.! Look at these!

01/05/2026

This week, a pitcher who had bad injury luck, but kept working on his pitch repertoire to stay in the league...it's Al Nipper! Nipper suffered illnesses, thoracic outlet syndrome, a Larry Parrish caused 4 inch gash in his knee...and kept at it. He was in the rotation for the 1986 Red Sox and was later part of the trade for Lee Smith. He then coached for 25 years.
Listen: https://1988toppspodcast.blogspot.com/2026/04/al-nipper-32675t.html

29/04/2026

20/04/2026

This week, we talked about a guy who had 1 hit for the Mets...but our guest Mark Simon was there to see it! It's Ross Jones. Jones had a walk off double in 1984, his only hit for the Mets. Jones went on to play for the Mariners and Royals and then had a long career in film.
Topics: Mark's 1986 Mets Rewatch, Hobbits and Avatars
More here: https://1988toppspodcast.blogspot.com/2026/04/ross-jones-169.html

12/04/2026

RIP Scrap Iron.

We are saddened by the passing of Phil Garner, whose playing and managing careers spanned five decades in the game.

Garner played 16 years as a gritty infielder nicknamed “Scrap Iron.” A 3-time All-Star with the Athletics and Pirates, he went on to spend seven years with the Astros, then finished his playing days with stints with the Dodgers and Giants.

In 1979, Garner was a key member of the World Series champion “We Are Family” Pittsburgh Pirates. He batted .417 (5-for-12) in the three-game NLCS sweep, then hit .500 (12-for-24) in the World Series to help Pittsburgh win the title in seven games.

Garner would go on to spend parts of 15 seasons as manager of the Brewers, Tigers, and Astros. In 2005, he skippered the Astros to their first ever World Series appearance.

He was 76 years old.

08/04/2026

With Philadelphia Phillies – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

I assume this is Steve Jeltz related.

07/04/2026

Tom Nieto passed away suddenly on March 27, 2026. He was just 65.

RIP Tom Nieto 1960-2026

06/04/2026

This week, the first player with double digit doubles, triples, homers, and stolen bases in his first four seasons…Juan Samuel! Samuel also led the NL in strikeouts in each of those seasons. An exciting talent on offense, Samuel had his best season in 1987, hitting 28 homers, driving in 100 and scoring over 100 runs. He was traded for Lenny Dykstra, made an all star team as a Dodger, and had a long coaching career!

Topics: Madonna geography, Baseball Card Snark, Jeltz confusion

Listen and learn: https://1988toppspodcast.blogspot.com/2026/04/juan-samuel-398705.html

31/03/2026

This week, an Olympic Gold Medalist who played 47 MLB games and then travelled the world playing ball…it’s Ted Wood! Ted was an All American at University of New Orleans, hit over .400 in 1988 for Team USA, and was a Giants 1st round pick. He didn’t get an extended run in MLB but was a star in Taiwan! He has since had a successful career as a financial planner.
Topics: Chagrin Falls, the Hip, Traxler

Listen and learn: https://1988toppspodcast.blogspot.com/2026/03/ted-wood-130t.html