the 1978 topps dodgers in 1991 - the managers outnumber the players

in 1991, as in the three previous years, there was only one member of the 1978 topps dodgers still wearing dodger blue, and it was tommy lasorda

lasorda guided the 1991 dodger team to 93 wins and a second straight second-place finish behind the atlanta braves in the national league west.  the dodgers were up by two games with 8 to play in the season, and were tied with the braves with three remaining, but they dropped the first two games of a season ending three game set with the giants while the astros were rolling over for the braves in their season ending series.  i took much pleasure in watching the braves lose the world series that year, and have not had much of an appreciation for art howe (the astros' manager) or andujar cedeno (he made 3 errors in the division clinching game against the braves) ever since.

one member of the 1978 topps dodgers was still active in 1991, and that was pitcher charlie hough

hough was no longer with the rangers, however, having signed a free agent deal with the white sox before the season started.  topps made things right in the 1991 traded set.

hough's first year with the chisox brought an end to his 9-year streak of earning double digits in wins.  he was just 9-10 for the southsiders in 29 starts.  he also made a relief appearance (two, actually) for the first time since 1981, the first of which came in an extra inning game on may 1.  he was in line to get the win after the white sox scored three times against the brewers in the top of the 15th inning, but he allowed three runs to milwaukee in the bottom of the inning, and the game went on until the brew crew finally won in the bottom of the 19th frame.

after last being seen in the 1981 topps set, johnny oates returned with a card in the 1991 topps traded set.

oates took over as manager of the orioles following the firing of frank robinson after amassing a 13-24 record in their first 37 games.  they did slightly better (54-71) under oates, but still finished 6th in the al east.  thankfully, he was retained and returned as their manager for the 1992 season.

here is the yearly tally of appearances to date:

baker 17 (1971-1987)
burke 2 (1978-1979)
cey 16 (1972-1987)
davalillo 14 (1963-1974, 1978-1979)
forster 16 (1972-1987)
garman 8 (1971-1973, 1975-1979)
garvey 17 (1971-1987)
goodson 6 (1973-1978)
grote 15 (1964-1976, 1978-1979)
hooton 15 (1972-1986)
hough 20 (1972-1991)
john 26 (1964-1989)
lacy 16 (1973-1988)
lasorda 17 (1954, 1973-1974, 1977-1981, 1983-1991)
lopes 16 (1973-1988)
martinez 9 (1971-1976, 1978-1980)
monday 18 (1967-1984)
mota 18 (1963-1980)
oates 11 (1972-1981, 1991)
rau 9 (1973-1981)
rautzhan 2 (1978-1979)
rhoden 16 (1975-1990)
russell 18 (1970-1987)
smith 17 (1967-1983)
sosa 10 (1974-1984)
sutton 23 (1966-1988)
yeager 15 (1973-1987)

teams represented so far: 23 (dodgers, indians, colt .45's, pirates, white sox, astros, mets, a's, red sox, angels, expos, cardinals, braves, cubs, orioles, giants, phillies, yankees, rangers, tigers, padres, brewers, mariners)