many minis

i didn't bother with the mini leader cards that topps put out in the late 1980's and into the 90's when they first came out, but i have picked up a few in trades over the past few years and i now appreciate them for what they are: cards featuring dodgers!

i took advantage of an opportunity to add more of them to my collection recently.  i was able to acquire the 1990 eddie murray

i like the fact that the design of this card is in line with the 1990 flagship issue, but it's not a exact copy duplication.  plus, the photo is different.  in case you are wondering, murray ranked fifth in walks in 1989 - that's the leader stat on the back.

orel hershiser was also featured in the 1990 mini leaders set

and not because he led the league in losses.

here's some from 1986.  these i don't like as much because the design is more along the lines of the team leader subset in 1986 topps, rather than the base design itself.

orel hershiser

was 3rd in era, 3rd in shutouts, and 5th in wins in 1985.

mike scioscia

was 2nd in on-base percentage, and fernando valenzuela

was 2nd in complete games, 3rd in shutouts, and 4th in strikeouts

on to 1987.  again, the design is similar but not exactly the same as the flagship set.  it's obviously a companion set and not just a miniature duplication.  i appreciate that.

mariano duncan

was 4th in stolen bases, while steve sax

was 2nd in batting average, 2nd in hits, and 3rd in on-base percentage.  meanwhile, fernando

was 1st in wins, 1st in complete games, 2nd in strikeouts, and 3rd in strikeouts.  he was also 2nd in innings pitched according to the text on the back.

1988 is the worst of the bunch, in my opinion.  the design has nothing to do with the flagship set, and looks too much like the 1986 minis.  i'll keep them anyway.

pedro guerrero

was 2nd in batting average, 2nd in hits, and 5th in on-base percentage in 1985.  bob welch

was 3rd in strikeouts and 5th in wins, and the card also mentions that he tied for first in shutouts and was in the top 10 in a few other categories.  my favorite part of the card is the union 76 sign peeking through.

the 1989 minis incorporated the flagship design, but again were different enough to be interesting.  orel hershiser is back, of course,

as he was 2nd in the majors in wins, 1st in complete games, 3rd in innings pitched, and 1st in shutouts in 1988.

steve sax

was 4th in hits and 1st in at bats

all cards here were provided courtesy of the chronicles of fuji.

duh.  thanks mark!

i heart (cards from) halos

rwh from i heart halos recently sent me a bunch of dodgers in return for some cards featuring those angels of anaheim - it was an interleague/freeway series trade!

here are some highlights:

2006 bowman chrome nomar garciaparra xfractor 182/250

can't top the checkerboard! reminds me of vans and junior high. so sad to see nomar making spot starts. the twinkie announcers were talking like he was dead over the weekend.

1995 upper deck collector's choice se darren dreifort rookie class
little d was the personification of 'tremendous upside'. injuries suck.

1982 donruss ken landreaux once traded for rodney cline carew, this man caught the final out of the first dodgers' world championship of my lifetime.

1986 topps terry whitfield
i always wondered why the dodgers brought whitfield back from japan instead of re-signing dusty or reggie or even rick monday. i also wondered what that guy off his right hip was wearing and what he was doing in the dugout.

1989 topps mini leaders john tudor i believe tudor led the league in being traded for pedro guerrero.

1990 topps mini leaders jay howell this set is even less attractive in mini style.

2009 topps walmart black angel berroathis card is bad ass. like shaft playing shortstop.

2008 upper deck timeline chin-lung hu not as dark as the walmart card, but it scans that way. another need from my timeline quest taken care of.

2007 topps finest jason schmidt refractor 109/199

hm. stick with the blue refractors, especially for the dodgers.

thanks rwh! see you in the fall classic!