On This Date: The First MLB Home Run Derby

1985 Topps – Dave Parker

On Monday, July 15, 1985 (yes, exactly 28 years ago today), Major League Baseball staged its first ever home run derby at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.  Dave Parker of the Cincinnati Reds won the event, hitting a remarkable six home runs.  This was despite the fact that his National League team, featuring Parker, Dale Murphy, Steve Garvey, Ryne Sandberg, and Jack Clark, lost the Derby by a score of 17-16 to Jim Rice, Eddie Murray, Carlton Fisk, Tom Brunansky and Cal Ripken, Jr. of the American League.

For the ensuing 28 years, Major League Baseball has battled steroid and other performance enhancing drug problems.  Has anyone thought to blame the Home Run Derby?  No?  Well, maybe they should.

Out of Place – Lloyd Moseby

1991 Donruss - Lloyd Moseby

I don’t like the Detroit Tigers.  Like Sidney Crosby’s feelings about the Philadelphia Flyers, I just don’t like them.  They have a great history, a fantastic ballpark, and a pretty good team this year (although they do get to beat up on some shitty teams a lot to inflate their record), but that doesn’t mean I have to like them.

Maybe that’s why Lloyd Moseby looks so strange to me in a Tigers uniform.  It’s just not right.  He should be rocking the baby blue and ruining his knees on the plastic carpeting they used to call Astroturf at Exhibition Stadium.

1985 Topps - Lloyd Moseby

See, isn’t that better?

Too Cool for Cardboard – Jeff(rey?) Leonard

1985 Topps All-Star - Jeff Leonard

For most of his career, I remember him as Jeffrey Leonard, but in 1985, it was just Jeff.

Yes, that’s a meshback cap on backwards – backwards!

Yes, he’s staring menacingly (seductively?) at the camera.

Yes, Wikipedia states that he was known for his “one flap down” home run trot, for taking too long to round the bases during the 1987 NLCS, and that he also acquired the nickname “Penitentiary Face.”  Seriously, check it out.

That’s cool.

Things I Read on the Back of Cards – 1985 Topps, Al Oliver

1985 Topps - Al Oliver (Back)

“Has largest collection of men’s cologne in baseball.  Plays racquetball every day during the off-season.”

1985 Topps - Al Oliver (Front)

I have four things to say/ask:

1. How the hell do they know who has the largest collection of men’s cologne?  Seriously, that question comes up somewhere?
2. Does the racquetball thing make the first part less weird?  No, it does not.
3. I am not surprised that someone with a huge cologne collection would have a mustache like that and a big gold chain.  Kind of makes it more believable.
4. It seems like 1985 Topps is a hotbed for awesome card back facts, which is weird because they’re one of the harder colour schemes to read that Topps ever gave us.

Things I Read on the Back of Cards – 1985 Topps, Kurt Bevacqua

1985 Topps - Kurt Bevacqua (Back)

“On 8-31-82 Kurt caught 5 balls dropped from top of Imperial Tower Building (San Diego), a distance of 325 feet.”

What?  Was this some kind of publicity stunt?  Probably.

However, I would prefer to think that Kurt Bevacqua is some kind of baseball-playing superhero for saving innocent bystanders from an evil arch-enemy known for standing on top of downtown buildings throwing baseballs at people.  Since he played for the Padres in the 80’s, maybe he even had a brown and yellow cape with bubble lettering.

1985 Topps - Kurt Bevacqua (Front)

Who knows?  Bevacquaman knows.

Things I Read on the Back of Cards – 1985 Topps, Jim Gott

1985 Topps - Jim Gott (Front)

1985 Topps - Jim Gott (Back)

“Jim’s hobbies include Hapikido Karate.  He also enjoys ballet and opera.  Wife’s name is Clenice.”

If I hadn’t seen such a strange mix of hobbies and interests on the back of this card, I never would have done a Google search for Jim and found out a few things.

First, he helped teach Dennis Quaid how to pitch for the movie The Rookie.

Second, Jim and his wife Cathy (not Clenice…) spend a lot of time working with children with autism, including two of their own children.

Respect level way up, Jim Gott.  We can all learn from 1985 Topps.

Manly, Magical Mustaches – Rollie Fingers

1985 Topps - Rollie Fingers

Rollie Fingers’ mustache is the definitive mustache for the sport of baseball.  Like Lanny McDonald’s mustache in hockey, or Hulk Hogan’s in pro wrestling, Fingers’ mustache is one of a kind.  In the case of Fingers, McDonald or Hogan, you don’t even need to see the rest of the player’s face… just the upper lip and all of its magic and manliness.

Fingers is often regarded as the player who changed the role – and status – of the relief pitcher.  He is best remembered for his days with the three-peating Oakland A’s of the early 1970’s, but is also a pretty big deal in Milwaukee (as seen on his 1985 Topps card), where the Brewers also retired his number.  The second reliever ever elected to the Hall of Fame, Fingers could have achieved such an honour based on mustache alone.

Rollie, Sorting by Teams thanks you and salutes you.