Too Cool for Cardboard – Alex Cole

 

1993 Topps – Alex Cole

Alex Cole was so cool that the Cleveland Indians moved the fences back at old Municipal Stadium in order to accommodate his speed after a 40 steals in 63 games performance in 1990.  Well, the Indians went from 77-85 to 57-105 in 1991, they only hit 22 home runs at home in 1991, and Alex Cole went on to steal a grand total of 36 more bases for the Indians before moving on.

While things didn’t work out in Cleveland, or in Pittsburgh, Alex Cole showed in 1993 that he could still rock the shit out of a pair of sunglasses after being selected by Colorado with the 17^th pick in the 1992 Expansion Draft.  His one season with the Rockies wasn’t much to write home about, but at least he could pass for Willie Mays Hayes in a jam.  Now that’s cool.

Newsworthy – Ozzie Guillen… Again…

1993 Topps - Ozzie Guillen

We knew this was going to be interesting.  Ozzie Guillen managing in Miami with a new team name, a new ballpark, an exciting new outlook for the franchise… we all anticipated the entertainment value that the situation was sure to provide.  But this?  We didn’t expect this.  We didn’t expect the content – vocal support of Fidel Castro, in Miami, of all places – and we didn’t expect it so soon.

Ozzie, Ozzie, Ozzie… oy, oy, oy.

Haircuts I Wish I Could Pull Off – The Dave Stieb

1993 Topps - Dave Stieb

Stieb’s classic mullet was at its best late in his career.  Injured for much of 1992, he was but a bit player on the Blue Jays first World Series win that season – but he made up for it with the haircut.

Three aspects of the Dave Stieb Haircut come to mind when looking more closely at this 1993 Topps card.

1. Meticulously groomed on the sides – kept short for a maximum “business” look.
2. Also well groomed at the back, flowing out from under the cap.  Not just left to grow wild and out of control like Mitch Williams, this flow says “I could throw a no-hitter at you, bitch.”
3. Coupled perfectly with one of the best pitchers’ mustaches of all time.  Definitely one of the best combinations ever.  Glorious.