1986 Topps – Paul Householder
Let’s be honest here. Paul Householder isn’t really holding a lot of houses. It’s a funny sounding name, sure, but it doesn’t accurately describe his occupation or appearance. In looking at this baseball card from 1986 Topps, I’d suggest that his name should be Paul Myhairiswaytoocoolforahat.
That is all.
1981 Topps – Buck Martinez
May 10: On this date in 1981, Buck Martinez was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Gil Kubski. This is what Buck Martinez looked like on his 1981 Topps baseball card. I’d like to call for an immediate return of his mustache.
Martinez would play for the Jays from 1981-86, batting a cumulative .222 in 454 games. Gil Kubski never played in the Majors after this trade. Also, this trade started Buck’s long-standing connection to the Toronto Blue Jays. He has played, managed and broadcasted, he even wrote books, all to varying degrees of success. However, all of it led to this website, leading me to say, advantage to the Blue Jays on this one. Another win for Pat Gillick.
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.
1984 Topps - George Vukovich
1984 Topps - Pete Vuckovich
George Vukovich and Pete Vuckovich are not actually brothers. You know how I know this? I know this because their last names are spelled differently. I’m a genius, no big deal. Also, they were born and raised in different states (Vukovich in Illinois, Vuckovich in Pennsylvania).
However, a bond that runs much deeper than blood connects them. It is a bond shared by but the manliest of manly men. It is the bond of the mustache.
Although George put up a few decent years in the mid-1980’s, Pete is the more famous of the two. He actually won the Cy Young Award in 1982 with the AL Champion Milwaukee Brewers. Yeah, the Brewers were good once. True story.
However, I would suggest that it was his Oscar-worthy performance in one of the all-time best sports movies in history that defined his career. You see, in 1989, Pete portrayed Yankees slugger Clu Haywood in Major League. And yes, he still had the mustache then.
Ironically, George played the majority of his career with the real-life Cleveland Indians. Coincidence? I think not.
SIDE NOTE: Great article where I found that Haywood photo, actually. Some good discussion points about movie athletes.
Send me an electronic mail at sortingbyteams at gmail dot com.
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