1988 Topps
1988 Topps
Matt Kuzma and David McEllis
Every card has a story to tell. In this 700+ episode series, Matt Kuzma and David McEllis discuss a different 1988 Topps baseball card every week. Send your questions and suggestions to [email protected].
Mariano Duncan (#481)
1988 Topps Podcast Top Florida DJs1. Quad City2. Rick Dees3. Steve Aoki4. *NEW* DJ Kitty5. DJ KhaledCard 481 on Go Collect: https://gocollect.com/sports-card/mariano-duncan-1988-topps-481Rays Mascots: https://www.mlb.com/rays/fans/rays-rookies/mascotsEd Lynch Brawl: https://youtu.be/VFwrYtuFMjA?si=2IlNCOe5R5HKvzur&t=6482Bunting for a double: https://youtu.be/Jo2mxWr52aU?si=DjwrE5gfpGDyKtYZBaseball Boogie: https://youtu.be/XWQ1K4SVbA8?is=V31tek3R_ZcjsXQNMariano in Reds Hot: https://youtu.be/rCGfY2l6Niw?si=R4NfZca-ptz8RgHc&t=156Reds win in 1990: https://youtu.be/VCMfmaNDBAQ?si=Y52HS3ch5azfiFTSThe Biggest hit of Mariano’s career: https://www.mlb.com/video/mariano-duncan-s-grand-slam?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-sharePlay Today Win Today: https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-magazine-mariano-duncan
Oct 26
53 min
Luis Rivera (#94T)
Find someone who looks at you the way we look at the 1987 Expos uniforms. Card 94T on Whatnot:https://www.whatnot.com/listing/TGlzdGluZ05vZGU6MjIyODQ0ODg3OQ==Pope’s letter to Jerry and the Sox: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1664251381725565&set=a.804458641038181Luis Rivera Sabr Bio by Tony S Oliver: https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/luis-rivera/ Luis gets hit by a line drive: https://www.mlb.com/video/rivera-gets-drilled-by-foul-ball-c1520341083 Luis helps this smooth kid:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA3Zt37Fqd4 Luis throws out a first pitch: https://www.mlb.com/video/luis-rivera-throws-ceremonial-first-pitch?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share 1988 Topps Blog on Luis: https://88topps.blogspot.com/2008/10/94t-luis-rivera.html
Oct 12
36 min
Mike Birkbeck (#692)
Johnny Appleseed was real?Card 692 on Fanatics Collecthttps://www.fanaticscollect.com/buy-now/901a742b-f10c-4f53-9a30-c9f6266674c7Bulkbag: https://micahw156.tumblr.com/post/21460486558/bulk-bag https://kentstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/mike-birkbeck/1617Greatest 21 Days interview Part 1: https://greatest21days.blogspot.com/2012/04/mike-birkbeck-interview-part-1-always.htmlInterview Part 2: https://greatest21days.blogspot.com/2012/04/mike-birkbeck-interview-part-2-any.htmlInterview Part 3: https://www.greatest21days.com/2012/04/interview-mike-birkbeck-part-3-their.html
Oct 6
32 min
Mickey Tettleton (#143/120T)
Tettleton, the best name for a power-hitting tea salesman since Chester Chamomile. Card 143 on Fanatics Collecthttps://www.fanaticscollect.com/buy-now/e57099a5-ba15-4302-98e5-2f873da6e69fCard 120T on Fanatics Collecthttps://www.fanaticscollect.com/buy-now/a1485f4a-750a-462a-8102-2e68bd26ab0e1981 Dwight Evans: https://www.sportscardspro.com/game/baseball-cards-1981-topps/dwight-evans-2751982 Dwight Evans: https://www.sportscardspro.com/game/baseball-cards-1982-topps/dwight-evans-355 Where did the Mickey’s come from: https://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3lqsxbmy4xs2t David Laurila interview: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/a-conversation-with-80s-90s-slugger-mickey-tettleton/OK State Article: https://okstate.com/news/2014/12/1/Mickey_Froot_Loops_TettletonQ & A with Mickey: https://www.ocolly.com/sports/q-a-former-osu-baseball-player-mickey-tettleton-talks-being-scared-to-death-during-mlb/article_eaba321e-0f97-11ee-a31b-7b446af94fe1.htmlVin introduces Mickey: https://youtu.be/g8SErfKgyFo?si=KqrQVhyf-EsW5xfw&t=9852Sylvia talks about Froot Loops: https://youtu.be/bm--4pkKJ9o?si=wCz9ulMu0-L9FMmP&t=23Maya Angelou for Froot Loops: https://youtu.be/_tBoYDPOO90Mickey puts one out of Camden: https://www.mlb.com/video/tettleton-smacks-homer-to-right-c20049421?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-shareSlo-Mo of Mickey’s stance: https://youtu.be/UB5qeqgx9FY?si=YqHtGr929kCKfIcd
Oct 1
55 min
Dwight Evans (#470)
Did Evans have the most home runs in the AL in the 1980s? Do bears bear? Do bees be? Do Deweys dew? Card 470 on Fanatics Collect - https://www.fanaticscollect.com/buy-now/57f33990-dd56-40e5-96b2-fe5bd767a4dfSABR Bio by Bill Nowlin: https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Dwight-Evans/ Old School Comiskey hat vendor: https://baseballegg.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/comiskey-park-chicago-1986.jpgDewey Interview: https://youtu.be/UXZZK3ni_rY?si=dZpOi-jVe3dgmoDl&t=451975 World Series Homer: https://www.mlb.com/video/evans-game-tying-homer-c31146833?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-shareGreat World Series catch for double play: https://www.mlb.com/video/evans-game-saving-catch-c25572383?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-shareSeason opening homer in 1986: https://www.mlb.com/video/evans-goes-deep-on-opening-day-c63708283?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share Joe Posnanski makes the HOF case: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2311881/2021/01/13/hall-of-fame-outsiders-dwight-evans/Analysts compare Dwight and RIce: https://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2009/07/please_know_thi.php
Sep 21
42 min
Mark Marquess (#65T)
There are the Queensbury Rules and the Vanderpump Rules, but the Marquess of Stanford Rules are 1. Coffee and 2. Red Meat.Card #65T on Fanatics Collect - https://www.fanaticscollect.com/buy-now/37dada08-fb5a-4bf5-a188-c110758ba037/1988-topps-traded-65t-mark-marquess-oly-co?USA Statement upon Mark’s death:  https://www.usabaseball.com/news/usa-baseball-mourns-the-loss-of-former-president-mark-marquessStanford story about Marquess’ Legacy: https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2026/02/mark-marquess-baseball-legacyABCA Hall of Fame: https://www.abca.org/ABCA/ABCA/Awards/Hall-of-Fame/Hall-of-Fame-Inductee.aspx?Ordinal=172National Baseball Congress story: https://nbcbaseball.com/mark-marquess/MLB Obituary: https://www.mlb.com/news/mark-marquess-legendary-stanford-baseball-coach-dies-at-78ABCA Interview: https://www.abca.org/magazine/magazine/2018-1-January_February/Cover_Interview_Mark_Marquess.aspx1987 CWS Walk off Grand Slam: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=325811103741100 1988 CWS Final full game: https://youtu.be/cIGMrK_d3nI?si=mZgc0zRAjd2ZRcpK&t=8859
Sep 14
33 min
Chuck Jackson (#94)
I'm sorry Chuck Jackson (woooooo) I am for realNever meant to say "don't know that guy" Your card 94 looks super flyI'm sorry Chuck Jackson (wooooo) I am for realSorry you got stuck in Triple AYou deserve your big league shot todayCard #94 on eBay: https://ebay.io/m/lkezIkGreatest 21 Days Chuck Jackson: https://www.greatest21days.com/2026/07/chuck-jackson-played-multiple-positions.htmlFacebook post from Ingraham High: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2205378300/posts/10163630194748301/Reggie Waller LA Times: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-02-11-sp-1532-story.htmlReggie Waller Jr. video on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1A3YLug1tG/
Sep 7
27 min
Pope Hat Night August 2026
It was a mitre fine night at the ballpark.https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7507490/2026/08/12/pope-hat-night-chicago-white-sox-sellout/https://www.ncronline.org/news/pope-leos-chicago-white-sox-pitches-papal-pride-peace-40000-pope-hats
Sep 1
25 min
Steve Peters (#84T)
Saving games and saving lives. Card 84T on ebay: https://ebay.io/m/wA7uEROklahoman story about Steve’s Twins: https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/columns/berry-tramel/2008/08/10/joy-of-twins-soothes-ex-cardinal-steve-peters-despair/61556372007/Oklahoman story about 1985 Sooners: https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1985/03/21/sooners-staff-off-to-super-start-runs-something-oklahomas-pitchers-allow-few-of/62770011007/Baseball Cards Substack Steve Peters: https://baseballcards.substack.com/p/steve-peters-was-there-for-some-big?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=webAthletes of OKC FD:https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=477406853016529 Greatest 21 days post about steve: https://www.greatest21days.com/2014/04/steve-peters-one-out-120.html 
Aug 24
30 min
Greg Gagne (#343)
While shortstop Greg Gagne did not receive any National Baseball Hall of Fame votes after his solid career, wrestler Greg Gagne was inducted into the Tragos and Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2024.Card 343 on SportsCardsPro: https://www.sportscardspro.com/game/baseball-cards-1988-topps/greg-gagne-343Greg with the Dodgers Story: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-03-05-sp-43214-story.htmlIt’s Great to Be Alive video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qqs4DeOn4-YFrank and Moon Zappa on Letterman: https://youtu.be/ijg2_vVyu0Q?si=FEPTxca9H8YpMPgj&t=336Valley Girl - Frank Zappa: https://youtu.be/R5Q1yVLSR3I?si=DMCFCxC3tdUgrHq8 Worst Stolen Base % since 1961: https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/tiny/Ck0532 Inside the Parkers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I76wIWY1TycGreg’s RBI, World Series Game 7 1987: https://www.mlb.com/video/twins-take-the-lead-in-6th-c523496283?partnerId=web_multimedia-search_video-share Wrestle Rock Rumble: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY2sc9-4ANg1991 World Series Game 1 Homer: https://www.mlb.com/video/gagne-and-hrbek-s-game-1-homers-c2522570683Breaks up a Perfecto: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19FwQPLyJ9/ 
Aug 18
55 min
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