Yet again, I am straying further and further away from my original intention of only creating cards for Hall of Fame players that never received their final Topps tribute. Last week, I featured Reggie Jackson’s 1977 Topps Orioles card, and prior to that, I made a final card for Thurman Munson. This week, I am going to the other end of the spectrum and featuring the rookie or traded card that should have been for Ryne Sandberg. Why am I doing this? Requests! I love getting requests and I love providing a final requested product even more!
I’m sure everyone knows that Ryno was the star second basement, I mean basemen, for the Chicago Cubs (Sorry, I often type basement when discussing the Cubs…). Prior to his glory days as a Cubbie, Sandberg played a brief stint for the Philadelphia Phillies as a September call-up in 1981. He appeared in a scant 13 games, mostly as a pinch runner, and only had six plate appearances. He did manage to score two runs and grab a base knock. His lone hit came against Mike Krukow in the second half of a double header, in which Sandberg replaced Schmidt in a laugher of a game (Phils won 14-0 against the Cubs, of course).
Imagine that, Ryne Sandberg replaced Mike Schmidt in a game. Bet 99.999% of you didn’t know that nugget.
Anyways, after the '81 season, the Phillies inexplicably decided to trade Ryne Sandberg, and Larry Bowa, for the likes of Ivan de Jesus on January 27, 1982. Ay, Dios mio!
Ivan managed to get seven dingers and post a .249 average over three years with the Phanatics. While Ryne blasted 282 home runs, amassed nearly 2,400 hits and batted .285 for the Cubs over 15 seasons. Top that off with one MVP, 10 All Star appearences, nine Gold Gloves and seven Silver Slugger awards. Can you say lopsided trade?
Enough with the de Jesus bashing. It almost feels like blasfemia. Here is Ryne Sandberg’s 1982 Topps Traded offering. Had trouble with the name text, but everything else turned out alright.
And before anyone says "Shortstop?," Ryno predominantly played SS during the 81 campaign (when he wasn't Pinch Running).
Hope you enjoy it, any requests? Also, if you like this card, go check out the complete Gallery!
Doc
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