Wanted! - 1990 Upper Deck

Percent Completed: 100%

Last Updated: November 14, 2023

Background Noise - 1990 Upper Deck Jerald Clark

This is the third in a series dedicated to everything that people do not focus on when looking at a baseball card.  Therefore, this new series is aptly named Background Noise.

 

At first glance, Jerald Clark’s 1990 Upper Deck card is not jam packed with excitement.  The photograph is a poor angle, giving us an exquisite view of Mr. Clark’s right nostril and the green belly of his brim.  Forced perspective makes his right arm look like Popeye’s and his head shrunken.  All in all, it’s a terrible card of Jerald taking time to sign autographs for fans.

The viewer has no idea where this photograph is taken.  It’s obviously not Jack Murphy Stadium, since he is wearing his road uniform.  Plus, the only reason why it’s apparent that this photograph wasn’t taken in a supermarket parking lot is the foul pole behind his right fist and the smidgen of light stanchion peeking behind his right shoulder.  All that’s left is the clear Dodger Blue sky, and what appears to be a third arm protruding from Jerald’s abdomen.  Wait, what?  Ooh, a cameo.  Who could it be?

Well, if you for some reason happen to have the 1990 Upper Deck set in a binder (awkward whistling), go backwards two cards for your answer.  Why, that’s not Kuato protruding from Jerald Clark, it is Greg Harris.  Not Greg A. Harris or Gene Harris, but Greg W. Harris.  Greg Walker, Texas Ranger, Wade Harris.

Now the rest of the story can be told.  Messer’s Harris and Clark are at good old Chavez Ravine, signing autographs for the legions of Padre faithful that populate the Los Angeles basin (all two or three of them). 

To me, these cards signify how far Upper Deck fell after its inaugural set.  The slick and inventive imagery of the 1989 set quickly degraded to two near identical cards with an awful photo angle; pictures that were snapped within mere seconds of each other; and then placed almost side by side in the set.  Reminds of a Fleer gimmick. 

Name the Game #4 - 1990 Upper Deck Doubleheader

A friend of mine gave me two 1990 UD cards to track down. First one up is Billy Hatcher featuring Benito Santiago with a play at the plate!

Looking through Baseball Reference, I found that Hatcher played 7 games versus the Pads at good old Jack Murphy. In only two of those games he scored a run, and he was not called out at the plate. One of those runs scored was from one of his homers, so that game is out, leaving us with the August 10, 1989 game. So, in this shot, Hatcher is scoring from second on a single to RF by Craig Reynolds. That means that Tony Gwynn couldn't throw him out in time. DANG!

Hatcher's line form the game

Astros	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OPS	Pit	Str	PO	A
B Hatcher LF	2	1	1	0	0	0	.227	.583	11	8	0	0

Next up is a Fred Manrique card featuring a play at second with the Crime Dog sliding. There were only two candiates for this card. One being a double play and the other being a force out at 2nd. Since Manrique is still holding the ball, the double play is out!

So, this card is from the August 7, 1989 game at SkyDome. This play took place in the Bottom of the 2nd after McGriff walked. Pat Borders grounded to 1st causing a force out at 2nd (3-6).

Manrique's line from the game.

Rangers	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OPS	Pit	Str	PO	A	Details
Manrique SS	4	0	1	0	0	1	.308	.770	15	11	1	1	SB

Weird side note is my friend stopped by on Saturday for a few hours and I gave him two unopened 1989 Topps Wax packs. He opened them with the help of my 2 year old son, and low and behold he pulled a Fred Manrique (and a Pat Borders).

Other interesting side note is my son took each card and threw them on the ground, each of the 15 cards landed face down. We gave them back to him and he threw two more face down, making 17 cards in a row face down. The odds: 1 in 131072. Should have bought a lottery ticket with that luck!

My daughter on the other hand (11 months) decided that Tom Brunansky looked better bent in half.