Podcast
1988 Topps
Hosted by Matt Kuzma and David McEllis · EN
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 1988ToppsPodcast@gmail.com.
26episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
John Shelby (#428)
Feb 1500:47:31Tap to summarizeSome lessons, like "Don't foul the ball off your own eye," have to be learned the hard way. Card 428 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/threestarssportscards_925/item/1988-topps-428-john-shelby_43464379Briggs Card Company on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586280361464 Sarasota Magazine Interview with Shelby - https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/news-and-profiles/2024/03/john-shelby-mlb SABR Bio by Malcolm Allen - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/john-shelby/ Shelby with a World Series RBI - https://youtu.be/N9g21AxcbGg?si=xgDfquia5OxpzzCK&t=5969 Shelby Robs Fisk - https://www.mlb.com/video/shelby-robs-fisk-of-extra-bases-c37202907?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-shareShelby catches the final out 1988 NLCS Game 4 - https://www.mlb.com/video/shelby-catches-final-out-c25631733?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share Shelby catches the final out of 1988 NLCS Game 5 - https://www.mlb.com/video/shelby-s-catch-ends-game-5-c494898583?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-shareShelby vs Clemens - https://youtu.be/zMJ3lXj-thA?si=m48TpfssEvfa8HuRShelby vs Frazier Standoff! https://youtu.be/jKQ66Ghuthw?si=Ndjp8wbjOtM8ss-o
Transcribe →Vince Coleman (#260/1)
Feb 800:54:26Tap to summarizeWhen this speedster was in his prime, there were fireworks every time he was on base. It's Episode 250! Thank you for listening! Card #260 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/bigmacsportscards_709/item/1988-topps-260-vince-coleman_21227922Card #1 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/item/900/1988-topps-1-vince-coleman-rb_31263029SABR Bio by Zac Petrillo - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/vince-coleman/The Tarp eats Vince - https://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/benjamin-hochman/35-years-ago-the-day-the-tarp-ate-vince-coleman/article_5e47b555-a52b-5106-9d17-58b5303ca0f5.html?mode=nowapp Vince MLB’s most exciting player - https://www.mlb.com/news/vince-coleman-mlb-most-exciting-player-one-season Vince Beats Miami on the gridiron - https://x.com/Stitch_Head/status/1643482155962753025?s=20 Inside the Park Vince - https://youtu.be/Xs2wZ5JY6qU?si=a7m1AuenH9Qsr-u9 https://sqdc.st/s/yimYv2x7 minutes of pickoffs - https://www.mlb.com/video/chris-welsh-s-17-pickoff-attempts?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share 8 minutes of RBI Vince - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0j5hbY5id8
Transcribe →Mark Davis (#482)
Feb 100:46:40Tap to summarizeThis left-hander turned his 1989 NL Cy Young into a fat contract worth 13 million packs of Phillies' Franks. Card #482 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/cardinvestors_1277/item/1988-topps-482-mark-davis_86912470Hall of Fame Card Corner for this card: https://baseballhall.org/discover/cardcorner-1988-topps-mark-davis A Sad $13 Million Man - https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-06-08-sp-781-story.html SABR Article about Mark’s First Win: https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/july-30-1983-mark-davis-earns-first-win-for-giants-with-shutout-of-rival-dodgers/ Hot Dog ad: https://youtu.be/dOfFdykWS5M?si=p4XKfvZfqW2nuNqe Mark in the 1989 All Star Game: https://youtu.be/g8SErfKgyFo?si=VR79KEnGXi8eI9UU&t=7711
Transcribe →Dwayne Murphy (#424)
Jan 2500:50:12Tap to summarizeThis 6-time Gold Glover caught everything, whether it was drive to the gap in right or a great deal at Taco Bell! Card #424 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/threestarssportscards_925/item/1988-topps-424-dwayne-murphy_43464375SABR Bio by Dan Schoenholz - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/dwayne-murphy/Hall of Fame Card Corner - https://baseballhall.org/discover/cardcorner-1988-donruss-dwayne-murphy Archived article about Hammer lawsuit - https://web.archive.org/web/20070817071129/http://www.millslawfirm.com/media-15.html1982 Topps Blog post about Dwayne- https://1982topps.blogspot.com/2014/04/card-29-dwayne-murphy.htmlDwayne the Football coach - https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-06-25-sp-8439-story.htmlMark Langston on Sabrina - https://bsky.app/profile/1988toppspodcast.bsky.social/post/3ma4swh2gfc2p DUAAAAANE - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI-aDjb2sAA Murphy and Norris Gold Gloves - https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/mike-norris-and-dwayne-murphy-of-the-oakland-athletics-news-photo/1125839394 1980 A’s season in Review - https://youtu.be/hWcYNNgef50?si=r7VRX_mc9NwKpJqi&t=923 1981 Taco Bell Commercial - https://youtu.be/bdAeBULUbI8?si=fkAuHGwPJVMJZDHAKlingon Pop Warrior on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/TheKlingonPopWarriorjenbom
Transcribe →Butch Wynegar (#737)
Jan 1600:48:24Tap to summarizeThe 1952 classic, "Botch-a-me," by Rosemary Clooney, is a play on "Bacia me" which means "kiss me" in Italian. It has nothing to do with a guy named Butch. Card #737 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/hooplasportscards_1082/item/1988-topps-737-butch-wynegar_82605424Hall of Fame Card Corner - https://baseballhall.org/discover/cardcorner-1978-topps-butch-wynegarSABR Article about Butch’s big year - https://sabr.org/journal/article/butch-wynegar-from-single-a-to-the-major-league-all-star-game-in-one-year/1986 Article about Butch leaving NY - https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/08/04/New-York-Yankees-catcher-Butch-Wynegar-who-left-the/9117523512000/BP interview with Butch - https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/8101/prospectus-qa-butch-wynegar/ Minor League Interview - https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-350176Twins Daily article about Early Butch - https://twinsdaily.com/forums/topic/70808-butch-wynegar-had-an-incredible-two-year-start-to-a-13-year-career/ Opening Day Homer - https://youtu.be/EV5g8PD7-Us?si=KVjevlzyMeJV3qF8Twins, Yankees, Angels
Transcribe →Charlie O'Brien (#566)
Jun 19, 2025Tap to summarizeLittle known fact: Tina Turner originally wanted to write a song called "Personal Catcher" about backups who create that trusted relationship with ace pitchers, but she couldn't get the lyrics to fit her melody. She went with "Private Dancer" instead, and the rest is history. Card 566 on Becketthttps://marketplace.beckett.com/item/900/1988-topps-566-charlie-obrien-rc_27922483Charlie’s Sabr Bio by Steve West https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/charlie-obrien/ Brian Boru https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Boru Charlie’s SI Cover https://www.autographwarehouse.com/images/products/detail/CharlieOBrienSI.JPGCharlie Keeps his career alive at SI https://vault.si.com/vault/1999/04/26/catch-as-catch-can-the-angels-charlie-obrien-uses-all-his-tricks-to-keep-his-career-alive Charlie’s Book at Texas A&M Press https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781623492922/the-cy-young-catcher/Popular Mechanics story about Charlie’s mask https://www.popularmechanics.com/adventure/sports/a236/1283166/ Puck Junk the evolution of Baseball goalie masks https://puckjunk.com/2018/03/29/the-evolution-of-baseballs-goalie-mask/ 1995 NLCS Homerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyiGRE7eRRs
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