1987 Topps, Tony Gwynn

Card No. 530

I can't think of another Tony Gwynn card I love as much as this one from 1987 Topps....All the elements come together to make this one a sparkler: terrific photo choice, HOF player, and an iconic design concept....Tony was enshrined in Cooperstown in 2007, receiving 97.6% of the vote on his first ballot....Sadly passed away in 2014 at the age of 54....Tony's rookie card can be found in the 1983 Topps set (#482)....Led all of baseball with a .370 BA during the '87 season.

*MK*

1999 Topps, Mike Hampton

Card No. 338

With a big league resume that boasts five Silver Sluggers, a Gold Glove and an NLCS MVP, southpaw Mike Hampton is today's Jukebox subject....Mike pitched for the Mariners, Astros, Mets, Rockies, Braves and D-Backs during his 16-year career....Earned NLCS MVP honors in 2000, pitching the Mets to the pennant....His rookie card is part of the 1993 Topps Traded set (#58T)....Led the N.L. with 22 wins in '99 and finished second to Randy Johnson in Cy Young voting.

*MK*

1975 Topps, Larry Bowa

Card No. 420

Before he was ripping into umpires as a skipper, Larry Bowa was helping the Phillies teams of the late 1970s and early '80s ascend to the top shelf of the National League....Played in four NLCS and one World Series with Phils....Batted .375 (9-24) in '80 Fall Classic....At the helm for 337 wins over four years as Phillies' manager (2001-'04)....Shared his 1970 Topps "Rookie Stars" card with Dennis Doyle....Larry batted .305 during an All-Star campaign for Philly in 1975.

*MK*

2023 Topps, Sandy Alcantara

Card No. 107

The list of players to win an N.L. Cy Young award while wearing a Marlins uniform is exactly one name long, and that name is Sandy Alcantara....The Dominican right-hander led all pitchers with 228 2/3 IP and 6 CG during his award-winning 2022 campaign....Was part of the trade package Miami received from St. Louis in exchange for OF Marcell Ozuna in December 2017....His rookie card can be found in the '18 Topps set (#594)....Sandy recorded 3 CG during the '23 season, including a 3-hit shutout vs. MIN, 4/4/22.

*MK*

1992 Topps, Gary Sheffield

Card No. 695

Despite Hall of Fame credentials, Gary Sheffield still remains on the outside looking in as of press time....Author of 509 career homers and 1,676 RBIs over 22 seasons....While playing for the Mets, Gary joined the 500 Home Run Club with a game-tying blast at Citi Field, 4/17/09....Drafted sixth overall by Milwaukee in 1986....Spent the first four years of his career with the Brew Crew, producing just 21 long balls....Sheff's rookie card can be found in the '89 Topps set....Gary was swapped to the Padres in a multiplayer deal, 3/26/92.

*MK*

1985 Topps, Andre Dawson

Card No. 420

Back when I was a kid, the WGN Superstation was available nationwide and I used to watch Andre Dawson during Cubs telecasts....Before he was a Cubbie, "The Hawk" broke in with Montreal....In 11 years with the Expos, Andre made three All-Star teams and collected six Gold Gloves....He first appeared in a Topps set in 1977 on a Rookie Outfielders quad card....His final standard Topps card was in the '96 set....Andre smashed 23 HRs in 1985 and won the last of his six Gold Gloves as an Expo.

*MK*

1964 Topps, Ron Santo

Card No. 375

Hall-of-Famer Ron Santo, aka Mr. Cub, is the newest 'vintage' feature on the Jukebox and the third card from the handsome 1964 Topps set to be showcased on the blog....Played 14 of his 15 big league seasons on the Southside before concluding his career with the ChiSox in '74....Ranks top-5 in Cubs annals in career HR (337) and RBIs (1290)....This is his fourth Topps card....His rookie card appeared in the '61 set....Ron led the league in both triples (13) and walks (86) during the '64 season.

*MK*