1980 Topps, Rusty Staub

Card No. 660

This card from 1980 Topps captures affable All-Star Rusty Staub in his second go-round with the Montreal Expos....Rusty appeared in the 1969 through '71 Topps sets as an Expo, as well....Nicknamed "Le Grand Orange" during his Montreal days for his unmistakable red hair...Staub's first appearance in a Topps set was 1963 where he shared a "Rookie Stars" card with Duke Carmel, Bill Haas, and Dick Phillips....Played the 1980 season for the Texas Rangers, batting an even .300 over 340 ABs. 

*MK*

1993 Topps, Nigel Wilson

Card No. 426

Younger collectors likely don't know the name Nigel Wilson, but if you were collecting cards in 1993 you definitely do....The top-rated prospect in baseball, Wilson was the first-ever draft pick by the Florida Marlins when he was selected 2nd overall in the 1992 MLB Expansion Draft....This card, Nigel's rookie, was part of the Series 2 release in '93....His only other Topps card appeared in the 1995 set....In his lone season as a Marlin, Nigel played in just 7 games during the '93 campaign and went 0-for-16 with 11 Ks.

*MK*

1966 Topps, Richie Allen

Card No. 80

Welcome to the Gun Show, starring Phillies third-sacker Richie Allen....If you were a pitcher during the '60s and '70s you were probably wetting your pants when Richie came to bat....This is Allen's third Topps card and just his second stand-alone, as he shared his '64 rookie card with fellow Phillie John Herrnstein....Listed as "Rich Allen" on his cards beginning in 1970 and eventually "Dick Allen" from 1972 through '76....Blasted a career-best 40 round-trippers for the Phils in '66, finishing fourth in N.L. MVP voting.

*MK*

1984 Topps, Alan Trammell

Card No. 510

Hall of Famer Alan Trammell squares to bunt at old Tiger Stadium on this card from 1984 Topps....This marked the second year in a row Topps included an inset headshot photo on the front of the base cards....I've always kinda considered '84 Topps a weaker edition of the 1983 design....Trammell first appeared in a Topps set in 1978 on a "Rookie Shortstops" card with Mickey Klutts, U.L. Washington and fellow HOFer Paul Molitor....Alan earned his fourth and final Gold Glove award at the conclusion of the '84 season.

*MK*

1999 Topps, Wally Joyner

Card No. 295

Many collectors--myself included--will always associate Wally Joyner with the Angels, but here he is during his San Diego days....1999 marked the second consecutive year that Topps rolled out gold borders on their base cards....Joyner's final Topps cards would come the following year, as the Georgia native appeared in both the 2000 base and Rookies & Traded sets....Wally's rookie card can be found in the iconic 1986 Topps Traded set....Batted just .248 with 5 homers over 323 ABs for the '99 Padres.

*MK*

2017 Topps, Stephen Strasburg

Card No. 38

While 2016 may have ushered in the era of the borderless Topps card, it's the 2017 set that was the first to do it properly -- at least in my opinion....Artfully framed photo of Stephen Strasburg just after releasing the pitch....There is a short-printed 'image variation' of this card in which Strasburg is pictured at the top of the dugout steps....Stephen's famous rookie card was a 2010 factory-set exclusive, numbered #661....The former first-overall draft pick won 15 games and crafted a 2.52 ERA in '17, finishing third in N.L. Cy Young voting.

*MK*

1976 Topps, Bobby Bonds

Card No. 380

By the time the 1976 baseball season began Bobby Bonds was no longer a member of the New York Yankees....Was traded to the California Angels in December of 1975 for Mickey Rivers and Ed Figueroa....Bonds was pictured as a Yankee on his '75 Topps card also, albeit wearing a badly airbrushed 'NY' cap....Bobby's rookie card can be found in the 1969 Topps set, adorned with the coveted Topps Rookie Cup....While he enjoyed an All-Star season in '75, Bonds mustered just 10 homers and 54 RBIs in 99 games for the Halos in '76.

*MK*