Why this card is awesome: Because this card is just AWESOME. It's a fantastic action shot captured by Topps of the long and lean Davis. Judging by the concentration on his face, I can only assume he was thinking, "Oh yeah....chicks dig the long ball." Remember that back in 1988, Davis was coming off a 30/30 season where he easiy got both 30 homers (37 actually) and 30 stolen bases (a whopping 50 actually!) He was a huge rising star who seemed destined to become an all-time superstar. It wasn't in the cards, though, due mainly to weird injuries he suffered (like a kidney laceration.) In fact, 1987 was his best season until 1998, when he had a wonderful comeback season with the Orioles.
Anyway, this is one of my all-time favorite cards, and ranks as the 3rd-best card of the 1988 Topps set, behind #70 Roger Clemens and another card yet to come. (Any guesses?)
Cool stat: Davis is another guy who hit a lot of homers off Jim Deshaies. He had 2 career games with 3 homers and a stolen base and is the only guy to do that twice.
7 comments:
I'm going to go ahead and guess that the other card you're referring to is Don Mattingly.
I'm still amazed that Eric Davis came back to play for the Orioles in 1997 in between treatments for colon cancer. He was a tough SOB.
This is a classic Eric Davis card. This guy truly loved the game.
Also happened to be a great guy off the field.
The best card is clearly Mackey Sasser's RC from the Traded set. ;)
Have to echo the sentiments regarding Davis. He was an absolute beast in the seasons in which he was healthy. Too bad there were more of them, as I think that most have forgotten how great Davis was.
I remember the rumors going around Cincinnati back in 1987 that Cooperstown had already commissioned Davis' plaque. So many great players from the 80s that fell off--Strawberry, Gooden, Ruben Sierra, and Eric the Red. I always enjoyed watching Davis play.
This would be my official guess for the best card of the set: Manny Trillo.
Am I close?
Kevin's got it...#300 Don Mattingly. We're halfway there already.
I'm glad to see so much love for Davis. He was a great player indeed.
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