Why this card is awesome: Because I remember looking at this card and thinking in 1988, "Well, this guy has had a long career, but he's on the decline, getting only a somewhat decent card number ending in 10, so he'll be ineffective pretty soon." While it's true his best days were behind him, after 1988 Winfield went on to get 4 more 20-HR seasons and a World Series win with Toronto in 1992, despite missing all of 1989 with an injury.
Cool stat: I like Winfield and could say lots about his career. But here's a quick, neat one: most career hits from age 38 season onwards. Winfield is 6th, counting from 1901. And he's 5th in most homers from age 38 on.
Hall of Fame count: 34
5 comments:
First thing that comes to mind with Dave Winfield was his inability to hang on to the bat. He must have flung his bat into the stands at least once a game on a swinging strike. Anyone else remember this?
I watched many many Yankees games in 1988 and do not recall seeing him do it even once.
I have, however, been at two games when people got severely injured by batted balls. I was at the first game in Camden Yards in 1997--a preseason game against the Pirates. On the very first pitch, a foul ball struck a guy in the temple and gave him permanent brain damage.
I like the info on the card back: Dave opened a Manhattan restaurant in Nov. 1986. Tell us more!
I love the specificness (is that a word?) of the opening of a restaurant in Nov. 1986. Almost like TOPPS had a stake in the place.
Specificty
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