The 1980's were a big time for guys with 2 first names: Elton John, Billy Joel, Juan Samuel?

Card 398 on eBay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/286511994193

Card 705 on Fanatics Collect -

https://www.fanaticscollect.com/buy-now/4f356043-1344-4d98-99af-0056e04ae582

Hall of Fame Card Corner - https://baseballhall.org/discover/card-corner/1988-fleer-juan-samuel

SABR Bio by Thomas J Brown Jr. - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/juan-samuel

Baseball Card Snark on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/baseball.card.snark/

Harry Kalas narrating Juan’s Highlights - https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1171137844119983

1984-87 2B WAR leaders - https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/tiny/AoaDi

1989 NY Times article about Juan - https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/15/sports/samuel-is-making-an-impact.html

Juan Interviewed on the Dirt Podcast - https://youtu.be/8a4MHn8dhNM?si=9XCLe9QeCUNkjMx6

This Team USA standout won a gold medal, played baseball in five countries, married a cheerleader, and became a stock broker. No chagrin to be found.

Card #130T on ebay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/197023560084

Randy from PeeWee’s playhouse - https://youtu.be/tjlFMKQ2UiE?si=Y4p1gSbTuK2tP-QM

Greatest 21 Days blog about Traxler - https://www.greatest21days.com/2025/10/brian-traxler-took-fundamentals-to-9.html

Greatest 21 Days blog about Wood - https://www.greatest21days.com/2020/04/ted-wood-added-strength-in-minors.html

Ted Wood SABR bio by Rory Costello - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Ted-Wood/

Chagrin Falls by the Tragically Hip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40zlzmXvkpw

CAUTION: Sliding headfirst can lead to broken bones ... and marriages??

Card 441 on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/1988-Topps-Baseball-Card-Manning/dp/B00JE215JA

SABR Bio by Kelly Boyer Sagert: https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Rick-Manning/

Rex Manning Day! https://youtu.be/gf3MsD5FCug?si=r1ibnaojiUppE4CB

Eck Throws Shade at Rick: https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/94es0c/dennis_eckersley_throws_shade_at_former_teammate/

The 1978 Cleveland Indians: https://www.coveringthecorner.com/2023/12/11/23996213/75-years-and-counting-the-story-of-the-1978-cleveland-indians

Rick Catches the final out of Len Barker’s Perfecto: https://youtu.be/tvnkj8sbpVg?si=67kBJnhmX-ttdC0W

The Baseball Bug: https://www.milb.com/news/baseball-bug-x6063

Robin Yount moves to Centerfield: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1b4mm4KgRD/

Rick robs a home run: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S31r1jN6Lm4

This tough Texan was a two-time MLB All-Star, but will forever be a Superstar.

Card 113 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/cardgallery_900/item/1988-topps-113-kelly-gruber_31263128

SABR Bio by Mark Davis - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/kelly-gruber/

Inside the Fog Home Run - https://youtu.be/zNANPZgcZGc?si=1gbwYaLVa7ay9A-G

Kelly with the First Blue Jays Cycle - https://youtu.be/_sgfrVqQ4EQ?si=PAO3kHtiyA6tJRZG

Kelly on Superstars - https://mopupduty.com/blast-from-the-past-kelly-gruber/

Kids in the Hall reference Kelly - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzjJ27yaeyI

Kelly hits an ALCS Homer - https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3113518208760610

A World Series Triple Play…or was it? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4MO4v5-zPU

Kelly made the tag - https://ik.imagekit.io/mopupduty/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/gruber-triple-play.jpg

World Series HOmer - https://www.mlb.com/video/gruber-s-game-tying-homer-c31116859?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share

World Series face plant - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBvnmgeOmo0

Kelly interviewed after he was traded - ​​ https://youtu.be/Msw8Zn0a__E?si=8it0-ezlQ7mbtlxR

Kelly is rude in 2018 - https://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/mlb/kelly-gruber-innappropriate-comments-1.4708196

Kelly interview in Athletic - https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/392391/2018/06/14/20-questions-with-former-blue-jay-kelly-gruber-on-singing-water-skis-and-an-old-stance-he-just-will-not-surrender/

If your minor league manager tells you you're getting sent on the next plane down to Kinston, check the ticket before you get too upset.

Card 576 on Beckett - https://www.beckett.com/baseball/1988/topps-tiffany/576-tommy-hinzo-3915837

1989 LA Times -​​ https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-03-16-sp-1810-story.html

Tommy on Brett Davis Unleashed - https://www.facebook.com/IQPodcasts/photos/a.116370870008228/129760832002565/

"A rolling stone gathers no moss" is a clever proverb credited to Erasmus, but we like the modern version:

"Minor league pitchers should not cancel their apartment leases mid-season"

Card 643 on Beckett - https://marketplace.beckett.com/item/21/1988-topps-643-rocky-childress_26981142

Greatest 21 Days - https://www.greatest21days.com/2010/02/rocky-childress-back-to-bend-354.html?m=0

Halifax Explosion at the Maritime Museum - https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/vincent-coleman-and-halifax-explosion

Canadian Heritage Minute - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw-FbwmzPKo

Rappin Rodney - https://youtu.be/mWTKhQzQl1A?si=LTXJW4ln36-f5JGS

Sunset Plumbing Videos - https://www.youtube.com/@sunsetplumbingofbend6859

This Hall of Famer is emphatically NOT the pride of Vermont, but he is one of our host's all-time favorites.

Card #385 on Beckett -

https://marketplace.beckett.com/ziggys_672/item/1988-topps-385-carlton-fisk_32570197

Card #321 on Amazon -

https://www.amazon.com/Baseball-Topps-White-Leaders-NM-MT/dp/B0F561QTDT

SABR Bio by Brian Stevens - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/carlton-fisk/

Fisk vs Deion article - https://andscape.com/features/deion-sanders-carlton-fisk-fight-yankee-stadium/

Fisk in the National Portrait Gallery - https://npg.si.edu/blog/carlton-fisk-tough-guy

Fisk’s page at the Hall of Fame - https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/fisk-carlton

1991 Topps Fisk Card - https://lifetimetopps.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/1991-topps-best-action-fisk.jpg

Fisk Hall of Fame speech, all 37 minutes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUjfOUy5jnw

That Home Run, you know the one - https://www.mlb.com/video/top-postseason-hrs-carlton-fisk?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share

How a Rat led to that iconic waving shot - https://youtu.be/eMtFUN6vXug?si=MgTIQBT1_9Qrion1

1981 White Sox Opening Day at Fenway - https://www.mlb.com/video/fisk-s-opening-day-monster-homer-c63708483?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share

Fisk makes a bang bang double play - https://www.mlb.com/video/running-it-back-to-a-crazy-play-at-the-plate?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share

Fisk and Deion squabble - https://www.mlb.com/video/fisk-s-confrontation-with-deion?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share

1991 All-Star Game Pudge makes a tag - https://www.mlb.com/video/fielder-throws-out-clark-at-home-c530298483?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share

Some 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_43464379

Briggs 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-share

Shelby 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-share

Shelby vs Clemens - https://youtu.be/zMJ3lXj-thA?si=m48TpfssEvfa8HuR

Shelby vs Frazier Standoff! https://youtu.be/jKQ66Ghuthw?si=Ndjp8wbjOtM8ss-o