1988 Topps Giants -- Part 5

Joe Price was 1-6 with a 3.94 ERA in 38 games (3 starts).

Mike LaCoss was 7-7 with a 3.62 ERA in 19 starts. His last start in 1988 was on July 16.

I used to get a kick out of watching Craig Lefferts enter a game. He sprinted from the bullpen all the way to the mound. In 1988 Lefferts was 3-8 with 11 saves and a 2.92 ERA in 64 appearances.

At the age of 39, Rick Reuschel was 19-11 with a 3.12 ERA in 36 starts.

Kelly Downs was 13-9 with an ERA of 3.32 in 27 games (26 starts) in 1988.

Other Giants who pitched in 1988 but didn't get a Topps Giants card:

Terry Mulholland (2-1, 3.72 ERA in 9 games)

Randy Bockus (1-1, 4.78 ERA in 20 games)

Roger Samuels (1-2, 3.47 ERA in 15 games)

Dennis Cook (2-1, 2.86 ERA in 4 starts)

Trevor Wilson (0-2, 4.09 ERA in 4 starts)

Jeff Brantley (0-1, 1 save, 5.66 ERA in 9 games)

Ron Davis (1-1, 4.67 ERA in 9 games)

Lary Sorensen (0-0, 2 saves, 4.86 ERA in 12 games)

1988 Topps Giants - Part 4

Grab some bench meat!
C'mon ball dude, make a play!

Mike Krukow was 7-4 with a 3.54 ERA in 20 starts. Mike missed five weeks from late June to early August and made his last start on August 28.




Atlee Hammaker was 9-9 with five saves and an ERA of 3.73. He started 17 games and relieved in 26 others.

Scott Garrelts was 5-9 with 13 saves and a 3.58 ERA in 65 appearances.

Dave Dravecky was 2-2 with a 3.16 ERA in 7 starts. He made six starts in April and early May and started another game on May 28, then he shut it down for the season after a cancerous tumor was found in his pitching arm.

Don Robinson had a good season as a swingman in 1988. He was 10-5 with six saves and a 2.45 ERA. He appeared in 51 games, 19 of them starts.

1988 Topps Giants -- Part 3

Eddie Milner didn't play for the Giants in 1988. He became a free agent after the 1987 season and signed with the Cincinnati Reds.

Dave Henderson didn't play for the Giants in 1988. He became a free agent after the 1987 season and signed with the Oakland A's.

Mike Aldrete started in LF for much of the season. He batted .267 in 389 at bats. He had only 18 extra-base hits (.329 slugging percentage).

Jeffrey Leonard batted .256 in 44 games. He was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers on June 8 for Ernest Riles.

Joel Youngblood batted .252 in 123 at bats as a pinch hitter and extra outfielder.

Candy Maldonado was the starting right fielder and batted .255 with 12 HR and 68 RBI.

Brett Butler was the starting center fielder. He batted .287 with 109 runs scored, 97 walks, and 43 stolen bases.

Chili Davis didn't play for the Giants in 1988. He became a free agent and signed with the California Angels before the 1988 season.

1988 Topps Giants -- Part 2

Kevin Mitchell played third base and batted .251 with 19 home runs and 80 RBI in 1988. He really came into his own as an offensive force the following year.

Robby Thompson batted .264 in 138 games.

Matt Williams batted .205 with eight home runs in 156 at bats. He had a two-week stint with the Giants in June and was brought up to stay in mid-August. Matt spent the remainder of the season with AAA Phoenix.

Will Clark batted .282 with 29 homers and 109 RBI and scored 102 runs.

Chris Speier batted .261 in 171 at bats as a backup infielder.

ooo-ribe! ooo-ribe!

Jose Uribe was the starting shortstop and batted .252 in 141 games.

Harry Spilman batted .175 in 40 at bats for the Giants in 1988. He was released on August 11 and was signed by the Houston Astros to finish the season.

How many different ways was his name spelled on baseball cards?

Ernest Riles batted .294 in 187 at bats as a backup infielder.

Others who played infield for the Giants but didn't get a 1988 Topps Giants card:

• Francisco Melendez (.192 in 26 at bats)


• Phil Garner (.154 in 13 at bats)


• Charlie Hayes (.091 in 11 at bats)


• Tony Perezchica (.125 in 8 at bats)


• Angel Escobar (.333 in 3 at bats)


• Mark Wasinger (0 for 2)
  
  
  
  
  
  

1988 Topps Giants - Part 1

The "team leaders" cards in the late 80s didn't do much for me. I liked the information on the backs, but the fronts just weren't all that great.

Team Record: 83-79, 4th NL West, 11.5 games behind the Dodgers
Attendance: 1,785,297 (9th of 12)
Team Batting: .248 (5th in NL)
Team Home Runs: 113 (3rd in NL)
Team ERA: 3.40 (6th in NL)
Team Fielding: .980 (2nd in NL)
Gold Glove Winners: none
NL All Stars: Will Clark (starting 1B), Robby Thompson (2B, did not play)




The 1988 season was Roger Craig's third full season as the Giants' manager. The Giants won the NL West in 1987 and in 1989, but stumbled in 1988. Craig ended up spending 7 full seasons (1986-1992) and part of another one (1985) as the SF manager.

Bob Brenly batted .189 with five homers in 206 at bats in 1988. It was a significant drop-off from his performance in 1987 and he was released after the season. Bob signed with the Toronto Blue Jays and played part of the 1989 season for the Jays. He was released in July and signed with the Giants to help with their '89 pennant drive. Brenly retired after the 1989 season.

Kirt Manwaring batted .250 in 40 games. He spent a large portion of the season in AAA Phoenix.

Bob Melvin was the Giants' starting catcher. He batted .234 with eight homers in 273 at bats. After the season Bob was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for Terry Kennedy.