Managers are people, too

I've come across a card collector or two in my time who don't like manager cards. They don't want them in the set, they get annoyed when they pull them. I've even come across one or two who collect an entire set except the manager cards. And after seeing Mattingly manage the first 3 Dodger games, that doesn't seem like a bad idea.

But actually, I'm completely the opposite. I want manager cards. I was delighted the first time I saw them, which was in the 1978 set. I am sad when I find out the base set doesn't contain them. And I am annoyed when Heritage selects some managers to appear in the set but not all of them.

Manager cards for me are fun. A manager is a key part of the game, you see him during a game just as much as any player. They're the face of the team in many cases. Why eliminate them from a set? Managers are people, too.

The best way to get that across is that all managers were once players. They were players card collectors collected. In many cases, those managers had major league cards in past sets and we collected them then. So why not now?

So  I thought it would be fun to dig up the player cards of this year's major league managers. I selected cards from early in each manager's career. But I limited it to only managers who had cards with big-league teams. So, apologies to Terry Collins, Fredi Gonzalez, Joe Maddon, Jim Leyland and Buck Showalter, you don't get to play this game.

I'm going to show the managers' player cards with the photos cropped down so you can't see their name or the design. Try to guess the name that goes with each picture. Most of them will probably be easy. Some might not be.

I'll list the answers at the end of the post.

So, here you are, this year's 2013 managers, when they were major league players:

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

F.

G.

H.

I.

J.

K.

L.

M.

N.

O.

P.

Q.

R.

S.

T.

U.

V.

W.

X.

Y.

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Answers: A. John Gibbons, Blue Jays; B. Bo Porter, Astros; C. Kirk Gibson, Diamondbacks; D. Mike Matheny, Cardinals; E. Bud Black, Padres; F. Dusty Baker, Reds; G. Davey Johnson, Nationals; H. Ron Roenicke, Brewers; I. Charlie Manuel, Phillies; J. Mike Redmond, Marlins; K. Bruce Bochy, Giants; L. Dale Sveum, Cubs; M. Eric Wedge, Mariners; N. Terry Francona, Indians; O. Ron Washington, Rangers; P. Bob Melvin, A's; Q. Mike Scioscia, Angels; R. Ned Yost, Royals; S. Robin Ventura, White Sox; T. Ron Gardenhire, Twins; U. John Farrell, Red Sox; V. Walt Weiss, Rockies; W. Joe Girardi, Yankees; X. Clint Hurdle, Pirates; Y. Don Mattingly, Dodgers