One-card wonders, update 18

 

I'm making good on a promise I wrote back in July with this post, with just one day to spare.

 

During the last One-Card Wonders post I finished all the 1970s one-card wonders and said I wanted to do the same with the 1980s in the next post, which I said would happen before the end of the year.

 

Well, the end of the year is here and I can't let all those people who have been waiting for the last five-plus months down! So don't worry, be happy! The last OCW post of the year is here!

 

In this episode I'm covering 1988 and 1989, the only years I haven't touched from the 1980s. I'm also tackling not only the Topps sets from those two years but Donruss, Fleer, Score and Upper Deck, too (This means I'm technically not done with the '80s after this post because I still haven't uncovered OCWs for some of the other 1980s Donruss and Fleer sets).

 

As a reminder, I define One-Card Wonders as cards of players who appeared on one major release only. I discount all minor league cards or regional sets and I also don't count multi-player rookie cards. The late 1980s were filled with both -- minor league sets and multi-player rookie cards -- and if I included both, this post would have no words.

 

I was a bit surprised that there were any late '80s OCWs with all the competing sets. Some sets didn't have any, but I found some. Let's start with Topps.

 

There are three for 1988:

 

#69 - Mike Hart, Orioles

 

 

 #417 - Mark Ciardi, Brewers

 

 

#486 - Pat Keedy, White Sox

 

It's interesting how certain players with barely any MLB career at all become so well-known in your mind when they played during the junk wax era. I could've sworn that Mark Ciardi appeared in other sets, but his only other cards are minor league issues; those bazillion Brewers police sets, one for every precinct with the same photo; and the 1994 Miller Beer 25th anniversary Brewers set, which I don't count. 

 

One other player I could have included - Stan Clarke (No. 556) -- but he also appears in the 1990 Topps TV set and I consider that a major release. 

 

1989 Topps contains zero One-Card Wonders, which you would've figured at least one of the #1 Draft Pick guys would have qualified but they all got another major-issue card. So let's move on to Donruss.

 

For starters, 1988 Donruss, again, has no One-Card Wonders. Manny Hernandez of the Astros (No. 481) is another case of also appearing in the 1990 Topps TV set, so he's discounted.

 

Let's move on to 1989 Donruss:

 

 #609 - Scott Jordan, Indians

 

  

#611 - Francisco Melendez, Giants

 

 

 #630 - Scott May, Rangers

 

Scott May appears in a few different minor league sets, with a few different teams. In fact I have another card of him in the 1987 San Antonio Dodgers set. But this is his only major release card.

 

 

1988 Fleer

 

#174 - Steve Stanicek, Brewers

#403 - Bill Lindsey, White Sox

 

Steve Stanicek is the brother of Pete Stanicek, who appeared in several major-release sets in the late 1980s, but this is Steve's only example.

 

 

1989 Fleer

 

#279 - Nick Capra, Royals

#397 - Rod Allen, Indians

 

Nick Capra had several cups of coffee throughout the 1980s but the only one that landed him a card was the 14 games he played for the Royals in 1988. Lots of minor league and regional set appearances though.

 

You could compile quite a collection of Rod Allen cards as he was appearing on minor league issues as early as 1978 and then all through the 1980s. He also played in Japan for three years and is in a bunch of Japanese sets. But this is his only major league, major-release card.

 

1988 and 1989 Score turn up just one One-Card Wonder: 

 

 

1988 Score

 

#583 - Jeff DeWillis, Blue Jays

 

Jeff DeWillis appeared in 13 games for the Blue Jays in 1987 and only one company thought it was worthy of a card. He doesn't even have any minor league cards, which is puzzling. That sounds like there's a story there.

 

1989 Score features no OCWs. The set doesn't have a lot of rookies in comparison to other sets from the time, which is probably why collectors don't seem to care much about the set (but I do, as you'll see in a future post). 

 

 

1989 Upper Deck

 

#3 - Tony Chance, Pirates

 

 

32 - Dan Firova, Indians 

 

Just two OCWs for the first Upper Deck set, which kicks off the set with Ken Griffey Jr. and a whole slew of other rookies. Another rookie in the set, LaVel Freeman of the Brewers, could be considered an OCW but he appears in the 1990 Topps MLB Debut set so I didn't include him.

 

So now I'll add these OCWs to the ones I've already covered:

 

1957 Topps

#191 - Joe Margoneri, Giants

#266 - Ken Kuhn, Indians

#276 - Jim Pyburn, Orioles

#321 - Red Murff, Braves

#337 - Rene Valdes, Dodgers

#386 - Lyle Luttrell, Senators

 

1958 Topps

#65 - Von McDaniel, Cardinals

#83 - Bob Hazle, Braves

#96 - Joe Durham, Orioles

#126 - Stan Palys, Reds

#129 - Jim Derrington, White Sox

#131 - Bobby Henrich, Reds

#151 - Buddy Pritchard, Pirates

#182 - Joe Caffie, Indians

#218 - Dick Rand, Pirates

#231 - Lloyd Merritt, Cardinals

#243 - Larry Raines, Indians

#283 - Ray Shearer, Braves

#322 - Harding Peterson, Pirates

#376 - Charley Rabe, Reds

#391 - Dave Melton, Athletics

#442 - Phil Paine, Cardinals

#449 - Gene Fodge, Cubs

#451 - Joe Taylor, Cardinals

#461 - Ed Mayer, Cubs

 

1959 Topps

#49 - Bill Hall, Pirates

#91 - Herb Moford, Red Sox

#120 - Chuck Coles, Reds

#121 - Bob Conley, Phillies

#126 - Eddie Haas, Braves

#134 - Jim McDaniel, Pirates

#140 - Charlie Secrest, Athletics

#192 - Charley Beamon, Orioles

#211 - Bob Blaylock, Cardinals

#214 - Marcelino Solis, Cubs

#254 - Zeke Bella, Athletics

#281 - Walt Craddock, Athletics

#283 - Russ Heman, Indians

#321 - Bob Giallombardo, Dodgers

#362 - Dolan Nicols, Cubs

#504 - Ossie Alvarez, Tigers

#522 - Gene Snyder, Dodgers

#529 - George Bamberger, Orioles

#532 - Mark Freeman, Athletics

#537 - Rodolfo Arias, White Sox

#539 - Gary Blaylock, Cardinals

#544 - Lee Tate, Cardinals

 

1965 Topps

#169 - Dave Vineyard, Orioles
#494 - Jay Ritchie, Red Sox
#529 - Jerry Fosnow, Twins
#543 - Ed Connolly, Red Sox 

1967 Topps

#344 - Ossie Chavarria, A's
#388 - Arnold Earley, Cubs
#489 - Doug Clemens, Phillies
#497 - Ron Campbell, Cubs

1969 Topps:

#317 -- Bruce Look, Twins
#361 -- Gary Holman, Senators
#378 -- Jose Herrera, Expos
#437 -- Luis Alcaraz, Royals
#632 -- Jon Warden, Royals

1970 Topps:

 

#147 - Angel Hermoso, Expos

#168 - Dave Watkins, Phillies

#414 - Paul Edmondson, White Sox

#533 - Buzz Stephen, Pilots

#703 - Lou Marone, Pirates

 

1971 Topps:

 

#34 - Sandy Vance, Dodgers
#77 - Mike Compton, Phillies

#84 - Marcel Lachemann, Athletics

#103 - Rich Severson, Royals

#186 - Bob Spence, White Sox

#298 - Jim Nelson, Pirates

#673 - Gerry Janiski, Senators

#702 - Milt Ramirez, Cardinals

#749 - Ken Szotkiewicz, Tigers

 

1972 Topps:

 

#77 - Ron Theobald, Brewers

#331 - Stan Swanson, Expos

#366 - Jimmy Rosario, Giants

#597 - Jim Magnuson, Yankees

 

1973 Topps:

 

#33 - Jim Breazeale, Braves

#178 - Don Rose, Angels

#332 - John Felske, Brewers

#537 - Bill Slayback, Tigers

#548 - Don Durham, Cardinals

#561 - Jim Geddes, White Sox  

1974 Topps:

#8 - George Theodore, Mets
#33 - Don Newhauser, Red Sox
#37 - Dave Sells, Angels
#77 - Rich Troedson, Padres
#421 - Dan Fife, Twins
#457 - Chuck Goggin, Braves
#573 - Mike Adams, Twins 

1975 Topps

#288 - Bruce Ellingsen, Indians
#407 - Herb Washington, A's
#508 - Bob Hansen, Brewers
#524 - John Doherty, Angels
#587 - Chris Ward, Cubs
#651 - John Morlan, Pirates

 

1976 Topps:

 

#53 - Mike Beard, Braves

#162 - Jack Pierce, Tigers

#262 - Dan Osborn, White Sox

#388 - Stan Perzanowski, Rangers

#413 - Pete Varney, White Sox
#471 - Jim Burton, Red Sox

#497 - Joe McIntosh, Padres/Astros

#539 - John Balaz, Angels

#549 - Randy Tate, Mets

#623 - Bob Allietta, Angels

1977 Topps

#118 - Rick Jones, Mariners
#132 - Chip Lang, Expos
#137 - Jeff Terpko, Rangers
#616 - Tommy Sandt, A's
#641 - Dan Larson, Astros 

1978 Topps:

#224 - Jerry Tabb, A's
#303 - Sam Hinds, Brewers
#311 - Jose Baez, Mariners
#386 - Bob Gorinski, Twins
#502 - Pat Rockett, Braves
#516 - Gary Beare, Brewers
#521 - Steve Staggs, Blue Jays
#591 - George Zeber, Yankees
#667 - Jeff Byrd, Blue Jays
#719 - Randy Elliott, Giants 

1979 Topps:

#172 - Mike Bruhert, Mets
#222 - Bob Beall, Braves
#292 - Don Reynolds, Padres
#336 - Bobby Thompson, Rangers
#363 - Craig Skok, Braves
#371 - Jeff Holly, Twins
#427 - Andy Replogle, Brewers
#658 - Taylor Duncan, A's
#676 - Johnny Sutton, Twins

1980 Topps:

#59 - Eddy Putman, Tigers
#72 - Fred Howard, White Sox
#156 - Tony Brizzolara, Braves
#221 - Joe Cannon, Blue Jays
#233 - LaRue Washington, Rangers
#291 - Randy Scarberry, White Sox
#347 - Harry Chappas, White Sox

1981 Topps:

 #491 - Gordy Pladson, Astros

1982 Topps:

#356 - Denny Lewallyn, Indians

 

1983 Topps

#266 - Paul Boris, Twins

1984 Topps:

#116 - George Bjorkman, Astros
#159 - Darryl Cias, A's
#163 - Lorenzo Gray, White Sox
#337 - Kevin Hagen, Cardinals
#382 - Chris Nyman, White Sox
#474 - Greg Bargar, Expos

1985 Topps:

#367 - Keefe Cato, Reds
#514 - Jeff Cornell, Giants

1986 Topps:

#451 - Mark Brown, Twins
#502 - Glen Cook, Rangers
#567 - Jeff Barkley, Indians

 

1987 Topps:

 

#387 - T.R. Bryden, Angels

 

1988 Topps

 

#69 - Mike Hart, Orioles

#417 - Mark Ciardi, Brewers

#486 - Pat Keedy, White Sox

 

1989 Topps

 

none

 

1994 Topps:

#491 - John Hope, Pirates (maybe)

 

1983 Donruss

 

#52 - Steve Senteney, Blue Jays

#492 - Roy Johnson, Expos

#520 - Terry Bogener, Rangers

#629 - Anthony Johnson, Blue Jays

1985 Donruss:

#31 - Tony Brewer, Dodgers
#40 - Charlie Mitchell, Reds
#42 - Russ Stephans, Royals
#46 - Doug Loman, Brewers
#491 - Scottie Earl, Tigers
#504 - Ralph Citarella, Cardinals
#535 - Vic Rodriguez, Orioles

1986 Donruss:

#32 - Johnny Abrego, Cubs
#42 - Rick Surhoff, Rangers
#461 - Dave Leeper, Royals
#510 - Steve Engel, Cubs
#595 - Carlos Ponce, Brewers

 

1988 Donruss

 

none

 

1989 Donruss

 

#609 - Scott Jordan, Indians

#611 - Francisco Melendez, Giants

#630 - Scott May, Rangers

 

1981 Fleer

 

#49 - Jeff Twitty, Royals

#130 - Gary Weiss, Dodgers

#220 - Sheldon Burnside, Reds 

 

1983 Fleer

 

#114 - Steve Hammond, Royals

#148 - Ken Smith, Braves 

 

1988 Fleer

 

#174 - Steve Stanicek, Brewers

#403 - Bill Lindsey, White Sox

 

1989 Fleer

 

#279 - Nick Capra, Royals

#397 - Rod Allen, Indians

 

1960 Leaf

#61 - Vic Rehm, Braves

#62 - John Gabler, Yankees

#91 - Fred Hopke, Phillies

#93 - Wally Shannon, Cardinals

#99 - Marshall Renfroe, Giants

#108 - Tom McAvoy, Senators

#114 - Stover McIlwan, White Sox

 

1988 Score

 

#583 - Jeff DeWillis, Blue Jays

 

1989 Score

 

none

 

1989 Upper Deck

 

#3 - Tony Chance, Pirates
#32 - Dan Fiorva, Indians

 

Here is the updated team-by-team breakdown:

 

1. White Sox - 15

2. Braves - 13

3. A's - 12

3. Cardinals - 12
5. Brewers - 10
5. Indians - 10

7. Cubs - 9

7. Twins - 9

7. Pirates - 9

10. Rangers - 8
10. Royals - 8

12. Reds - 7

12. Orioles - 7

14. Angels - 6

14. Dodgers - 6

14. Expos - 6

14. Tigers - 6

14. Blue Jays - 6

14. Giants - 6

20. Phillies - 5
20. Red Sox - 5

22. Astros - 4

22. Senators - 4

24. Mets - 3

24. Padres - 3

24. Yankees - 3

27. Mariners - 2

28. Pilots - 1

 

The White Sox seize sole possession of the top spot with most OCWs so far.

 

And finally, let's see some One-Hit Wonders from 1988 and 1989 since they were the inspiration for this series in the first place. I showed a 1988 one-hit wonder with the Bobby McFerrin song at the top of the post, but I don't think we need to hear that thing again so I'm not linking to it. Some others (reminder, OHW's never reached the Top 40 again):

 

 Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil (they had lots of other hits elsewhere).

 

 

Two Occasions - The Deele

 

 

Under the Milky Way - The Church (Lots of other songs and albums and still making albums).

 

 

The Promise - When In Rome

 

 

Iko Iko - The Belle Stars (A cover song from the 1960s that they released in the early 1980s but became a hit years later in the U.S. thanks to the movie "Rain Man," after they were no longer a group).

 

 

So Alive - Love and Rockets (many other alternative hits)

 

 

When I'm With You - Sheriff (Another song that became a hit years after it was released. It was a hit in Canada in 1983 but hit No. 1 in the U.S. in 1989. It's also one of the few No. 1 songs from the 1980s not to have a video on MTV).

 

So there you go, most of the 1980s are finished. I'll return to tackle the Donruss and Fleer 1980s sets again but not before I look for One-Card Wonders from the mid-1960s in the next episode).

 

I'll be writing up the end of the year spectacular next. Hopefully you'll see that tomorrow, or maybe on the 1st. Why push myself on the last day of the year, right?