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One-card wonders, update 15

 
About the only thing I use Twitter/X for now is to promote the latest blog post, claim a card or two and continue my daily call-out of the 1983 Topps birthday players.

I probably wouldn't even be doing that but I started the '83 roll call back when the site was still somewhat normal and I hate quitting halfway through. (By the way, my disappearance from rival Blue Sky is because I'm having password issues that I have no time to address).

That means 1983 Topps is on my mind just about every day and will be until next June. It's probably a good time to address 1983 then for the One-Card Wonder series.

I did 1985 last time and keep trying to finish off the '80s in one, single post, but there's never enough time. So we'll just inch along with 1983. It is a great year, though. One of the best (except for that postseason).

To refresh, I'm looking for players from a single year who appeared on just one card from a major release and that was the only card they had. That means no showing up on a multi-player rookie card (minor league issues don't disqualify them though).
 
For 1983, I came across seven One-Card Wonders, which is still kind of impressive with three companies issuing cards that year. There is one Topps OCW, two Fleer OCWs and a whole four Donruss OCWs.

Let's take a look:


1983 Topps

#266 - Paul Boris, Twins

He just had a birthday a week ago, which may have set into motion this post.



1983 Fleer

#114 - Steve Hammond, Royals
#148 - Ken Smith, Braves

I've had the Ken Smith card since pulling it in 1983. It's fairly memorable for a player's only card.
 


This is the other '83 Fleer OCW. I did not pull this card in '83 but I do have it since I've completed the set. Since it's a recent addition it has not stuck in my mind at all, and now I need to investigate who this guy is.
 

 
1983 Donruss
 
#52 - Steve Senteney, Blue Jays
#492 - Roy Johnson, Expos
#520 - Terry Bogener, Rangers
#629 - Anthony Johnson, Blue Jays
 
Out of those four, the only one I knew prior to today is the Steve Senteney card as I pulled it in the few '83 Donruss pack purchases (probably like three) I made that year. To this day I have not even one-fifth of the set, which is why the other three OCWs are brand-new to me.

 

Nobody here rings a bell. But good for Donruss snaring four guys that neither Topps nor Fleer had, I guess?
 
So, let's update the full list now:

1957 Topps

#191 - Joe Margoneri, Yankees 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

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 

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

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
 
1981 Fleer
 
#49 - Jeff Twitty, Royals
#130 - Gary Weiss, Dodgers
#220 - Sheldon Burnside, Reds 
 
1983 Fleer
 
#114 - Steve Hammond, Royals
#148 - Ken Smith, Braves
 
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

And here's the updated team-by-team breakdown:

1. Athletics - 11
1. Braves - 11
3. Cardinals - 10
4. Cubs - 9
4. Twins - 9
6. White Sox - 8
7. Indians - 7
7. Reds - 7
9. Brewers - 6
9. Orioles - 6
9. Pirates - 6
9. Rangers - 6 
9. Royals - 6
14. Blue Jays - 5
14. Dodgers - 5
16. Red Sox - 4 
16. Expos - 4
16. Giants - 4
19. Angels, Astros, Giants, Phillies, Senators, Tigers - 3
25. Mariners, Mets, Padres, Yankees - 2

And finally a few 1983 (U.S.) One-Hit Wonders for you:





Just Got Lucky - JoBoxers



Maniac - Michael Sembello



Major Tom - Peter Schilling






And last but not least ... In a Big Country - Big Country

Apologies to Moving Pictures, Kajagoogoo, After The Fire, Re-Flex and a bunch of others. I'll never forget you though. 1983 is forever in my head.

Up next: Either I take care of the rest of the '80s for Topps (1988 and 1989) or I hit the early '70s.

Comments

Doc Samson said…
Thank you, Mr. Owl. Seeing all those artists from MTV’s heyday sure brought back memories. Everyone knows the first video on MTV was “Radio Killed the Radio Star.” And the second was…. Pat Benetar “You Better Run.”
Old Cards said…
Nice tally.

Sorry to hear Twitter/X is not working well for you. I think it is improved.
Sixty Eight Guns popped into my head, thinking it was by Big Country. Quick search reminded me it was The Alarm. Great song.
gogosox60 said…
1983 was the last great year of Top 40 music PERIOD!!!
Brett Alan said…
Angels In Order is onto something--Mike Peters, the leader of The Alarm, actually did a stint as lead singer of Big Country for a while in the early '10s.

"Just Got Lucky" is a huge favorite of mine. So happy.
Anonymous said…
At least one of those one hit wonders had a career with ABBA. Big country was a really cool group that made the guitars sound like electric bagpipes. MTV was really going strong so loved watching the cool videos that year. My favorite new band that year was The Fixx who had multiple hits but really seemed innovative.

As for the one hit cards, Paul Boris was the only guy I can remember because anyone named Boris is usually memorable. 1983 was also the 1st year topps didn't do multiple team rookie cards, which prevented some no names from ever making the list. Not sure if Terry Felton ever got a card but I believe he ended his career with 0 wins and 10+ losses for the Twins.
Fun topic, Mr. Owl. I love seeing the lesser-known players highlighted.
1984 Tigers said…
Night owl,

Recently while waiting at the doctor's office I found a web site (cups.of coffee?) Featuring players who played exactly ONE mlb game in their career.

Ironically, 1968 topps 342 phillies rookies includes a dual RC with Larry Colton and Dick Thoenen who each played exactly one game and never appeared (to my knowledge) to have another card. Not quite your criteria but the odd of that happening again would be astronomical.

btw: Dennis Lewellyn had a nice career in the Dodgers minors but never got a card until he was traded to the Indians in the 1981 season. His 1982 card photo looks like it was taken from Tiger Stadium when they visited for a Sept 1981 series on what was my 1st weekend back home from college.
Anonymous said…
All due respect Owl, I would say that Saga may have had one more hit from the "Worlds Apart" album - check out "Wind Him Up" - it's a pretty good tune, just as good as "On the Loose" IMO.
Nick Vossbrink said…
Just noticed you have the 1957 Joe Margoneri assigned to the Yankees instead of the Giants
night owl said…
Anon ~

I know Wind Him Up. It didn't make the Top 40 in the U.S., that's the traditional marker for one-hit wonders.

Nick ~
Thanks
beefman said…
I can help a little bit with Steve Hammond.

He's the elder of the Hammond brothers, with the younger Chris being more noteworthy in MLB. Chris most notably pitched for the Reds, Marlins, Braves and Yankees. His comeback season in 2001 or 2002 with the Braves was truly one for the ages, if memory serves.
BillK21093 said…
Night Owl

I see nothing wrong with the 1983 post season.

The Baltimore Orioles won the World Series. Everything was right with the universe then.

My wife and I went to game one and that was the only game the O's lost.

I love the one hit wonders columns when ever you do them.

Happy Holidays.

Bill
Some solid enduring one hit wonder musical hits there.
Fuji said…
Wasn't familiar with any of those baseball cards... but I remember all of those songs (know the song, but didn't recognize the JoBoxers video). I think a big part of that was the fact that I watched a lot of MTV back then.