The 20 for $40 re-wrap: 1991 Leaf series one

For some reason, YouTube isn't allowing me to upload from my webcam. Oh well, the debut of my new video sidekick Virtual Don West will have to wait another day.

First pack out of our $40 re-wrap is fifteen cards of absolute dogshit: '91 Leaf series one. I think the only card in this product worth a damn is a Mike Mussina Gold Leaf Rookie. Let's see what we get anyway.

Base:
Jim Abbott
Alright, this pack is getting off to a decent start. Jim Abbott was The Man in The Hobby back in '91.

Scott Sanderson
Sanderson was a serviceable veteran starter who was coming off a 17-win campaign for the AL Champion A's. But, he took George Steinbrenner's money and ran to the Yankees where he would win another 16 and make what would be his lone All-Star appearance in '91.

Donnie Hill
First-round pick of Oakland in 1981. Donnie played nine seasons for the A's, White Sox, Angles, and Twins. Career numbers: .257/26/228/22

Wes Chamberlain
Alright! Our first Phillie! I remember when the Phils acquired Chamberlain from Pittsburgh. He was MVP of the AA-Eastern League, then was accidentally put on waivers by the Pirates at the 1990 trade deadline. WHOOPS!

1991 was Wes's first full year as an everyday player and, as it turned out, would be his best -- finishing fifth in the NLROY balloting. By 1994 he was dealt to the Red Sox, and last played in the Bigs in '95.

Dave Eiland
About the only thing notable about Dave, is his Chris Berman nickname: Dave "No Man Is An" Eiland. I don't think John Donne would have hit it off with Ayn Rand.

Luis Salazar
Veteran third-baseman who was wrapping up a decent, albeit not spectacular, career with the Cubs. In 13 years he played for both Chicago teams, the Tigers, and had three separate tours-of-duty with San Diego.

John Orton
First round pick of the Angels in 1987, Orton never amounted to anything but your typical backup catcher. All the which makes this particular card apropos, as he is pictured performing the typical backup catcher duty of "warming-up-the-pitcher-without-your-mask-or-other-protective-equipment-until-the -starting-catcher-gets-his-gear-back-on." In five seasons (all with California) Orton hit all of .200.

Darren Daulton
It's hard not to like Dutch. Even though he believes that the world will end in 2012, I'll always have 1993.

Alvaro Espinoza

Blurb from the bottom of his card reads, "Alvaro was 2nd in the Major Leagues in sacrifices in '89." I guess if you hit .224 the previous year, you got to come up with something.

Kirk McCaskill
Fourth round pick of the Angels in '82, Kirk won 17 games for in '86. However, he'd lead the Majors in losses (19) in '91.

Tim Leary
Leary was selected with the second overall pick of the '79 draft by the Mets. Although Tim won 17 for the World Champion '88 Dodgers, he'd go 4-10 with an ERA of 6.49 with the Yanks in '91.

Bryan Harvey
One of a slew of dominant early-90s closers, Bryan would save 46, make his first All-Star team, and finish fifth in the AL Cy Young balloting for the Angels in '91. All that, and about 25 cents will get you a Bryan Harvey RC.

Steve Sax
Oh sure, he was the 1982 NLROY. And he was a five-time All-Star. But, c'mon. When I say "Steve Sax" what's your first thought?

Yeah, I thought so.

Todd Stottlemyre
Back in '91 Todd was an up-and-coming starter. The son of Yankees and Mets pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre, Todd would finish up a respectable career with the '02 D-Backs with a 138-121 record.

Joe Girardi
Yeah, he's the manager of the Yankees. And he was the NL Manager of the Year in '06. But did you know that Joe Girardi was an All-Star as late as 2000?

Insert: Harmon Killebrew Puzzle Piece

We got one current manager of the Yankees, a one-handed pitcher, and one former All-Star catcher who thinks the world will end in four-and-a-half years. Not a bad first pack, then again I wasn't exactly expecting too much. (This is 1991 Leaf we're talking about.) Only 19 more packs to go!