Sunday, August 24, 2008

1986 Topps Leaders

This is another pack I got from Shane Diaz. Like last time, I'll post the categories that they led the league for them all.

42 Mario Soto

#1 AL Shutouts - 5
#6 (tie) NL Games Started - 36
#6 (tie) Complete Games - 9
#9 Innings Pitched - 256 2/3

An excellent pitcher for some bad teams. Arm problems wrecked his career, but he had a very solid five year run in the early '80s.

7 Gary Pettis

#2 NL Stolen bases - 56
#7 (tie) Triples - 8

Great speed, great defense, lousy hitter. Nobody's perfect.

38 Keith Moreland

#4 NL RBIs - 106
#7 NL Batting Average - .307
#9 (tie) NL Hits - 180
#10 NL On Base Percent - .374

I had no idea his nickname was Zonk. Thanks Wikipedia! 1985 was probably Keith's best year, although he hit a career high 27 homers in 1987. He must have been competing with Hawk.

10 Britt Burns

#2 (tie) AL Shutouts - 4
#3 (tie) AL Victories - 18
*#6 AL Strikeouts - 172

The back notes that Mike Witt was rated #5 in the AL in strikeouts, but he's not pictured. Witt would win 18 games in '86, so I'm sure he's featured in the 1987 version of this set. Britt developed a hip problem after this season and never pitched in the majors again.

27 Rickey Henderson

#1 AL Runs - 146
#1 AL Stolen Bases - 80
#4 AL Batting Average - .314
#4 AL On Base Percentage - .419
#4 AL Walks - 99

RICKEY!!! This card shows why he's the greatest lead off hitter of all time.

3 Wade Boggs

#1 AL Batting Average - .368
#1 AL On Base Percentage - .450
#1 AL Hits - 240
#3 AL Doubles - 42
#4 AL Total Bases - 312

Boggs right in the middle of his peak years. 240 hits is good for 13th all time for hits in a season.

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