1985 joe morgan

joe morgan announced his retirement from the game prior to the 1985 season. here's his 1985 o-pee-chee card:

here's the topps front:

now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

this is the third 'announced his retirement' text variation in the 1985 set (the others are bob watson and greg luzinski). morgan had returned home to oakland for the 1984 season in which he recorded his 2500th hit and 1100th rbi. he hit .244 on the year, playing in 116 games as a second baseman and sometimes dh. shortly after he announced his retirement, morgan revealed that he would become an announcer for some cincinnati reds games, which paved the way for the eventual establishment of one of my favorite websites.

voici à vous, 1985 joe morgan!

1985 bob watson

after 19 years in the big leagues, bob watson retired from baseball as a player prior to the 1985 season.  here is his 1985 o-pee-chee card:

here's the topps front:

now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

retirement treated watson well, as he became the general manager of the astros in 1983 and then the gm for the yankees in the mid '90's.  watson was their gm when they won the world series in 1996 but left the club after the 1997 season.  i am among those who feel that watson does not get enough credit while brian cashman gets too much.  watson was the one who hired joe torre, after all.

anyway, after leaving the bronx, watson moved on to the offices of mlb where he served as the 'punishment czar' until he retired - again - in november of last year.

voici à vous, 1985 bob watson!

1985 greg luzinski

after 15 seasons in the major leagues, greg 'the bull' luzinski retired prior to the 1985 season.  here is his 1985 o-pee-chee card:

here's the topps front:

now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

luzinski spent 11 seasons with the phillies and 4 with the white sox.  he made the all-star team and finished in the top 10 for mvp votes for 4 straight years from 1975 through 1978.  he appeared in 5 postseasons, winning a world series championship with the phillies in 1980.  not the best defensive player, luzinski was able to leave his glove behind when he went to the american league and focus on what he did best - hitting.  it is worth noting, however, that in 1983 luzinski played a couple of games at first base to prepare for the world series, just in case the white sox made it.  they didn't, as luzinski went just 2 for 15 in the alcs against the orioles in the alcs.

these days, luzinski is into bbq.  he has a sauce on the market, and hosts a restaurant in citizen's bank park, much like boog powell does in baltimore.

voici à vous, 1985 greg luzinski!