1977 jim sundberg

rangers' catcher jim sundberg got a slight left-to-right cropping photo variation and a autograph placement variation from o-pee-chee in 1977.  here is sundberg's 1977 o-pee-chee card:

here's the topps front:

now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

sundberg caught in all 149 games in which he appeared  for the rangers in 1977, and hit a career high .291.  he had 6 homers, including his first walk-off blast, and his 65 rbi proved to be a career best.  he won his second consecutive gold glove (he would eventually win 6 straight), and finished 15th in the league mvp voting.

voici à vous, 1977 jim sundberg!

1985 jim sundberg

jim sundberg was traded from the brewers to the royals in january of 1985. here is his 1985 o-pee-chee card:

here's the topps front:

now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

in his return to the al west, sundberg caught 112 games for the royals, and matched his then-career high with 10 home runs (he would eclipse that number in 1986 with 12 to set his career mark). the first 8 home runs he hit in 1985 were on the road. in fact, he didn't hit a home run at kaufman stadium until august when he smacked a walk-off job against bill caudill and the blue jays in the bottom of the 10th on august 10.


sundberg victimized the blue jays again in the postseason, hitting a home run off of doyle alexander in game 3 of the alcs and then driving in 4 runs in game 7, three of which came on a bases loaded triple off of dave steib that pretty much decided the game and completed the royals' comeback from a three games to 1 deficit. in the world series, sundberg hit .250 and caught all 7 games as the royals beat the cardinals after being behind 3 games to 1 as they had against the blue jays.

voici à vous, 1985 jim sundberg!

1984 jim sundberg

in december of 1983, the texas rangers traded their longtime catcher, jim sundberg, to the milwaukee brewers. here's his 1984 o-pee-chee card:

here's the topps front:

now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

although sundberg would play just the one season in milwaukee, he managed to hit .261 in 109 games behind the plate (plus one appearance as a pinch hitter) and led the league by throwing out 50% of the would-be base stealers against him. he also made the all-star team, replacing lance parrish at catcher in the 6th inning, and flying out against mario soto in his only at bat of the game.


in january of 1985, he was dealt again, this time to the kansas city royals in what would be a fortuitous deal for sundberg.

voici à vous, 1984 jim sundberg!