While I continue to hammer out the list of 100 Greatest Players Not In the Hall of Fame (and await the arrival of some additions for a 70 Cards From the 1970s post) here's a quick show-and-tell to kick off the Starting Lineup Showcase series.
Here's a trio of loose figures from the inaugural 1988 series. All three feature the same follow-through pose.
Atlanta Braves superstar Dale Murphy was popular with baseball fans across the country. This piece was likely distributed nationwide in the National League All-Star assortment. I think I saw this Murphy figure on a display rack at Ames back in '88.. but that could be the Mandela effect.
Hall of Famer Eddie Murray wasn't as media friendly or popular with young out-of-market fans. Just a guy that focused on his craft and excelled. I was always a fan of the bright orange Baltimore Orioles uniforms as a kid. I had a puffy hat with this logo and cried when our dog chewed it to bits.
I bought these two figures, sealed, for about $10 each. It must have been at least 15 years ago because I don't have an email receipt for the purchase. Wally Joyner was in that lot as well, but that figure is long gone.
Here's Murray taking some cuts alongside Rafael Palmeiro. I found this piece, and two others, in the crawl space of my childhood home when I cleaned it out a couple years ago.
Wait a second... didn't Raffy play for the Cubs in '88?
So, then, who was that mustachioed slugger swinging a phantom bat in a Ranger jersey?
I was puzzled when I unearthed it from the attic insulation. A lot of paint has worn off, but there are enough letters left to reveal the mystery man:
Pete Incaviglia?!?I have no recollection of purchasing or playing with this piece. I barely remember Inky's career - aside from that nickname. It's not a total surprise to me as I always had a fondness for random, out-of-market players. Can only guess how I came to own this one though - catalog? Card show?
There were several other swinging follow-through poses in the 1988 series. I'm not looking to add another one - need some variety on my display shelf - but if I were, I'd want to retrieve the Mike Schmidt piece that was in my collection a couple decades ago.
Kirby Puckett, Jose Canseco, and Eric Davis share this pose as well. Less common but more interesting to me would be the Joe Carter piece.
Or if I want to go wayyy off the board, how about Chris Brown?
No, not that one!
The 100 Greatest Non-HOFers list is coming next week. At least one of these guys will be ranked. (It won't be Chris Brown.)
Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend!
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