This is the sixth — and final — edition of this Brobdingnagian blog series! 

For the previous five installments, click HERE and HERE and HERE, and HERE, and, oh, also: HERE. Thanks for all the great feedback thus far, and, please, comment freely on this one as well! (Your memories of ’87 Topps, the players involved, the Minor League teams involved, why some random blogger is devoting so much time to this, etc). Let’s go, one last time:

25 years ago last month, Topps’ 1987 baseball card set was unleashed upon the world. I was eight years old at the time, and like many others of similar age and disposition I quickly became obsessed with this 792-card collection.

The cards were sold in iconic green wax packs, at a cost of 40 cents per:

And the cards contained therein? These are the immortal images of mortal men, and shall never be forgotten.

With the exception of the indefatigable Jamie Moyer (born during the Kennedy administration), all of the players contained in the set have long since retired. But many are still within the professional ranks, working as Minor League managers and coaches. This is finally, mercifully, the last in a series of blog posts that attempt to bring the general public up to speed on who among the 792 are currently toiling within the vast world of Minor League Baseball.

Volume 6: Players Now Coaching In An NL West Organization

Card #197 Mark Bailey

Then: Catcher, Houston Astros

Bailey burst onto the big league scene in 1984 at the age of 22, appearing in 108 games for the Astros. He received even more playing time in ’85, hitting .265 and getting on base at a laudatory .389 clip. But that was the beginning of a long, slow end. Bailey played 100 games (total) over the next three seasons, and from that point forward his big league career was limited to very brief stints with the Giants in 1990 and 1992.  His final at-bat in the Majors came on August 4, 1992, when he struck out looking against current Visalia Rawhide pitching coach Doug Drabek (card #297, see below)

Now: Hitting coach, Tri-City ValleyCats

Upon wrapping up his long and winding playing career, Bailey returned to the employ of the Astros. After a couple of Minor League coaching stints, he wound up coaching in Houston from 2002-09. But in 2010 he returned to the Minors, working with the Double-A Hooks of Corpus Christi before moving on to his current Tri-Cities (NY) location.

Card #233 Russ Morman

Then: First baseman, Chicago White Sox

Rookie card alert! The above slice of thin-cut cardboard came into existence due to the fact that Morman had played 49 games in 1986 (hitting .252). This wasn’t enough to get him on a job on the 1987 squad, however, as he spent that campaign Triple-A Hawaii. In fact, those 49 games in 1986 were a Major League high, but nonetheless Morman logged time with the Sox in 1988-89 and  Royals in 1990-91. After two more years played exclusively in the Minors, he re-surfaced with the Marlins in 1994 and went on to play (sparingly) all the way through the club’s 1997 World Championship season.

Now: Hitting coach, Fresno Grizzlies

That dimly-lit fellow on the far right is good ol’ indefatigable Russ, whose seemingly never-ending baseball journey has taken him to Fresno. Prior to that he worked with the Flying Squirrels of Richmond, perhaps the most ridiculously-named team for whom he’s ever had to wear a uniform. But who really does know?

Card #292 Franklin Stubbs

Then: First baseman/Outfielder Los Angeles Dodgers

An extremely small percentage of the American populace has managed to enjoy two seasons of 2o+ home runs in the Major Leagues, but count Franklin Stubbs among this distinguished minority. He accomplished the feat in 1986 with the Dodgers and, again, in 1990 with the Astros. ’91 and ’92 were spent in Milwaukee, and Stubbs then played ’93 in the Minors and ’94 in the Mexico before landing on the roster of the 1995 Tigers. He appeared in 62 games for this Motor City franchise, and that was to be the end of the line.

Now: Hitting coach, Chattanooga Lookouts (Double-A affiliate, Los Angeles Dodgers)

Stubbs transitioned to coaching shortly after his playing career ended, starting out within the Atlanta Braves system. But in 2010 he returned to the same Dodgers organization that drafted him (in the first round) back in ’82. He spent that season in Inland Empire before moving on to his current situation in Chattanooga. Sometimes fans ask him to sign their tickets, as his signature on a ducat immediately transforms them into “Stubbs.”

Card #297 Doug Drabek

Then: Right-handed pitcher, New York Yankees

Rookie card alert! This particular slab was issued after Drabek went 7-8 over 27 appearances with the ’86 Yanks, but that was to be the extent of his time in pinstripes. Drabek was traded to Pittsburgh after the season, and it was in the Steel City that he really made a name for himself. He anchored the Bucs’ rotation from 1987-’92, highlighted by a Cy Young-winning campaign in 1990 (22-6, 2.76 ERA), and went from there to the Astros, White Sox, and Orioles. Drabek totaled 155 wins in all, but oddly enough his only All-Star appearance came as a member of the 1994 Houston Astros.

Now: Pitching coach, Visalia Rawhide (Class A Advanced affiliate, Arizona Diamondbacks)

Struggling Rawhide hurlers know that a dose of Drabek is good for what Visalia. 2012 marks his second season with the club, and thus far the team has resisted the temptation to produce a “Teach Me How To, Dougie” parody video. Prior to arriving in Visalia, Drabek plied his trade in Yakima with a Bears club that tried its best to disassociate itself from the bad news so endemic to franchises operating under such a moniker.

Card #540 Terry Kennedy

Then: Catcher, San Diego Padres

To be sure, Kennedy was one of the better catchers of the 1980s. A four-time All-Star, he had solid power (double-digit home run totals from 1982-87) and twice drove in over 95 runs in a season. And, on a personal level, I recall thinking that he looked quite a bit like Popeye. (A Google search for “Terry Kennedy Popeye” turns up nothing relevant, however, so I must be alone in this.)

Now: Manager, Tucson Padres

Kennedy’s managerial career dates all the way back to 1993, and it has since encompassed stops at nearly all levels of play as well as the independent leagues (including, most improbably, a San Diego Surf Dawgs club that featured 46-year-old Rickey Henderson on the roster). But since 2009 Kennedy has been on the payroll ledgers of the same San Diego organization that employed him from 1981-86. 2012 marks his second campaign with the Tucson Padres, which is also the second season in which that particular Pacific Coast League entity has been in operation. Therefore, it stands to reason that Kennedy has managed the club in each and every moment of its short existence.

Card #579 Rick Burleson

Then:Infielder/Designated Hitter, California Angels

Burleson hails from Lynwood, the same California town that later spawned none other than Weird Al Yankovic. Burleson is eight years older than Mr. Yankovic, however, and was already on the downside of his career by the time the master parodist  released his eponymous debut in 1983. But Burleson was a force to be reckoned with before injuries took their toll, appearing in 114 games as a Red Sox rookie in 1974 and then playing on a near-daily basis in each of the next seven seasons. But he only played 51 total games between 1982-84, then spent the entire 1985 campaign on the disabled list. The above baseball card was to be his last – Burleson signed with the Orioles as a free agent in 1987, but was released during the All-Star break and never appeared in the Majors again.

Now: Hitting coach, Reno Aces (Triple-A affiliate, Arizona Diamondbacks)

I’m not sure if anyone actually calls Burleson “Reno Rick,” but it sure is a cool-sounding nickname. And he’s earned it, too, as Burleson is the only hitting coach that Reno batsmen have ever known. He and manager Brett Butler (see below) have been with the club since its inaugural 2009 campaign, but prior to landing in the Biggest Little City Burleson meticulously pieced together a lengthy coaching and managerial resume that dates back to the early days of the G.H.W. Bush administration.

Card #675 Ed Romero

Then: Infielder, Boston Red Sox

It could be argued that Ed Romero was the Luis Aguayo of the American League — i.e. a good field, little hit reserve infielder whose career neatly encompassed the decade of the 1980s. When the above card was produced, Ed was coming off of his second (and final) 100-game campaign. He accumulated 233 at-bats for the Sox, hitting an anemic .210 but, as the card shows, ably moving to his left whenever the situation called for it.

Now: Manager, Gulf Coast League Astros (Rookie-level affiliate, Houston Astros)

Romero’s first managerial gig dates all the way back to 1992, when he piloted that year’s incarnation of the Northwest League’s Spokane Indians. He has also enjoyed stints as “Minor League infield coordinator” with three different organizations, including the Astros franchise that currently keeps him on the payroll. 2011 was Romero’s first as a manager within the sweltering back lots of the Florida-based Gulf Coast League.

Card #723 Brett Butler

Then: Centerfielder, Cleveland Indians

Butler enjoyed a long and fruitful Major League career, possessing a pleasingly alliterative ballplayer name all the while. The skinny speedster made his debut with the Braves in 1981 and went on to play for the Indians, Giants, Mets and Dodgers before finishing his career in 1997. He led the league in triples four times (including 1994-95, at the ages of 37 and 38), at-bats twice, runs twice, hits once, and walks once. And, while Butler never led the league in steals, he did manage to pace the senior circuit in caught stealing on three occasions.

It is also worth noting that Butler missed nearly the entire 1996 campaign due to cancer treatments, but enjoyed a strong comeback season in 1997 at the age of 40.

Now: Manager, Reno Aces

Butler has been employed by the the Diamondbacks’ organization since 2005, coaching in the big leagues that year and then going on to manage Lancaster and Mobile before coming to Reno in the Aces’ inaugural season of 2009. 2012, then, marks his fourth season with the club. This is the longest stint he’s had on any one team since he suited up for the Dodgers from 1991-95.

Card #787 Alejandro Pena

Then: Right-handed starter/reliever, Los Angeles Dodgers

Would you believe that Alejandro Pena once won a National League ERA title? It’s true — in 1984 he pitched a career-high 199 1/3 innings over a career-high 28 starts, compiling a circuit-pacing ERA of 2.48. That was just about the end of Pena’s career as a starter, however — after an injury-riddled 1985 he transitioned to a relief role, and by the advent of the ’90s he was one of America’s pre-eminent peripatetic denizens of the bullpen. Pena spent 1990 with the Mets, and then went to the Braves, Pirates, Red Sox, Marlins, back to the Braves and then, finally, back to the Marlins.

Now: Pitching coach, Dominican Summer League Dodgers (Rookie-level affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers)

Despite devoting 10 days of my life to scouring micro-fiche of Dominican newspapers, I have been unable to ascertain how Pena spent his days after his playing career ended. Until 2010, that is, when the heretofore cold trail suddenly becomes sizzling. Pena worked as a pitching coach for the DSL Dodgers that season, did it again in 2011, and, presumably, will be back for more in 2012.

—

And that, as they say, is that! Thanks so much for sticking with me through this seemingly never-ending saga — I nearly bit off more than I could chew, but more than a month of meticulous mastication I’m happy to report that the end result was a successful swallow.

And with that, one of the worst sentences I have ever written, this series concludes.

benjamin.hill@mlb.com

twitter.com/bensbiz

For the first installments of this series, click HERE and HERE and HERE, and HERE. Thanks for all the great feedback thus far, and, please, comment freely on this one as well! (Your memories of ’87 Topps, the players involved, the Minor League teams involved, why some random blogger is devoting so much time to this, etc).

25 years ago this month, Topps’ 1987 baseball card set was unleashed upon the world. I was eight years old at the time, and like many others of similar age and disposition I quickly became obsessed with this 792-card collection.

The cards were sold in iconic green wax packs, at a cost of 40 cents per:

And the cards contained therein? Despite their age, they remain formidable:

With the exception of the indefatigable Jamie Moyer (quarante-neuf ans jeune!), all of the players contained in the set have long since retired. But many are still within the professional ranks, working as Minor League managers and coaches. This series of blog posts represents an attempt to bring the general public up to speed on who among the 792 are currently toiling within the vast world of Minor League Baseball.

Volume 5: Players Now Coaching In An NL Central Organization

Card #65 Tom Browning

Then: Left-handed starter, Cincinnati Reds

Browning appeared in 302 games over his 12-season Major League career (1984-95), 300 of which were with the Reds. From 1985-91 he was an absolute workhorse, leading the league in games started four times and topping 225 innings pitched in six of those seasons. Browning won 20 games as a 25-year-old in his rookie season of 1985, and in 1988 pitched a perfect game against the eventual World Champion Dodgers. Impressive feats, both.

Now: Pitching coach, Dayton Dragons (Class A Affiliate, Cincinnati Reds)

After some managerial gigs in the independent leagues, Browning returned to the Cincinnati organization in 2008. He spent two seasons in Billings (a job that allowed him to visit his Casper, WY hometown on road trips) and then two more in the sweltering backlots of the Arizona League.  2012 marks a significant upgrade for him, then — he’ll be working with young hurlers in Dayton, home to the perpetually sold-out Dragons.

Card #199 Mariano Duncan

Then: Shortstop/Second Baseman, Los Angeles Dodgers

As one who grew up in southeastern Pennsylvania, I’ll always remember Duncan for his 1992-95 stint with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was a key member of the pennant-winning ’93 Phils, platooning at second base with Mickey Morandini and, most memorably, hitting a game-winning grand slam against Lee Smith on Mother’s Day. But before these exploits in the City of Brotherly love, Duncan was a Dodger. He made his debut in 1985 and received a lot of playing time (appearing in a career-high 142 games that season), but his lack of efficiency was so pronounced that by 1988 he was back in the Minors. He returned to LA in ’89, then went to Cincinnati, then the aforementioned City of Brotherly Love, then back to Cincinnati, then the Bronx, and, finally, Toronto. All told, he played in 1279 games over 12 seasons.

Now: Hitting coach, Tennessee Smokies (Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs)

Upon retiring, Duncan returned to the Dodgers organization that had originally drafted him. He worked his way up through the system and in 2006 returned to LA for a five-season run as the team’s first base coach. 2011 marked his first campaign with the Smokies (and within the Cubs organization), and he’ll return for more of the same in 2012.

Card #252 Dennis Martinez

Then: Right-handed starter, Montreal Expos

Martinez enjoyed a stellar 23-season career in the Majors, playing past his 43rd birthday en route to 245 wins and 3999 2/3 innings pitched. Yes — 3999 2/3, meaning he fell one out short of 4000 in his career. So let’s look at how his career ended: on September 27, 1998, Martinez was summoned by Braves manager Bobby Cox to pitch the seventh inning of a contest against the Mets (in relief of Greg Maddux). He retired the first batter he faced, but then surrendered back-to-back doubles and an infield single. The next batter was Mike Piazza, and Martinez struck him out looking.

Cox then summoned left-handed John Rocker to pitch to switch-hitter Brian McRae (presumably batting from the left-hand side). The move worked, as McRae struck out, but at what cost? Martinez never appeared in the Major Leagues again, and if he had been given the opportunity to finish the frame he very well could have retired with an even 4000 innings pitched.

But on the happier side of things, the above card marks the first featuring Martinez on the Expos (he had spent the previous decade in Baltimore). He pitched eight seasons with the club, and threw a perfect game on July 28th, 1991. As we learned in a previous post in this series, that perfect game was caught by current New Orleans Zephyrs manager Ron Hassey.

Now: Pitching coach, Palm Beach Cardinals (Class A Advanced affiliate, St. Louis Cardinals)

Since 2007 Martinez has been in the employ of the St. Louis Cardinals, working for the GCL Cards (2007), Palm Beach (2008-09), and Springfield (2010) before returning to Palm Beach. He also holds the lofty title of “Minister of Sport” in his native Nicaragua, a position befitting his status as one of the country’s most successful and beloved athletes.

Card #356 Luis Aguayo

Then: Shortstop/Second base, Philadelphia Phillies

Perhaps no player’s career was as neatly encapsulated within the Reagan era as was Aguayo’s, as the Puerto Rican-born infielder played his first game in April of 1980 and last in September of 1989. He spent the majority of that time with the Phillies but was generally a reserve player, as his career high of 99 games (in 1988) would illustrate.

Aguayo’s Baseball Reference wiki page features two quotes about him courtesy of Phillies announcer Richie “Whitey” Ashburn, and one of them is this gem:

“Aguayo’s running at first base. He doesn’t have great speed … what am I saying? He doesn’t have good speed, he doesn’t even have average speed. The man is slow.”

Now: Manager, Quad Cities River Bandits (Class A Affiliate, St. Louis Cardinals)

After his playing career ended, Aguayo transitioned quickly into the coaching ranks. His managerial career dates back to 1997, with the Red Sox, Reds, and, now, Cardinals organizations. 2012 marks his first campaign in the Quad Cities, making him the 33rd manager in franchise history. And, perhaps, the slowest.

Card #411 Darnell Coles

Then: Third Baseman, Detroit Tigers

Coles was the Seattle Mariners #1 draft pick in 1980 (sixth overall), and while he never attained the perennial All-Star status expected of one in such a position he nonetheless found a way to play baseball professionally for a long, long time. Coles made his MLB debut with Seattle in 1980, and went on to play in Detroit, Seattle, Pittsburgh, Seattle (again), Detroit (again), San Francisco, Cincinnati, Toronto, St. Louis, and Colorado (as well as two seasons in Japan) before finally hitting the end of the line in 1997.

He was at the height of his powers when this card was produced, however — in 1986 Coles set career highs in at-bats (587), runs (67), hits (142), doubles (30), home runs (20), RBIs (86), stolen bases (6), walks (45),  and strikeouts (84).  That’s a “Darn” good season (alternate line: a “Darnell” of a good season.”)

Now: Manager, Huntsville Stars (Double-A affiliate, Milwaukee Brewers)

The latest stop in Coles’ never-ending baseball journey is Huntsville, which represents his most prominent managing gig to date (he has also skippered teams in the New York-Penn and South Atlantic League). 2012 marks his third year with the Brewers’ organization, but first with the Stars (2010 and 2011 was spent in the position of “Minor League hitting coordinator).

Card #437 Ted Power

Then: Right-handed starter/reliever, Cincinnati Reds

Ted made his Major League debut with the 1981 Dodgers, but from 1983-87 it was Cincinnati that had the Power. He started 10 of the 56 games he appeared in in ’86, setting the stage for an ’87 campaign in the starting rotation (10-13, 4.50 ERA over 34 starts). After that he was a big league vagabond, spending ’88 with Kansas City and Detroit, ’89 with St. Louis, ’90 with Pittsburgh, ’91 back in Cincinnati, ’92-93 in Cleveland and, finally, ending ’93 in Seattle. Whew! Power spent his entire career in perpetual flirtation with the .500 mark, finishing at 68-69. He earned the win in the last ballgame he ever appeared in, tossing three scoreless innings on 9/30/1993.

Now: Pitching coach, Louisville Bats (Triple-A affiliate, Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds)

Power has, you know, “Powered” his way through the Reds’ Minor League system. He coached Rookie-level Billings and Class A Dayton before making his way to Triple-A Louisville in 2006. This coming season, therefore, will be his seventh with the club. But maybe the Reds will be compelled to call Power up to Cincinnati?

Card #577 Dann Bilardello

Then: Catcher, Montreal Expos

Bilardello, a one-time batterymate of fellow St. Louis Cardinal employee Dennis Martinez (see above), played professionally from 1978-94. The vast majority of his playing time was spent in the Minors, but he nonetheless found a way to appear in the Majors in eight seasons over a 10-year span (1983-87, 1990-92). The above card shows Dann the Mann just chomping at the bit, clearly eager to destroy any baseball hit in his direction. This was easier said than done, however – in 1986, his lone season in Montreal, Bilardello hit .179.

Perhaps he had chosen the wrong vocation — in 1993, Bilardello made two relief appearances for Triple-A Norfolk and allowed just one walk over two scoreless innings of work.

Now: Manager, Batavia Muckdogs (Class A Short-Season affiliate, St. Louis Cardinals)

In each of the last two seasons Bilardello has spent his summer as a Muckdog, working with just-drafted prospects in the short-season environs of the New York-Penn League. Thus far his record with the Muckdogs is a sparking 82-67, and in 2012 he’ll no doubt secure his 100th win with the club. This is apt to be one of the most significant milestones of the season, and worthy of a parade down Main Street.

Card #646 Mike Mason

Then: Left-handed starter, Texas Rangers

The human mind is a funny thing. I have forgotten many important facts in my life, but before searching for an image of this card I thought to myself “Mike Mason. That’s the guy who had the huge glove!” And then, lo and behold, there it was. I mean, look at it: you could probably fit two dozen baseballs in that thing. Or two human heads!

When the above card was produced, Mason was coming off of his third season as a (semi)-regular member of the Rangers’ rotation. In ’86, he had gone 7-3 with a 4.33 ERA over 27 appearances (20 starts), his first winning record in the Majors. Mason split the 1987 campaign between Texas and Chicago, and appeared in five games with the ’88 Twins. That was to be it for his MLB career, although he sporadically re-surfaced in the professional ranks up through 1996 (three games in an independent league).

Now: Pitching coach, Iowa Cubs (Triple-A affiliate, Chicago Cubs)

Mason has more than two decades of coaching experience, with his first work in this capacity preceding his final professional appearances on the mound. He’s tutored toe-slabbers in Appleton, Memphis, Springfield, Wichita, and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (to name just a few locations), and 2012 marks his fifth campaign with the Iowa Cubs. No word on whether he remains an advocate of gargantuan gloves.

Card #711 Ken Griffey

Then: Outfielder/first baseman, Atlanta Braves

Before there was Ken Griffey Jr. there was  — believe it or not — Ken Griffey Sr. While not a (presumable) first-ballot Hall of Famer like his son, ol’ Ken still enjoyed a long and distinguished Major League career. He first made a name for himself as a key member of the legendary “Big Red Machine” teams of the mid-’70s, and went on to play for the Yankees, Braves, Reds (again), and, finally, the Mariners. This last destination was particularly meaningful — Griffey Jr. and Sr. were teammates, and on one occasion even hit back-to-back home runs! This was one of the final highlights of an 18-season career, one in which he totaled over 2100 hits en route to a lifetime average close to .300.

Now: Manager, Bakersfield Blaze (Class A Advanced affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds)

Griffey has coached in the bigs with Seattle, Colorado and Cincinnati, but when it comes to managing even a man of his stature has to pay his dues. So in 2011 off Griffey went to the less-than-idyllic confines of Bakersfield’s Sam Lynn Ballpark in order to helm the fiery collection of young men who play as “The Blaze.” He’ll return to this position in 2012, continuing his reign as one of the most distinguished figures in the California League.

Card #738 Jorge Orta

Then: Designated Hitter, Kansas City Royals

Orta’s rookie card was issued by Topps in 1973, in recognition of the 51 games he had played in 1972. 14 years later the company issued the above slice of cardboard, and it would turn out to be his last. In 1986 Orta had appeared in 106 games for the Royals, primarily as a DH. He hit a solid .277 and slugged .411, and the Royals re-signed him for the 1987 campaign. But not for long — Orta was released by the club that June, an ignominious ending to a respectable big league career that included 1619 hits accumulated with five different Major League clubs.

Perhaps Orta’s most enduring legacy, however, is that he was the beneficiary of Dom Denkinger’s controversial call at first base in Game Six of the 1985 World Series. This largely disputed ruling wound up playing a key role in the Royals’ eventual seven-game victory over neighboring St. Louis.

But, also, let us not forget this: the back of his ’87 Topps card notes that “Jorge is in the Mexican League Hall of Fame.”

Now: Hitting Coach, Arizona League Reds

Orta’s coaching career dates back to 1997 with the once (and future) Quad City River Bandits. He’s also logged time in the New York Penn, Appalachian, Florida and Gulf Coast Leagues in addition to his current location in the sweltering backlots of the AZL.

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83.3% of this extensive blog saga is now complete! Stay tuned next week for the remaining 16.7%! It will be worth your while, no matter how expensive you consider that particular commodity to be.

Also, if you know someone who would enjoy writing of this nature, please pass along the link. I have a craving for fresh eyeballs that isn’t close to being fulfilled.

benjamin.hill@mlb.com

twitter.com/bensbiz

For the first installments of this series, click HERE and HERE and HERE. Thanks for all the great feedback thus far, and  feel free to comment freely on this one as well! (Your memories of ’87 Topps, the players involved, the Minor League teams involved, etc). 

25 years ago this month, Topps’ 1987 baseball card set was unleashed upon the world. I was eight years old at the time, and like many others of similar age and disposition I quickly became obsessed with this 792-card collection.

The cards were sold in iconic green wax packs, at a cost of 40 cents per:

And the cards contained therein? They were, quite simply, destined for baseball immortality.

With the exception of aspiring Colorado Rockie Jamie Moyer, all of the players contained in the set have long since retired. But many are still within the professional ranks, working as Minor League managers and coaches. This series of blog posts represents an attempt to bring the general public up to speed on who among the 792 are currently toiling within the vast world of Minor League Baseball.

Volume 4: Players Now Coaching In An NL East Organization

Card #48 Wally Backman

Then: Second baseman, New York Mets

Action shots are few and far between in the 1987 Topps set as a whole, but if anyone was going to be shown kicking up dirt it may as well have been Wally Backman. The diminutive (by baseball standards) infielder personified the gritty determination of the equally beloved and despised mid-80s Mets. ’87 would be his eighth season with the club, and he then went on to stints in Pittsburgh, Philly, and, finally, Seattle.

Now: Manager, Buffalo Bisons (Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets)

You could practically make a movie out of Backman’s managerial career. It starts off with four seasons (1997-2000) in the independent leagues, during which he was nearly killed by a spider bite. He recovered, of course, and broke into the affiliated ranks with Winston-Salem in 2001. This led to a rapid ascent up the ladder, culminating with the November 2004 hiring as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks. This was not to be, however, after it was quickly revealed that Backman had a criminal record and had filed for bankruptcy. The Diamondback, embarrassed, quickly fired Backman and he next surfaced as an independent league manager/reality TV star (note: NSFW).

And now? Now he’s back with the same Metropolitans organization that drafted him way back in 1977. Backman managed the Brooklyn Cyclones in 2010, Binghamton in 2011, and next year he’ll be leading the Triple-A Bisons of Buffalo. Could a big league job be next? If so, you know the NYC tabloids will go with: WALLY’S BACK, MAN!

Card #135 Mike Easler

Then: Outfielder/Designated Hitter, New York Yankees

Easler played 14 Major League seasons, but it certainly took him a while to find his footing: between 1973 and 1979 he only appeared in 112 games (total), but from 1980-87 he was a regular with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and (briefly) Philadelphia Phillies. When this card was produced Easler was coming off a solid 1986 campaign in the Bronx (.302-.362-.449), but 1987 was nonetheless his final campaign. All told, he accumulated 1078 hits and retired with an average of .293.

Now: Hitting coach, Buffalo Bisons (Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets)

Easler was known as “The Hit Man” during his career, so it’s fitting that his current occupation is teaching others how to be better “hit men.” 2012 marks his second campaign as the Bisons’ hitting coach, the most recent stop in a decades long coaching career that has included stints in the Florida State, Southern, and Pacific Coast Leagues as well as the independent Frontier and Atlantic. And in addition to all that, he spent 1992 as the Brewers hitting coach and 1993 with the Red Sox.

Card #310 Frank Viola

Then: Left-handed starting pitcher, Minnesota Twins

“Sweet Music” Viola played 15 seasons in the Majors, and from 1984-93 was one of the premier pitchers in Major League Baseball. He won the 1988 A.L. Cy Young after going 24-7 with a 2.64 ERA for the Twins, and logged another 20-win campaign as a member of the 1990 Mets. Viola was a workhorse, too — from 1984 through ’92 he never pitched less than 231 innings in a season!

Now: Pitching coach, Brooklyn Cyclones (Class A Short-Season affiliate, New York Mets)

After some time spent coaching prep school and in collegiate leagues, Viola re-emerged with the Mets organization last season as pitching coaching for the short-season Cyclones. As a New York native who later pitched for St. John’s University, this was a homecoming of sorts for the now 51-year-old. And, as the picture above makes clear, Viola is still a proud proponent of upper lip hair. Some things never go out of style.

Card #408 John Mizerock

Then: Catcher, Houston Astros

Mizerock’s time in the Major Leagues was brief, as over four seasons (1983, ’85-86, ’89) he appeared in just 103 games. This card was produced after a 1986 campaign in which he set career-highs in games (44) and plate appearances (107), although he hit just .185. But — and this is a significant “but” — he walked 24 times and finished the season with an on-base percentage (.374) that was more than double his average! Mizerock spent the remainder of his career in the Atlanta organization, mostly with Triple-A Richmond.

Now: Hitting Coach, Clearwater Threshers (Class A Advanced affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies)

Mizerock has had a long and varied post-playing career, managing in the Northwest, Midwest, Carolina, Texas and Pacific Coast Leagues as well as stints as the Kansas City Royals’ bullpen coach, third base coach, and even interim manager (for 13 games in 2002). 2011 marked his first season teaching swing science to Clearwater batsmen, and he’ll pick up where he left off in 2012.

Card #454 Luis Salazar

Then: Third baseman/shortstop/outfielder Chicago White Sox

Although the reasons why are lost to time (injury, most likely), Salazar only played four games for the White Sox during the 1986 season. But Topps, possessing a generous nature and genial disposition, included him in the 1987 set anyway. In the card, Salazar sports a perplexed look and is gazing into the distance. Perhaps he knew that his time with the White Sox was coming to a close? In April of 1987 he signed with the Padres (who he had played for from 1980-1984), and from there he went on Detroit, San Diego (again!) and Chicago’s North Side before hanging up his cleats following the 1992 campaign. All told, he had played in 1302 games over the course of 13 seasons.

Now: Manager, Lynchburg Hillcats (Class A Advanced affiliate, Atlanta Braves)

Salazar’s managerial career dates back to 1996, and he has logged time in all areas of the country and all levels of play. He became a national news story last March, however, after he was struck in the face by a foul ball in the dugout while coaching for the Atlanta Braves during Spring Training.  The impact was so severe that he ended up having his left eye removed, but less than a month later he resumed managerial duties for Lynchburg. He’ll be back in 2012, now possessing one of the most harrowing — yet ultimately triumphant — stories in all of professional sports.

Card #651 Benny Distefano

Then: First baseman, outfielder, pinch-hitter, Pittsburgh Pirates

First of all, let’s all wish Benny Distefano a very happy birthday – this past Monday (January 23) he turned 50 years young. But a quarter century ago he was only a quarter of a century old, and coming off a season in which he appeared in 31 games for the Pirates. This was par for the course for Distefano, who played in the Majors in 1984, 1986, 1988-89, and 1992. In between these sporadic stints in “The Show” he spent time in some exceedingly diverse Triple-A locales: Hawaii, Vancouver, Buffalo, and Tuscon among them.

And this is worth noting: On the back of this baseball card, it is noted that “Benny’s leisure activities include dancing.” For a humorous analysis of this, and much more, click HERE.

Now: Hitting coach, Savannah Sand Gnats

Dancin’ Distefano is two-steppin’ his way through America, with recent gigs including the GCL Tigers (2006), West Michigan Whitecaps (2007-08), Brooklyn Cyclones (2010) and now, Savannah. That Brooklyn stint must have been particularly meaningful to Benny — that’s where he’s from, after all, and it was in that borough that he first made a name for himself as a Cyclone of the dance floor.

Card #667 Ron Hassey

Then: Catcher, Chicago White Sox

In 1986 Hassey was part of a trade deadline deal, one that sent him from the Bronx to Chicago’s South Side. And once he arrived he came on like gangbusters, hitting a robust .353 over 49 games. Hassey returned to the ChiSox in 1987, then spent three years with the “Bash Brothers”-era Oakland A’s dynasty before wrapping things up in 1991 as a 38-year-old Montreal Expo. He caught Dennis Martinez’s perfect game that year, making him the only backstop in history to be behind the plate for two (he caught Len Barker’s while with the Indians in 1981).

Now: Manager, New Orleans Zephyrs (Triple-A affiliate of the New Orleans Zephyrs)

Hassey has had a long and winding post-playing career, working as a scout, front office executive, Major League coach and Minor League manager. The 2012 campaign will be his first in New Orleans, no word yet on whether he’ll demand that nutria be served as part of the post-game clubhouse spread.

Card #680 Ryne Sandberg

Then: Second Baseman, Chicago Cubs

Now here’s a man who needs no introduction. Sandberg, one of the preeminent infielders of the late 20th-century, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005 in recognition of a distinguished 16-season Major League career (2386 hits, 282 home runs, 10 consecutive All-Star Game appearances, eight consecutive Gold Gloves and one MVP Award). When the above card was produced Sandberg was coming off a relatively lackluster season (.284-14-76), at least by his elevated standards.

Now: Manager, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies)

After some time away from the game, Sandberg embarked on his Minor League career in 2007 and systematically worked his way through the Cubs system (Class A Peoria in 2007-08, Double-A Tennessee in 2009, Triple-A Iowa in 2010). In the eyes of many observers (that’s what people with eyes do — they observe), Sandberg was in line to be named the Cubs’ manager in 2011 after Lou Pinella departed during the 2010 campaign.

But it was not to be. Chicago went with Mike Quade, and Sandberg defected to the same organization that first drafted him in 1978 — the Philadelphia Phillies. 2012 will mark his second season at the helm of the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, but he continues to be “in-the-mix” when it comes to big league managerial openings. His time will come — make no bones about it.

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Four down, two to go! When I started this particular blog series, I had no idea what a monstrous undertaking it would be. But there’s no turning back now! To those who have stuck with it, I commend you.

benjamin.hill@mlb.com

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