1989 Topps Major League Debut #127: Stu Tate

Stu Tate

PHOTO: Wake up, Stu!

STAT: What do Shawn Abner, Joey Cora, and Mike Pagliarulo have in common? They were the only guys to get a hit off Tate.

ANAGRAM: Stu Tate = Statute.

CAREER: 1/10

Tate pitched just 2.2 innings in the majors, although he got 4 strikeouts and no walks with a league-average 3.38 ERA.

1989 Topps Major League Debut #125: Russ Swan

Russ Swan

PHOTO: Swan's jersey looks airbrushed to me, but that's probably overexposure. Swan was in the Giants' system since 1986, plus his hat doesn't look airbrushed so he was probably wearing a Giants jersey.

When I saw the name Russ Swan, I knew there was something unusual about this guy, but I couldn't remember what it was. I looked it up...turns out he died in 2006 after falling down a flight of stairs. That's sad. Two years later, almost to the day and quite oddly, another former major leaguer, John Marzano, died the same way.

STAT: Among pitchers with at least 100 carer walks in the last 50 years, Swan cracks the top 10 for worst K/BB ratio (see below for more.)

I'm skipping the anagram on Mr. Swan.

CAREER: 3/10

Swan put together 2 very good years as a reliever in 1990 and 1991 but didn't maintain long-term success in the big-leagues. His walk rate was fine, but his strikeout rate was alarmingly low.

1989 Topps Major League Debut #77: Randy McCament

Randy McCament

PHOTO: Pretty lousy photo with no action and we can't even see his face, really. Shrug. Anybody know what the advertisement in the background is for?

STAT: He allowed 4 career homers and they all came when his team was losing but still within striking distance. Not good.

ANAGRAM: Randy McCament = Can't madmen cry?

CAREER: 1/10

Just 42.2 career IP

1989 Topps Major League Debut #72: Greg Litton

Greg Litton

PHOTO: Nice power batting shot of Litton, although I'd like to see more of his face. I'd like to see a little less of the weirdos in the dugout. Seriously...look at those two people.

STAT: Litton had just 13 career homers, but he made them count with 6 either tying the game or putting his team ahead, including a grand slam in the top of the 13th of a game against the Reds.

ANAGRAM: Maybe this is why he didn't steal so many bases....Greg Litton = Rotting leg

CAREER: 3/10

Litton stuck around with the Giants for 5 seasons and gets a 3 thanks to his homer and 3 RBI in the 1989 World Series.

1989 Topps Major League Debut #16: Mike Benjamin

Mike Benjamin

PHOTO: The photo immediately reminded me of a couple of Giants from the 1988 Topps set that also had entirely green backgrounds: Matt Williams and Jose Uribe. Benjamin was obviously photographed in the same general area of (probably) their spring training facility.

STAT: Guess which pitcher Benjamin faced the most in his career? How about the guy whose card we just saw?

CAREER: 2/10

Benjamin was never a full time player but did stick around for 13 seasons so he must have had something going for him. A couple of oddities about his career: he pitched one inning for the Red Sox in 1997, closing out a game with a scoreless frame. He got his most PAs in a season in 1998 and hit a career-best .272, leading the Red Sox to start him in all 4 of their post-season games as they lost the ALDS to the Indians. Looking at Benjamin's career stats, you'd never think he would have been good enough to be a post-season starter.