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 #71: Scott Little

Scott Little

PHOTO: Pretty dull photo, but nice butt chin.

STAT: Little got into 3 games in his career and here's the one where he got a hit. It came in extra innings and might have been involved in winning the game had he not been doubled off first on Junior Ortiz's fly ball. (It's tough to know what actually what happened--for all we know, Ortiz may have hit a screaming liner to the outfield that was miraculously caught. Or maybe Little terribly misjudged the situation and that's why he never played in the majors again after this game.)

CAREER: 1/10

Four career plate appearances.

RESULTS: Traded Sets Baseball Challenge: Week 4

Here are the totals (out of a possible 15) for number of winners correctly guessed:

Captain Canuck: 10
Ben: 6
White Sox Cards: 6
MMayes: 9
Real_Name: 8
night owl: 9 (you got the Nats and Astros, which nobody else did before you)
Desuko: 7
Don: 11
Raphy: 6
Dave: 9
Andy: 9
Marcus T: 3
Dan: 9

Winner is Don, with a very impressive 11 out of 15 right. Night Owl and Dave were the only ones to pick the Tigers or the Astros but both missed a couple of other games to cost them the win for the week. Captain Canuck did well too, just a bit shy this week.

Don, I'm going to send you an email because I don't think I still have your mailing address.

1989 Topps Major League Debut #70: Derek Lilliquist

Derek Lilliquist

PHOTO: This is the creepiest photo in the 1989 Topps ML Debut set. Take a look at the card...do you see why?

OMG THERE IS A GUY IN A SUIT STANDING NEXT TO A HEARSE IN THE OUTFIELD. HE APPEARS TO BE WAITING FOR LILLIQUIST TO DIE SO HE CAN PUT HIM IN THE CAR AND TAKE HIM TO HIS FUNERAL. OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111

Ok folks, but seriously, I'm not sure what that is. I think the shiny horitontal thing is actually the leg of another pitcher throwing a warm-up way in the background. And I have no idea who the man is.

STAT: Of the 108 pitchers to appear in at least 100 games over 1992-93, only Gregg Olson had a better ERA+ than Lilliquist. He was damn good those 2 seasons.

ANAGRAM: Derek Lilliquist = Die killer quilts!

CAREER: 3/10

Lilliquist bounced around a lot and other than those 2 great years in the Indians bullpen, he didn't have much major league success.

1989 Topps Major League Debut #69: Marcus Lawton

Marcus Lawton

PHOTO: Another close-up non-action shot of a Yankee player in this set...hmm...

STAT: David West faced him twice and struck him out both times. Also check out Lawton's minor league season in 1985. He stole 111 bases...and was caught only 8 times!

ANAGRAM: Marcus Lawton = Macro Walnuts (I can't tell you how tempted I was to go with "A lawn scrotum" but that would just be too unprofessional, even if a better approximation of his major-league career.)

CAREER: 1/10

Lawton had speed but couldn't get on base much and never made it in the majors.

1989 Topps Major League Debut #68: Joe Kraemer

Joe Kraemer

PHOTO: "Hey Joe! I'm the Topps photographer. Let's take the photo for your first-ever major-league baseball card! First, put your arms up in a totally outdated fake windup pose. Now make sure they also block the sun from your face. A little higher...a little higher...perfect!" *CLICK*

STAT: A

ANAGRAM: Joe Kraemer = A mere joker

CAREER: 1/10

A bit better than the last card, Matt Kinzer. Kraemer had 28.2 IP in the majors and gave up just 20 earned runs.

1989 Topps Major League Debut #67: Matt Kinzer

Matt Kinzer

PHOTO: I love, love, love, photos that show the ball mid-flight. I don't know if Kinzer was a heavy guy or not, but this photo certainly wasn't very flattering.

STAT: Kinzer pitched for the Cardinals and Tigers but may be best remembered by Phillies fans due to this meaningless late-season game in 1989 where he served up a walk-off grand-slam gopher ball to John Kruk in the 12 inning.

CAREER: 1/10

This poor guy pitched 15 innings in the majors and gave up 22 earned runs.