1992 Topps #886 Mark Huismann

Mark Huismann pitched for 9 seasons in the Majors. He came up to the Bigs in 1983 with the Royals and played with them until the middle of 1986 when the Mariners acquired him. He was on the 1985 World Series winning club with KC in '85. He split 1987 with the Mariners and Indians. The Tigers signed him for 1988, and he played with the Orioles in 1989. He spent his final 2 years in the Majors with the Pirates in 1990 and 1991.

Mark only appears in 2 Topps sets, 1985 and 1987. He is missing a bunch of cards, which are from 1984, 1986, and 1988-1991. This 1992 Topps custom is Marks final Topps card. I couldn't find a color photo of Mark in a Pirates uni, so I had to take this black and white one and colorize it. I didn't get the greens the fright color, and I think if I can find a better photo, I will definitely update this one.

I finished the final checklist to the 1989 Topps set on my other blog. Here is a link to the checklist. I'll give the set it's own page at some point with the checklist and all of the templates soon. I probably won't get to working on cards right yet, choosing rather to work on templates and checklists for the 1990-2000 Topps sets. I have a few readers helping me make some of the cards and get checklists going, so if you think you could help with anything, feel free to email me at karensjer at gmail dot com. Thanks for checking out the latest '92 custom.
-Jeremy

1992 Topps #885 Al Leiter

I usually post new cards from my phone while I'm on lunch at work, and today our internet is going slow as all get out, and I'm going to try to get this post up before my hour is up, but who knows. 

Al Leiter pitched for 19 seasons in the Majors, starting with the Yankees in 1987. He pitched with them until April 1989, and was traded to the Blue Jays. Al played with the Jays through 1995, winning the 1992 and 1993 World Series with them. He signed with the Marlins in 1996, and was with them in 1997 for their World Series title.  In 1998, he signed with the Mets,  and was with them until the end of the 2004 season. 2005 was his final year in the Majors, and he spent it with the Marlins and Yankees. Al finished his career with a 162-132 record, 3 World Series rings, and a no-hitter. Not too shabby. 

Al got into his first Topps set in 1988, which has 2 versions, an error with minor leaguer Steve George pictured, and a corrected version with Leiter's photo on it. 1988 Topps Cards does a nice write up on the 2 cards. Al appeared in the 1989-1991 Topps sets, then was left out of the 1992 and 1993 sets. He got a regular card in the 1994 set, and was in the 1995 Topps Traded set. He is missing from the '96 set, but got Topps cards from the 1997 set through the 2005 set. He also got in the '05 Topps Traded set. Al didn't get a sunset card in 2006, but one of my readers, Richard made his '06 card, and he also made his '93 Topps card, which are shown here.

Al is just missing a card from the 1996 Topps sets after this '92 Topps custom and Richard's '93 Topps and  '06 Topps customs. Al actually got a '92 O-Pee-Chee card, which I used for this one, just changing the logos out.

Well, I finished the post and it hasn't crapped out on me yet. I'm hoping to work on some more templates tonight. I'll finish the '89 Topps customs, and with help from reader Paul B., I should have the checklist for the '89 Topps set finished as well. Thanks for checking out my latest post. 

-Jeremy 

1992 Topps #884 John Barfield

John Barfield pitched 3 years in the Majors, all with the Rangers, from 1989-1991.
He only had 1 Topps card, from the 1991 set, during his career. He did appear in the 1990 Topps Debut set, and got into the '92 Stadium Club set. With this '92 Topps custom, John is just missing his 1990 Topps rookie card to complete his career Topps run.

I played softball on Monday, but we lost 25-3 and I went 0-2 with a fielders choice and a line out to 2nd with the bases loaded. I knew I should've probably stayed home, but didn't think it would be that bad. I have to get 1 hit in my next 5 ABs to hit .300, 2 for .400. It's doable. Thanks for checking out my latest post.
-Jeremy

1992 Topps #883 Mike Blowers

Mike Blowers played 11 seasons in the Majors. He spent his first 3 seasons with the Yankees from 1989-1991. From there, he spent 1992-1995 with the Mariners. He played 1996 with the Dodgers, and was back with the Mariners in 1997. He played with the Athletics in 1998, and finished out his career in 1999, spending it in Japan, and then coming back to the Mariners.

Mike got his first Topps card in the 1990 Traded set. He appeared in the 1991 regular set, then was left off of the 1992 and 1993 sets. He got into the 1994-1997 sets, was left out of the 1998 set, and got his final Topps card in the '99 set. He is missing cards from the 1992-1993, 1998, and 2000 Topps sets. This 1992 Topps custom leave Mike with 3 cards needed to complete his career Topps run.

This card actually gave me a difficult situation. Mike was traded to the Mariners on May 17, 1991, which would've been plenty of time to get a picture of Mike in a M's uniform. The only problem is that Mike never played with the Mariners in 1991, but with their AAA club in Calgary. I decided to leave Mike's photo as a Yankee photo, but to designate that he was traded (ala O-Pee-Chee). Here is a version I made without the traded designation.

While researching Wikipedia for info about Blowers' career, I found what looked like a fans' website devoted to Blowers listed as an external link. When I clicked the link, it sent me to some Japanese? website. When I translated it, it turned out to be a website about hair loss or something. I seem to be finding crazier and crazier things online while researching players in my project. 

I didn't get to work on as many customs as I wanted to yesterday night, but I am so close to finishing the 2000 Topps templates. Maybe by next week. I think I'll also try to finally finish that 1992 Topps Scott Brosius card to finally finish the '92 set. I think sub-consciously I have been putting the card off because Brosuis was one of those pesky Yankees in the '90's, which were the years when my Yankee-hating came to be.  Might as well finish the set though.  Thanks for checking out my latest custom.

-Jeremy

1992 Topps #882 Greg Smith

Greg Smith played 3 years in the Majors. He came up in 1989 with the Cubs, played with them in 1990, was traded to the Dodgers in December of that year, and then played 5 games for them in 1991.
After his career, he became a scout.
Greg is on a 2-player rookie card in the 1990 Fleer set, sharing his with Auburn alum, former San Francisco Giant,  and Favorite Player of mine Stu Tate. I actually had a copy that was autographed by both after I had sent it in the mail to each player and received it back both times signed, but I think I sold it when I downsized a bunch of my autograph collection. I'll have to try to get a signed copy again.

Smith only has 1 Topps card, a 1991 version. He appeared in the 1990 Topps Debut set, but was left off of the main set, which seems strange, because he was considered a prospect for the Cubs back then. Greg is only missing his 1990 Topps rookie card after I made this 1992 Topps custom.

According to his Wikipedia page, it says Greg was homecoming king at his high school in 1985. It's kind of crazy the stuff I have learned about players while doing research for posts, and I will try to pass some along as I find it.

I'm still working on templates for the 2000 Topps set, and I should finish it by the end of this week and then move on to the '89 Topps set. I'll try to post every single template that I have in the next month before baby comes so if you want to try to do a custom set like this one that you will have some templates to help get you started. No softball game last night, I guess because of the rain. I might just have to end up finishing the season with the .667 Batting Average. If we get 2-3 more rainouts, it will be time for baby, and by the time I'm ready to play again, the season should almost be over. If only I would've swung at that last pitch, maybe I'd have a 1.000 Average for the season!  Next year!  Thanks for checking out my latest custom.
-Jeremy

1991 Topps #881 Jason Grimsley

Jason Grimsley pitched in the Majors for 15 seasons, and won 2 World Series titles, but had a rather abrupt end to his career. He came up to the Bigs in 1989 with the Phillis, and played with them until the end of 1991. He pitched in the minors in 1992, and played for the Indians in 1993-1995. The Angels signed him for 1996, then he spent 1997 and 1998 in the minors. During that time, he decided to use steroids to recover from an injury so he could hang on and play a few more seasons in the Majors. He hooked up with the Yankees, and performed well for them in 1999 and 2000, helping them win the World Series both years. He pitched with the Royals from 2001 through the middle of 2004.  He was acquired by the Orioles, and finished out the rest of the '04 season with them. He played with them in 2005, then signed with the Diamondbacks for 2006. In June, federal investigators raided his home looking for illegal steroids, and he requested his release from the Diamondbacks shortly after. The whole Mitchell report started from that incident, and we all know what happened after that. Grimsley would never pitch again in the Majors, and should he ever attempt to come back, he would have to serve a 50-game suspension once he is on the 40 man roster of any team. Kind of a sad way to finish out a career, but I can see why he would be tempted to take steroids. As a middle reliever trying to hang on and needing to support your family, it would be tempting to take steroids to recover from an injury faster. If you look at the Mitchell Report, the majority of the players you see are ones who weren't stars wanting to hit for more power, but were scrub guys just trying to hang on or recover from an injury. As a Type 1 diabetic, I take a long time to heal from stuff. I'm not saying it was ok for players to use illegal substances, but I can see why some would do so.
Grimsley first appeared in the 1990 Topps set. He got into the 1991 set, then was left off until the 2001 set. He got a 2001 Topps Traded card, and that was it for him. He is missing cards from the 1994-1996 Topps sets, the 1997 set, the 2000 set, and the 2002-2007 sets. His 1992 Topps card is now covered, but there are still a bunch of cards to make to finish his Topps run.
Our house survived the hurricane with only some broken tree branches in the yard and the power going out for about a day. Not too bad. I'm off tomorrow, and we may or may not have a softball game. If we don't, I might stay up and work on some templates for the 2000 Topps set. Hopefully by then I will be watching the Cubs taking Game 3 from the Giants. I'm not a Cubs fan at all, but I don't see how anyone could like the Giants. They weren't the best team in baseball in any of the 3 years they won he World Series in the last decade. The '10 Rangers, '12 Tigers, and '14 Royals were better, and I just don't care for dynasties, unless it's a team I've been following or rooting for, like the Red Sox. I think it will be the Cubs and either the Red Sox or Blue Jays in the World Series. I think Papi can bring the Sox back, but I can't believe they are down 2-0 to the Indians. The Jays look strong, but I don't think anyone can stop the Cubs and this will be their year. Thanks for checking out my latest custom.
-Jeremy

1992 Topps #880 Chuck Cary

Chuck Cary played 8 years in the Major Leagues. He was drafted in the 7th round by the Detroit Tigers in 1981 after a nice career at UCLA Berkeley, whom he pitched for in the 1980 College World Series. He got called up by Detroit in 1985, and pitched for them in 1986. He got into a total of 20 games for the Braves in 1987 and 1988. He was injured for the better part of the '88 season, prompting the Braves not to resign him. The Yankees took a gamble on him, and he responded with a 3.26 ERA for them in 1989. He played the 1990 and 1991 seasons with the Yankees before opting to play in Japan in 1992 with the Tokyo Giants. He pitched one last season in the Majors with the Chicago White Sox in 1993.

Cary got his first Topps card in the 1987 set, got another in the 1989 Traded set, and got his last 2 cards in the 1990 and 1991 regular sets. He is missing cards from the 1986, 1988, 1992, and 1994 Topps sets. I guess since Chuck only appeared in 10 games in 1991 that Topps decided to leave him out of the 1992 set, but now he has his 1992 Topps card, and is only missing 3 cards for his career Topps run.

I'm here at work getting prepared for hurricane Matthew to approach us. I live near Daytona, so we'll probably feel some effects of the storm, but hopefully it won't be as bad as everyone says it will be. Everyone is buying a ton of bread from the bakery and we've been swamped the let 2 days, and I'm hoping corporate decides to close us down on Friday, because that is my only day off until Monday, and I would really love to relax a little and later in the day try to unpack more, but should we stay open Friday, I have a feeling I'll be called in. Fingers crossed. If I am working, I'll try to post some cards on my lunch. Thanks for checking out my latest post.
-Jeremy