1992 Topps #962 Denny Walling

 Todays missing 1992 Topps card is #962, Denny Walling. 

Like yesterdays subject, John Morris, Denny was mainly a pinch-hitter throughout his 18 year career. He got his first taste of Big League action in 1975 with the Oakland Athletics. He played for them again in 1976 before getting traded to the Houston Astros. He played with them for the long stretch of 1977 to the 1988 waiver trade deadline when he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for pitcher Bob Forsch. He played the rest of ‘88 with them, as well as the next 2 seasons. He signed with the Texas Rangers as a free agent and played with them in 1991 before going back to the Astros in 1992, his final Major League season. 

Denny got into coaching first with the Oakland Athletics from 1996-1998, and then again with the New York Mets from 2002-2004. 

Denny’s first Topps card came in the 1977 set as an Athletic on a 4 card prospect card he shared with future Hall of Famer Andre Dawson. He missed getting into the 1978 set, but then appeared in every set from 1979 to 1990, with the ‘90 Topps card being his last Topps card issued. 

He is missing cards in the 1977 Topps set (as an Astro), the 1978 Topps set, the 1988 Topps Traded set, the 1991 Topps and 1991 Topps Traded sets, the 1992 Topps Traded, and 1993 Topps sets. As far as his coaching career goes, he is missing cards in the 1996 Topps, 1997 Topps, 1998 Topps, 1999 Topps, 2002 Topps Traded, 2003 Topps, 2004 Topps, and 2005 Topps sets. Cards I have covered of Denny are the 1991 Topps, 1991 Topps Traded, 1992 Topps Traded, 1993 Topps, and 1998 Topps cards, leaving Denny missing 1977 Topps (Astros), 1978 Topps, 1988 Topps Traded, 1996 Topps Traded, 1997 Topps, 1999 Topps, 2002 Topps Traded, 2003 Topps, 2004 Topps, and 2005 Topps cards to complete his career Topps run. 

Denny’s nickname was Good Wood, as he was a good pinch hitter. He hit particularly well at the Astrodome, a hard park to hit in. Entering the 2009 season, his 108 pinch-hits were tied for 13th all-time. Not too bad to know that only 12 hitters in the entire history of MLB had more career pinch-hits than you. Enjoys tennis, fishing, and hunting according to the back of his 1984 Fleer card. Coincidentally, 36 years ago today he had a 6 RBI game to tie Astros record. 

That’s about all I have for you today. Thanks for taking the time to read my latest post. 

-Jeremy