Up first is Gred Maddux's card.
A look at the front tells me this is Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego. The Murph is easy to spot because of the outfield wall that got moved forward in the early 1980s. If there is any doubt, the back of the card....
....removes any.
It's easier to try to identify a game on a pitcher's card since pitchers, especially starters, play in a fraction of the games that a position player does. And since the Cubs visited San Diego only twice a season, that makes it even easier for this card. In fact, Maddux made only one start in San Diego in 1989, on July 13. So, boom, I'm done. The picture on the front is from the bottom of the fourth inning, when Tony Gwynn put down a bunt to sacrifice Garry Templeton over to second base. On the back, Maddux leads off of second after doubling in the top of the sixth.
As easy as the first card was, the second one, Ryne Sandberg's...
...wasn't. It started out simple enough. The Braves at Wrigley in May, as told to me by the uniform and the ivy. The Braves were in Chicago on May 15-17, 1989. So far so good. Now I just need to find a play in any of those games where Dion James is forced out a second base by Ryne Sandberg. The first game, on May 15, saw Dion James walk in the fourth, and then ex-Cub Jody Davis hit into a 6-4-3 double play. I'm done!
No I'm not!! The next day, in the sixth inning, James led off with a single. Two batters later, Dale Murphy hits into another 6-4-3 double play. So how can I tell if the picture is from the 15th or the 16th?
I can't! Sorry, but I'm not that good.
Well. I for one am disappointed in you. ;)
ReplyDeleteI throw myself at the mercy of the court!
ReplyDeleteThis might be a dumb question, but how does the uni tell you May?
ReplyDeleteSorry, poorly written sentence...The uni tells me Braves, the ivy tells me May.
ReplyDelete