Five Random Cubs Cards

I've got 10,589 Cubs cards from 70 different brands listed on a spreadsheet. A random number generator picked five cards, one each from the past several decades.

1950s / 1960s Topps 1966 #145 George Altman  The 1966 season was last complete season in the major leagues.  He played in 88 games and hit only .222 with just 5 HRs and 17 RBIs.  He spent most of the '67 season in AAA and then played another eight years in Japan.

1970s TCMA 1979 The 50's #63 Chuck Tanner  This 291 card set is supposed to feature the stars of the 1950s.  TCMA was being generous by including Chuck Tanner on the checklist. In 1979 he was a successful big league manager, but his playing career in the 1950s was mediocre at best.  The card shows his at spring training in Mesa.  This is probably 1958...the uniform he has on was only worn by the Cubs in 1957, but teams didn't break out their new unis until the start of the season.  Tanner spent both the '57 and '58 seasons with the Cubs, mainly as a back up outfielder.  

1980s Team Issued 1988 #45 Al Nipper  This card was given away by the Cubs at Wrigley Field on August 24, 1988.  Greg Maddux opposed Nolan Ryan that day as the Cubs topped the Astros 3-2.  Neither starter got a decision, though Maddux should have.  Jeff Pico blew the save in the 8th, but got the win as the Cubs scored in the bottom of the 8th.  Al Nipper didn't pitch that day because he was on the disabled list, one of two trips to the list that season.  For the year he pitched in 22 games and was 2-4.  The Cubs released him after the season.

1990s Team Issued 1990 Coaches  The RNG picked two team issued cards in a row!  The 1990 set was given out on August 17.  The Cubs shut out the Braves that day 7-0.  Some day I should check the Cubs record on the days they gave out baseball cards.  They're 2-0 with these two cards.  The staff included a couple former big league managers (Altobelli and Cottier) and one of baseball's greatest names (at least to a junior high boy).

2000s Greats of the Game 2006 #41 Gary Matthews  Sarge was one of ten Cubs included in this set.  He isn't often featured in a set like this as a Cub.  His best years were with other teams, but he was a main cog of the 1984 division winning Cubs.