In the 15th episode of MISportsNow’s “Chasing Rookies,” we dig into another box from monthly trading card subscription company Collectible Card Club and open packs of Topps, Donruss and Fleer.
1982 Donruss
#485 Kevin Saucier
A 1980 World Series champion with the Philadelphia Phillies, Saucier broke in with the Phillies in 1978 before retiring with the Detroit Tigers in 1983. Since his retirement, Saucier has worked as a scout with the Major League Scouting Bureau. He ended his career with a 15-11, a 3.31 earned run average and 94 strikeouts.
1987 Topps
#741 Paul Molitor
A 2004 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and seven-time All-Star, Molitor split 21 seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers (1978-92), Toronto Blue Jays (1993-95) and Minnesota Twins (1996-98). A designated hitter and infielder, Molitor won a World Series with the Blue Jays in 1993 and was named the World Series MVP. A four-time Silver Slugger Award winner, his No. 4 was retired by the Brewers. He later served as manager of the Twins from 2015-18, winning American League Manager of the Year honors in 2017. Molitor finished his playing career with a .306 batting average, 3,319 hits, 234 home runs, 1,307 RBI and 504 stolen bases.
1987 Fleer
#155 Eric King – Rookie
A seven-year Major League veteran, King broke in with the Tigers in 1986 before playing with the Chicago White Sox (1989-90) and Cleveland Indians (1991) and then wrapping up his career with the Tigers in 1992. He posted a 52-45 record with a 3.97 ERA and 459 strikeouts. King gave up Ken Griffey Jr.’s MLB first home run.
1989 Donruss
#635 Curt Schilling – Rookie
A six-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion (2001, 2004, 2007), Schilling twice led Major League Baseball in wins (2001, 2004) and the National League in strikeouts (1997-98), Schilling broke in with the Baltimore Orioles in 1988 before moving to the Houston Astros in 1991. He would go on to play for the Phillies (1992-2000), Arizona Diamondbacks (2000-03) and Boston Red Sox. He is a member of the Phillies Wall of Fame and Red Sox Hall of Fame. Schilling concluded his playing career with a 216-146 record, a 3.46 ERA and 3,116 strikeouts.
1989 Fleer
#130 Tom Brookens
A former third basemen, Brookens debuted with the Tigers in 1979 and won a World Series with Detroit in 1984 before moving on to the New York Yankees in 1989. He ended his playing career with the Cleveland Indians in 1990. Brookens was the manager of the Oneonta Tigers, the West Michigan Whitecaps and Erie SeaWolves before joining Detroit’s coaching staff as a first and third base coach from 2009-13. Brookens also served as a bench coach for Team USA in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, winning a gold medal.
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