Skipping “front” and “back” for this card and just focusing on the players.
The player: Mike Boddicker pitched fourteen seasons in the major leagues. His first two seasons were dominant – 16-8, 2.77 as a rookie for the 1983 World Champion Orioles (and two complete game victories in the postseason in which he did not allow an earned run); followed by leading the AL in wins (20) and ERA (2.79) in in 1984. However, in that 1984 season he struck out only 128 batters in 261.1 innings. Pitchers with that kind of ratio are usually unable to maintain a high level of performance, and Boddicker was no exception. However, he was able achieve double-figures in wins through the 1991 season, maintaining a respectable ERA most years. For his career he finished 134-116 with a 3.80 ERA. Those numbers are inflated by those first two seasons, though. From 1985, when the league started figuring him out, through his 1993 retirement he was 97-96 with a 4.09 ERA.
The man: He does some youth coaching near his home in Iowa, and runs a charitable organization called the Boddicker Foundation.
My collection: I have 74 of his cards, from 1981 to 1993. I would be interested in trading for 1985 Drake's #34.
Mark Corey
The player: Outfielder Mark Corey played in 59 games for the Orioles from 1979 to 1981, hitting .211 with 1 HR and 3 RBI. He stayed in professional baseball through the 1987 season, including spending the 1984 season in Japan.
The man: After his playing career Corey worked in real estate and in airline operations, and was a Rockies scout.
My collection: I have four of his cards, from 1979 to 1981. (This was the last of three straight years that Corey was on an Orioles future stars card.) I would be interested in trading for 1987 Indianapolis Indians #30.
Floyd Rayford
The player: Floyd Rayford played parts of seven seasons in the majors as a backup 3B-catcher, mostly for the Orioles. In 390 games he hit .244 with 38 HR and 117 RBI.
The man: Rayford had a long career as a minor league coach but now appears to be retired.
My collection: I have 16 of his cards, from 1981 to 1990. I would be interested in trading for 1978 SSPC #200.
I just came across this card last night while I sorting one of the many boxes of 1981 topps I have. Always thought Boddicker had better stats, but maybe that is because the Twins were so terrible in the early 80's and he always beat us.
ReplyDeleteBoddicker was pretty solid in his 2 1/2 years with Boston (39-22, 3.49 ERA) and his 1990 season was underrated (17-8, 5.9 WAR, and a Gold Glove!) That being said, he's also the guy the Red Sox traded Curt Schilling and Brady Anderson to Baltimore for...
ReplyDeleteMike was a great guy when I met him in 2010 we talked about his 1983 playoff run & as well why he was sent to Boston then later to Kansas City.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if I pulled it from a pack or added it to my collection through one of those "porch" trades... but I remember treasuring this card when I was a kid. Thought he was going to be the next Jim Palmer or something.
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