December 2, 2013

April 28, 1984 - Ranger Danger


 Game #252 - Texas Rangers, 4 @ Baltimore Orioles, 1

I've mentioned before that the 1985 Topps set was my first as a kid, and that pouring over the backs of these cards is one of the reasons I fell in love with the 1984 season.  Ten year old me and present day me would have both bet all the money in our wallets (surprisingly, still a small amount all these years later) that Jeff Kunkel would never get player of the game status in this recreation.  I thought he was the weakest player included in the set!

Oh to be proven wrong!

The Rangers tagged Bill Swaggerty for three runs in the second inning, one of those RBI's coming from Jeff Kunkel.  Kunkel would score an insurance run in the ninth too.  He even stole a base in the fourth inning!  Danny Darwin scattered seven hits over seven innings, thanks in part to three double plays the Orioles hit into.

Winning Pitcher - Danny Darwin
Losing Pitcher - Bill Swaggerty
Save - Dave Schmidt
Player of the Game - Jeff Kunkel, 3-4, 2R's, RBI, SB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray

2 comments:

  1. Argenis Salazar is the weakest player in the set. Jim Anderson is a distant second. Kunkel is like Ryne Sandberg compared to Salazar!

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