Oversized in My Collection: 1986 Donruss All-Stars (Part 1 of 6)

Usually when I make a post about a set, I pull out a handful of the cards to scan as representatives of the whole set.  Usually when I post about something like oversized Donruss All-Stars, I don't actually own the whole set and am just showing some or all of the cards I happen to have (that's the case for the 1984, 1985, and 1987 Donruss All-Stars I've posted about previously).  However, for the 1986 Donruss All-Stars, I do have a complete set, and breaking from my usual practice, I'm going to show the whole thing.  I don't want to do 60 cards in one post, so I'm breaking it up.  I'm breaking it up into 6 posts, so there will be 10 cards per post.

#1.  Tony Gwynn.

The 1986 set is based on the 1985 All-Star Game, and the first 18 cards show the starters for each team (in the order they appear in the batting order, with the NL first).  First up is Tony Gwynn, who certainly makes sense to choose as a leadoff hitter.  He went 0-for-1 in the game.

#2.  Tommy Herr.

Next we have the Cardinals long-time second baseman Tommy Herr.  Herr bounced around to a few different teams after 1988, including a stint with the Phillies in the era that Dad and I were going to a lot of games.  Herr was 1-for-3 in the game with a run scored.  His hit was a double in the 3rd off Jack Morris.

#3.  Steve Garvey.

Since the Padres were the 1984 NL pennant winners, I guess it makes sense there were so many of them on the NL team, including among the starters.  Steve Garvey took the vote at first base, and went 1-for-3 with an RBI (he singled off Morris in the 3rd to knock in Herr).

#4.  Dale Murphy.

In 1985, Dale Murphy had recently won two NL MVP awards, three Gold Gloves, three Silver Sluggers, and was appearing in his 5th All-Star Game (fourth in a row).  He was 1-for-3; following Garvey's single in the 3rd, Murphy hit a ground-rule double off Morris, moving Garvey to third base.

#5.  Darryl Strawberry.

Darryl Strawberry was also young then, and full of potential.  Strawberry had recently won Rookie of the Year, and was appearing in his second consecutive All-Star game.  He went 1-for-1 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch, and scored twice.  The walk followed Murphy's double, to load the bases, but none of them scored then. 

#6.  Graig Nettles.

Graig Nettles was the third (of five!) Padres in the starting lineup for the NL.  Nettles was nearing the end of his long career, and this was the sixth and final All-Star Game for him.  He was 0-for-2.

#7.  Terry Kennedy.

Terry Kennedy didn't win the vote; Gary Carter did, but was replaced by Terry Kennedy.  I can't find a story about why the change was made, but it doesn't matter too much to me.  This was Kennedy's third All-Star appearance as a Padre, and he would make one more in his career, with the Orioles in 1987.  Kennedy went 1-for-2 with one RBI; he singled off Morris in the 2nd, to score Strawberry (Strawberry had previously singled and stolen second). 

#8.  Ozzie Smith.

Ozzie Smith, who is very awesome, went 0-for-4 in this game.  He would do better later in the year, becoming the MVP of the 1985 NLCS.

#9.  LaMarr Hoyt.

Starting pitcher LaMarr Hoyt batted 0-for-1, striking out in the top of the 3rd.  He pitched 3 innings, giving up 2 hits and 1 unearned run.  He was given the win.

#10.  Rickey Henderson.

On the AL side, we have Rickey Henderson leading off.  Of course you're going to pick Rickey Henderson to be your leadoff hitter, if you have him as an option.  Henderson went 1-for-3 and scored the AL's only run.  To score, Henderson led off the first with a single, stole second base, advanced to third on a throwing error, and then scored on a sacrifice fly by George Brett.  This was the fifth of Henderson's 10 All-Star selections.

Next Saturday, we'll take a look at cards 11-20!