Taking over for Eric Davis in Left

1991 Donruss
No. 253 Glenn Braggs

Glenn was aquired mid season in a trade with the Brewers. Used mainly as a No. 4 outfielder, he came in after Eric Davis injured himself making a diving catch. Make the usal catches when need. And at the plate? Drive in the game tieing run in the eighth. Nothing much to see here. Move along. Move along. This is the man that drove in Larkin to tie it and allowed Hal Morris to redeem himself for not doing much all series by driving in the wining run on a sacrifice. Team Ball! That is what wins and that is what Braggs did!

Taking Over on the Mound

In relief of Jose Rijo here in the bottom of the ninth and up by one run. 1991 Donruss No. 209 Randy Meyers The biggest Tennessee Tuxedo on the team. He wore his uniform loose and the mullet long. He threw the leather orb hard and curving. He was the man with the save in Game 4 to guarantee the sweep of the A's in 1990. And piss off ol' Margie. Seems owners do not make money on the series until Game 5. She skimped on the celebration refreshments and food afterward.

Batting for Billy Hatcher

And taking over in Center Field

1991 Donruss
No. 695 Herm Winningham


Herm took over after Billy was hit by a pitch from Dave Stewart. I would more than likely be out after a fastball from Dave Stewart also. So what did Herm do with his oppotunity? Score the winning run for the Reds! After a bunt to get on and advancing Larkin. He was driven in by a sacrafice from Hal Morris to score the go ahead and winning run in the top of the eighth. That's what Herm did.
Too bad Donruss chose a single off of Tom Glavine for the card photo. They had plenty of time to put on his bunt being a second series card.

And Warming Up in the Bullpen

Starting Pitcher

1991 Donruss
No. 742 Jose Rijo



To look back on Jose's Game 1 and Game 4 performances brings one word to mind.
DOMINATION
He was inhospitable to A's hitters. Overpowering. 2 Games. 9 hits from the vaunted A's. One run. 14 K's in 15 innings. Retired 20 straight batters in game 4. Only taken out of a complete game by Pinella with 1 out in the ninth. After freezing Dave Henderson at the plate. Would have had a shutout if not for an intentional walk to Harold Baines in the first. The best part of the performance? He was being watched and studied by his father-in-law Juan Marichal. A scout for the A's at the time.
This card has a great shot of Jose Rijo throwing some stinky cheddar at Rickey Henderson and making him recoil in anguish for the strikeout. The shirt flapping from the burst of speed to throw the fastball. The head down because he knows it will not be hit. That is what I see.

Batting Ninth

Starting Second Baseman

1991 Donruss
No. 309 Mariano Duncan


Mr. Duncan had some pop and speed. How else do you explain leading the National League in triples for the 1990 season? His steady hands in the field in 1990 were the second half of a potent double play combo with Barry Larkin. Batting ninth in this game was a great plus. His speed on the bases for the big hitters to drive in. But for some reason he was rarely on base. Only 2 hits and no walks in the 4 games. One run scored. The A's pitchers owned him.

Hitting Eighth

and starting at catcher

1991 Donruss
No. 381 Joe Oliver


Here we have Joe hitting to right for a fly out. Isn't that what us catcher's named Joe do? We have our moments. 6 RBI in a game against the Cubs for Mr. Oliver in 1990. 6 RBI against Hancock Bank in 1985 for me. 3 Doubles and 2 RBI against the A's in the 1990 World Series. Too bad he was never as good at second base as I was. Not that I am bragging. He made on the field in the Majors. I buy tickets to stand next to the field.

At First Base

and batting seventh in the lineup

1991 Donruss
No. 640 Todd Benzinger


I really do not remember much about Benzinger. So I do not feel right commenting on hi. So if anyone out there would like to fill me in. Feel free.

Sixth in Tonight's Lineup

Starting at Third Base

1991 Donruss
No. 412 Chris Sabo



There a three Chris Sabo Cards in 1991 Donruss. This is the only one showing Chris Sabo's soft and tender eyes. Even though he has upgraded the goggles these days to sunglasses, you still think of him in those goggles. The main reason for the selection of this card is the background. MVP. What Sabo should have won for the World Series. Nine hits. 5 RBI. 2 Runs Sored. 2 Bases on Balls. 2 K's. On base percentage of .611. A double that was inches away from a game saving homer. Some dirty dives. Close throws to first. Granted Hatcher had a record amount of hits, but he did not mean as much at the plate and in the field as Chris.
The card has the way cool Jaws 3-D effect going on with the MVP in the background. Some funky little green baseballs and a get that camera out a here. I gotta win a game portrait from Sabo. It's a winner.

Batting Fifth

Designated Hitter
Freakin A.L. rules

1991 Donruss
N0. 141 Hal Morris


Hal Morris. Designated Hitter. Why does the A.L. still do this? I just do not see the value of it. A no field all hit player is not a player. Sure it helped player's extend their careers. But why?

Hal was acquired from the Yankees after the 1989 season and took over first base after the first quarter of the 1990 season for the Reds. Solid on the dirt and productive in the box he stayed there all season. The World Series was not a bright spot in his career as he had only 2 hits in 14 at bats. And only 1 walk. He made contact. Just not to areas away from A's players. But most importantly. No errors.

The blue borders on this card pop out at you. It is not as mellow as the green. Hal in position to scoop up a weak grounder from Walt Wies with that oversize glove. Rockin the single wrist band to wipe the sweat away.

Batting Cleanup For the Reds

Starting Left Fielder

ERIC THE RED

1991 Donruss
No. 84 Eric Davis



The powerful forearm muscles tight. The hands ready to whip the bat around. The determined stare. Mr. Davis ready to power a Spalding over the right field fence. His batting and fielding led the Reds all season to a stay in first place in the Western Division. Finishing 26 games over the Atlanta Semi-Pro Baseball Team. Who does not remember his diving catch in Game 4 where he lacerated his kidney? Eric's 5 RBI's in the series. The demoralizing 2 run homer off of Dave Stewart in Game 1 to get things rolling. He practically took the World Series trophy from the Oakland A's trophy room and taunted them from the plate with it. And the A's balked. And lost. Thank you Eric for all you did and your continued works in the fight against cancer.

Third in Tonight's Lineup

Starting in Right Field
1990 Score
No. 295 Paul O'Neill
Look at Paul as he slaps a frozen rope off of Orel Hershiser. He knows that opposite field shot is going for extra bases. While Paul provided spark at the plate throughout the season for the Reds he sort of fell flat in the World series. the A's pitching staff had his number. But his trained eye stayed sharp and he made them pay for following the scouting reports. 5 walks in 12 at bats. 2 runs scored and an RBI. Sure his Avg. was low. But whwn you walk 50% of your at bats what do you expect?
This card is a 1990 Score. The bright red border. Nice choice. A good photo of Paul in action. Clear and crisp for 1990 standards. The beveled button with the Reds logo 8 years before that became a huge fad with photoshop. Great layout. The back has a color portrait of O'Neill that takes up a quarter of the card. Great stat line and well laid out bio and layer info. I can understand why this set is not priced high in collecting circles because of the amount produced. However, everyone should own a monster set like this just to see that sometimes plain works. Simple designs that look good. It's easy to tell the player and team.
This set just looks good.

Batting Second

In Center Field

1991 Donruss
No. 763 Billy Hatcher


Billy started Spring Training as the fourth outfielder in Pittsburgh behind Bonds, Bonilla and Van Slyke. As fate would have it he was traded to start the season in ht e field for the Reds. And batted .333 against them in the NLCS. Billy was named the World Series MVP after a record seven straight hits and a pedestrian . 750 Batting Average. I say that because I hit .759 in Little League. Yet I did not win MVP honors.
This card is special for one reason. Notice the 1990 World Series Logo on the corner. The series where Canseco and McGwire were afterthoughts. The series where Dave Stewart couldn't get it done. Where the Reds swept the American League team. That series. My favorite.

And now

For Game 4 of the 1990 Baseball World Series

From Your Cincinnati Reds

Batting Lead Off

1991 Donruss
No. 471
Shortstop Barry Larkin
Barry was 4th in hits in the N.L. in 1990 with 185. Barry scored the tieing run in game 4 of the World Series.
The card shows him squaring off for a bunt against Mike Scott of the Astros. One of the teams who were behind the Reds for the whole season. The card front has the typical early 90's fashion of bright lines and speckly things. Not that I ever wore anything like that. Something I did not realize is that if you put two cards next to each other the name line and position line have no break on the right side and flow into the next cards picture.

How cool is that? I never noticed that until I started scanning them. If you know of any other sets that do this let me know.