Shoebox Memories: 1987 Topps Howard Johnson

Executives of Topps must have enjoyed games during the 1986 season, as they provided fans numerous cards with pictures taken during the Mets’ World Series season of 1986 in the 1987 Topps set.  We’ve previously looked at cards from the 1987 Topps set for Kevin Mitchell, Wally Backman, and Gary Carter and were able to determine the game and outcome of the play pictured. Today, we’re going to get out deerstalker Sherlock Holmes hat off the wall and affix it to our head as we try to do the same for the 1987 Howard Johnson card shown here:

The Play on the Card

Using just our eyes for a quick examination of the cards, we see that Johnson is wearing the Mets home uniform and the field is grass, so we know the game was played at Shea.

Let’s also note that the player or coach in the background was wearing a Phillies uniform, and the game was played during the day.  In addition, Johnson who was a switch hitter, is seen leaving the batter’s box from the left hand side, and appears to be looking towards the right side of the diamond, indicating he pulled the ball.  Not much to go on, but let’s see if the combination of our Sherlock Holmes hat and baseballrefence.com can aid us to determine when the game was played; who the pitcher was; and if possible, what happened on the play in question.  Once that is answered, whether the Mets won the game.

1. Using the Schedule and results feature on baseballreference, the Mets and Phillies played only three day games at Shea in 1986: the weekend of April 19th and 20th, and Sunday September 21.  The other six home games against the Phillies were all night games.

2. Checking the box score of the April 19 game, we see that Howard Johnson did not play in that game, so we can eliminate that game and focus on the April 20 and the September 21st games.

3. The box score for the next day reflects that in the second inning, Johnson singled to right off of Kevin Gross, a right handed pitcher.  He then stole second but was stranded when Rafael Santana struck out.  The single to right off of Kevin Gross is the likely play. In the third, Johnson walked and in the fifth Johnson popped up to the catcher off of Dave Rucker, a left pitcher meaning Johnson would have switched to the right side.  In the seventh, Johnson struck out.  The Mets won the game 8-0.

4. The box score of the September 21 game shows us that Johnson had 4 plate appearances, all left handed.  He grounded out to third in the bottom of the second, struck out in the fifth and walked in the second.  None of these outcomes fit our belief that Johnson pulled the ball during the at bat.  In the bottom of the ninth, he lined to right, ending the game.  However, it is unlikely Johnson’s uniform would have been as clean as it is shown on the card by the bottom of the ninth, especially given the noted diving stops he made during the game defensively.

Our conclusion is that the action showed on the card in question is from second inning of the April 20 game against the Phillies. Johnson singled to right off of Kevin Gross in a game the Mets would win 8-0.

Before we hang our Sherlock Holmes hat back on the wall, it should also be noted that the Gary Carter card was taken from the first inning of the same April 20 game against the Phillies, also from the home field dugout side of the field.  Topps wound up with two cards for the same game.

LGM