1991 Topps. Some come to laugh their past away.

June 24, 1991 39-year old Dave Winfield came to the plate in the eighth inning a triple shy of becoming the oldest player in MLB history to hit for a cycle. 

Prior to the at bat, Winfield had lit up Royals starter Hector Wagner for an RBI single, double and a two-run homer which literally finished Hector's career. 

Winfield never hit a cycle in his career.  "I told the guys on the bench after I got the single, the double and the homer, I said, 'I'm going to get that triple tonight,' [1]

Because the Royals had played three extra inning games in the past four days their bullpen was completely exhausted. In an attempt to save the bullpen the Royals turned to starter Tom Gordon who two days prior threw 123 pitches across seven innings.

Dave singles off of Gordon for his fourth hit in the seventh.

For Dave's fifth at bat Tom Gordon exits and Royals utility infielder Bill Pecota who was playing first base was now on the mound for the first time in his life facing a red hot Dave Winfield.

Dave connects on Pecota's 1 - 1 pitch for the triple.

All told he went 5 - 5 with 3 runs scored and 3 RBI.  An epic game as Dave became the oldest player in MLB history to hit for a cycle. 

About The Card

This is a great shot and composition of Winfield. This photo captures his imposing presence in the batter's box well. 1991 Topps looks cool if you don't stare at it for too long. I'm always a fan of using the official team logos but Topps insistence on using a pennant as a backdrop ruins it. I don't like the slogan either. Why couldn't they have used the more accurate "40 Years of Baseball Cards"? 1991 Topps also had the dubious distinction of competing against themselves and compared to the landmark Stadium Club line this set is markedly lame.

Notes

1. Elliott, Helene, (June 25, 1991) The Los Angeles Times.

wacky side note is that 30 minutes down the road the Grateful Dead played Sandstone Ampitheatre and stunk up the joint worst than Hector Wagner.