1986 Topps #39 Dave Rucker

Mets 7, Phillies 1
Game 106 - Monday Night, July 28th in Flushing
Record - 46-60, 5th Place, 12 1/2 games behind the Nationals

Another Why Even Bother Post-Vacation Massive Catch-Up, Part 3 of 8

One Sentence Summary:  In what could potentially be his final start with the Phillies (it wasn't), A.J. Burnett got lit up early and the Mets went on to win this ballgame easily, 7-1.

What It Means:  It seems as if everyone the Phillies are trying to trade right now is struggling.  (These posts are running late, but I'm actually composing them shortly after the games are finished.)

What Happened:  Burnett allowed four first inning runs and was chased after just five innings.  His final line wasn't pretty - seven runs on eight hits and one three-run home run to former Phillies prospect Travis d'Arnaud.  Marlon Byrd and Carlos Ruiz both had four hits in this game, but it was all for naught.

Featured Card:  I was going to feature a d'Arnaud card from his time in the Phillies system, but I've previously posted the three cards of his in my collection.  Instead, here's the Dave Rucker card that my oldest son Doug pulled from a pack of 1986 Topps purchased from the Ocean City, NJ boardwalk for a dollar.  (He threw out the gum.)

There's a gift shop on the Ocean City boardwalk that sells Star Wars men and baseball cards, among other things.  It's an annual stop of ours whenever we walk the boards and this year Doug spent his money on packs of junk wax era cards.  He came away with packs of 1988 and 1991 Score, 1986 Topps and 1991 Fleer.  He spent the evening sorting and studying these cards and asking when we could go back for more packs of 1988 Score - his favorite of the bunch.