The 1989 Topps baseball card #792 features Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Mike Scioscia. The card provides an in-depth look at Scioscia’s career up to that point entering his ninth major league season.
Born in 1960 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Scioscia grew up a die hard Phillies fan and dreamed of one day playing in the major leagues. He attended Springfield Township High School where he was a standout catcher and went on to play college ball at the University of Southern California. Scioscia was drafted by the Dodgers in the second round of the 1981 MLB Draft.
Scioscia made his MLB debut with the Dodgers in 1980 at just 19 years old, becoming the youngest player in the National League that season. He struggled at the plate early in his career, batting just .218 in his rookie season while serving primarily as a backup catcher. Scioscia split time over his first few seasons between the Dodgers and their AAA minor league affiliate in Albuquerque.
By 1985, Scioscia was beginning to establish himself as the Dodgers’ everyday catcher. He appeared in 115 games behind the plate that year, hitting .277 with 31 RBI while helping the Dodgers reach the NLCS. Scioscia showed steady improvement both defensively and with the bat over the next couple seasons. His defensive abilities, which included a strong arm and excellent game calling skills, were becoming an integral part of the Dodgers pitching staff.
Entering 1988, Scioscia had developed into one of the top defensive catchers in the league while maintaining a batting average around .250. The 1989 Topps card highlights many of his impressive numbers and accomplishments through his first 8 MLB seasons up to that point. It notes he had thrown out 44% of would-be basestealers in 1988, well above the league average. The card also mentions he was a career .254 hitter with 28 home runs and 196 RBI in 658 games spanning 9 seasons in Dodger blue.
In 1988, Scioscia enjoyed career-highs with a .278 batting average along with 6 home runs and 41 RBI. He continued to excel defensively while catching over 1300 innings that season, the fourth highest total among NL catchers. Scioscia had cemented himself as the Dodgers undisputed starting catcher by this time. The 1989 Topps card recognized his steady evolution into a leader both on defense and in the clubhouse, describing him as a “valuable veteran.”
At 29 years old entering the 1989 season, Scioscia had settled into a reliable role as the Dodgers veteran backstop. While no longer in his athletic prime, he remained an above average defender and a consistent .250-.270 hitter at the plate. The card highlights that he had signed a new multi-year contract with the Dodgers in the 1988 offseason, ensuring his continued presence behind the plate for the team.
Unfortunately for Scioscia and the Dodgers, injuries would plague him over the next couple seasons. He was limited to just 59 games in 1989, hitting .230, and followed that with only 65 games played in 1990 while battling an assortment of ailments. Scioscia played one final season for the Dodgers in 1991 before being traded to the San Diego Padres prior to the 1992 campaign. He played 3 more seasons with the Padres before retiring in 1995 with a career batting line of .248 with 30 home runs and 452 RBI in 1224 games spanning 15 MLB seasons.
The 1989 Topps baseball card #792 provides an in-depth statistical and biographical overview of Dodgers catcher Mike Scioscia’s career up to that point entering his ninth major league season. It highlights both his defensive excellence and steady offensive contributions that had made him the Dodgers unquestioned starting catcher. The card captured Scioscia at an important stage of his career as he transitioned from a young prospect to a venerable veteran leader on the Dodgers pitching staff.
