The 1987 Topps baseball card featuring pitcher Pat Dodson holds a unique place in the history of baseball cards. While Dodson had a relatively non-descript major league career pitching for the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs from 1984-1990, his 1987 rookie card tells the story of a promising young arm whose career was derailed by injuries.
Pat Dodson was drafted by the Giants in the 4th round of the 1983 June amateur draft out of Cal State Fullerton. He rose quickly through the Giants system, making his MLB debut in 1984 at just 21 years old. In 1986 he split time between the Giants and their Triple-A affiliate in Phoenix, showing glimpses of the potential that made him an early-round draft pick. Dodson owned a mid-90s fastball and sharp breaking ball, but struggled with his control at times which led to high walk totals.
Going into the 1987 season, Dodson had the inside track to lock down a spot in the Giants rotation. Sports Illustrated listed him as one of the Giants’ top 5 prospects heading into the year. The 1987 Topps card captured Dodson at a pivotal moment—his rookie card signified he had arrived and was on the verge of cementing his place in the big leagues. Standing tall with a windup, Dodson stares down at the batter with steely determination on his face. In the backdrop is Candlestick Park, home of the Giants. It seemed Dodson was ready to make his mark at the major league level.
Injury derailed what was to be Dodson’s coming out party season. He made five starts for the Giants in April and was impressive, going 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA. But in his sixth start on April 27th against the Montreal Expos, Dodson felt a pop in his elbow while throwing a pitch. He was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, ending his season after just 28.1 innings pitched. Dodson underwent reconstructive elbow surgery, commonly known as “Tommy John surgery”, to repair the ligament.
The timeline for return from Tommy John surgery in the late 1980s was much longer than it is today. Modern surgical techniques and rehabilitation have shortened the average recovery time to around 12-18 months. But for Dodson, the injury could not have come at a worse time in his development. He missed the entire 1988 season recovering and rehabbing. By the time he was ready to return in the spring of 1989, the Giants had replaced him in their plans. He spent most of the season in the minors, tossing just 13 mediocre innings for San Francisco.
The 1987 Topps card serves as a bittersweet reminder of what could have been for Dodson. His rookie card carries extra significance since it stands as a reminder of the promise he showed pre-injury that was never fully realized. He bounced between the minors and majors over the next two seasons before his contract was purchased by the Cubs in 1990. But Dodson was never able to regain top form after surgery. He pitched in just 49 more major league games over parts of three seasons before retiring from pro ball after 1992 at just 27 years old.
While Dodson’s career flamed out prematurely due to injury, his 1987 Topps rookie card lives on as a symbol of a can’t-miss pitching prospect who was waylaid before reaching his potential. It places the viewer right at the threshold of Dodson’s major league career before misfortune struck. For fans and researchers of baseball cards, it heightens an awareness of how fragile an athlete’s career can be and reminds us that injuries can instantly transform a future star into just another ‘what if’ story. Over three decades later, Dodson’s rookie card still sparks intrigue and nostalgia for what might have been.