Jim Thome card #136 1998 Topps Opening Day #117

• I never realized that Topps produced Opening Day sets as far back as '98.  Formula still the same then as it is now, pump out the flagship with a different border and a stamp/logo on the front and voila!  something new...
• Bio on the back:  "Although Hal Trosky strung together six straight 100-RBI seasons for the Indians in the 30's, Jim says he's never heard of him".  Don't feel bad Jim, I never heard of Trosky until I started this blog myself...
• Career Homer #136 came early in the '98 season; it was a 2 run shot off of the White Sox Mike Sirotka on 4/22/98.  Sadly, the Indians were behind at the time 14-5, and lost the game 14-7.  Jim actually helped save Charles Nagy's ERA that day, because of the 12 runs that Nagy allowed, only 4 were earned due to 5 Cleveland errors, 2 of which Jim made.  Tough day indeed...

- Robert