1987 Donruss: World Series Home Run

Ted Simmons stepped to the plate in the fourth inning of Game 1 of the World Series and realized a childhood dream. Not only was he playing in a World Series, in that at bat, Simmons hit a home run, helping his Brewers to a 10-0 Game 1 win.

"It was every bit what I'd hoped and thought it would be," Simmons told The Milwaukee Journal afterward. "Everyone wants to hit a home run in the World Series. Everybody.

"You hit the ball the same way you've hit it many times before," Simmons added to The Journal. "But you do it in a World Series, and a lot of things, a lot of faces, a lot of names, a lot of places pass before you. It's pretty neat."

Simmons also hit a home run in a Game 2 loss, and Simmons' Brewers would go on to lose to the Cardinals 4 games to 3.

Simmons' two World Series home runs are referenced on the back of his 1987 Donruss card, included in my fourth 1987 Donruss pack. By 1987, Simmons was nearing the end of his 21-season career.

That year, he hit .277 with the Braves in 73 games. He played another 78 in 1988, finishing out his career.

In this fourth pack, there were no Hall of Famers and no CMC set members. But I did get a pitcher who would go on to throw a perfect game, David Cone.

But, in 1987, Cone had a limited resume from with Donruss had to draw for the card back. He pitched in 11 games in 1986, spending most of the season at Omaha. There, he wnet 8-4 with a 2.79 ERA, Donruss wrote.

He also won five World Series rings.

Regarding CMC connections, while there were not set members in the pack, there were two players who were involved in trades for CMC set members. Juan berenguer in 1985 was involved in a six-player deal that included Scott Medvin. Medvin, coincidentally, is one of only three cards I need to complete my CMC set.

In December 1988, Curtis Wilkerson was involved in the nine-player deal that sent Jamie Moyer and Rafael Palmeiro to the Rangers. Included in that deal was CMC set member Paul Kilgus, whom I featured Kilgus back in June.

Elsewhere in the pack were two future managers, Bud Black and Phil Garner. Black managed the Padres to a second-place finish in 2010. He also won the World Series with the Royals in 1985.

Garner played 16 seasons as a player, his last in 1988. He went on to manage in 15 seasons, the most recent in 2007 with the Astros. The back of his card notes he hit .500 for the Pirates in the 1979 World Series, going 12 for 24 in the Pirates' series win.

Rounding out this pack is the double card from the pack. There were these two Lee Lacys. Lacy was a teammate of Garner in 1979 with the Pirates. Lacy got less playing time, though, going 1 for 4 over the series.

It was actually the third consecutive year Lacy saw time in the Fall Classic. He was there with the Dodgers in both 1977 and 1978. he also got into a game in the 1974 World Series.

The back of his 1987 Donruss card, however, highlights his 1977 series performance, hitting .429 for the Dodgers, 3 for 7.

• Milwaukee Journal, Oct. 13, 1982: Simmons' homer is it, Part 2

1987 Donruss Pack 4
76 Keith Hernandez
88 Hubie Brooks
134 Joe Hesketh
144 Johnny Ray
223 Curtis Wilkerson
224 Pete Incaviglia
269 Jody Davis
301 Steve Farr
336 Lee Lacy
336 Lee Lacy
358 Phil Garner
404 Bud Black
502 David Cone
537 Ted Simmons
558 Bobby Bonilla
616 Juan Berenguer
Puzzle 46-48, Clemente stats, 12/63