1988 Topps

As much as I like to bag on Topps for being a bunch of bastards, I give them credit where it is due. This set is one of the most underrated Topps ever offered. Nice, simple, clean design with a nice player selection. It doesn't hurt that these were the guys from the 1987 A.L. East champs. The Twins cards look like shit though, but luckily for me I don't collect 'em.

My favorite card of the set isn't even considered by many to be a Tigers card. My rule of thumb is that if the featured player is pictured in a Tigers uniform, or card has a Tigers designation despite the player being in another uniform, then he's considered a Tiger in my book. While the Dickie Noles card itself is not that great, the story behind it is. According to retrosheet, he was loaned to the Tigers on Sept 22, 1987, as the Tigers were making their run at the A.L. East crown. He threw a total of 2 IP over 4 games, and inexplicably was returned to the Cubs one month later after the Tigers season had ended. 

The 1988 Topps Detroit Tigers:

14 Sparky Anderson

78 Dan Petry

106 Jim Walewander

128 Johnny Grubb

145 Bill Madlock

177 Fank Tanana

237 Mike Heath

267 Billy Bean

289 Dave Bergman

320 Alan Trammell

340 Jack Morris

366 Chet Lemon

389 Alan Trammell All-Star

393 Matt Nokes All-Star

429 Team Leader Card

449 Jeff Robinson

474 Tom Brookens

492 Doyle Alexander

499 Eric King

514 Pat Sheridan

552 Mark Thurmond

582 Mike Henneman

605 Kirk Gibson

630 Darrell Evans

645 Matt Nokes

668 Walt Terrell

713 Willie Hernandez

743 Larry Herndon

751 Jim Morrison

768 Dickie Noles

770 Lou Whitaker

There was a pretty powder blue box bottom card of Darrell Evans.... 

E - Darrell Evans

....as well as two Glossy Rookies....

7 Mike Henneman

8 Matt Nokes

There were a few cards in the Traded set. You can start to see that this bunch wasn't getting any younger.

59T Ray Knight

86T Gary Pettis

100T Luis Salazar