Let’s Open a Pack of ’87 Topps at a Starbucks in Michigan City

Let’s not ask what circumstances have led the author to a Starbucks in Michigan City. Let’s, instead, open a pack of 1987 Topps — i.e. the rarest sort of baseball card there is in human society — at that same Starbucks.

Opening the pack, we find that the quality of the gum has suffered over 25 years, and that there’s some glare for which the author didn’t account while taking the photo in question — because he has no idea what’s going on, is why:

A special insert encourages the author to collect five other inserts, for an opportunity both to (a) win a trip to spring training and, just before that, to (b) travel back in time to 1988:

Of the 17 cards in the pack, no fewer than nine feature a player with a mustache:

The year 1987 was left-hander Joe Sambito’s final one in the majors — likely because he refused to remove his beloved batting glove while pitching:

If you can’t find Jim Slaton anywhere, maybe consider checking on his boat. I have it on good authority that he spends most of his time living there: