When it comes to pure Monster hitting cards, it’s the ones that have a hit number at 13 that really stand out. Reliever Tom Niedenfuer’s card from 1986 is such a card.
Tom Niedenfuer only hit safely three times in his 10-year career but fortunately for this card anyway, two of those came in 1986. The previous year in 1985, the Dodger pitcher went 1 for 9. He rode his batting streak into the next year and was two for four with a run scored AND two rbis.
Note that his 1986 stats show 5 plate appearances and 0 walks. And yes, I did go back and check. Niedenfuer managed a successful sacrifice bunt that year as well.
| Split | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 Totals | 60 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .500 | .500 | .500 |
APBA rewarded Niedenfuer with an amazing TEN 7s stretching out to 31 (“Sevens on the top” as we say). There’s really not much else to the card although it should be noted that the card makers did give him an extra 8 for a total of four to go with the two 9s (did I mention the 13-9, yet?). There are no 14s as Niedenfuer didn’t walk in 1986.
