The Fourth 25 - A Roster

A brief look back in team form at the last 25 player cards in the 1980 set (#84 through #109) as if constructing a fantasy league team:

Manager - Jim Marshall

1B - Cecil Cooper
2B - Manny Trillo
SS - Pepe Frias
3B - Bob Horner
OF - Jeff Leonard
OF - Ken Landreaux
OF - Dave Roberts
C - Johnny Bench
DH - Ted Simmons

Bench:
Manny Mota, Rich Dauer, Jerry Terrell, Rick Dempsey

This group has the most solid starting lineup so far. Imagine a middle of the order with Cooper, Bench, Simmons and Horner. Each one of them an All-Star in their careers, they combined for over 1000 career home runs. Trillo was a record-setting glove man and Landreux was also an All-Star in 1980. The only weakness would be outfield depth, where Dave Roberts gets another chance, this time in left field. Simmons can play there too, but he refused to do so when in St. Louis. The bench is solid, if not thin, with Manny Mota available to pinch-hit, Dempsey behind the plate and Dauer & Terrell handling the infield positions.

Starting Rotation:
Frank Tanana
Bill Travers
Bill Lee
Francisco Barrios
Rick Rhoden

Bullpen:
Aurelio Lopez, Bill Caudill, Victor Cruz, Neil Allen, Don Hood, Dave Hamilton, Gary Lavelle

The starting rotation is headed by three lefthanders. The only knock the rotation could be that they are injury prone, especially in 1980. However, a deep and loaded bullpen more than makes up for it. Hood and Hamilton can serve as swingmen (both lefthanded) or serve as situational guys. There are essentially five closers in this bullpen, but we'll go with Lavelle and Caudill as the lefty-righty setup guys with Lopez as the closer. Should any of them falter, Allen and Cruz will be available to step in. What this team doesn't have in the rotation, it makes up for it in the pen.

OVERALL: This is the best assembled team so far. They are solid at all of the positions (with the possible OF exception) and are deep in pitching. They have a Hall of Famer on the club as well as solid players with long careers. They even have a manager to complete the picture. A great effort in putting this squad together.

GRADE: A-