After issuing only one design for its factory sets the previous couple of years, Topps issued a few different types of sets in 1995. Hobby and retail factory sets included a 7-card set called CyberStats Season in Review that covers the season results from the 1994 season – assuming the season had been finished by a computer simulation done by Topps. Here’s what those simulations came up with:
- Barry Bonds – Bonds ties the single-season home run record of Roger Maris by blasting 24 home runs in the remaining 42 games. He passed the real league leaders Ken Griffey, Jr. (ended with 55) and Matt Williams (51) in the simulations.
- Jose Canseco – after the Rangers and A’s ended the season tied for the AL West lead with only 73 wins, Canseco hit 2 homers (numbers 49 and 50 on the year) led the Rangers to a comeback win in the one-game playoff against his old team.
- Juan Gonzalez – After that single game playoff, Gonzalez led the AL West champs to an upset win over the AL East Champion White Sox. The Rangers would go on to meet the Indians, who as the Wild Card had defeated the 103-win Yankees.
- Fred McGriff – After the Reds beat out the Astros by 1 game for the Central Division crown, and got to play the Wild Card Braves for their troubles. McGriff won the series for the Braves with 2 late-inning RBI. In the other divisional series, the Expos, who had posted an incredible 106 wins, were upset by the NL West Champion Dodgers.
- Carlos Baerga – Baerga led the Tribe to a 4-3 ALCS victory, hitting .469 in the process and taking home the series MVP award.
- Ryan Klesko – Klesko won the NLCS MVP after knocking in 9 runs in a 4-game sweep over the Dodgers.
- Kenny Lofton – Topps didn’t realize it at the time, but they were actually forecasting the 1995 series, as the Braves and the Indians squared off for the World Series trophy that never was. In the fake 1994 season, however, the Indians actually got that trophy after a 7 game thriller. Lofton was the series MVP by hitting .379 with 9 runs, 7 RBI and 6 stolen bases.
The retail factory set also had a 10-card Opening Day set that covers some of the highlights of opening day for the 1995 season (the real season openers). There were quite a few interesting games – the first 2 cards were the most interesting.
- Kevin Appier pitched 6-2/3 hitless innings but couldn’t go for the no-hitter due to a pitch count. The Royals still beat Baltimore, 5-1.
- Dante Bichette hit a walk-off 3-run homer in the 14th inning in the first game at Coors Field to defeat the Mets, 11-9.
I bought both of these sets on eBay recently.
