Reflections on 1991 set of Topps baseball cards - I was snowed in here in Cincinnati, dreaming of baseball diamonds and left-handed middle relievers. The woman of the house, resenting my idleness, continued to clean around the house. She ventured into my small closet, a place she would dare enter only under the most severe circumstances. She enlisted my help removing a set of barbells, which I lugged straight out for the roadside garbage.

While removing the last thirty pound plate, I saw several boxes of baseball cards. I glanced at the faces on the first few cards, and then I carried the box down to my easy chair. The nostalgia bursting from the 1991 set of Topps baseball cards was much greater than that when poring over an old yearbook.

I decided to record my thoughts about the cards. I have described the most interesting cards in the set.

Card # 87- Tracy Jones (Mariners): I knew him as a Red before he was traded to the Tigers, Giants, and Mariners. He is now a popular radio host at WLW in Cincinnati. He is the only player from the '91 set that I have ever talked to personally.

#90 - Danny Tartabull (Yankees) : Seeing him made me laugh, recalling the "Seinfeld" episode on which he appeared. He amazed George Costanza by taking out a knife and cutting his candy bar into slices.

#137 - Randy Ready (Padres) : I had forgotten how great a name the guy has.

#157 - John Smoltz (Braves) : He is the first player from the set that I realized was still active.

#174 - Ken Caminiti (Astros) : Caminiti is one of the players from the set who has passed away. His demise was caused by drugs, not long after he admitted to Sports Illustrated that he had used steroids as did 75% of all major league players.

#180 - Tony Gwynn (Padres) : One of the many players from '91 who currently has a son playing in the majors.

#214 - Joe Girardi : He is one of the dozen players from the set who is now employed as a big league manager.

#225 - Randy Johnson (Mariners) : He joins Smoltz on the list of those still active in the majors.

#248 - Tom Gordon (Royals) : Flash is also on the list, though I have forgotten which team he is currently pitching for.

#249 - Bob Melvin : He joins Girardi on the list of those who have become managers.

# 220 - Mark McGwire (Athletics) : At the time he was just a few years removed from his AL Rookie of the Year season. Less than a decade from then he would be embraced for breaking the single season home run record. Now, of course, he is remembered more for his alleged abuse of steroids.

#277 - Scott Coolbaugh : I had completely forgotten this guy until late last season, when his brother Mike was fatally struck by a foul ball while coaching first base. That death led to baseball requiring all base coaches to wear helmets.

#285 - Jim Abbott (Angels) : My daughter had never really believed that a guy with only one hand had played in the majors. I showed her this card to prove that what I had told her a few years ago was indeed true.

#295 - Rafael Palmiero (Orioles) - When I saw this card I thought what everyone probably thinks when they hear or see the name. He shook his fist at Congress while vehemently denying ever using steroids. Several moths later, of course, he tested positive for steroid use.

#298 - Omar Vizquel (Mariners) : He is still active with the Giants, though I will always associate him with the Indians. I had to look at the card twice to make sure that really was a Mariners uniform he was wearing in the photo.

#300 - Kirby Puckett (Twins) : As a lifelong Twins fan, I nearly cried when I pulled this card out of the stack. I cannot believe he is really gone.

#305 - Mike Scioscia (Dodgers) : He is on the current manager list. His name is the hardest to spell of all of them.

#332 - Kenny Rogers (Rangers) : He is still active, hoping to help his promising Tigers win a World Series.

#333 - Chipper Jones (Braves) : He is on the list with lifelong teammate John Smoltz.

#334 - Todd Benzinger (Reds) : I just saw his brother two weeks ago coaching high school boys basketball at New Richmond. At halftime I reminded him that his brother caught the last out in the 1990 World Series, but he probably already knew that.

#414 - Sammy Sosa (White Sox) : I immediately checked the back of this card, and my suspicions were correct. Sammy was listed as 6'0'' and 175 pounds.

#512 - Jose Mesa : The veteran closer was active last year, but I am not sure about 2008.

#514 - Mike Stanton (Mariners) : The lefty is still active, trying to secure a spot in the Reds bullpen again this year.

#526 - Moises Alou (Expos) : This outfielder is still active. However, his team is not.

#530 - Roger Clemens (Red Sox) : He is still active, if not in baseball the certainly in court or before Congress.

#570 - Barry Bonds (Pirates) : I immediately checked the back of his card, just as I did Sosa's. Again my suspicions were correct. His height was 6'1" and his weight was 185.

#601 - Bob Ojeda (Mets) : I saw his card, and I was reminded of the terrible tragedy. He was on a boat that crashed, resulting in the deaths of two of his teammates.

#605 - Jeff Reardon (Expos) : He looked so invulnerable in his uniform with that beard and confident look. The image of his being apprehended in an arrest for robbery provides quite a contrast.

#732 - Tim Crews (Dodgers) : He was killed in the boat accident involving Bob Ojeda during spring training for the Cleveland Indians.

#759 - Bobby Cox (Braves) : He was managing the Braves then, and he's managing the Braves now.