Apparently, Mr. Clary now works with the Global Youth Baseball Federation, a non-profit Christian baseball organization. In 2002, he and other former players traveled to Cuba to play baseball and “share the gospel.”

The name rang a bell and, searching through my stack of “funny” cards, I found one that I had made featuring Mr. Lake. I’m sure you can guess what it looks like. I hope Mr. Lake brought his hipwaders to the ballpark that day.

Another strange card from our friend Paul’s collection.  Paul explains:

“Steve Lake lists hobbies and interests as “Raising birds including Ruffles, pictured on the front of this card…restoring cars…likes to watch ESPN…49ers fan.”   Ruffles is actually printed in boldface on the card.

Nerdicus Finch, with a last name that is also a noun, do I smell the opportunity for a Steve Lake funny card?

This card is from the regrettable 1991 Leaf Studio set, which is a good example of baseball cards in the early 1990s. Following the launch of Upper Deck in 1989, all of the baseball card companies starting putting out “premium” sets, which got more ridiculous looking each year. The Leaf Studio set exclusively featured black and white portraits that looked like yearbook photos.

Instead of stats, the back of the card lists hobbies and interests. For Mr. Gomez, his hobbies include going to church and listening to contemporary Christian music.

Mr. McKnight, throughout two different stints with the Mets, wore more uniform numbers than any other player in history*. He wore numbers 5, 7, 15, 17, and 18. While with the Orioles, he wore number 38.

*100% conjecture

On September 8, 1990, Mr. Lusader tied a MLB record by committing three outfield errors in one inning.

After all the nerd-love thrown at Mr. Hershiser as 1/2 of “Pitching Magic,” I thought it was time for him to stop sharing the stage.  So step into the spotlight and take a bow, Mr. H.  This effeminate Topps Stadium Club pose is for you.

I love these prop-nerd-cards.

Nothing says baseball like string hammocks, garden statues, and guitars.

Upping the ante is Mr. Flannery:

Did he just happen to have his board at the park that day, or did he plan on having it there for picture day?

There are so many disturbing things about this particular “funny” card. Here they are, in no particular order (feel free to add your own in the comments):

1. The fact that there are two Kenny Rogers, one who pitches and one who sings is probably the most obvious joke I could have made. It’s hard to overstate just how unfunny this is.
2. For some reason, I drew a bass guitar. I don’t think Kenny Rogers was a bass guitarist. I don’t think he was an anything guitarist. 
3. I bothered to draw tuning pegs on the headstock of the guitar, but didn’t bother to have the guitar strings attach to the tuning pegs.
4. I didn’t bother to look for a non-action shot card of Rogers to use, which could have produced a much more realistic guitar playing impression. Instead, I used this card, so it looks like he’s throwing the guitar, rather than playing it.
5. Kenny Rogers was playing major league baseball in 1991. Didn’t he play last year?

Yikes.