1994 Topps Stadium Club #109 Gregg Jefferies (Cubs Cameo)

I've sporadically done a couple of post series on the blog over the years.

Por Que No Los Dos covers horiztonal Ivy cards, because I collect both of those categories individually and I think it's kind of neat when they overlap.

If a Cubs player shows up in the background of a non-Cubs card, I'll usually set it aside as well and do a "Cubs Cameo" post.

I enjoy finding the source photos of newer cards, but I also really enjoy when I can nail down a game on an older card.

This Gregg Jefferies card out of 1994 Topps Stadium Club hits all of these categories and I was pretty excited when I came across it. It's got some white speckles along the edges as I imagine it was part of a brick of cards at some point. But since it is a non-Cubs card, I will just passively keep an eye out for a better looking copy.

With that said, let's see if we can game date the photo. It looks like a stolen base attempt. I feel like if it was a double, the Cubs player would be in a different position to field the throw from the outfield/cutoff man.

So heading over to Gregg Jefferies' Baseball-Reference page, I'm looking for a 1993 game at Wrigley Field between the Cardinals and Cubs where Gregg Jefferies has a stolen base or a caught stealing.

Jefferies was 2/4 on attempts at Wrigley Field in 1993.

On June 18th, Jefferies reached on an error in the top of the 1st but was thrown out as part of a strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play. The receiving fielder is listed as the shortstop, Rey Sanchez. Though Sanchez wore #6 in 1992*, he wore #11 in 1993, which does not seem to match what can be seen on the back of the mystery Cubs player. So either way, the photo does not seem to match this play.

That didn't deter Jefferies as he stole two bases the next day, June 19th.

In the top of the 5th inning, Jefferies singled and eventually stole 2nd base cleanly. The 2nd baseman was #20, Eric Yelding. Again, not a clean match based on what we can see on the back of the Cubs jersey. Rey Sanchez was again at shortstop. Hmmm.

The other successful stolen base that day was of third, which does have any bearing here.

Let's fast forward to September 22 when Jefferies was thrown out for the second time.

In the top of the 4th inning, Jefferies had an RBI single but was thrown out trying to steal second. The shortstop was again the recipient of the catcher's throw.

This was a high scoring game (11-9 in the Cubs favor) so there were a lot of substitutions. Jose Vizcaino started the game at shortstop and bumped over to second base as part of a double switch-pitching change in the 6th inning. So Vizcaino was the shortstop of record in the 4th inning when this play happened. Vizcaino's jersey number in 1993?

16! I think we have a winner! I can easily see the "1" wrapping around to the unseen side of the fielder in the card photo.

Here is Vizcaino's card from the same set. You can see he is wearing the same kind of high-top Nike cleats in both photos. 

And for good measure, here is the back of the Jefferies card.

* Sanchez switched from #6 when Willie Wilson joined the Cubs prior to the 1993 season. Wilson had worn #6 during most of his tenure with the Royals and A's.