Here is another installment of vintage Dodger minor league team sets. This time I focus on the 1980 Albuquerque Dukes who finished 2nd in South Division league standings that year and 2nd overall in the PCL standings. Even better, they completed an impressive run in the playoffs where they sweeped the Tucson Turos in a three game series in the first round, and beat the Hawaiian Islanders in the championship finals. For the first time in 8 years the Albuquerque Dukes became the Pacific Coast League Champions. Furthermore, it was the beginning of a three year championship streak for the team. Surely, this was an omen of things to come.Like the 1979 Albuquerque Dukes set I highlighted recently, this team featured many of the same soon-to-be Dodgers. Mike Scioscia backstopped the team (see the reverse of his card below) before heading to Los Angeles midway through the season. Mickey Hatcher hit an impressive .359, Ron Roenicke batted .296 and Dave Stewart won 15 games while striking out 125 batters.
Nice set! I had never seen that set before!
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