Larry Sheets, 1988 Topps UK #70

Thanks to Topps, the British know the legend of Larry Sheets. Of course, they're wondering why his bat is so thin and cylindrical.

Eddie Murray, 1988 Topps UK #53

This card is from Topps' brief foray across the pond, an 88-card set released in the United Kingdom in 1988. The cards were smaller than the standard - 2 and 1/8 inches by 3 inches rather than 2 and 1/2 by 3 and 1/2. The backs feature explanations of basic baseball plays and terms. I assume that this product wasn't a rousing success, since I get a handful of these along with the rest of the 1980s junk wax every time I break down and buy a repack box. But it's an odd and interesting change of pace.

Today the United States and England met in a World Cup soccer match for the second time ever, the first being a shocking 1950 victory by the Americans. Today the two played to a tie, which was still something of an unpleasant surprise to the Britons. And now I've done my due diligence, and probably won't talk soccer here for quite a while.