Blast from the Past: Spokane's "Mall Ball" Era

The late 1980s and early 1990s were a golden era for baseball in Spokane, as the affiliation between the San Diego Padres and the Indians proved fruitful for both parties. After narrowly missing out on a title in 1986, the team won four straight championships from 1987–90, highlighted by Mike Humphreys’ dramatic steal of home that clinched the 1988 title.

Despite all the on-field success during those years, the Indians took a novel approach to their baseball card sets. Rather than having players and coaches pose at Avista Stadium, the team took them to NorthTown Mall—which sponsored the set—and had them pose at various merchants throughout the mall.

While giving fans a look at their favorite players off the field and adding a sponsor tie-in might have seemed like a good idea at the time, it led to some rather head-scratching cards that have only grown more absurd over the past four decades.

Manager Steve Lubratich, the man responsible for creating lineups and managing a bullpen, is posed next to a cardboard cutout of the late Whitney Houston, his arm draped over her shoulder—perhaps not the best way to command respect from his players. Bruce Bochy would go on to win four World Series titles with the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers, but in 1989 he was simply hanging out in a tobacco store with a tasteful display of pipes behind him.

Pitcher Jay Estrada is casually leaning on a shelf full of women’s clothing, outfielder Greg Smith is all smiles next to a display of aquatic shampoo, and future MLB All-Star Dave Hollins can be found hanging out in the food court next to a tub of popcorn.

Seems like something the players and coaches might have hated doing, right? Well, actually no—according to Tim Leip, who served as the team’s general manager from 1985 to 1992.

“At the time, players were staying in the Gonzaga dorms and didn’t really have access to cars, so the chance to get out and explore the mall for the afternoon was well received,” Leip recalled in a phone interview. “All the merchants treated the players well, and for some of them it was their first time at a big mall.”

Even if they enjoyed it at the time, the players must look back at their cards now and feel at least a tinge of embarrassment, right?

“Fun and embarrassing describes it best for me,” said Todd Torchia, an outfielder on the 1987 squad, who probably got off easy by posing next to a chair outside Percy’s for his card. “It was a strange way to introduce a team to the city. Most of us were wondering who set this deal up—25 guys in baseball uniforms walking through a busy mall. In the end, we had fun with it. Guys posed with scarves, women’s hats, jewelry, and mannequins when taking their photos.”

Other players enjoyed the chance to interact with fans somewhere other than the stadium.

“It was my first baseball card, so I thought maybe that’s just how it was,” said 1988 outfielder Nikco Riesgo, who posed with a Spokane Indians pennant outside a sporting goods store on his card. “It was a great way to meet the fans. We might have seen the whole city of Spokane that day, and we were treated like the Beatles. It was the perfect place for us to interact with people.”

The Indians returned to traditional on-field photos for their cards in 1990 and, for better or worse, haven’t been back to the mall since. While the 1986–89 team sets may not be considered all-time greats by collectors, they should be remembered as a memorable—albeit quirky—chapter in Spokane Indians history.

ABOUT THE SPOKANE INDIANS

The Spokane Indians are the High-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies located in Spokane Valley, Wash. The Indians have played at Avista Stadium, home to the MultiCare Kids Bench Seat, since 1958 and have been a proud member of the Spokane community since 1903. Single game tickets for the 2026 season are available now at spokaneindians.com. Parking at all Spokane Indians games is FREE. The Spokane Indians Front Office and Team Store are open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.