#655 - Rico Carty

Card fact: Rico Carty is airbrushed into an Indians cap and uniform. I can only guess at what uniform he was really wearing. He played for Texas, the Cubs and Oakland in 1973 and in 33 games for Cleveland in 1974.

What I thought about this card then: Didn't see it. The first Carty card I saw was his 1976 Topps card in that magnificent red Indians uniform.

What I think about this card now: Kind of a dorky grin there. Pleasant enough, but dorky.

Other stuff: Nicknamed "Beeg Mon," Carty could hit from the word go. In his first full season with the Braves in 1964, he hit .330, finished second in the league in hitting and second in the N.L. Rookie of the Year voting.

Carty put up some big years in eight seasons with the Braves, winning a batting title in 1970 with a .366 average (he also knocked in 101 runs and blasted 25 homers), hitting in 31 straight games that year, and batting .342 in the Braves' pennant-winning season in 1969.

But Carty missed two full seasons in 1968 and 1971, the first battling tuberculosis, and the second with a broken knee, suffered in a collision while playing winter ball. Carty was eventually dealt to Texas because of disputes with teammates.

In fact, Carty didn't see eye-to-eye with several famed players, including Hank Aaron with the Braves, Ron Santo with the Cubs, and Frank Robinson with the Indians. Carty revived his career in Cleveland, batting .308 in 1975 and pounding out 171 hits in 1976. But the Indians left him available in the expansion draft.

The Blue Jays selected him, but then traded him back to Cleveland a month later (they faked out Topps, which airbrushed Carty into a Blue Jays uniform in the 1977 set, even though he didn't play for Toronto in '77). Cleveland traded Carty back to Toronto after the 1977 season. Carty then spent the rest of his career with the A's and Blue Jays, finishing in 1979. He set a career-high with 31 home runs in 1978.

(EDIT: Rico Carty died at age 85 on Nov. 24, 2024).

Back facts: Those double "on disabled list" lines are jarring. I noticed Carty's double misfortune on the back of his 1976 card.

Also, that's an adequate attempt on a JFK likeness in the cartoon. I wonder what makes the cartoonist decide to attempt a likeness sometimes but not others.

Other blog stuff: Bill Murray and Larry Hagman were both born on this date. They each were kind of notable in the '70s.

#639 - Steve Kline

Card fact: This is the final card of Steve Kline issued by Topps during his playing career.

What I thought about this card then: Didn't see it.

What I think about this card now: He's not really wearing an Indians cap. He's actually a Yankee in disguise.

Other stuff: I'm just speculating here, but it must be deflating to become a major league pitcher, establish yourself for a few years, and then later have another major leaguer come along at your same position with your same name, who enjoys a better, longer career and is a good quote, too.

That's what happened to Kline, whose career lasted from 1970-74 and then 16 more games in 1977. The second Steve Kline was a flaky, left-handed reliever known for his durability with the Expos and Cardinals, who pitched 11 seasons from 1997-2007. They're not related.

The elder Kline pitched for the Yankees from 1970-74. His best season was 1972 when he went 16-9 with a 2.40 ERA. He was dealt to the Indians in the big trade that sent Chris Chambliss and Dick Tidrow to the Yankees in April of '74 (which explains the airbrushed cap).

Kline developed arm problems that cost him the 1975 and 1976 seasons. He came back for 16 games with the Braves in '77.

(EDIT: Steve Kline died on June 4, 2018).

Back facts: Barry Bonds eclipsed Babe Ruth's season walk record three times -- in 2001 (177), 2002 (198) and 2004 (232).

Other blog stuff: Four of the last five red-orange bordered cards (the Burger King color combo) have featured players with airbrushed caps.

#621 - 1975 Rookie Pitchers

Card fact: This is the first of the rookie cards to feature a player who never made the majors. Juan Veintidos was featured here on the strength of his 14-5 record in the minors in 1974, but he never got the call in 10 minor league seasons.

What I thought about this card then: If it's an orange-yellow bordered rookie card then I never saw it.

What I think about this card now: Veintidos appears to be the happiest of the four, yet he didn't enjoy the success of the others. I guess you had to be cold and ruthless to succeed as a major league pitcher in 1975.

Other stuff: Each player's first solo Topps card:

John Denny, Cardinals: 1976 Topps
Rawly Eastwick, Reds: 1976 Topps
Jim Kern, Indians: 1977 Topps
Juan Veintidos, Twins: no solo card

Most successful career: Both Eastwick and Kern got off to quick success as relief pitchers, Eastwick becoming a force for the Big Red Machine in the '75 World Series, and Kern wowing Cleveland fans with his arm and quirky behavior. But each faded almost as quickly. I'm going with starter John Denny, who pitched 13 fairly consistent seasons and won the Cy Young for the National League champion Phillies in 1983.

Most awesome middle name: Jackson is not as awesome as Rawlins, but there's not much to go on here.

Other blog stuff: For those of you who spend all of your time in vintage cards and vintage only, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that there is a new set out this month that pays tribute to the 1975 Topps minis. Current and past players are featured on mini cards that are similar in size and look to the '75 minis. They are inserted randomly into packs of 2011 Topps Lineage.

Unfortunately, the backs do not feature the '75 backs we all know and love. And the cards are made from that same slick crap that has plagued the Topps base set for the last decade. But I appreciate the thought by Topps and am trying to collect as many as I can. I owe it to my 9-year-old self.

#619 - 1975 Rookie Outfielders

Card fact: I'm quite certain that is an airbrushed White Sox cap atop Nyls Nyman's head. Tommy Smith's cap may or may not be airbrushed, too.

What I thought about this card then: No knowledge of it.

What I think about this card now: No future stars there, eh? Also, Topps must have struggled to find a shot of Jerry Turner. You don't see the absolute profile shot too often.

Other stuff: Each player's first solo Topps card:

Benny Ayala, Mets: Not until 1980 Topps, with the Orioles.
Nyls Nyman, White Sox: 1976 Topps. His only one.
Tommy Smith, Indians: 1977 Topps. As an airbrushed Mariner. Also his only solo Topps card.
Jerry Turner, Padres: 1977 Topps

Most successful player: Turner and Ayala both played 10 seasons, with Turner playing in more than 300 more games than Ayala. Turner also has slightly better stats. Even though Ayala got into a few postseason games with the Orioles as one of Earl Weaver's platoon favorites, I'll give the edge to Turner.

Most awesome middle name: Nyls Nyman already has the best first name. Throw in Rex and Wallace as your middle names and it's no contest. Also, where did John Webber Turner get "Jerry"?

Other blog stuff: The pink-yellow border combination becomes the third border combo with 50 cards. It is just two off the overall lead with a few more rookie cards to go.

#605 - John Ellis

Card fact: This is the only time in John Ellis' 13-year major league career that he received a card number ending in a "5" or a "0." In 1975, he was coming off his best major league season.

What I thought about this card then: I didn't see it.

What I think about this card now: It's a terrific catcher's shot. I like the background.

Other stuff: Ellis came up with the Yankees and was named to the Topps' rookie team after his 1970 season. He stayed with the Yankees for four years before he was dealt to Cleveland in the deal that brought Graig Nettles to the Yankees.

Ellis enjoyed his finest seasons with Cleveland in 1973 and 1974, appearing in 127 and 128 games, respectively and batting above .270 each season.

Afterward, his production faded. He would appear in more than 100 games only once more in his career. He was traded to the Rangers in December 1975 and spent the final six years with Texas, mostly in a supporting role to Jim Sundberg.

(EDIT: John Ellis died April 5, 2022 at age 73).

Back facts: That's a nice story in the write-up. Ellis played in the minors for Syracuse and Kinston, N.C., in 1969. The game to which Topps is referring was in Yankee Stadium, so my guess is Ellis was on the road when he got the call to the majors. It doesn't take an all-night trip to go from Syracuse to New York. I guess it's possible from Kinston, if he was driving.

Other blog stuff: The green-purple border combination has just created a three-way tie at the top with orange-brown and green-light green, all with 51 cards apiece.

#580 - Frank Robinson

Card fact: This is the second appearance of Frank Robinson in the 1975 set. He's also featured as the manager on the Indians team card. I'm pretty certain that would have blown my mind as a kid, but I never saw this card of Robinson.

What I thought about this card then: See above.

What I think about this card now: Robinson is airbrushed into his Indians cap. He was dealt from the Angels to the Indians in September 1974.

Also, I enjoy the "Des. Hitter" mention. What could that be? Destitute hitter? Despicable hitter? Desperate hitter?

Other stuff: I forgot to mention above that this is the final card featuring Frank Robinson as a player (except for all the retro cards of the last decade or so). Robinson was named player-manager by the Indians on Oct. 3, 1974. From that point, he was featured on cards as a manager, a second career that would last all the way until a few years ago.

Robinson, of course, is one of the greatest players of all-time, a 500-plus home run hitter, an MVP in both leagues and one of the last Triple Crown winners (1966) in major league history. He played in five World Series. For awhile there, I'd be willing to say he was the most underrated superstar of the last 60 years. I think he's received a little more attention recently, but probably not enough.

Robinson's greatest feats came with the Reds and Orioles (he was famously declared "old" when he was traded from the Reds to the Orioles), but he also played for the Dodgers, Angels and Indians. He came to the plate 185 times as a player-manager for the Indians in 1975-76, getting 43 hits (.232 avg) and hitting 12 home runs.

(EDIT: Frank Robinson died at age 83 on Feb. 7, 2019).

Back facts: These players with a ton of stats really do a number of the clarity of the cartoon question. I believe the question intended to say "Name the only player manager in the major leagues today."

Other blog stuff: Dodger flop Daryle Ward was born on this date in 1975.

#552 - Jack Brohamer

Card fact: It's been 77 cards since the last light blue-green bordered card. The day baseball color combo just climbed out of last place.

What I thought about this card then: I had the mini card. It was one of my first minis. It's pretty beat up now.

I thought Jack Brohamer seemed like a very happy fellow.

What I think about this card now: It still looks like a happy picture. I like the diagonal nature of the signature, too.

Other stuff: Brohamer was mostly a second baseman for the Indians, White Sox and Red Sox between 1972-80. He was a starter for the Indians, working with shortstop Frank Duffy. But when Duane Kuiper came along, Brohamer was dealt to the White Sox.

Brohamer battled for playing time with Chicago as the White Sox had Jorge Orta at second. When the Red Sox acquired Brohamer via free agency, he didn't get to start because the Red Sox also picked up Jerry Remy in the offseason. Remy became Boston's starter at second.

Brohamer returned to Cleveland in 1980 and finished as a bench player. After his career, he worked in his family's sheet-metal business.

Back facts: The triple play mentioned in the writeup happened in the first inning of a game between the Brewers and the Indians. Cleveland pitcher Milt Wilcox gave up a home run to the first batter of the game. Joe Lahoud, then walked Bob Coluccio and Dave May. George Scott singled, scoring Coluccio and sending May to second. Then Don Money came to the plate and lined out to Brohamer at second. Brohamer stepped on second base to force out May who had left second on Money's hit, and threw to first to catch Scott for the third out of the triple play.

The Indians won the game 10-5.

Other blog stuff: May 28 is a big day for night game history. On this date in 1941, the Senators played the first night game at Griffith Stadium, against the Yankees. Five years later, the Yankees played the first night game in Yankee Stadium, against the Senators.

#530 - Gaylord Perry

Card fact: It sure is strange seeing an Indian on an All-Star card, isn't it? That didn't happen much in the 1970s.

What I thought about this card then: I didn't see it. The first card of Gaylord Perry's I saw was his 1977 Topps card, and he looked like a grandpa then. He was not even 40.

What I think about this card now: It makes me feel slightly uncomfortable. I feel like I'm looking down the front of his uniform.

Other stuff: Perry, of course, is one of the most enduring characters of the game, a pitcher who became known for what he might throw more than anything else. Perry embraced his reputation as a spitball artist like no other pitcher. He would go through various mannerisms before throwing a pitch, touching his cap and his head  to keep the batter guessing. Thanks to Perry, as a kid, I thought K-Y jelly was a baseball invention.

Perry's other notable feature was his endurance. He began his career in 1962 and ended it in 1983. He pitched for eight teams, most notably the Giants, Indians and Padres. He was the first pitcher to win the Cy Young Award in both leagues, winning it with the Indians in 1972 and the Padres in 1978. He won his 300th game with the Mariners in 1982.

Perry is eighth all-time in strikeouts with 3,534. He was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1991. He's had a colorful post-career. He was a farmer until filing for bankruptcy. He coached college ball. He campaigned for politician Jesse Helms.

Perry is also the first person I think of when the topic of former ballplayers "letting themselves go" comes up. Seeing an expansive and bald Gaylord Perry sitting in his overalls does not call to mind a former athlete. But I guess he's earned the right.

(EDIT: Perry died at age 84 on Nov. 30, 2022).

Back facts: I'm fairly certain that cartoon image has been used before, but I'm too tired to look.

Also, Perry's 1972 season (24 wins and a 1.92 ERA) always amuses me, since he was traded, along with Frank Duffy, prior to the season by the Giants in exchange for Sam McDowell. It turned into a terrible trade for the Giants instantaneously as Perry won the Cy Young Award in his first year with Cleveland.

Other blog stuff: Let's add the American League starting pitcher to the 1974 All-Star lineup:

AL

1B - Dick Allen
2B -
3B - Brooks Robinson
SS - Bert Campaneris
OF - Bobby Murcer
OF - Jeff Burroughs
OF -
C - Carlton Fisk
P - Gaylord Perry

NL

1B - Steve Garvey
2B - Joe Morgan
3B - Ron Cey
SS - Larry Bowa
OF - Hank Aaron
OF - Pete Rose
OF -
C - Johnny Bench
P - Andy Messersmith

#506 - Leron Lee

Card fact: I am not convinced that Leron Lee is not airbrushed into an Indians uniform on this card. If there is airbrushing it appears almost imperceptible. The uniform looks like an actual uniform and the cap looks like a real Indians cap. It doesn't seem possible that they were airbrushed. But the stadium background makes me suspicious. It seems to be the same background that is on his 1974 Topps card, when he was with the Padres. If that's the case, then why would a player in the American League be in a National League stadium?

Lee was obtained off waivers by the Indians on March 28, 1974, which seems like plenty of time for Topps to obtain a photo of Lee as an Indian. But that wasn't always the case in the '70s.

What I thought about this card then: This was one of the cards that I obtained early on in my first year of collecting. Probably not in those first packs I purchased, but not long afterward. Wait until you see the condition of the original.

What I think about this card now: It appears, by his signature, that Lee should have been referred to as LeRon Lee. But that's not how his name appears in the record books.

Other stuff: Lee was mostly a part-time player for the Cardinals, Padres, Indians and Dodgers between 1969-76. His biggest claim to fame may have been breaking up a Tom Seaver no-hitter in the ninth inning with a single during a game between the Padres and Mets in 1972. The Mets have still yet to pitch a no-hitter.

But Lee drew the most acclaim in Japan. He played there for 10 years after is major league career and is one of the most successful American-born players in Japanese baseball. He owns the highest career batting average by a Nippon Pro player at .320.

Lee later worked as a hitting coach. He is the uncle of Orioles first baseman Derrek Lee.

Back facts: I had no idea who Herb Score and Mudcat Grant were at the time I pulled this card, but I've known the names for more than 35 years.

Other blog stuff: OK, here is the Lee card that I pulled from that pack in the spring of 1975:

I'm sure that made its way into a back pocket at some point.

#482 - Tom McCraw

Card fact: This is the final card of Tom McCraw issued during his career.

What I thought about this card then: My brother had this card. It was one of those cards that I was glad he had. I had no interest in acquiring it.

What I think about this card now: McCraw is airbrushed into an Indians cap. He was purchased by the Indians from the Angels in July of 1974. It appears that Topps left McCraw in his Angels jersey.

Other stuff: McCraw was a first baseman and outfielder for the White Sox, Senators, Indians and Angels. He spent the first seven years of his career with Chicago. He had speed but didn't have a ton of power, which is unusual for a guy who played so many games at first base.

McCraw was the first designated hitter in Angels history. After his playing career, he became a major league hitting coach and worked for several organizations for 30 years, just concluding that phase of his career a few years ago. He was a regular on Frank Robinson's coaching staffs.

Back facts: I really wish that McCraw had seven fewer at-bats for the Angels in 1974. Then all of his listed stats for the Angels and Indians in 1974 would match up exactly. Symmetry rules!

Other blog stuff: After losing a little bit of ground as the overall leader, the orange-brown combination is pulling away again. This is the 45th orange-brown card so far, which is six more than the next highest combination.

#448 - Frank Duffy

Card fact: This is one of the first cards that I obtained in both regular and mini version.

What I thought about this card then: My friend when I was a kid, Jennifer, never knew this, but Frank Duffy reminded me of her. But it's only because he had long brown hair and glasses just like she did. She'd probably kill me if she knew that, but I haven't seen her in over 25 years.

What I think about this card now: That is yet another poorly tended field behind Duffy.

Other stuff: Duffy's greatest success came during a four-year period as the Indians' regular shortstop. He also played for the Reds, Giants and Red Sox during a career that spanned the entire decade of the '70s. Not any earlier and not any later. He was another one of those good-field, no-hit shortstops of the '70s.

Duffy is probably most known as the player (along with Van Geishert) who enticed the Giants to trade George Foster to the Reds in 1971.

Back facts: I thought that was Duffy in the cartoon when I was a kid.

Also, I did a little calculating based on the write-up that boasts of Duffy's great finish in 1972. If Duffy went 30-for-91 to end the season, that means he was 62-for-294 the rest of the year, or a robust .211 batting average.

The '70s was bad news for the Indians.

Other blog stuff: Here is the regular-sized Duffy and mini Duffy together. The regular-sized Duffy is not the one I had in 1975, but the mini one is.

#424 - John Lowenstein

Card fact: This card puts the purple-pink border combination alone in third place with 29 cards thus far.

What I thought about this card then: I didn't see it. First card of John Lowenstein I saw was in the 1976 Topps set. I've only known him with a mustache.

What I think about this card now: It's weird. No mustache. No permed-out hair. No giant eyeglasses. He doesn't look the Lowenstein I know.

Other stuff: Lowenstein was a lifetime platoon hitter, except for the 1974 season, which was the only season out of his 16-year career in which he had more than 400 at-bats. He played his first eight years with the Indians. But after a trade to the Rangers, and being released the following offseason in 1978, he received his big break.

The Orioles picked him up and that began the most notable part of his career. Lowenstein played seven seasons with Baltimore, exclusively as a lefty-platoon guy. I distinctly remember Earl Weaver always platooning him and Terry Crowley with Gary Roenicke during the 1979 postseason. It seemed like every time the Orioles played, they'd send eight pinch-hitters to the plate.

It actually drove me a little wacky because I wanted the Angels to win the ALCS against the Orioles that year and then wanted the Pirates to beat the Orioles in the World Series. But every time I turned around Lowenstein was getting a hit. Or maybe it was Crowley. I don't know. They seemed interchangeable.

It didn't help that Lowenstein was the wacky media-friendly type. He received a lot of publicity. (I particularly like this quote of his: "Nuclear war would render all baseball statistics meaningless.")

Lowenstein also won a World Series ring with the Orioles in 1983. His major league career ended in 1985. After his playing career, he became a color commentator for the Orioles.

Back facts: The first World Series night game was Game 4 of the 1971 World Series on Oct. 13 in Pittsburgh. The Pirates won 4-3 against the Orioles. Pinch-hitter Milt May drove in the winning run with a bases-loaded base hit in the seventh inning.

Other stuff: On this date in 1970, outfielder Curt Flood filed a lawsuit challenging major league baseball's reserve clause. That didn't lead anywhere ...

#403 - Tom Buskey

Card fact: This is Tom Buskey's rookie card.

What I thought about this card then: I didn't see it.

What I think about this card now: Buskey always looks so sad on his baseball cards. I know, I know, he only had like six of them. But he looks sad on most of them.

Also, I believe Buskey is airbrushed into an Indians uniform. He was traded from the Yankees in late April of 1974.

Other stuff: Buskey was a career relief pitcher -- 258 games pitched in eight seasons and not a start among them. He began his career with the Yankees, but came over to the Indians in the famous trade that brought Chris Chambliss and Dick Tidrow to New York.

Buskey proved to be a reliable reliever for the Indians, setting what was then a team record for saves in a season with 17 in 1974. But after a couple of years, Buskey's ineffectiveness won him a trip to the minors. He eventually landed with the fledgling Blue Jays and pitched for them until ending his major league career in 1980.

Buskey died from a heart attack suffered at home at age 51 in 1998.

Back facts: One of Buskey's saves in 1974 was for the Yankees before he was traded. Also, Buskey gets a cartoon that is related to his team. Lucky guy.

Other blog stuff: Let's continue the Steve Garvey references for a second straight day. On this date 62 years ago, Garvey was born.

#377 - Tom Hilgendorf

Card fact: The orange-brown border color combination is kicking ass. This is the 39th card with this color combination, which is now six more than the next highest. It's possible that orange-brown is going to end up the overall winner.

What I thought about this card then: Tom Hilgendorf is the poster-child for those cards that featured players who looked much older to me than they actually were. (I guess in this case poster-child isn't the best phrase. But "poster-man" doesn't sound right).

I had Hilgendorf pegged for 48 years old. His 1976 card doesn't do him any favors either. Hilgendorf was actually 32 when this card came out.

What I think about this card now: Is Hilgendorf wearing his cap tilted to the side? Well there's nothing "old" about that.

Other stuff: Hilgendorf was a relief pitcher for the Cardinals, Indians and Phillies between 1969-75. He was actually signed in 1960, and it took him nine years to make the majors. Hilgendorf was a lefty specialist for the Indians. After being traded to the Phillies, he enjoyed his best season in 1975, going 7-3 in 53 relief appearances with a 2.14 ERA. But the Phillies released him at the start of the 1976 season. He was picked up by the Pirates a week later, but never pitched in the majors again.

Hilgendorf was one of the victims of the famed "Ten-Cent Beer Night" in Cleveland in June of 1974. The game eventually was forfeited to the Rangers because of drunk, rowdy fans. A riot erupted in the 9th inning, and the players armed themselves with bats for fear of being harmed. Hilgendorf suffered a concussion when he was hit by a steel chair. The next day, he pitched in relief and got the win.

Back facts: Bauer still holds that World Series record.

Other blog stuff: Ken Griffey Jr. was born on this date in 1969. He's 41. And he still looks younger than Hilgendorf on this card.

#354 - Dick Bosman

Card fact: This is the final card of Dick Bosman as a Triber. He would be traded to the A's in 1975 and end his career in Oakland in 1976.

What I thought about this card then: I pulled this card early in the collecting year, and it was a mini card. To me, Bosman looked very pissed off, and about 49 years old. He was actually 30 at the time of this photo and probably not pissed off at all.

What I think about this card now: For the longest time, I thought Bosman was the pitcher who got in a fight with his manager, Billy Martin, in a bar during the late 1960s. But it was actually Dave Boswell who got in the fight with Martin, who was then the Twins manager. Bosman never even played for the Twins!

Other stuff: Bosman pitched 11 seasons in the American League, mostly for the Senators and Rangers. He is known as the last pitcher to start a game for the Senators and the first pitcher to start a game for the Rangers.

After being traded to the Indians, he threw a no-hitter against Oakland in 1974 (Bosman lost a perfect game when he made a throwing error in the fourth inning). The A's would go on to win the World Series that year and then acquire Bosman the next year. I wonder how often that happens, a team gets no-hit by a pitcher and ends up acquiring him?

After his career, he became a pitching coach for the White Sox, Orioles and Rangers. He's worked with Tampa Bay for the last seven years.

Back facts: I recall hearing that Johnny Bench sang, but I do not remember watching him sing on TV. Although he could have been on an episode of Hee-Haw and I totally blocked it out.

Other blog stuff: I wanted to show the back of my mini card, just so my youngest brother can get some credit on this blog:

That scribble in orange crayon is his handiwork. He was about 4 at the time.

#331 - Indians/Frank Robinson

Card fact: Frank Robinson's inclusion on the team card was likely a late addition by Topps as Robinson was not named player-manager of the Indians until after the 1974 season. In fact, I just missed posting this card on the anniversary of Robinson being named the first African-American manager in baseball. It happened on Oct. 3, 1974.

What I thought about this card then: Nothing. It's a boring team card.

What I think about this card now: It amuses me to no end. Not only are the Indians dressed in their wild red jersey tops with the old Municipal Stadium as a backdrop, but you have guys in suits seated in the front row while Oscar Gamble's giant 'fro hovers behind them (he's fourth from the left in the middle row -- as if you could miss him).

To me this card represents the '70s perfectly. The changing of the guard. The old suits seated with the long-haired freaky people. It's great.

Other stuff: The long-suffering Indians had just endured their sixth straight losing season in 1974. They fired Ken Aspromonte after his third losing season and installed Robinson as player-manager. Robinson had just been acquired by the Indians in a trade with the Angels a month before being selected manager.

Robinson would help Cleveland to its first winning season since 1968 when the Indians went 81-78 in 1976. But Robinson was replaced by Jeff Torborg in the middle of the 1977 season.

(EDIT: Robinson died at age 83 on Feb. 7, 2019).

Back facts: I enjoy Frank Robinson being listed twice on the checklist. He has a card as a manager and one as a designated hitter. That's cool.

Also, Bruce Ellingsen's name is listed out of alphabetical order, which makes me think he was a late inclusion in the set (his capless photo is a giveaway, too).

Other blog stuff: OK, let's see how well Topps did representing the Indians team from 1974.

The Indians used 45 players in 1974, which is tied with the Angels as the most players used among the teams featured so far. Topps has cards of 27 of them as Indians in the 1975 set. Plus, there are a whopping five other players from the 1974 team -- Chris Chambliss, Jack Heidemann, Dick Tidrow, Cecil Upshaw and Ken Sanders -- who are featured in the set with other teams.

So that means Topps has 32 of the 45 players in the 1975 set. Topps didn't bypass anyone important. Rusty Torres, who had 150 at-bats in 1974, didn't get a card. Neither did Bob Johnson, who pitched in 14 games.

So this is where the Indians rate in terms of percentage of '74 players represented in the 1975 set:

1. Tigers 78.37% of players featured
2. Orioles 78.13%
3. Giants 71.43%
4. Indians 71.11%
5. Royals 70.59%
6. Red Sox 70.27%
7. Angels 68.89%
8. Expos 68.29%
9. Cardinals 65.12%
10. White Sox 65.0%
11. Phillies 62.5%
12. Pirates 61.5%
13. Padres 55.8%

#288 - Bruce Ellingsen

Card fact: This the first and last card of Bruce Ellingsen during his major league baseball career.

What I thought about this card then: Ladies and gentlemen, you are looking at the one card that neither me, nor my brother, nor my friends wanted. We would play games that would resemble Russian Roulette in almost every way except that instead of a firearm, we used a 1975 Topps Bruce Ellingsen card. If you were the person who ended up with the Ellingsen card, "bang," you were dead. Or you were at least doomed to a fate of owning this card and everyone in your childhood sphere KNOWING that you owned that card.

So you would play another game of Ellingsen Roulette until you didn't have it anymore (I have no idea why the other people who did not own the Ellingsen card would agree to another game, but they did).

There were several cards in the 1975 set that we did this for:

Gene Locklear
Joe Lis
Ken Sanders
Mario Mendoza

And a couple others I can't recall. But Ellingsen, far and away, was the least wanted.

What I think about this card now: I have already publicly apologized to Bruce for my childish behavior.

Other stuff: Ellingsen pitched in 16 games for the Indians and that was his entire big league career. He is known mostly for being traded from the Dodgers to the Indians for a 17-year-old named Pedro Guerrero. The trade happened on April 3, 1974, which probably explains why Ellingsen is hatless in this photo. In fact, he may be wearing a Dodger uniform here and his uniform collar was airbrushed in Indians colors. Oh, if I had only known as a kid that Ellingsen was a Dodger!

Back facts: Larry Lintz will appear on card No. 416 in the set. As far as I know, he doesn't look like Sammy Davis Jr., so either he did a mean impersonation or he had a sweet tooth.

Ellingsen's real first name was Harold, not "H."

Other blog stuff: Kenny Rogers -- the singer, not the pitcher -- was born on this date in 1938. I have never forgiven him for singing that "Lady" song.

#263 - Jim Perry

Card fact: This is the final card of Jim Perry during his playing career.

What I thought about this card then: Me no see.

What I think about this card now: You may have been able to fool 9-year-old kids in 1975, but I can tell now, Mr. Topps, that Jim Perry is wearing a Tiger uniform with a Tiger cap that has been airbrushed into an Indian cap. It's not your finest work, but it's certainly better than what you did to Perry here. Good gosh.

Perry was traded from the Tigers to the Indians in a three-team deal with the Yankees in mid March of 1974, a full year before the 1975 set came out, but Topps still couldn't get a photo of Perry as an Indian.

Other stuff: Perry is one of those players who finished his career just as I became aware of major leaguers. Therefore I feel like I am still trying to catch up on his career. I knew multiple anecdotes about Perry's younger brother, Gaylord Perry (doesn't it seem odd to refer to Gaylord as "younger"?), long before I was aware of Jim Perry's pitching career.

That's a shame because Jim Perry had a very nice career himself. But if it wasn't for a two-year period with the Minnesota Twins, he may have been even more overshadowed by brother Gaylord. In 1969, Perry went 20-6 for the Twins, who won the first American League West Division title. The following year, Perry was 24-12 for Minnesota and captured the Cy Young Award.

With the exception of an 18-10 season for the Indians in 1960, that two-year stint was his best performance and sparked a series of solid years for Perry to close out his career. Out of his 215 career victories, more than half (113) came in the final 7 of his 17 years in the majors.

After finishing second in the AL Rookie of the Year voting in 1959, Perry spent a good portion of the first half of his career as a reliever. Yet, he and Gaylord are second only to the Niekros in all-time victories by brothers.

By the way, I never heard whether Jim Perry threw a spitball. There's so much I don't know about the guy.

Back facts: Abner Powell was already the answer to an earlier trivia question in this set. That seems a bit odd.

Also, note that Jim Perry was a switch-hitter. That seems a bit odd, too.

Other blog stuff: I was just looking up the TV shows in 1975. A number of them had a direct impact on my life growing up. Among them: Happy Days, Welcome Back Kotter, Good Times, Little House on the Prairie (sad to say), Barney Miller, Monday Night Football, Rockford Files, the Jeffersons, Emergency! and the Six Million Dollar Man.

#238 - Dave Duncan

Card fact: There are three players in this photo (although you can see only the cap of one of them). That ties the Rick Monday card for the most players in one photo, so far. Excluding photos with players in the distance. And team cards, of course.

What I thought about this card then: No knowledge of it.

What I think of this card now: What a strange card. Dave Duncan, who looks vaguely like Jay of "Jay and Silent Bob" fame, appears lost in thought. The rest of the photo is dominated by that giant hand in the left corner.

Other stuff: Duncan was your typical good-field, no-hit catcher from the 1960s and 70s. He was much valued behind the plate as a fielder and handler of pitchers. Of course, he used that ability to become one of the most famed pitching coaches of recent history, Tony La Russa's right-hand man for all eternity, apparently.

Duncan has two sons, Chris and Shelley, who have had middling success in the majors. I recently saw Shelley Duncan in an Indians uniform. I had no idea he was with the team. After success with the Cardinals, injuries have plagued Chris, who is now in the Nationals organization.

Back facts: How come Joe Morgan never brings up that bio fact during his broadcasts? In Game 7, Morgan was thrown out at second base in the fourth inning of a 1-0 game after walking with one out. The A's would win the game 3-2. "Turning point" might be putting a little too much emphasis on it. Rehashings of that World Series barely mention the play.

Other blog stuff: I'll be taking a break on this blog for a few days. I'll return you to 1975 sometime this weekend.

#213 - Oscar Gamble

Card fact: The first player card in 25 posts is the same card that I featured on the first post of this blog. It's also one of the most famous cards of the 1970s. Oscar Gamble's cap/Afro Mickey Mouse look has been cited hundreds of times, although probably not as often as Gamble's 1976 Topps Traded card.

What I thought about this card then: I pulled this card when my family was out of town on vacation. I don't recall thinking anything specific about Gamble's hair (there were a lot of people who looked like that then). But it did become one of my most favorite cards from the set. I probably did dig the hair, I just didn't know how to express it. I was 9.

What I think about this card now: There is so little vegetation in the background and the sky is so light that when I think of the card, I imagine the photo was taken in a studio, which never happened back then.

Other stuff: Oscar Gamble was just coming into his own in the mid-1970s. He'd have some decent seasons for the Indians, then really turn things after he was traded by the Yankees to the White Sox for Bucky Dent. I remember being thrilled that Gamble had such a great 1977 after leaving the Yankees. But then the Yankees won the World Series that year and Gamble ended up back with the Yankees a couple of years later.

EDIT: Gamble died at age 68 on Jan. 31, 2018.

Back facts: Yay! Cartoons are back! Ouch! Getting hit by that many balls at once has got to hurt!

Other blog stuff: Here is the very card that I pulled out of that pack on a July day in 1975: