#550 - Ralph Garr

Card fact: This photo is a repeat of the photo on Ralph Garr's 1974 Topps card. I didn't realize that sad fact until trying to complete the '74 set six years ago.

What I thought about this card then: It may have been the first time I ever saw a card and thought to myself "I must have this card." I have thought this very same thought perhaps hundreds of times since, but this was the first time.

It was during my first trip to Cooperstown as a 10-year-old. In the basement of the Hall of Fame, there was a display of all of the year's Topps baseball cards. Since this was 1975, all of the '75 cards were on display. Mesmerized, I tried to absorb every last card. I would have stayed there for 12 hours if my parents let me, and I felt like I was rushed the entire time. I didn't even want to look at the rest of the exhibits after seeing this display.

Then I saw the Ralph Garr card. I had never seen anything more incredible in my life. I was both in awe and jealous as hell that I did not have that card, or even knew anyone who had it. But I made it my mission to obtain the card. It was one of the first cards I ever sent away for in a mail-order catalog.

What I think about this card now: It's one of the milestone cards in my collection. I still think it's better than the '74 card, but I remain disappointed that it is a reused, albeit closer-cropped, photo.

Garr has been a key player throughout my early collecting life. His 1976 card, in which he's portrayed laughing in the dugout, is another childhood favorite. And his 1980 card was the last one I needed to completed the set.

Other stuff: Ralph "The Roadrunner" Garr was known for two things on the baseball field, hitting for a high average and stealing bases. He led the National League in hitting with a .353 average in 1974, and had 149 hits by the time the All-Star Game was played that year. He finished second in the NL in batting two other times with the Braves, and was the league-leader in triples in 1974.

Garr became the Braves' top-paid player in 1975, but the arbitration process was a bit ugly. Garr's season in '75 wasn't as good as the one prior, and the Braves made good on trade rumors by dealing him to the White Sox for Ken Henderson, Dick Ruthven and the famed Ozzie Osborn.

Garr hit .300 twice for the White Sox, then his skills began to decline. He played a little more than a year with the Angels before being released. He has been a scout for the Braves for a number of years.

Back facts: I never liked that cartoon. It's like it is implying that Mike Marshall didn't deserve the award.

Other blog stuff: On this date, 72 years ago, Brent Musberger was born. I cannot believe I have been watching this guy announce sports for 36 years.

#306 - Batting Leaders

Card fact: This card begins the third subset in the 1975 Topps set. It's the league leaders subset. All of the cards have the pink-yellow (marshmallow-peep) borders.

What I thought about this card then: This is one of three leaders cards that I saw when I was 9. I thought the leaders cards were kind of interesting. More interesting than the team cards anyway.

What I think about this card now: I wonder how Topps obtained the photos for the leader cards? Were they just photos taken from the time when it took the photo for the player's card, or did they obtain them some other way?

Other stuff: This subset marked the return of the league leaguers to the regular Topps lineup. Starting in 1961, Topps featured league leaders every year in its base set through 1973. Then, in 1974, the leaders were scrapped for the Aaron retrospective and a group of All-Star duos cards.

Topps would feature league leaders from 1975 through 1984 before booting the series again in 1985. League leaders disappeared from Topps issues for quite awhile after that.

Back facts: Looking at league leaders 35 years later is fascinating. My favorite part is picking out names of players who you wouldn't figure to be in the top 10 of a certain category.

For me on this card, the surprises are Jorge Orta placing third in the American League and Greg Gross third in the National League.

As you can see, Carew and Garr were way ahead of everyone else. This was Garr's first and only batting title, while Carew was working on the fourth of seven in his career.

Other blog stuff: Here is the original card that I pulled back in 1975:

Even as a wee-one, I did a fairly good job of protecting my cards from the elements. There were relatively few with creases. But this is one that managed to fold in on itself.