#647 - Claudell Washington

Card fact: Well, well, rookie cup, where have you been? It's been 135 cards since the last rookie cup. And this is the final Topps All-Star Rookie cup card in the set.

What I thought about this card then: My friend, the A's bandwagon fan, had this card. He instantly declared it cool. Who was I to argue?

What I think about this card now: For the first time -- and keep in mind I have seen this card for 35 years -- I am realizing that there is a bat in the photo. I don't know how I've missed that for so long. But it certainly makes Claudell Washington look that much more ominous.

Also, that signature is very tiny.

Other stuff: Washington was an instant success with Oakland. Picked up off the sandlots in Berkeley, Calif., as a 17-year-old, he was 20 years old when he reached the majors. A decent World Series showing in '74 (he was 4-for-7), signaled a star in the making. In 1975, he reached the All-Star Game during a year in which he hit .308 and racked up 182 hits.

But Washington couldn't sustain that pace throughout his career. He was traded five times during a 17-year career and signed as a free agent three other times. All told, he played for the A's, Rangers, White Sox, Mets, Braves, Yankees and Angels. He had some success with just about every team, although his time in Chicago was marred by an oversleeping incident, causing fans to roll out the "Washington Slept Here" joke.

Washington hit three home runs in a game twice, once in each league. He revived his up-and-down career during a five-year stint with the Braves, although that was also marred by confessions of drug use and a trip to a drug diversion program.

Washington finished up with some decent seasons with the Yankees. Of interest to no one but me, he was one of the final cards I needed to complete the 1989 Topps set.

(EDIT: Claudell Washington died on June 10, 2020).

Back facts: The cartoon implies that Dick Stuart was a poor fielder, but doesn't come right out and say it. So I will. Dick Stuart was a poor fielder.

Other blog stuff: The 1974 Topps All-Star Rookie Team is complete. So let's have a look at it!

1B - Mike Hargrove
2B - Larry Milbourne
3B - Bill Madlock
SS - Bucky Dent
OF - Bake McBride
OF - Greg Gross
OF - Claudell Washington
C - Barry Foote
P - Frank Tanana


That's not an epic team, but everyone on that squad enjoyed decent and long careers. Some, like Tanana and Gross, remade themselves later in their career and extended it as a result. The average career span for the nine players is exactly 14 years.

#626 - Larry Haney

Card fact: Like the Steve Busby card, the player pictured in this card is not the player listed. That is a photograph of Dave Duncan on Larry Haney's card. So, Haney is actually not pictured in the 1975 set. (Interestingly, Duncan is shown as an Indian on his card, but also appears in the set as an Oakland A).

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

What I think about this card now: Wow, was baseball THAT unpopular in 1974? The attendance looks the same as a random high school game in my area.

Other stuff: Haney was a career-long backup catcher known for his defensive ability. He played for the Orioles, Pilots, A's, Cardinals and Brewers and never had more than 177 at-bats in a season.

After his playing career, which lasted from 1966-78, he became the bullpen coach for the Brewers. He was also a pitching coach for a couple of years in the 1990s.

Haney's son, Chris, was a pitcher in the 1990s for the Royals, Indians, Red Sox, Expos and Cubs. He was also a member of my fantasy teams in the mid-90s.

Haney also has another notable baseball card as his 1969 card features a reverse image of the photo that appeared on the 1968 Topps card and shows him as a left-handed catcher.

Back facts: There have been seven World Series since that unfortunate one in 1966 that went just four games. The most recent was the 2007 Series when the Red Sox beat the Rockies in four straight.

Other blog stuff: A happy 69th birthday to "Shaft" singer Isaac Hayes. Shut your mouth.

#623 - 1975 Rookie Infielders

Card fact: I'm trying to determine whether Phil Garner is airbrushed into an A's cap and uniform. Something doesn't look quite right, but Garner came up with Oakland. Perhaps he is actually wearing a minor league uniform. He played in Tucson most of the 1974 season.

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

What I think about this card now: Keith Hernandez looks like a whole other human being. Tom Veryzer is definitely a "dude looks like a lady" candidate.

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

Phil Garner, A's: 1976 Topps (great card)
Keith Hernandez, Cardinals: 1976 Topps
Bob Sheldon, Brewers: 1976 Topps (his only one)
Tom Veryzer, Tigers: 1976 Topps (with the rookie cup)

(EDIT: Tom Veryzer died at age 61 on July 7, 2014)

Most successful career: If you combine "Scrap Iron" Phil Garner's playing career with his managing career, he has an argument. But Keith Hernandez easily is the best of the four players.

Most awesome middle name: For the first time, we have a player without a middle name on these rookie cards. That was always awesome to me, so I'm going with Keith Hernandez.

Other blog stuff: The pink-yellow border combination has tied the orange-brown and green-purple combinations for the overall lead with 52 cards each.

#613 - Bill Parsons

Card fact: This is the final Topps card issued during Bill Parsons' career.

What I thought about this card then: Never saw it.

What I think about this card now: Parsons is airbushed into an A's cap. He was dealt from the Brewers to the A's in June of 1974. Topps didn't do a great job on the cap, but the uniform is pretty good. The gold jersey looks realistic.

Other stuff: Parsons was a 6-foot-6 right-hander who pitched for four seasons in the major leagues. He got off to a terrific start, winning 13 games for the Brewers in 1971 and finishing second to Chris Chambliss in the A.L. Rookie of the Year voting.

Parsons won 13 games again in 1972, even though the Brewers finished in last again. The following year wasn't so great as he stumbled to a 6.69 ERA in 20 games. Milwaukee traded him to Oakland for Deron Johnson. But he pitched in just four games for the A's, and that was the end of his major league career. In late '74, Parsons was acquired by the Cardinals, but didn't play in the majors for them.

Back facts: Another frustrating card for Topps, which went through the effort of airbrushing Parsons into an A's cap only to have him dealt to the Cardinals.

Also, the cartoon is quite random. Why not do a cartoon about every pitching coach in the majors in 1975?

Other blog stuff: We are about to embark on the final subset of the 1975 set. I'm going to handle this subset a little differently than I have the rest of the cards. But I hope it's still interesting.

#607 - Jim Holt

Card fact: Jim Holt is looking way up in the sky because he doesn't want to show you that he is really wearing a Twins cap. Holt was traded from the Twins to the A's in August of 1974. He is painted into a green-and-gold jersey.

What I thought about this card then: Never saw it.

What I think about this card now: One of the more unsettling "looking up" cards in the set. Also, you might be interested to know that Holt's uniform number with the A's was 38. His uniform number with the Twins was 26. And you can see the number 26 on the bill of his cap. Can't fool me, Topps.

Other stuff: Holt played first base and the outfield for the Twins and A's between 1968-76. He was a part-timer for most of his career, although he hit .297 in 132 games for the Twins in 1973 when Harmon Killebrew was dealing with a knee ailment that sidelined him for a good chunk of the season.

The Twins traded Holt for Pat Bourque late in the season in '74 (Bourque was returned to the A's after the season). Holt's biggest moment with the A's was knocking in two runs as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning of Game 4 of the '74 World Series against the Dodgers. Holt's single broke open a close game and a close series and gave the A's a 5-2 victory. Oakland would go on to win the Series in 5 games.

(EDIT: Holt died on March 29, 2019 at age 74).

Back facts: I don't know why "an accomplished big league hitter" is necessary. He's in the big leagues. He's a hitter. I think that makes him "accomplished."

Other blog stuff: The orange-brown border combination has moved back into first place with its 52nd card. It's apparently going to be a dogfight until the end.

#591 - Glenn Abbott

Card fact: This is Glenn Abbott's first solo card. He appeared on a four-player rookie card in the '74 Topps set.

What I thought about this card then: I didn't see this one. But Abbott's smile on his 1976 Topps card was a little alarming to me.

What I think about this card now: There aren't a lot of A's cards in the set that do not have a green or yellow border. This is only the sixth A's player card without either color in the border.

Other stuff: Abbott was a starter and reliever for the A's, Mariners and Tigers. He was selected by Seattle in the expansion draft of 1976 and was one of the team's top pitchers in its first year with the club. I always wondered what it was like to go from a team at the top of baseball, like the A's, to a brand new, lousy team like the Mariners. Must've been eye-opening.

While with the A's, Abbott was part of the first four-pitcher no-hitter as Oakland blanked the Angels on the last day of the 1975 season. Vida Blue started that game and lasted five innings. Abbott came in to pitch a perfect sixth inning.

Abbott pitched longer than any of the original Mariners, lasting through 1983. After his career ended in 1984, Abbott eventually went into coaching and is a minor league pitching coach for the Mets.

Back facts: The cartoon seems kind of random. The A.L. Fireman of the Year in 1964? McBean had a great year with the Pirates in '64, but not sure why it was worth mentioning here.

Other stuff: I have finished re-scanning the remaining cards in the set whose scans I had lost. I'm noticing the re-scans of the backs might be a little light. I'll have to tinker with that.

Also, while re-scanning, I updated the count on my total mini cards. It was all out of whack. The total is now correct in the labels.

#561 - A's/Alvin Dark

Card fact: The A's had the best damn team cards in history. You cannot argue this point without showing your bias. Best. Damn. Team. Cards.

What I thought about this card then: As you know, I didn't think much of team cards as a kid, but I'm sure I thought this was slightly cool.

What I think about this card now: I wonder how much time it took the photographer to line up the players in alternating uniform colors? Or did they have it down to a science since they did it every year?

Other stuff: Alvin Dark makes his first appearance with the Oakland A's as he replaced Dick Williams as manager for the 1974 season. Dark would lead the A's to their third consecutive World Series title. He would last until the end of the '75 season, getting fired by Charlie Finley after the A's lost in the ALCS to the Red Sox.

Dark was in his fourth of five major league managing stints. He also managed the Giants (he was the third manager to lead teams from both leagues to the World Series), Kansas City A's, Indians and Padres. Dark is the oldest surviving manager of a World Series-winning team.

Back facts: Many familiar names there, but of course I get the biggest kick out of "Washington, H./PR"

Other blog stuff: Let's see how well Topps represented the World Champions of 1974 in the '75 set.

Oakland used 36 players in 1974. Topps featured 27 of those players in the set, including Darold Knowles airbrushed into a Cubs cap. It also featured Billy Williams as an Oakland A, even though he didn't play for them in 1974.

Topps didn't skip any major contributors to the A's team, but there is one player who played quite a bit in '74 who did not get a card in 1975.

Deron Johnson began with the A's and played in 110 games total in 1974. He was dealt from Oakland to Milwaukee in June of 1974 (for Bill Parsons, who did get a card). Then, in September, he was purchased by the Red Sox and finished the season in Boston.

Topps must have either thrown up its hands at Johnson's ever-changing team ways, or it was scared off by his .171 average in 351 at-bats. The thing that I find amusing is Topps did feature Johnson as a Red Sox player in the 1976 set. But the Red Sox released him in October of 1975 before the '76 set even came out. Johnson played for the White Sox for most of '75 before getting dealt back to the Red Sox at the end of September. Topps wisely chose not to feature him in the 1977 set.

Anyway, Topps featured 75 percent of the team in its 75 set. Here is where the A's rank:

1. Twins 81.25% of players featured
2. Tigers 78.37%
3. Orioles 78.13%
4. Reds 77.14%
5. A's 75.0%
6. Dodgers 74.29%
6. Astros 74.29%
8. Giants 71.43%
9. Indians 71.11%
10. Royals 70.59%
11. Red Sox 70.27%
12. Angels 68.89%
13. Expos 68.29%
14. Brewers 66.67%
15. Rangers 65.79%
16. Cardinals 65.12%
17. White Sox 65.0%
18. Phillies 62.5%
19. Mets 62.16%
20. Pirates 61.5%
21. Padres 55.8%

#545 - Billy Williams

Card fact: You're looking at one of two cards in the set that was purchased for me by my mother. The other one was the Carl Yastrzemski card. My mom went through a very brief phase of buying me cards several years ago. Unfortunately, it stopped as quickly as it began.

What I thought about this card then: I had the mini card. I associate Billy Williams with being with the A's and wearing a mustache, even though that is not how the majority of baseball fans from the '60s and early '70s remember him. But that's what collecting cards as a 9-year-old can do.

What I think about this card now: Williams is airbrushed into an A's cap. It's not a bad job, although I don't think the A's wore electric-green caps. The border colors sure do match with the photo though.

Other stuff: Williams was traded to the A's in October of 1974 after 16 seasons with the Cubs. One of the most beloved Cub players of all-time, Williams enjoyed a Hall of Fame career in which he hit for both power and average. He finished second in the MVP voting in both 1970 and 1972.

Once I figured out that Williams was more Cub than A, I knew him mostly as the guy who Steve Garvey surpassed as the player with the most consecutive games played in the National League (1,207-1,117).

Back facts: A fill-in-the-blank trivia question! That's a first.

Other blog stuff: Let's see regular-sized Billy next to mini-Billy:

#535 - Gene Tenace

Card fact: Fifteen of the 20 Oakland A's cards featured so far have either yellow or green as a border color.

What I thought of this card then: It was one of my favorites. I pulled it while on a family vacation and it came from my all-time favorite pack purchased in 1975 (the pack also contained Bake McBride and Garry Maddox). For a long time that year, I would keep the cards that I pulled from that pack separate from all my other '75 cards. That pack was special.

What I think about this card now: The lighting makes it almost appear as if the photo was taken at night. But we know there were precious few night cards in the '75 set.

Other stuff: Gene Tenace entered baseball history in 1972 when he homered in his first two World Series at-bats during the A's triumph over the Reds. He would go on to hit four home runs total and was named the World Series MVP.

It was his big breakout season and he continued to be a key part of the A's three straight World Series victories. Tenace alternated between first base and catcher during this period. In 1974, he enjoyed a peculiar season in which he hit .211 in 158 games, hitting 26 homers, driving in 73, leading the league in walks with 110, and striking out 105 times.

Tenace was part of the first big free agent class and moved on to San Diego. He returned to the World Series as a support player with the Cardinals in 1982, and finished his career with the Pirates. After his playing days, he became a coach with the Pirates, Astros, and most prominently, the Blue Jays. He returned to Toronto recently when Cito Gaston returned to manage the Blue Jays.

Back facts: This same cartoon trivia question was used just nine cards ago. Different cartoon, but same question. Sheesh.

Also, Tenace's first name of "Fury" is an apparent Americanization of the Italian "Fiore." I think.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1991, Jose Canseco is photographed leaving the New York apartment of Madonna. Years later, she was hanging out with A-Rod. Madonna sure liked the drug-abusing ballplayers didn't she?

#510 - Vida Blue

Card fact: Possibly the most representative card of the entire 1970s. The most colorful card set of its time, featuring the most colorful team of its time, featuring the most colorful name of its time. You can't get more colorful than this card.

What I thought about this card then: I saw it on my first trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame. One of the exhibits was a display of every baseball card from the 1975 set, since it was the most recent Topps set at the time. I saw the Vida Blue card for the first time and was mesmerized. I eventually ordered it through a catalog because I could not stop thinking about it.

What I think about this card now: The photo is one of the most majestic in the set, right up there with the Nolan Ryan record-breaker card.

Other stuff: I could write for a long time about Blue, but I'll whittle his career accomplishments down to his break-out 1971 season (24-8, 1.82 ERA, Cy Young Award and MVP), the fact that he is the only pitcher to start for both the American and National leagues, that he is a three-time World Series champion, and he was one of the hardest-throwing left-handers to ever play the game.

My first association with Blue is pulling the 1971 MVPs card from the 1975 set out of one of the first packs I purchased. But my first recognition of who Blue was didn't happen until 1976 when commissioner Bowie Kuhn prevented A's owner Charlie Finley from selling Blue to the Yankees. I remember reading about the saga in the newspaper.

Blue later hit the paper for his involvement with drugs, testifying in the Pittsburgh drug trials. After his career ended in 1986, he started to work in the community, and has worked for several charitable causes. At one point in the early 1990s, he came through my area of the country to speak in his wife's hometown. I don't know if Blue is still married to this woman, but I always thought it odd that someone from a hick northern town would be married to Vida Blue.

(EDIT: Vida Blue died at age 73 on May 6, 2023).

Back facts: Nobody wore a glove until 1875??? It's a wonder this game ever caught on. Charles Waite was a first baseman for the Boston Red Stockings. He wore a flesh-colored glove so no one would notice.

Also, regarding Vida Blue's sparking 1-0 shutout: I think it would've been more impressive if he was behind hitters throughout. Otherwise, it's redundant.

Other blog stuff: The pink-yellow border combination is now within two cards of catching overall color combo leader, orange-brown. I never would have figured pink-yellow would have the most cards in the set, but it could happen.

#502 - Pat Bourque

Card fact: This is the final card issued of Pat Bourque during his career. He appeared on just two Topps cards, the one being in the 1974 set.

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

What I think about this card now: Wow, that is a severely off-center card, and the photo appears to be out of register. I need to upgrade.

Other than that, Bourque really is playing the part of a Swingin' A, even though he was with Oakland for only two seasons. He's got the long hair and mustache down just like all of the full-timers.

Other stuff: Bourque was a part-time first baseman and pinch-hitter for the Cubs, A's and Twins between 1971 and 1974. The World Champion A's acquired Bourque from the Cubs in the middle of the 1973 season. Bourque went 1-for-3 in four games during the 1973 postseason.

The A's traded Bourque to the Twins in August of 1974, then reacquired him from the Twins after the season was over in late October. This must have both panicked Topps and then helped them. At first, Topps probably figured it would have to airbrush Bourque into a Twins cap since there would be no way for it to get a photo of him as a Twin at that late date. But then he returned to the A's in time for a relieved Topps to either use the photo it had planned to use of Bourque all along, or dig up an older photo of him from the 1974 Topps photoshoot.

Bourque was returned to the A's in a deal that sent Dan Ford to Minnesota. Bourque didn't end up playing in the  majors again, but Ford would have a long career for the Twins, Angels and Orioles well into the 1980s.

Back facts: You can see the last line of stats showing Bourque playing with the Twins, which would have confused me as a kid, given his appearance as an Oakland A on the front. The write-up illustrates Topps scrambling to keep up with the offseason moves. It mentions the summer trade at the start, then goes into his family background, then tacks on the most recent transaction at the end.

Other blog stuff: A happy 60th birthday to new Hall of Fame inductee Bert Blyleven.

#486 - Ray Fosse

Card fact: Well, it's not much of a fact, but I challenge you to find two back-to-back cards that feature more memorable mustaches than this one and the previous card.

What I thought about this card then: My brother had this card, and we thought it was amazing. Snidely Whiplash had his own card!

What I think about this card now: It's even more amazing. The A's green-and-gold uniforms were lost on us kids because everyone wore wacky uniforms in the '70s. But 35 years have passed and I now realize how fortunate we were to see ballplayers running around in those things.

Other stuff: Ray Fosse is most known for getting bowled over by Pete Rose on the final play of the 1970 All-Star Game. The play is blamed for ruining Fosse's career, but the fact is there was plenty of blame to go around throughout his career.

Fosse was injury prone and always seemed to find his way off the field. He was leveled by Jim Rice in another home plate collision late in his career. In 1974, he suffered a back injury trying to break up a fight between teammates Reggie Jackson and Bill North. But in between all the injuries he was known as a tremendous handler of pitchers. Before his '74 injury, he was the A's top catcher, helping pitchers like Vida Blue, Ken Holtzman and Catfish Hunter lead Oakland to a dynasty.

Fosse came to the A's in a trade with Cleveland that sent George Hendrick to the Indians. Fosse later returned to Cleveland, and also played for Milwaukee and Seattle before ending his career in 1979. After his playing days, he became a broadcast announcer for the A's, and still announces Oakland games.

(EDIT: Ray Fosse died on Oct. 13, 2021 after a long battle with cancer).

Back facts: Spider Jorgensen was the Brooklyn Dodgers' starting third baseman during his rookie year in 1947. The Dodgers won the pennant that year. But Jorgensen would never come close to playing that well again and was out of the majors by 1952.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1968, Kansas City's new baseball franchise was named. The Royals were born. They're going to be good again. You just wait.

#452 - Angel Mangual

Card fact: This is Angel Mangual's final Topps card. He appeared on just four Topps cards between 1971-75.

What I thought about this card then: I had the mini card. I don't recall thinking much about it, except that Mangual's brother, Pepe, made his solo card debut in the 1976 Topps set, confusing the heck out of me. I just assumed that Pepe was really Angel and proceeded to confuse the two brothers for the next few decades. I would also get them confused with former White Sox and Mets manager Jerry Manuel, who will also be featured in this set.

What I think about this card now: It seems strange for an A's player not to have a card with a green or yellow border. There are so few of them.

Other stuff: Mangual was a platoon-type player for the A's during their dynasty era. He was acquired from the Pirates in a trade for Jim "Mudcat" Grant and finished third in A.L. Rookie of the Year voting in 1971.

Mangual also delivered the game-winning pinch hit in the 9th inning of Game 4 of the World Series against the Reds in 1972. Mangual won three World Series rings with the A's, but didn't hit very well after his rookie showing. His career ended with the 1976 season.

(EDIT: Angel Mangual died at age 73 on Feb. 16, 2021).

Back facts: Topps is keeping the family theme going by mentioning the Cruz brothers, Jose, Hector and Tommy, in the cartoon. Tommy Cruz played just three games for St. Louis in '73.

Other blog stuff: If you recall on the Willie McCovey post from two days ago, I wondered about the confusing cartoon.

Well, a reader has deduced that Topps may have mixed up the cartoon question and the answer. He said the question, which asked who was nicknamed "The Hat," seems to refer to Harry "The Hat" Walker. But the answer, which was "Jerry Lynch with 18," refers to former pinch-hitting great Lynch who had 18 pinch-hit homers in his career.

So I guess that means we need to be on the watch for a cartoon that asks "Who holds the record for most pinch-hit home runs in a career?" and answers with "Harry Walker." Wouldn't it be great if that happened?

Thanks, Jonathan!

#428 - Dave Hamilton

Card fact: This is the 15th Oakland A's card so far, and 10 have had either a border that was green or yellow or both. I smell favoritism.

What I thought about this card then: I didn't see it. Dave Hamilton avoided my collection so successfully that I didn't pull his card until the 1980 set, which also happened to be his final Topps card.

What I think about this card now: You've got have the ball in your glove, son, to be a truly effective pitcher.

Other stuff: Hamilton spent nine seasons in the major leagues, chiefly as a relief pitcher. Out of 301 games pitched, he started just 57. He pitched in all three seasons that the A's won the World Series during the '70s, but he only made postseason appearances for Oakland in 1972.

Hamilton was traded with Chet Lemon (I never knew Lemon started out as an Athletic) to the White Sox in 1975. He was used almost exclusively as a reliever, throwing in a career high 55 games in 1977. After that he skipped around between the Cardinals and Pirates before returning to Oakland for his final two seasons in 1979 and 1980.

Card fact: You don't hear all that much about Ted Williams breaking his elbow in the 1950 All-Star Game. It was on a line drive by Ralph Kiner in the first inning. Williams crashed into the wall, broke the elbow, but STAYED IN THE GAME. He proceeded to go 1-for-4.

Today, players are removed from the All-Star Game after an inning for no reason at all. Modern players make me so ashamed.

Other blog stuff: On this date, Negro League slugger and Hall of Famer Josh Gibson died at age 35 from a brain tumor.

#407 - Herb Washington

Card fact: We've reached not only one of the most unusual cards in the set, but one of the most unusual cards of all-time. It is believed to be the only card that lists a player's position as pinch-runner, or, more accurately, "pinch run." This is Washington's only card.

What I thought about this card then: Sadly, I never saw it.

What I think about this card now: One of my all-time favorites. You have one of the most interesting experiments in baseball. You have the bright purple-pink borders clashing with the bright gold-and-green uniform. You have Washington in a dated-yet-wonderful pose. You have him wearing just a single glove. You have the empty stands. Classic, classic card.

Other stuff: I wrote about this card on the other blog. So I'll keep it brief here. Oakland owner Charlie O. Finley thought Washington, a world-class sprinter, could give the A's an edge. Washington hadn't played baseball since high school and didn't really know the game. But in 1974, he played in 91 games as a "designated runner." He never batted nor played the field.

Washington was actually just one of a few players that Finley brought to the team in a bid to add unprecedented speed. But the experiment ultimately failed. Washington was released a month into the 1975 season.

Washington later went into business, starting out with McDonald's franchises, and then got into banking. He founded a hockey team in Ohio and was one of the first African-American owners of a pro hockey team. He is listed as living in Youngstown, Ohio. His daughter left a comment on my post at NOC, saying that her father would sign if I could find an address. Unfortunately, any address I've been able to come up with has not been correct.

Back facts: This might be the greatest card back in history. I could stare at it for a very long time. The stat line is most unusual, and I guarantee you've never seen "Major League Base Running Record" before.

Other blog stuff: Unfortunately, I have to take another brief break on the blog. See you in a few days.

#380 - Sal Bando

Card fact: This is the third Oakland A's card that has featured a green-and-yellow border. That can't be coincidence, seeing as the A's were the defending World Series champs.

What I thought about this card then: I didn't see a card of Sal Bando until he was a Milwaukee Brewer. I do remember my friend, an Oakland A's fan, talking about him a lot though.

What I think about this card now: Topps cut the poor coach/manager out of the shot!

Other stuff: Bando was one of the key members of the Swingin' A's dynasty in the 1970s, playing third base for them for 11 years, first in Kansas City and then in Oakland. Bando was the captain of those often dysfunctional teams and was known as much for his fielding as his hitting. He never won a gold glove, with Brooks Robinson in the same league as him.

Bando finished second in the MVP voting in 1971 and was in the top five in MVP voting in both 1973 and 1974 (despite hitting just .243 in 1974). As with most of the A's from those teams, he departed as a free agent, signing with Milwaukee in 1976. He had two solid seasons for the Brewers before age and injury caught up with him. The final games of his career were in the American League Division Series against the Yankees in 1981.

Bando later became the general manager for the Brewers (something I totally forgot). He was GM for seven years and was probably most noted for letting Paul Molitor go to the Blue Jays.

Bando's younger brother, Chris, also played in the majors. For the longest time, I thought Chris was Bando's son.

 

(EDIT: Sal Bando died at age 78 on Jan. 20, 2023).

Back facts: Have you ever seen that "How It's Made" show when they featured baseballs? I saw that and also the one where they show how graphite softball bats are made. Always interesting stuff.

Other blog stuff: It's a rare morning posting today. Stupid blogger wouldn't let me upload an image last night.

Also, I'm taking a break on the blog for a little bit. Everyone enjoy their Thanksgiving.

#329 - Ted Kubiak

Card fact: If I had confidence in my ability to identify stadiums in cards, I would determine whether the Oakland Coliseum or Candlestick Park was featured the most often in the photos in the 1975 set. It's probably a toss-up between those two and Yankee Stadium. I do know that this photo was taken in Oakland.

What I thought about this card then: Never saw it.

What I think about this card now: Ted Kubiak was a minor league manager in my town for three seasons. We covered his team every day for the sports section of our newspaper. It was what you would call "a necessary relationship." We weren't thrilled about him, he wasn't thrilled about us. But we stayed civil most of the time. So, that's what I think about when I see this card.

Other stuff: Ted Kubiak was a good-field, sort-of-hit infielder for 10 seasons. He's known mostly for his time with the Oakland A's, as he won three straight World Series rings with Oakland as a back-up second baseman and shortstop.

Kubiak began his major league career with the A's organization when they were still in Kansas City. He was traded to Milwaukee in 1969 and played in 158 games for the Brewers during their first season in Milwaukee. Kubiak played 121 games the next year, then was traded to the Cardinals for Jose Cardenal, Bob Reynolds and Dick Schofield. After a brief stop in Texas the following year, he was dealt to back to the A's where he spent three seasons.

Kubiak ended his career with two seasons with the Padres. In fact, he was traded to San Diego for the player featured in the previous post, Sonny Siebert.

Kubiak has managed in the Oakland and Cleveland organizations for the last 20 years, including the last 15 with Cleveland. He's the manager for the Lake County Captains, a Class A team.

Back facts: Hey! Another Brooklyn Dodgers cartoon question!

Other blog stuff: The No. 1 song on this date in 1975 was "I'm Sorry" by John Denver, as in, "I'm sorry" to inform you that I'll be taking a break on this blog for a couple of days. Have a good weekend.

#300 - Reggie Jackson

Card fact: This is the first time in Reggie Jackson's career that he received the honor of getting a card number ending in a double zero. With the exception of the 1977 set, when he received card No. 10, Jackson would have a card number ending in double zero in every Topps flagship issue for the rest of his career.

What I thought about this card then: I recall having a Jackson card that had been ripped into pieces and then taped back together. Without remembering the whole story (probably because I blocked it out), I know the destruction of the card had something to do with a friend of mine who was a big A's fan, but not a very pleasant kid. I don't know whatever happened to him, but I'm quite sure he ended up having a prison record. Anyway, he probably ripped it up in some sort of jealous fit.

This card is probably in the top five cards I think of when I think of the first set I ever collected. It was a super cool card. It helped that the blue-orange border was my favorite color border in the set.

What I think about this card now: This seems to be the first card in which Jackson was presented as a larger-than-life hero. Topps took a tight action picture, shot from under Jackson, making him seem big, bad and awesome to all the little collecting kiddies.

Other stuff: I don't think I need to recite Jackson's bio. The guy was the biggest deal in sports when I became familiar with baseball and stayed that way for more than a decade. He was the guy all Yankee haters loved to hate, but there was always part of me that liked him, because he spoke intelligently, even if half of what he said was outrageous. Even as a youngster, I admired people who spoke their mind, and Jackson certainly did that.

Today, when I see him, I forget about all the Yankeeness and laughing at him as he spun down on one knee after whiffing at a pitch. I see a former great, who I like -- even if he did do an awful lot of whining back in the day.

Back facts: I cannot read "Reginald Martinez Jackson" without hearing it in Howard Cosell's voice.

Other blog stuff: We've gone through another 100 cards, so it's time for another inventory session. And we're off:

1. COLOR COMBINATIONS

"Orange-brown," which was tied for the lead after 200 cards, has moved into sole possession of first after 300 cards:

Orange-brown: 25
Green-light green: 24
Pink-yellow: 24
Purple-pink: 24
Green-purple: 23
Yellow-red: 20
Red-blue: 17
Yellow-light blue: 15
Blue-orange: 13
Brown-tan: 13
Red-orange: 13
Red-yellow: 13
Tan-light blue: 13
Orange-yellow: 12
Yellow-green: 12
Brown-orange: 11
Green-yellow: 11
Light blue-green: 11

2. POWDER BLUE UNIFORMS

Added 14 more for a total of 38 so far.

3. LOOKING UP

Not a single player looking up in the last 100 cards. That's hard to believe -- perhaps I missed one or two. But for now, I'll say that we're still at 9 guys looking to the heavens.

4. DUDE LOOKS LIKE A LADY

I added two more dudes who looked like dudettes to me, for a grand total of 8.

5. DECEASED

Twenty-eight players in this set have passed on, including 11 in the last 100 cards.

6. CHAW

Hurray! Joe Coleman has company! Ed Herrmann has been added to the list for 2 players not afraid to display that tobacco bulge.

7. MLB SONS

Seven more players in this set had sons who also played in the majors. So there are 15 total at this point.

8. ROOKIE CUP/ALL-STARS

6/7

9. MOST POPULAR FIRST NAME

Dave/David remains the leader with 15, but Bill and Jim are catching up.

10. MINIS

34 cards of the first 300 I have in mini form for 11 percent. I may have missed one or two of these, too. When I get the time, I'll double-check. But seeing as I barely have the time for this, that probably won't happen.

OK, on to the rest of the set. Next up is a guy whose name has reappeared a few other times in major league history.

#278 - Paul Lindblad

Card fact: Quite a come down from his previous card.

What I thought about this card then: I confess, I thought the A's were cool back then. I know they beat my team in the 1974 World Series, but I was too young to follow that Series, so I didn't know the pain that the A's caused. I just knew they won a lot, so I liked getting A's cards.

What I think about this card now: That is one intense stare by Paul Lindblad. I hope everyone is OK in the bleachers.

Other stuff: Lindblad was an often-used middle reliever who pitched mostly for the A's, but also briefly for the Senators/Rangers and the Yankees. After seven-plus years with the A's, Lindblad was traded to the Senators (who became the Rangers during Lindblad's stay) in the Mike Epstein-Darold Knowles deal. Lindblad led the American League in appearances with the Rangers in 1972.

But after the '72 season, Lindblad was returned to the A's, and he proceeded to be a key figure in Oakland's World Series title in 1973. He didn't pitch in the postseason for the A's in 1974 -- not sure why. But he came back to have one of his best seasons in 1975, going 9-1 with a 2.72 ERA in 68 games and pitching in the A's ALCS series with the Red Sox.

Lindblad returned to the Rangers in 1977, then went to the Yankees, then to Seattle. He never played for the Mariners. He died on New Year's Day in 2006 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's Disease.

Back facts: Lindblad appeared in three games against the Mets in the 1973 World Series. He pitched 3 1/3
innings, allowed four hits, struck out one, walked one and didn't allow a run.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1974, Jorge Lebron, made his professional debut at shortstop for the Phillies' Class A team. He was 14. He is the youngest person ever to play professional baseball in the U.S.

#253 - Jesus Alou

Card fact: For 11 years, if Jesus Alou appeared on a Topps card, his older brothers, Felipe and Matty, did, too. That changed in 1975. Jesus Alou was the only one of the Alou brothers to appear in the '75 Topps set.

Also, this is the first card in the set to feature someone without a cap.

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

What I think about this card now: What on earth is Alou doing? Look at that vein bulging in his forehead!

Other stuff: Alou was the youngest of the Alou brothers, and the one with the most promise. But following his brothers appeared to be too difficult, and Alou didn't quite live up to his potential. He was selected by the Expos in the expansion draft after several years with the Giants. He also played for the Astros, A's and Mets. He played for Oakland in the 1973 and 1974 World Series.

Alou is the uncle of Moises Alou and former relief pitcher Mel Rojas.

Alou was the only one of the Alou brothers that I knew for a long time. Felipe and Matty ended their careers just before I became interested in baseball, but Jesus was around until 1979.

(EDIT: Alou died on March 10, 2023)

Back facts: I need to start counting how many times Babe Ruth is mentioned in cartoons. I think this is at least the third or fourth time.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1902, Bid McPhee resigned as the Reds' manager. McPhee was a 19th century star for the Reds, especially noted for his fielding. When he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, I found out he was born in a town in our area and promptly wrote a newspaper article about him. I had to inform the town that someone born in there was a Hall of Famer. Almost everyone in the town had no idea who he was.