#649 - Jack Heidemann

Card fact: This is the only Topps card of Jack Heidemann in which he's featured wearing long hair and a mustache. From 1970-73, he's clean-shaven. When he reappears on a Topps card in 1977, he's also clean-shaven.

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

What I think about this card now: When I was trying to complete the set in 2004, this was the first card I came across in which I had never heard of the player. This was absolutely stunning to me. I had prided myself on knowing 1970s players, especially from the period when I collected as a kid. I didn't think it was possible that there were players in the '75 set that I didn't know.

It turns out there was more than Heidemann. There are probably 30-40 players in the set in which I had never heard of them until I completed the set in 2004. But that's the fun of collecting cards.

Other stuff: Heidemann was a first-round draft pick of the Indians and played the 1970 season as Cleveland's starting shortstop. In 133 games and 445 at-bats, Heidemann hit .211 and struck out 88 times. His playing time decreased after that, partly because of an inability to hit and partly because of injury.

He played with Cleveland through 1973. With the Cardinals in 1974, he enjoyed his best year, which probably explains Topps giving him a card in '75 after no card in the '74 set. He then went to the Mets and was used as a utility infielder both by New York and the Milwaukee Brewers between 1975-77.

Back facts: This is the last cartoon in the set featuring an animal.

Other blog stuff: In case you don't read Night Owl Cards, I announced over there that after this blog is finished, I will be doing another set blog. However, I won't be starting it right away. I need a break from doing two blogs.

I'm reasonably sure which set I will feature once I decide to start another blog. But I'm not ready to reveal that now. Stay tuned.

#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.

#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.

#610 - Ron Hunt

Card fact: This is the final Topps card of Ron Hunt during his playing career.

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

What I think about this card now: Topps isn't fooling me with that "Cardinals" cap. Hunt is airbrushed from his Expos get-up because he was obtained off waivers by the Cardinals in early September 1974 and Topps was out of luck getting a photo.

Other stuff: Hunt came up with Mets, who were in their sophomore season in 1963. He became the Mets' starting second baseman and finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting to Pete Rose that year.

Hunt played for the Mets for four years but was dealt to the Dodgers in the Tommy Davis deal. Then, after a season with L.A., he was shipped to the Giants in the first trade between the two teams since their moves out to the West Coast.

Hunt's reputation for getting hit by pitches really grew while he played for San Francisco. Beginning with his first season with the Giants in 1968, his HBP totals jumped and he led the league in HBP for seven straight seasons. His phenomenal 50 HBPs in 1971 while he was with the Expos is the most recorded in the modern era.

Hunt played with the Expos through 1974 and ended his career with the Cardinals. After his career, he eventually started a baseball camp, which he has operated for more than two decades.

Back facts: The cartoon means to say: "Who stole home the most times in a career?" Although the Baseball Almanac site says Cobb stole home 54 times, not 35.

Other blog stuff: I'm really starting to believe my speculation on whether Topps waited to fill in the players who would represent the higher numbers in the set. If you look at the cards since No. 600, only Rod Carew and John Ellis are what you would have called "definites" for the set. Every other player has been either at the very end of his career, the very beginning, or was traded recently. Ellie Rodriguez doesn't fall into those categories, but he also didn't have a card the previous two years, so he wasn't a definite either.

I'll be tracking the rest of the cards.

#584 - Mike Garman

Card fact: This is Mike Garman's first solo card. He appeared on a couple of multiple-player rookie cards back in 1971 and 1972. In fact he's the "third guy" on the Carlton Fisk-Cecil Cooper rookie card in the '72 Topps set.

What I thought about this card then: I associate this card with my brother, since it's one of the first '75 cards that he had.

What I think about this card now: It's very sunny. Garman seems happy. There's lots of green. The sun seems to be shining. A perfect card to start July.

Other stuff: Garman enjoyed his best seasons with the Cardinals, appearing in 64 and 66 games in the two seasons he played for them. He came over to St. Louis in a big deal with the Red Sox. The Cardinals got Garman, Lynn McGlothen and John Curtis. The Red Sox obtained Reggie Cleveland, Diego Segui and Terry Hughes.

Garman also pitched for the Cubs, Dodgers and Expos. He went to the Cubs in the surprising (for Cubs fans) deal that sent Don Kessinger to the Cardinals. Then he was traded with Rick Monday to the Dodgers for Bill Buckner and Ivan DeJesus.

Garman pitched in four postseason games with the Dodgers in 1977 and didn't give up a run. The following season, he was dealt to Montreal and ended his major league career after the '78 season.

Back facts: Major gaffe in the trivia cartoon question. The question should read "which rookie had the most STRIKEOUTS." Ain't nobody pitching 245 shutouts in a season.

Herb Score still holds the American League record for strikeouts in a season by a rookie. Dwight Gooden has the major league record with 276 in 1984.

Other blog stuff: Blondie lead singer Deborah Harry was born on this date 66 years ago. 66? Wow. I sure had a thing for her when I was 14 (didn't everyone?)

#540 - Lou Brock

Card fact: This is the third and final card of Lou Brock in the set.

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

What I think about this card now: It makes me think of how I acquired it. When I was attempting to complete the 1975 set back in 2003/04, the Brock card was one of the first "big cards" from the set that I obtained. I gained it in a trade with a co-worker, and am still amazed by how little he wanted for it, and by how great the card looks. It's in terrific shape.

Other stuff: Well, you all know about Lou Brock, don't you? Saying that he was the bridge between Maury Wills and Rickey Henderson sounds like an insult. So, I'll just say that Lou Brock was THE king of the stolen base when I was a child. He studied the art of stealing more than anyone, and back when I was a kid, they wrote odes to his base-stealing ability. I addressed most of my childhood knowledge of the man in one of the first posts on this blog.

Brock was at the height of his popularity in 1975, after just setting the single-season record of 118 stolen bases in 1974. Of course, he finished with more than 3,000 hits and was a shoo-in to the Hall of Fame. But I think Brock doesn't get a lot of attention these days, compared with some of the past greats.

(EDIT: Lou Brock died at age 81 on Sept. 6, 2020).

Back facts: Topps lobs a softball on the trivia question.

Other blog stuff: The pink-yellow color combination reties the orange-brown color combo for the overall lead with 46 cards each. It's a back-and-forth race now.

#490 - Reggie Smith

Card fact: This is the first card of Reggie Smith in an actual Cardinals uniform. He's airbrushed into a St. Louis uniform and cap in the 1974 Topps set.

What I thought about this card then: It took me a long time to see this card. I didn't come across it until I was trying to complete the set six or seven years ago.

What I think about this card now: It's unbelievably terrific. I feel like I should make a list about all of the things that I love about this card. But I'll restrain myself.

Other stuff: Reggie Smith was one of my favorite players of the 1970s. That makes two straight cards of two of my absolute favorites. As I documented on this post, the first Smith card I saw was his 1976 Topps card, and from that point, I thought he was badass, and I wanted him to play for the Dodgers.

He did end up playing for the Dodgers -- he was acquired in a trade with St. Louis for Joe Ferguson -- and competed in three World Series with L.A. He finished fourth in the MVP voting in both 1977 and 1978, the Dodgers' back-to-back World Series seasons.

Smith began his career with the Red Sox, and finished runner-up in the Rookie of the Year voting during Boston's "Impossible Dream" season in 1967. He ended his career with one season with the Giants in 1982. He later played in Japan. He now runs a bunch of baseball camps under the name "Reggie Smith Baseball Centers."

Back facts: The record for slugging percentage in a single World Series is 1.727 by Lou Gehrig in the 1928 World Series. According to baseball-almanac.com, Donn Clendenon does not hold the slugging record for a five-game World Series, even though the '69 World Series was five games and even though the person listed as the record-holder -- Sean Casey in the 2006 Series -- has a slugging percentage of 1.000, which isn't as good as 1.071. So, I'm confused.

Other blog stuff: With this card, the purple-pink border combo crosses the 40 mark. Orange-brown is the only other color combo to do that so far. Soon, I'll be doing an inventory on how all the border combinations rank.

#453 - Claude Osteen

Card fact: Claude Osteen is airbrushed into a Cardinals cap as he was traded from the Astros to the Cardinals in August of 1974. He was also airbrushed into an Astros cap on his 1974 Topps Traded card after being traded in December of 1973 in the Jim Wynn deal.

What I thought about this card then: This is one of the cards that I pulled while on vacation in the summer of 1975. I remember liking it quite a bit and being totally oblivious to the fact that there was something funny about the cap he was wearing. I had no idea at the time that Osteen had spent a good bulk of his career as a consistently successful member of the Dodgers' rotation.

What I think about this card now: I'm wondering what jersey Osteen is really wearing. Dodgers or Astros? I'm going with Astros. That color on the jersey doesn't look too fake.

Other stuff: Osteen was a two-time 20-game winner for the Dodgers during a career that spanned from 1957-75. Other than the Cardinals and Astros, he also played for the Reds, Senators and White Sox. He was the key figure in the 1964 trade between the Dodgers and Senators that sent Frank Howard to Washington.

Osteen wasn't a big strikeout pitcher and gave up a ton of hits, but he was also a workhorse in the Dodgers' rotation, often incurring 30 decisions in a single season. He reached the All-Star Game three times. After his career, he became a pitching coach for several teams, including the Dodgers.

Back fact: That's a lot of stats. I like the half inning he pitched for the Reds in 1961.

Other blog stuff: Here is the original Osteen I pulled from that pack in the summer of '75:

Still should've known the cap was airbrushed.

#429 - Jim Dwyer

Card fact: This is Jim Dwyer's first solo Topps card.

What I thought about this card then: Dwyer was another one of those guys who looked "ghostly" to me. I don't know why really.

What I think about this card now: Lots of dead space in the photograph.

Other stuff: Dwyer enjoyed 18 seasons in the major leagues even though he managed no more than 260 at-bats in any one season. After toiling for the Cardinals, Expos, Mets and Giants, he found modest success with the Red Sox in 1979 and 1980. He was then picked up by the Orioles, who made him into one of their many successful platoon outfielders of the late '70s and early '80s.

Dwyer helped the Orioles reach and win the World Series in 1983 (he hit a home run in the O's Game 1 loss). He continued to produce for the Orioles -- hitting 15 home runs in 241 at-bats in 1987 -- through most of the decade. He ended his career with the Twins.

Dwyer, nicknamed "Pig Pen" for the general state of his uniform, has coached in the Twins organization in several capacities since 1995.

Card facts: I didn't know what a perfect game was in 1975, and I remember being puzzled by the cartoon. Also, whenever I saw major league statistics end with a minor league listing, I thought that was bad news for the player. But it wasn't for Dwyer.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1960, Stan Musial tells Cardinals management he is overpaid and should have his salary reduced after an unperforming 1959 season. His pay is cut from $100,000 to $80,000 a year.

#404 - Ted Sizemore

Card fact: This is the first time Ted Sizemore appears on a card with his familiar mustache. He stayed with it until the end of his major league career in 1980.

What I thought about this card then: I liked it a lot. Sizemore was one of my favorites for unknown reasons. He had the fortune of playing virtually his entire career for some of my all-time favorite teams -- the Dodgers, Cardinals, Phillies and Red Sox. There was only one year with the Cubs that fouled things up.

I remember pulling this card from a pack purchased during a trip to the drug store not long after school was let out for the summer. I considered myself very fortunate to have this card.

What I think about this card now: It's quite off-center.

Other stuff: Sizemore came up with the Dodgers and was named the N.L. Rookie of the Year in 1969. But the Dodgers traded him away a year later to get Rich Allen. The trade did clear the way for Davey Lopes to take the second base position with L.A. (only after that experiment with Lee Lacy didn't work out). And the Cardinals had a starting second baseman for five seasons.

St. Louis traded Sizemore back to the Dodgers in 1976 in a deal for Willie Crawford. But he lasted only a year and was off to the Phillies in a deal for Johnny Oates. Sizemore finished out his career with the Cubs and the Red Sox.

After his career, he worked for the Rawlings glove company and is now the president for the Baseball Assistance Team, an MLB organization that provides assistance for former major, minor and Negro league players who are down on their luck.

Back facts: Sizemore must have hit second behind Brock a lot in 1974.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1975, Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally were declared free agents, paving the way for free agency as we know it today.

#398 - Elias Sosa

Card fact: Elias Sosa is rocking an airbrushed Cardinals cap while posing in Candlestick Park in San Francisco. He was traded from the Giants to the Cardinals in mid-October of 1974.

What I thought about this card then: Never saw it. I didn't know Sosa until he was a Dodger in 1976.

What I think about this card now: Quite the signature -- loops all over the place.

Other stuff: Sosa was a relief pitcher for 12 seasons with the Giants, Cardinals, Braves, Dodgers, A's, Expos, Tigers and Padres. He started just three of the 601 games in which he pitched. He was your classic relief workhorse, especially with the Giants, A's and Expos in which he averaged 60-70 games a season.

Sosa is probably most famous for allowing the second of Reggie Jackson's three home runs during Game 6 of the 1977 World Series. The 1977 Topps Sosa card was one of the first Dodgers I pulled that year, so I was extra disappointed in Sosa's gopher ball.

Back facts: You see the mention of the trade on the back. Sosa was actually traded from the Cardinals to the Braves in May of 1975. He pitched just 14 games for St. Louis.

Other blog stuff: This is the 40th orange-brown bordered card in the set. That is six more than the next highest color combo.

#381 - John Curtis

Card fact: This is John Curtis' card debut in a Cardinals uniform. But it's not his first card featured as a Cardinal. He is in the 1974 Topps Traded set. It's a particularly gruesome hatless photograph of him.

What I thought about this card then: I had the mini card. Most of the minis I pulled came early in 1975, and Curtis was one of the first Cardinals I ever saw on a card. He represented the Cardinals for me at that stage. That must have explained why I didn't think much of the team then. If only Lou Brock or Bob Gibson had been my first Cardinal card.

What I think about this card now: Interesting signature.

Other stuff: Curtis was a much-traveled left-handed pitcher who bounced between starting and relieving for the Red Sox, Cardinals, Giants, Padres and Angels. He lasted 15 seasons, compiling an 89-97 record. Much of his starting came during his earlier years with the Red Sox and the Cardinals, and during the 1980 season with San Diego when he enjoyed one of his best years.

After his career, Curtis pursued his interest in writing, providing freelance stories for various publications, including Sports Illustrated and the Boston Globe. He also coached in an independent baseball league.

Back facts: OK, I guess the Dodger fan is going to have to correct the cartoon here.

The cartoon addresses the famous gaffe by Dodgers catcher Mickey Owen against the Yankees in the 1941 World Series. Tommy Henrich advanced to first base on a third strike after the ball got past Owen.

But note that the cartoon says "Owen" (no first name) "threw wild," implying that Owen was the pitcher and he threw a wild pitch. Well, that's all kinds of screwed up. Hugh Casey was the one who threw the pitch, and I don't believe it was wild. It's just that Owen missed it, Henrich reached first base, the Yankees rallied to win Game 4, and won the Series.

Other blog stuff: Dodgers announcer Vin Scully was born on this date 83 years ago. No, he wasn't on the job yet for Owen's dropped third strike.

#353 - Luis Melendez

Card fact: The "pink-yellow" color combo, which hasn't been featured since the league leaders cards, has returned to rejoin the "orange-brown" combo for the overall lead with 33 cards apiece.

What I thought about this card then: Never saw it. In fact, I know extremely little about Luis Melendez.

What I think about this card now: I can't make out what Melendez signed between "Luis" and "Melendez." But his nickname was "Torito," or "little bull." That must be it.

Other stuff: Luis Melendez was a promising outfielder in the Cardinals organization but didn't live up to his billing. He had semi-decent, 300-at-bat seasons in 1973 and 1975, but was finished with his playing career in 1977, six years after it began.

Melendez played in the Puerto Rican Winter Baseball League and went on to manage there after his playing career. He then became a low-level minor league manager for the Cardinals and the Phillies, managing the Batavia Muckdogs of the New York-Penn League in 2003 and 2004. Batavia is not too far from me.

He is now a manager for the Gulf Coast Phillies.

Back facts: This is one of the most hilarious cartoons ever. Who wrote this cartoon, Luis Melendez?

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1991, Jack Morris pitched one of the best games I've ever seen, throwing a 10-inning, 1-0 shutout in Game 7 of the World Series against the Braves, to lead the Twins to the title.

#349 - Ray Sadecki

Card fact: Ray Sadecki is airbrushed into a Cardinals cap and uniform as he was traded from the Mets on Oct. 13, 1974, which was too late for Topps to get a photo of Sadecki as a Cardinal (unless they wanted to go back to when he pitched for the Cardinals between 1960-66).

What I thought about this card then: Didn't see it. Sadecki is another one of those guys who retired right as I was getting into baseball, so it was decades before I knew who he was. He did have one final card in the 1977 Topps set, as a Brewer, but since he didn't pop up in another set after that, he meant nothing to me.

What I think about this card now: One of the poorer photos in the entire set. Just lousy.

Other stuff: Sadecki was traded for some heavyweights in his career. In 1966, he went to the Giants in exchange for Orlando Cepeda, who ended up helping the Cardinals to a World Series and winning MVP honors. In 1974, Sadecki was sent from the Mets back to the Cardinals for Joe Torre, who ended managing the Mets.

Sadecki started out with St. Louis, and was a 20-game winner for the 1964 pennant-winning Cardinals, who defeated the Yankees in the World Series. In 1968, while with the Giants, he had one of his better seasons, striking out a career high 206 and recording a 2.91 ERA. But he led the league in losses with 18.

He returned to the World Series with the Mets in 1973. He was a swingman during his time with New York, relieving and spot starting. He gained a save in the World Series against the A's.

After getting traded back to the Cardinals in 1974, he didn't stay there long. He was traded again in May of 1975, this time to the Braves. He bounced around to the Royals, Brewers and then back to the Mets before closing his career in 1977.

(EDIT: Ray Sadecki died on Nov. 17, 2014)

Back facts: Harry "Peanuts" Lowery, an outfielder with the Cubs and Cardinals mostly, got his nickname from his small stature as a kid, not because he liked peanuts.

Other blog stuff: Since everyone is enjoying the Yankees' defeat so much, I'll mention a Yankee loss that I enjoyed a lot. On this date in 1981, the Dodgers beat the Yankees 5-4 in Game 3 of the 1981 World Series. This is one of the more memorable games that I have ever watched. My favorite player, Ron Cey, hit a 3-run home run against Dave Righetti in the bottom of the first. Dodgers starter Fernando Valenzuela worked in and out of trouble. Cey then scored the eventual winning run on a double play grounder. Then in the eighth, Cey halted a Yankee rally, by diving to catch Bobby Murcer's foul bunt and doubling the runner off of first.

The Dodgers were down 0-2 in the Series at the start of the game, but would go on to win the rest of the Series. My favorite player was the catalyst. I'll never forget it.

#328 - Sonny Siebert

Card fact: This is the final Topps card issued of Sonny Siebert during his career.

What I thought about this card then: This card amused my brothers and I. We thought "Sonny" was a strange name and the guy pictured on the card must have been odd to accept being called "Sonny." Look at him smiling about his silly name!

What I think about this card now: I think we treated Sonny unfairly as kids.

Other stuff: Siebert started out as a regular in the Indians' starting pitching rotation during the 1960s, then established himself as a reliable starter for the Red Sox in the early 1970s. He was a two-time All-Star.

Siebert also swung a respectable bat. (He began his pro career as an outfielder). In 1971, he had one of the better hitting seasons for a pitcher, delivering six home runs and 15 RBIs and batting .266 in 79 at-bats. Two of those home runs came in one game, and he was the last A.L. pitcher to hit two home runs in a regular season game.

At the end of Siebert's career, he bounced around between the Rangers, Cardinals, Padres and A's.

Back facts: Wilfred? OK, Sonny isn't so bad now.

You can see that Topps squeezed in that Siebert was traded to the Padres, but it was too late for it to get a photo of him as a Padre. In fact, by the time some collectors pulled this card, even the write-up on the back was outdated, because Siebert was traded again, to the A's, in May of 1975.

Other blog stuff: OK, it's time to finally name this "brown-orange" color combo. There is a poll on the sidebar. The suggestions were all basically mentioned by commenters. I will go with whatever receives the most votes.

#296 - Alan Foster

Card fact: This is one of three cards in the set featuring a player with the last name of Foster. The others are George Foster and Leo Foster.

What I thought about this card then: If you collected cards as a kid, then there was probably a point in which you developed an irrational attachment to a card of a certain player. This player was not on your favorite team, wasn't a star, and there was nothing exceptional about the photograph. Yet, for some reason, you thought he was the greatest player on the greatest card.

This is that card for me. I really, really wanted Alan Foster to become a great pitcher. I remember looking at the back of this card, seeing that he began his career with the Dodgers, and being sad that the Dodger got rid of such a terrific player.

Looking at this card now, and knowing what I know about Foster's career, I have no idea why I behaved the way I did.

What I think about this card now: The stadium background looks cool. Otherwise I just stare at it and try to figure out what I saw in this card when I was 9.

Other stuff: Foster was drafted in the second round by the Dodgers in 1965. He played in the majors for a few years for L.A., but was traded to Cleveland for backup catcher Duke Sims. Later, he was traded along with the player I just featured -- Vada Pinson -- to the Angels. The Cardinals purchased him two years later, and he had his best season in the majors for St. Louis in 1973, going 13-9 with a 3.14 ERA. But he was traded again to San Diego, where he stayed until ending his career in 1977. He had a career 48-63 won-loss mark.

Back facts: Odell Hale was the starting second baseman for the Indians in the 1930s. I don't know why he was "bad news."

Also note the Topps alert that Foster was traded to the Padres too late for it to get a photo of Foster as a Padre. "We're really, really trying," Topps is saying.

Other blog stuff: Here is the original card that I thought of so fondly:

I still don't understand what the fuss was about.

#289 - Ken Rudolph

Card fact: This is Ken Rudolph's first card in anything other than a Cubs uniform. You can argue that he's not really in a Cardinals uniform, but you wouldn't get anywhere. Like arguing with the umpire after he calls you out, you're out if the ump says you're out. And you're a Cardinal if Topps says you're a Cardinal.

What I thought about this card then: Never saw it. Didn't know Ken Rudolph existed until just a few years ago.

What I think about this card now: Painting the interlocking St. Louis logo on an airbrushed cap must've been a bitch.

Other stuff: Rudolph was a career back-up catcher, mostly for the Cubs, but he also played for the Giants, Cardinals and Orioles over nine seasons. He spent the 1974 season with the Giants. He was then traded to the Cardinals with relief pitcher Elias Sosa (also airbrushed into a Cardinals cap in the '75 set) for catcher Marc Hill. The October deal didn't leave Topps enough time to get Rudolph in a Cardinals uniform, so you have the mess you see before you.

Rudolph is now a high school baseball coach in Phoenix, Ariz. You can see a brief video interview with him from 2009.

Back facts: The cartoon helps explain why Bill Nicholson was nicknamed "Swish." Nicholson was a slugger for the Cubs in the 1940s and nearly won MVP honors in back-to-back years. His nickname came because of his mighty swing, but also because he struck out a fair amount. But his totals are nothing compared with the strikeout totals that today's players produce.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 2007, the Rangers set an American League record for runs in a game by thumping the Orioles 30-3. The same two teams are playing each other today. (Yes, that was my attempt to wake up the Rangers).

#272 - Lynn McGlothen

Card fact: This is Lynn McGlothen's first card as a Cardinal. He appeared in the 1973 set as a member of the Red Sox, but was not in the 1974 Topps set.

What I thought about this card then: I had the mini card as a youngster. I don't recall thinking anything special. McGlothen's smiling face on his 1976 Topps card attracted my attention more.

What I think about this card now: I don't know what that structure is in the background. Kind of odd-looking.

Other stuff: McGlothen's best season came in 1974, his first year with the Cardinals and his first full year in the majors. He went 16-12 with a 2.69 ERA in 31 starts. He made the All-Star team and finished 9th in the Cy Young voting. The following year wasn't as good, but he still went 15-13.

After a sub-.500 year (despite throwing four shutouts), he was sent to the Giants for Ken Reitz. Later, he was traded to the Cubs, where he spent a couple of years in the starting rotation. Elbow problems hampered McGlothen late in his career, and he finished out with the Yankees in 1982.

McGlothen died two years later in a mobile home fire. McGlothen and another woman were overcome by smoke. The woman had gone back to rescue McGlothen after saving her two daughters. McGlothen was 34.

Back facts: Charles Hickman was a turn-of-the-20th-century player who competed for a variety of teams. It seems Topps is going a long way back to get a trivia question.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1975, the movie "Rollerball" debuted. It's difficult to sum up Rollerball, but basically it's a story about a future society (it takes place in 2018) in which the world is controlled by a single corporation that provides for everyone's needs. People are free to pursue whatever entertainment or leisure that they want, and one of the most popular is a game that resembles roller derby but is super violent and allows for the use of motorcycles and karate moves. ... I can't explain it better than that other than to say "it was the '70s."

Oh, here's your look at the regular McGlothen and the mini side-by-side:

#246 - Cardinals/Red Schoendienst

Card fact: This is the only team card in the set in which the first name of the manager also describes his team's primary color. How's that for fact? But I know it's true. There ain't no color called "Sparky."

What I thought about this card then: Next!

What I think about this card now: They couldn't have spared space for two more characters and typed "Red" instead of "R" in front of Schoendienst?

Other stuff: Red Schoendienst enjoyed fairly instantaneous success as manager for the Cardinals by leading them to the World Series in back-to-back years just three years into his campaign. Schoendienst remained manager for another decade. The 1974 team was actually fairly good, finishing second in the National League East. The offense definitely outshined the pitching.

Back facts: There are three players on this checklist that didn't play a game for the Cardinals in 1974 -- Ken Rudolph, Ray Sadecki and Elias Sosa. Rudolph and Sosa arrived in an offseason trade with the Giants. Sadecki came from the Mets in a deal for Joe Torre in October 1974.

Other blog stuff: Let's see how Topps did representing the Cardinals team of 1974.

Even though St. Louis finished second, it used a lot of players to do so. Forty-three players wore Cardinal red in '74. Topps featured 28 of those players in its 1975 set, plus the three players who didn't play for St. Louis in '74, Rudolph, Sadecki and Sosa. Topps also featured cards of Joe Torre, Jose Cruz, Tim McCarver and Orlando Pena, all players who competed for St. Louis in '74 but are listed with other teams in the 1975 set.

Topps didn't skip anyone noteworthy from that '74 team. Someone named Tom Heintzelman had 74 at-bats for St. Louis in '74 and didn't get a card. No biggie, except for Heintzelman's mom.

So here is where the Cardinals rate with the other teams examined so far, in terms of having the most players from their team represented in the 1975 set:

1. Tigers 78.37% of players featured

2. Orioles 78.13%
3. Giants 71.43%
4. Royals 70.59%
5. Red Sox 70.27%
6. Angels 68.89%
7. Expos 68.29%
8. Cardinals 65.12%
9. Phillies 62.5%
10. Padres 55.8%

Not great. But the Cardinals had a LOT of fringe players in 1974.

#231 - Mike Tyson

Card fact: This card puts the pink-yellow card combo back in the overall lead with 22 cards so far.

What I thought about this card then: It didn't come my way.

What I think about this card now: It's quite the clash of colors. Pink and yellow and light blue combined with the Cardinals' red uniform. The '75 set really is a fashion faux pas. But it's great.

Other stuff: Mike Tyson was the semi-regular shortstop for the Cardinals during much of the 1970s, a rather unproductive period for St. Louis. Tyson didn't hit much. He was known more for his fielding.

Of course, you're waiting for me to get to the fact that he shares his name with a much more famous, law-flouting, ear-biting, ex-heavyweight champion of the world. Yes he does. And I'm sure Mr. Tyson never tires of hearing about it.

But just to dwell on it a little more, here is Tyson's rookie card:

And here is the cartoon on the back (for those who read this once already on the other blog, I apologize):

Tyson's nickname was "Rocky"! His real name is the same name as a boxer and his nickname was the same name as the most famous fictional boxer ever!

Sadly, Tyson did not become a boxer after retiring from baseball. He's a hitting coach and car salesman according to his wikipedia page.

Back facts: How often do you think that rule about throwing your glove at the ball has gone into effect? I bet we'd be surprised at the number of times it's happened. Now, if we included Little League games, I'm sure the number of incidences would be in the millions.

Other blog stuff: The No. 1 song in the country on this date in 1975 was "Sister Golden Hair," by America. My wife says it is a very sad song.