#464 - '74 World Series, Game 4

Card fact: I believe this is a photo of A's starting pitcher Ken Holtzman hitting a home run in the third inning of Game 4. It gave the A's a 1-0 lead at the time.

What I thought about this card then: I didn't see it. This bothered me a lot, because I had a great deal of interest in the World Series cards. If I couldn't own the card, at the very least, I wanted to see it. But for a long time, this was the elusive card of the World Series subset.

What I think about this card now: It looks like Andy Messersmith got the pitch too high.

Other stuff: Even though Holtzman hit that home run, the Dodgers came back to hold a 2-1 lead on Bill Russell's two-run triple in the fourth inning. It stayed that way until things fell apart in the sixth for the Dodgers.

Messersmith walked Bill North to start the inning. He then threw wildly to first on a pick-off attempt, sending North to second base. Sal Bando, in a Series-long slump, then blooped an opposite-field single to right, scoring North. Messersmith made matters worse by walking Reggie Jackson. Joe Rudi, the No. 5 hitter, laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third. After an intentional walk to Claudell Washington, pinch-hitter Jim Holt knocked a solid single to score the second and third runs of the inning. A groundout scored the fourth run of the inning.

The Dodgers tried to rally in the ninth, placing two runners on base. But Dick Green made a standout lunging dive on a ball hit by Von Joshua, and turned it into a game-ending double play.

Back facts: This was the only game of the series that did not end with a 3-2 score. In fact, the sixth inning of this game almost matched the total runs in each of the other four games.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1935, the Yankees released Babe Ruth. Say what you want about the Dodgers trying to trade Jackie Robinson to the Giants (Walter O'Malley didn't care WHO you were), but the Yankees released Babe Ruth!

#145 - Ken Holtzman

Card fact: One of the most pleasing cards in the set. A top-notch pitcher of the era, who played on a World Series winning team, featured on a card with a border color that complements his uniform and team colors.

What I thought about this card then: One of my favorites. In my mind, Holtzman was actually much, much taller than he appears on this card. Also, when I looked at the card, I pictured him pitching from about 6 feet up. I am surprised when I see the card now and realize Holtzman is obviously at ground level.

The picture of Holtzman represents everything that I thought was cool about a pitcher at the time.

Also, and this has nothing to do with what I just said, but I cannot think of this card without also thinking of the frogs that we caught in our backyard. We would corral them and force them to live in a habitat devised by 9-year-olds, which basically was grass and twigs in a sand bucket. We'd care for the frog for three days and then wonder on the third day why the frog was dead.

I have no idea why I think of that when I see the Holtzman card. I must have obtained the Holtzman card around the time we caught a frog, or had the Holtzman card nearby. But anyway, that's a glimpse into the nonsensical world in which I live.

What I think about this card now: I love it because it reminds me of my childhood more than almost all of the cards in the set.

Other stuff: Ken Holtzman was a standout pitcher for the Cubs in the 1960s. The fact that he was Jewish made for interesting comparisons to Sandy Koufax (they are both left-handed, too). Holtzman couldn't match up to that, but did pretty damn good. He threw two no-hitters for the Cubs -- against the Braves and Reds -- and then was traded for Rick Monday just before the A's began their dynasty.

Holtzman was a key starter for those Swingin' A's teams and even hit a home run in the 1974 World Series against the Dodgers (boooo!!!!). Later, Holtzman was sent to the Orioles as Charlie O. began his fire sale. The Orioles didn't keep Holtzman too long, sending him to the Yankees. Holtzman struggled with New York, got on Steinbrenner's bad side and ended up finishing his career back with the Cubs.

(EDIT: Ken Holtzman died on April 14, 2024 at age 78).

Back facts: Does "splinter" mean you have a rubber bat? I've never understood that cartoon.

Also, Holtzman probably has the greatest bio write-up that ever existed on a baseball card. One sentence. Pure awesomeness.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1975, the movie "Tommy" was released. Does anyone play pinball anymore?