#651 - John Morlan

Card fact: This is John Morlan's only Topps card.

What I thought about this card then: I never saw it. No clue who John Morlan was until completing the set in 2004.

What I think about this card now: I give my 9-year-old self a lot of flack for thinking players on cards were a lot older than they actually were. But when I saw this card for the first time, I was a full-grown adult in my 30s, and I thought the 27-year-old Morlan on this card appeared to be in his 50s.

Other stuff: Morlan was signed by the Pirates as an outfielder. But he converted to pitching in the minors. He reported late to the minor leagues each of his first four seasons because he was an elementary school teacher and had to wait until school let out for the summer before he played baseball.

His only two years in the major leagues were 1973 and 1974. He pitched in just 10 games in '73 but was utilized quite a bit by the N.L. East champions in '74 with 39 relief appearances.

Morlan underwent elbow surgery after the 1974 season and didn't play in the majors after that. He pitched for  Pirates minor league teams until 1977.

Back facts: If Morlan's first year of pro ball was in '73, then what was he doing in 1971 and '72 for Monroe, Niagara Falls and Salem? Those weren't American Legion teams.

Other blog stuff: A happy 56th birthday to Robin Yount. Yup, the only teenager featured in this set (batboys excluded) is 56 today.

#616 - 1975 Rookie Outfielders

Card fact: The first pink-yellow rookie card also is one of the more coveted rookie cards in the entire 1975 set, as it's Jim Rice's rookie card.

What I thought about this card then: I vaguely recall seeing it. But not because of Jim Rice. I only recall the two guys on the top, Dave Augustine and Pepe Mangual.

What I think about this card now: This card wasn't terribly difficult to obtain. There is another rookie card coming up that was more of a chore finding.

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

Dave Augustine, Pirates: Never had one.
Pepe Mangual, Expos: 1976 Topps
Jim Rice, Red Sox: 1976 Topps (with a rookie cup)
John Scott, Padres: 1978 Topps (his only one, as a member of the Blue Jays)

Most successful player: Rice is in the Hall of Fame.

Most awesome middle name: Jose "Pepe" Manuel Mangual seems like a mouthful. I'll go with that one.

Other blog stuff: Former Mets pitcher Victor Zambrano was born on this date in 1975. Remember him?

#598 - Bruce Kison

Card fact: I don't know why Bruce Kison has the black band on his left uniform sleeve. The Pirates wore a No. 21 patch in honor of the deceased Roberto Clemente during the '73 season. But I'm not sure if the band is related to that, too. It appears on at least one other card in the set.

What I thought about this card then: I pulled this card from that pack I bought at the drug store. The packs that I purchased in 1975 were so few and far between that the cards that came from them were much more special than the ones that came in trades.

What I think about this card now: Kison looks like a guy I knew in high school.

Other stuff: Kison was a tall, skinny pitcher who was a starter on two Pirates World Series champions, in 1971 and 1979. He won the first night game in World Series history in 1971. He's also known for getting married on the same day that the Pirates won the World Series in '71.

Kison moved on to the Angels after the 1979 season. He struggled with injuries his first two years. He spent his final season, in 1985, with the Red Sox.

Kison later worked as a coach with the Royals and Orioles. He was part of Orioles manager Dave Trembley's coaching staff in 2007.

(EDIT: Bruce Kison died at age 68 on June 2, 2018).

Back facts: I find it interesting that the cartoon refers to "Skinny" Hal Brown, on the back of 6-foot-4, 175-pound Bruce Kison's card.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1975, Yankees catcher Thurman Munson's run-scoring single in the first inning against the Twins is nullified because the tar on Munson's bat handle exceeded 18 inches. The Twins won the game 2-1. This game indirectly led to the famed "pine-tar game" involving George Brett eight years later, according to Graig Nettles. Nettles said in his book that he remembered the Munson incident, and brought up the pine tar rule to Yankees manager Billy Martin, who brought Brett's bat to the attention of the umpires.

#555 - Al Oliver

Card fact: I'm not 100 percent sure, but this photo could have come from the same shoot as his photo on the 1974 Topps card.

What I thought about this card then: I never saw it. I knew his 1976 Topps card very well though.

What I think about this card now: This is a prime example of a member of the subhelmet hat alliance. It looks a little goofy, but Al Oliver is taking it very seriously.

Other stuff: Oliver was a primary component of the 1970s pennant-winning Pirates teams. He would later become a key member of the lineup for the Rangers and Expos, but I will always think of him as a Pirate.

Oliver was your classic No. 3 hitter from the '70s. With Willie Stargell in the lineup, Oliver was the guy counted on to get on base and supply power, and Oliver could do both. He didn't have a ton of home run pop, but drove in more than 80 runs nine times and had a lifetime .303 average. He led the National League in hitting with a .331 average in 1982.

Oliver was also a solid fielder, known as "Scoop" in his later days when he played first base more than the outfield. After he was traded to Texas (in a four-team swap that landed the Pirates Bert Blyleven), he changed his uniform number from 16 to 0. I don't know why. I always thought it stood for "O," as in "Oliver," rather than the number zero, but I don't know that for certain.

Oliver is often mentioned as a Hall of Fame candidate. Oliver claimed that he was a victim of collusion by baseball owners in the late '80s, and he should have been able to extend his career past 1985, possibly obtaining 3,000 career hits.

Back facts: Oliver hit .321 in 1974 with nearly 200 hits and all Topps could think to write about was some mumbo-jumbo about him being difficult to face.

Other blog stuff: Brooke Shields was born on this date 46 years ago. I cannot think of 1980 without thinking of Brooke Shields and those Calvin Klein ads. She did a number on us 15-year-old boys.

#538 - Duffy Dyer

Card fact: Duffy Dyer is airbrushed into a Pirates cap (duh!). He was traded from the Mets to the Pirates in late October of 1974 for Gene Clines.

What I thought about this card then: I never saw it. But we thought Dyer looked very goofy on his 1976 Topps card.

What I think about this card now: Wondering who the man in the background is. I'm assuming Dyer is posing there in Shea Stadium with his Mets teammates. But the man in the back looks more like an umpire.

Other stuff: Dyer was your typical "defensive catcher" between 1968-81. He played a supporting role behind Jerry Grote with the early 1970s Mets. He appeared for one at-bat in the 1969 World Series.

With the Pirates, he backed up Manny Sanguillen until Sanguillen was dealt to Oakland. Dyer then teamed with Ed Ott behind the plate. I always thought the Duffy Dyer-Ed Ott combination was the best catching platoon name combo in history.

After Dyer's playing career, he worked as a coach and manager in the A's, Cubs, Twins and Padres organizations.

Back facts: Bobby Winkles was freshly fired from the Angels' managerial job when the 1975 set came out. He led Arizona State to the College World Series title in 1965, a team that included Rick Monday and Sal Bando, as well as Dyer.

Other blog stuff: I believe the site is back up to speed after Blogger's issues, except for the missing comments that Blogger says will be added by the weekend. If you see anything strange, let me know.

#536 - Bob Moose

Card fact: Bob Moose's appearance on this card is in drastic contrast to his appearance in the photos on his Topps cards for the 1974 and 1976 sets. I wonder if this is an earlier photo of Moose, from as early as the 1972 season.

What I thought about this card then: Obviously, I thought it was amazing. A friend of mine had this card. It was one of the few '75 cards that he had (but he did introduce me to the 1972 set). He didn't have a big interest in baseball -- proof of this was he was both a Yankees and Mets fan, which I still am doubtful is possible. But he did like items that stood out, no matter what they were, and this card stood out.

What I think about this card now: Bob looks like he's ready to field a comebacker.

Other stuff: Moose grew up in western Pennsylvania and ended up playing his whole career for his hometown team. He broke in with the Pirates in the late 1960s and busted out in 1969 by no-hitting the Mets in September of that year. He finished with a 14-3 record and a 2.91 ERA.

Moose started and relieved for the Pirates throughout his career. In 1972, he was in the starting rotation, but appeared as both a starter and reliever in the National League Championship Series against the Reds. He didn't fare well as a starter in Game 2. Then in the decisive Game 5, Moose entered as a reliever with two men on and no outs. He retired the first two batters, but then threw a wild pitch that allowed George Foster to score with the winning run.

After the 1973 season, Moose struggled with injury problems for two years. He moved back to the bullpen in 1976, appearing in 53 games, and was ready to be the Pirates closer the following season. But he was killed in a car accident in October of 1976 on his 29th birthday.

Back facts: You can see that Moose pitched in just seven games in 1974. He suffered a blood clot problem in his shoulder and had to have a rib removed to alleviate pressure on a compressed vein. He didn't pitch after late May.

Other blog stuff: If you'll allow me to be morbid, Moose is the 50th deceased player we've come across in this set.

#515 - Manny Sanguillen

Card fact: This photo appears to have been taken on the same day as this one. Must've been pretty chilly down there in Florida that day.

What I thought about this card then: I didn't see it. The first card of Manny Sanguillen's I saw was the electric fireball 1976 card.

What I think about this card now: Sanguillen has several classic cards, but this is not one of them. He looks a little perturbed by what he sees to his left.

Other stuff: Sanguillen was one of the best hitting catchers of the 1970s, part of a renaissance at the position, led by Johnny Bench and also including Carlton Fisk, Thurman Munson and Ted Simmons. In 12 seasons with the Pirates (and one with the A's), Sanguillen hit .296 for his career and was a three-time all-star.

Sanguillen was famed for his free swinging. Vladimir Guerrero reminds me a lot of what Sanguillen used to do. He used to swing at balls that seemed to be a foot over his head.

In 1971, he hit .379 in the World Series against the Orioles, supplying more hits than anyone besides Roberto Clemente. After Clemente's death, Sanguillen was tabbed to replace Clemente in right field, but the move didn't work and Sanguillen returned to catcher.

Sanguillen was famously dealt to the A's for manager Chuck Tanner, who ended up leading the Pirates to the 1979 World Series title. Sanguillen was back with the Pirates by then as Oakland returned him to Pittsburgh one year after acquiring him.

Sanguillen now operates a concession stand at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

Back facts: Sanguillen recorded only 35 stolen bases in his career.

Other blog stuff: Today is Dodger manager Don Mattingly's 50th birthday! Win one for the birthday boy today, guys.

#492 - Rich Hebner

Card fact: Topps insisted on calling Hebner "Rich" throughout his career, even though I always knew him as "Richie," and Hebner referred to himself as "Richie," judging by the signature.

What I thought about this card then: Like the Doyle Alexander card, this is an action card from the set that I did not see as a kid. Since the Hebner card follows the Alexander card in sequence, and they both have green-purple borders, I always associate the two cards with each other.

What I think about this card now: I like the outfield wall logos framing Hebner. The one on the left is the Braves logo and the one on the right, I believe, is the Astros logo.

Other stuff: Hebner was a top prospect with the Pirates in the late 1960s. He hit well for Pittsburgh as the team's starting third baseman for eight years and participated in 21 postseason games for the Pirates.

He signed with Philadelphia as a free agent in 1976 and moved his position to first base because the Phillies had Mike Schmidt. He remained fairly productive but had little speed and his performance started to fall off. He was traded to the Mets, then to the Tigers, then reacquired by the Pirates.

Hebner finished up with the Cubs in 1984 and 1985. He later worked as a hitting coach and minor league manager for several teams. His most recent stint was in 2009 with the Frederick Keys in the Baltimore organization.

Hebner is most famous for working as a grave-digger during the offseason, back when players had to hold down second jobs.

Back facts: I love animal cartoons, but it's almost impossible that anyone who read this cartoon knew who Paul Gilliford was. His entire major league career consisted of two games and three innings pitched with the Orioles in 1967. His ERA was 12.00.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1987, the Mets acquire David Cone from the Royals for Ed Hearn and two pitching prospects that went nowhere.

#457 - Mario Mendoza

Card fact: This is Mario Mendoza's rookie card.

What I thought about this card then: Absolutely horrified by it. Aside from Bruce Ellingsen, it was the one card that neither my brother nor I wanted in our collection. I was fortunate enough not to end up with it. I think my brother got stuck with it.

A couple of years after this card came out, I became best friends with a boy named Mario. I'm sure I was a bit disturbed when I first found out his name.

What I think about this card now: Quite an impressive signature Mendoza has.

Other stuff: Mendoza was a good-fielding shortstop who played nine years in the major leagues despite a legendary inability to hit. The term "The Mendoza line," which refers to hitting below .200, is a reference to Mario Mendoza, who hit .215 during  his career, but had single-season batting averages of .118, .180, .185 and .198.

Mendoza says the player who came up with the term was Seattle teammate Tom Paciorek, although Paciorek blames Bruce Bochte. "The Mendoza line" became commonly used when George Brett mentioned it in an interview during his quest for .400 in 1980. ESPN's Chris Berman pounced on the phrase and the rest is history.

Mendoza, who played in the Mexican League before coming to the Pirates, ended his major league career in 1982 with Texas. He later played and managed in Mexico and also managed in the minor leagues.

Back facts: I've already mentioned this cartoon and Sparky Lyle's "love" for birthday cakes on the other blog.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1954, the Dodgers signed Roberto Clemente to a one-year, $5,000 deal with a $10,000 bonus, beating out several team eager to sign the outfielder. However, the Dodgers would lose Clemente to the Pirates in the Rule V draft the following year.

#433 - Larry Demery

Card fact: This is Larry Demery's rookie card.

What I thought about this card then: Wasn't aware of it.

What I think about this card now: A big thumb's up for the sideways signature and the black, satin jacket. A big thumb's down for the vacant, mug shot stare.

Other stuff: Demery was a relief pitcher for the Pirates between 1974-77. An arm injury ended his career. He is the son of former Negro League pitcher Artist Demery. Larry's brother, Art, also played pro ball in the Royals organization.

(EDIT: Demery died at age 70 on Feb. 20, 2024).

Back facts: I suppose the pitchout is to fool the base runner on first if you're talking about attempting to pick him off of first. But I always thought the pitchout was intended to get a jump on the runner attempting to steal second.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1999, it was announced that televised Mets games would move from WOR to WPIX. The Mets had been on WOR since 1962, and was the station that I watched the Mets on when I was a kid and in college. Eventually, WOR disappeared, and I blame the migration of the Mets. It was comforting to turn to Channel 9 and see the Mets and I felt lost after it was gone.

I sound like a Mets fan, don't I?

#409 - Bob Robertson

Card fact: Is this the only card with a photo showing the player holding the bat by the barrel instead of the handle? Damned if I know. It's 3:40 in the morning, I'm not checking now. But let's say it is.

What I thought about this card then: I had the mini card. I always thought that Bob Robertson had plastic hair, based on this photo. In fact, all of Robertson had the appearance of a wax figure to me. I don't know why I thought that way.

What I think about this card now: I think the shadow across the face really kills the photo. That usually doesn't bother me with these '70s cards, but this one does.

Other stuff: Robertson came up to the Pirates as a three-time minor league home run champion. He was expected to provide impressive power to the Pittsburgh lineup. For a couple of years he did, especially during the Pirates' pennant-winning seasons of 1970 and 1971. Robertson is probably most known for hitting four home runs in the National League Championship Series against the Giants. It was a record, which has since been tied twice.

After those two years, Robertson's hitting fell off dramatically. He had knee surgery and became a part-time player for the Pirates. He was released before the 1977 season and didn't play in the majors until the Mariners picked him up for the following year. After a year with the Mariners and an abbreviated 1979 with the Blue Jays, his career was over.

Back facts: I guess you could say Robertson was a "Wood Man" in 1970 and 1971.

Other blog stuff: This is the final card featured on the blog in 2010. We've gone through 337 cards in the set in the past year. We'll wrap the whole thing up in 2011. Here's to more dy-no-mite '75s in the new year.

#385 - Dock Ellis

Card fact: Another blue-orange card. This is my favorite color border combination and it's really on a streak now with six of the last 22 cards being blue-orange.

What I thought about this card then: As I mentioned in a tribute post to Ellis after he died, this was a card that I first saw in my friend Jennifer's house. She collected some cards in 1975 and the Ellis card was my favorite of hers. I thought everything about the card was perfect. Finally, that same year, I obtained the mini card and didn't have to lust after someone else's card anymore.

What I think about this card now: Dock Ellis was a Junior? I never knew that.

Other stuff: So much has been written about Ellis in recent years that I'm sure everyone knows his colorful baseball story -- the no-hitter on LSD, the curlers in his hair, the charges of racism. Let's just say that Ellis was a damn good pitcher, but some other things got in the way, some of it his own doing, some of it not.

Back facts: I also mentioned before how cool it is that there is a cartoon about a doctor on the back of a card of someone named Dock. And yes, Dock was Dock's real first name.

Other blog stuff: If you have the regular-sized Dock Ellis card and the mini Dock Ellis card, then you must feature them together:

#359 - Paul Popovich

Card fact: This is the final card of Paul Popovich released during his career.

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

What I think about this card now: I think maybe the only reason Popovich received a card in this set is because Topps was pretty proud it had a photo of him in a Pittsburgh uniform. Popovich was acquired by the Pirates in early April of 1974. That seems like plenty of time to get a photo of Popovich as a Pirate, but it was cutting it close back in those days.

Also, Popovich seems to have aged quite a bit when you compare this card with his card in the 1969 set.

Other stuff: Popovich was a career-long middle infield substitute for the Cubs, Dodgers and Pirates. He could field, but he finished with more than 400 at-bats in a season only once. That was in 1968 when the Dodgers were so dreadful that a guy batting .232 could play 134 games at shortstop. Despite his inability to land a starting role, he played for 11 seasons.

Back facts: I have already expressed my amazement with the cartoon.

Other blog stuff: I recently received some upgrades of some of my '75 Topps cards from reader and fellow '70s vintage blogger wobs, who operates 1974 Topps-Pennant Fever. He noticed some of my scans had "slanted" backs and borders, which they do. It was very nice of him to send these along:

I especially appreciate the Jim Fregosi card, which has been a thorn in my collecting side for years and years.

#336 - Rennie Stennett

Card fact: In my opinion, this could be the worst photograph in the entire set. There is too much space above Rennie Stennett's head. His face is entirely in the shadows. His arm is cut off so you have to guess as to what he's doing there and, well, let's just say the whole thing is awful.

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

What I think about this card now: See above.

Other stuff: Rennie Stennett was both a starting outfielder and infielder for the Pirates throughout the 1970s. I was first introduced to Stennett by his 1976 Topps Record Breaker card, which documented his most famous achievement, going 7-for-7 in a 9-inning, 22-0 thrashing of the Cubs in 1975.

Stennett doubled and singled in the first inning, singled in the third inning, doubled and singled in the fifth inning, singled in the seventh inning, and tripled in the eighth inning. He scored five times.

Stennett was known as a good fielder and hitter. In 1977, he led the league in batting at .336, but broke his leg in August and was finished for the season, failing to get enough at-bats to win the batting title. After that, his hitting tailed off. By 1979, the year of the "We Are Family" Pirates, Stennett played in just 108 games and managed just a couple of appearances in the postseason, as Phil Garner had taken over Stennett's second base position by then.

Stennett left as a free agent after the season to join the Giants. His career ended after the 1981 season.

(EDIT: Stennett died of cancer May 18, 2021).

Back facts: The play during the 1972 NLCS that Topps is mentioning in the write-up came in Game 3 of that series. It actually happened in the fourth inning of that game with the Reds winning 2-0 at the time, so I think "saving" the victory is a stretch. Bench had led off the inning with a triple, then was thrown out on Cesar Geronimo's fly ball to left field.

Other blog stuff: Phillies infielder Placido Polanco was born on this date in 1975.

#304 - Pirates/Danny Murtaugh

Card fact: This is the third straight team card to use the tan-light blue color combination. The "seaside" color combination has been used for five team cards, two more than the next highest color combo.

What I thought about this card then: I thought Danny Murtaugh was at least 75 years old. It turns out I had the numbers reversed. He was only 57 at this point.

What I think about this card now: The black arm bands remembering Roberto Clemente are prominently displayed on many of the players in this photo. (EDIT: Upon further review, the Pirates wore the No. 21 on their jerseys to remember Clemente, not an arm band. So ... never mind).

Other stuff: The Pirates were one of the top teams of the 1970s. They finished first or second each year of the '70s, except for a third-place finish in 1973. That third-place finish led to the dismissal of manager Bill Virdon, and Murtaugh was selected to replace Virdon, even though Murtaugh had stepped away after the 1971 season.

But the move worked. The Pirates won the N.L. East in 1974 before losing to the Dodgers in the league playoffs. Murtaugh managed two more seasons, then retired. He died of a stroke two months after his retirement.

Back facts: That is a successful, veteran team. There is only one airbrushing issue. Duffy Dyer played for the Mets in 1974 and was traded in late October for Gene Clines. So Dyer is airbrushed into a Pirates cap and Clines into a Mets cap.

Other stuff: Before I get to seeing how well Topps represented the '74 Pirates, I wanted to show my various '75 Pirates team cards. With the exception of the O-Pee-Chee card, I have just about every variety of the Pirates team card. You saw the upgraded version already.

Here's the original version that I pulled as a kid:

And here's the original version next to the mini version:

And just because the back of the mini card humors me, here are the backs of the original and mini card:

I've mentioned this on the other blog, but I love that previous card owner Shari colored in the checklist squares using pen that matched the colors on the back. And then she signed it at the bottom. Too awesome.

OK, onto the stats:

The Pirates used 39 players in 1974. Topps featured cards for just 24 of those players (including the Gene Clines card), which is tied for the least, so far, with the Royals and the Padres.

Topps didn't leave out anyone very important. Pittsburgh just had a lot of fringe players who spelled the veterans from time-to-time. Of the players left out, Art Howe had the most at-bats with 74. No missing pitcher had more than 14 games. A couple of notable names who didn't have cards are Kurt Bevacqua (35 at-bats) and Kent Tekulve (8 games).

So Topps featured 61.5 percent of the Pirates who played in 1974. Here is where the Pirates sit with the other teams shown so far:

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. White Sox 65.0%
10. Phillies 62.5%
11. Pirates 61.5%
12. Padres 55.8%
 
Second-to-last. The current Pirates are familiar with that.

#277 - Frank Taveras

Card fact: This is Frank Taveras' first solo card. He appears on one of those four-player rookie cards in the 1974 set. ... Also, it's been 99 cards since the last "red-yellow" border.

What I thought about this card then: I remember pulling this card on a particularly hot day in July and the sight of Taveras all bundled up in his jacket looked very unappealing.

What I think about this card now: It is all kinds of fantastic. I'll start with the jacket, which looks like a high school varsity letter jacket. Then you have the cap, which looks partly like what "the man in the yellow hat"' wore in "Curious George." Then there is Taveras' Afro, and the look on his face, as if he was caught in mid-sentence. And let's not forget his signature, which looks like it was constructed with black string.

Other stuff: Frank Taveras was one of those top-of-the-order guys who played a lot of games but really wasn't as good as a lot of people thought. Sure, he led the league in stolen bases in 1977 with 70, and he had a bunch of base hits in 1978 and 1979. But his on-base percentage was not good for a lead-off guy.

Taveras spent a long while in the minor leagues before landing the starting shortstop role with the Pirates. Then, in 1979, he was traded to the Mets for Tim Foli. Foli would go on to win a World Series title with Pittsburgh that year, while Taveras was stuck on a team going nowhere. Taveras actually played in 164 games that season.

Taveras ended his career with the Expos in 1982.

Back facts: 1. I didn't even realize that the vital stats were wiped out until I uploaded this card. I might have to upgrade.

2. That is one of my favorite cartoons in the set. When I was a kid, I thought the sun in the cartoon was a soap bubble and the player was waiting to catch it.

3. Franklin Crisostomo Taveras (Fabian) is a great name.

4. I was mesmerized by all those minor league stats as a kid. Usually that meant the player wasn't going to last long in the majors. But Taveras made it work for him.

Oldie but goodie: There's the original that I pulled on that hot day. He still looks warm.

Other blog stuff: The No. 1 song in the country on this date was "Jive Talkin'" by the Bee Gees. Yes, it was the '70s.

#250 - Ken Brett

Card fact: There are six pairs of brothers in this set. I have not featured both brothers of any pair on this blog until now. George Brett was card No. 228 and here is his older brother, Ken.

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

What I think about his card now: The photo is awfully similar to his 1976 Topps card.

Other stuff: Ken Brett played for 10 different teams in a 16-year career, but had several notable moments during that span. He remains the youngest pitcher to participate in a World Series game. He was 18 years old when he pitched for the Red Sox in the 1967 Series against the Cardinals.

I remember Brett mostly because of is reputation as a tremendous hitter. He hit .262 for his career, recording 91 hits in 341 at-bats, including 10 home runs, 18 doubles and 44 RBIs. He probably would have had even better stats had he not pitched in the American League for most of the late 1970s.

Brett was the winning pitcher for the National League in the All-Star Game in 1974, and pitched a year for the Dodgers in 1979. Later he played for the Royals, joining his brother George, for the end of his career.

Brett died after a six-year battle with brain cancer in 2003.

Back facts: Love the cartoon duck.

Also, I don't know why Topps bestowed the number 250 upon Ken Brett. Sure, he was a fairly good pitcher at the time, but 250 was usually reserved for better players. In the years immediately preceding 1975, #250 went to Willie McCovey ('74), Manny Sanguillen ('73), Boog Powell ('72), Johnny Bench ('71) and McCovey again ('70).

Other blog stuff: This is the first time deceased players have been featured in back-to-back cards. ... Ah, that's happy.

#224 - Ramon Hernandez

Card fact: Difficult to find a card fact here. I'll just go with a player fact and say that this is the first of two people named Ramon Hernandez to play major league baseball. The second is the former catcher for the A's, Orioles, Reds, etc.

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

What I think about this card now: First, I'm really hoping that is a motel in the background. Second, that is one funky "Z" at the end of Hernandez's name.

Other stuff: We've come to one of those players that I don't know very well. Fortunately, I came across this post, in which the author goes through a lot of detail on Hernandez. He was a successful reliever for the Pirates' pennant-winning teams of the early 1970s. I particularly enjoy the part that says that Don Zimmer was scared of Hernandez because he didn't smile, didn't say much and carried a gun.

Hernandez lasted with the Pirates until 1976, then finished up his career with the Cubs and Red Sox, exiting in 1978.

Back fact: You have to love those switch-hitting pitchers.

Also, there is a typo in the write-up. It should say "Signed 1st in 1959."

Other blog stuff: Dave Parker -- otherwise known as 1975 Topps card No. 29 -- is celebrating his 59th birthday today.

#171 - Ed Kirkpatrick

Card fact: Not much to relate here. But I always found it interesting how the Pirates had two back-up catchers in the mid-1970s, both named Ed, one with a really long last name of Kirkpatrick and one with a really short name of Ott. Little things amuse me.

What I thought about this card then: I remember this being in my collection at one point and the screen behind Kirkpatrick looked very imposing to me. I don't know why.

What I think about this card now: It's actually a nice shot. Kirkpatrick looks friendly and it's a sunny day. I don't know where I got the doom and gloom when I was a kid.

Other stuff: Kirkpatrick was a career backup catcher/utility infielder, but did spend the early 1970s as the primary catcher for the expansion Kansas City Royals. He lasted 15 years in the major leagues with a career average of .238, so I am assuming he was useful in the field.

Kirkpatrick was involved in an automobile accident in 1981 that left him in a coma for more than five months. He suffered paralysis that has confined him to a wheelchair.

Back facts: I'm guessing Freddie Hutchinson was a big man? I'm not sure why they portray him as so large in the cartoon. Hutchinson won the 1957 award with the Cardinals, but is known more for helping the Reds to the World Series in 1961 and then being stricken with lung cancer prior to the 1964 season. He managed the team until August of that year, then resigned in October, dying three weeks later. The cancer treatment center in his name is one of the most renowned of its kind in the world.

Other blog stuff: Birthday greetings to my father. He shares his birthday with Milton Bradley, of all people. He'd have a thing or two to say about him.

#148 - Jim Rooker

Card fact: In contrast to the green-light green color combo, the blue-orange combo has been one of the least-used combos so far. I believe only the tan-light blue combination has appeared fewer times.

What I thought about this card then: Nothing.

What I think about this card now: There are a few photos in this set that are taken in this location. I am puzzled as to where they are in the ballpark. Is that strip of green the back fence? Is that strip of brown the warning track? Is that Candlestick Park? I suppose if everything wasn't tilted I wouldn't be so disoriented.

Other stuff: Jim Rooker was a steady contributor to the starting staff for the Pirates teams of the 1970s. His best season might have been his 1974 season, finishing with career highs in ERA, strikeouts and wins. Rooker also started Game 5 of the 1979 World Series, even though he was a limited contributor for the team that year. The Pirates were down 3 games to 1 to the Orioles at that point, but they went on to win that game and the next two to claim the Series.

Rooker is probably best known to recent fans as the broadcaster who, after watching the Pirates put up a 10-spot in the first inning against the Phillies in Philadelphia, said on the air that if the Pirates didn't win the game, he would walk home. Well, the Pirates blew the game. After the season, Rooker walked for charity, from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh.

Rooker also writes children's books, had a political career and cares for dogs. I'm exhausted just listing all the stuff he does.

Back facts: I wonder how 131 players compares to how many players make their major league debuts per year these days. I'm sure it's more. A lot more.

Other blog stuff: Happy birthday to former Dodger pitcher Ramon Martinez (Pedro's big brother). He's 42 years old today. But the only birthday I'll be celebrating today will be my daughter's.