#628 - Ron LeFlore

Card fact: This is one of the cards that I pulled out of those first three packs of cards I ever bought.

What I thought about this card then: It helped me become a Tigers fan at an early age, since I also pulled the Mickey Stanley and John Hiller cards out of those first packs, too.

What I think about this card now: This is such an iconic card in my collecting history that I can't appreciate it for what it is -- Ron LeFlore's rookie card.

Other stuff: LeFlore was one of the big names in baseball when I was growing up, mostly because of his criminal past as a teenager. His life on the streets and prison time was made famous by a made-for-TV movie, called "One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story." I remember waiting with anticipation to watch this movie on TV. But I can't recall anything about it.

LeFlore didn't play organized ball growing up. His first experience with that was in prison with inmates while he was serving time for armed robbery. Tigers manager Billy Martin was tipped off to LeFlore's ability and he went to the prison to see LeFlore play. LeFlore was eventually signed by the Tigers.

LeFlore made an immediate impact with Detroit, which was going through tough times in the mid-1970s. Together with Mark Fidrych, the Tigers became a national presence in 1976. LeFlore ranked among the league's leading base stealers and he hit for a high average.

After six years with the Tigers, he was traded to the Expos for pitcher Dan Schatzeder, a trade I couldn't figure out. LeFlore stole a National League best 97 bases in his one year for Montreal in 1980. He signed as a free agent with the White Sox after the season, and had relatively limited playing time for Chicago in 1981 and 1982. He was released by Chicago at the start of the 1983 season.

After his career, he worked outside of baseball. He later managed some in independent leagues, and encountered child support issues that led to arrests.

Back facts: LeFlore's birth date on this card is incorrect. LeFlore was actually born in 1948, not 1952, so he was 26 at the time this card came out, not 22.

Other blog stuff: This might be the last time I get to show a card that was pulled in those first packs I bought in April of 1975. So here it is:

Love it.

#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.

#620 - 1975 Rookie Catchers-Outfielders

Card fact: This is the first rookie card -- as rookie cards were known back in the '70s -- that I ever saw.

What I thought about this card then: I had the mini card, which was quite fortunate of me because it is Gary Carter's rookie card. But what I thought about the most was the fact that there were two Tigers on the bottom. That seemed unusual to me. It still does.

What I think about this card now: It's in semi-rough shape compared with most of the other cards I have from the set. I was probably trying to save cash by getting it on the cheap.

Also, Hill's cap is airbrushed.

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

Gary Carter, Expos: 1976 Topps (with the rookie cup!)
Marc Hill, Giants: 1976 Topps
Danny Meyer, Tigers: 1976 Topps
Leon Roberts, Tigers: 1976 Topps

Most successful career: Carter is a Hall of Famer. (EDIT: He died on Feb. 16, 2012 at age 57. Marc Hill died August 2025 at age 73).

Most awesome middle name: Kauffman edges out Edmund.

Other blog stuff: It's been quite awhile since I've featured the mini card next to the regular card. This is as fine a time as any to resume that practice:

C'est bon!

#617 - 1975 Rookie Infielders

Card fact: You never knew Reggie Sanders played for the Tigers, did you? But it's not that Reggie Sanders.

What I thought about this card then: Did not see it.

What I think about this card now: Manny Trillo is not wearing a live Cubs hat. It is most likely an airbrushed A's cap.

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

Mike Cubbage, Rangers: 1976 Topps
Doug DeCinces, Orioles: 1976 Topps
Reggie Sanders, Tigers: no solo card. His career lasted 26 games in 1974. He died in 2002.
Manny Trillo, Cubs: 1976 Topps

Most successful player: Toss-up between Doug DeCinces and Manny Trillo. DeCinces played 19 seasons in the majors and hit 237 home runs. Trillo played 17 seasons, was an All-Star for the Cubs and Phillies and had a great 1980 NLCS.

DeCinces was just in the news last week for a bit of ugliness.

Most awesome middle name: U.S.-born players are so boring. Have to go with Manuel Marcano.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1975, actress Charlize Theron was born. The world would never be the same.

#614 - 1975 Rookie Pitchers

Card fact: Welcome to the rookie portion of the '75 Topps retrospective. Sometimes called "rookie stars," sometimes "rookie prospects," Topps took the understated route in 1975 and merely described the players by their respective position.

This was the period when Topps featured four rookies on one card, which is the format that I know and love best. Topps went with this format from 1974-1978. After (and before), Topps featured three or even two rookies per card.

What I thought about this card then: I never saw it. Topps used the orange-yellow border combination and the pink-yellow border combination for its rookie cards. But I only saw the pink-yellow combination when I was collecting in 1975.

What I think about this card now: That is a lineup of mediocrity right there.

Other stuff: For the rookie cards, I thought it'd be interesting to note what each player's first solo card was -- if they ever had a first solo card.

Jack Kucek, White Sox: 1977 Topps (his only solo card).
Dyar Miller, Orioles: 1976 Topps
Vern Ruhle, Tigers: 1976 Topps
Paul Siebert, Astros: no solo card, unless you want to include the late '80s Pacific Senior League set.

Most successful player: Vern Ruhle, who had cards every year from 1975 through 1987 and was later a longtime pitching coach. Unfortunately, he's also the only deceased player of the four.

Most awesome middle name: Dyar Miller has a "K," baseball scorekeeping shorthand for a strikeout, as his middle name, and he was a pitcher. That is fantastic.

Other blog stuff: As you can see, I'm mixing it up a little bit for the rookie cards. I'm not going into detail about the players, because that's really too much work. Hope you like it.

#599 - Nate Colbert

Card fact: Damn, Nate Colbert is happy to get out of San Diego! Colbert is airbrushed into a Tigers uniform after being traded from San Diego to Detroit in November 1974.

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

What I think about this card now: These "looking up" photos are very '70s, and really some of the ugliest cards ever. I excuse almost everything from the '70s, but not these cards.

Other stuff: I first knew Nate Colbert from his 1977 Topps record breaker card, the one that celebrates the five home runs he hit in a doubleheader against the Braves in 1972.

That was one of the highlights of his career with the Padres, which lasted from 1969-74. He was the first San Diego star slugger, making the All-Star team from 1970-72. In 1972, he hit 38 home runs and knocked in 111 runs, finishing eighth in the MVP voting.

Colbert also finished above 100 strikeouts six straight years. He endured a lousy year in '74 as back problems cut into his production, and he was dealt to the Tigers. He spent 1975 with both Detroit and Montreal, then ended his career in '76 at age 30 with both the Expos and A's.

(EDIT: Nate Colbert died in January 2023 at age 76).

Back facts: Juan Pancho Herrera played three seasons for the Phillies in the early '60s. He likely was confused with Jose Loco Herrera who played four seasons for the Astros and Expos in the late '60s.

Other blog stuff: The green-purple border color moves into a tie for second place with the orange-brown border color with this card. Both have 50 cards apiece and are one behind overall leader green-light green.

#593 - Gene Lamont

Card fact: This is Gene Lamont's only solo card as a player. He appears on a 1971 Topps rookie card, sharing it with Lerrin LaGrow.

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

What I think about this card now: I associate Lamont totally with being a coach and a manager. He has been one or the other in the majors since the mid-1980s. So when I see this photo, he doesn't look like a player to me. It looks like Topps snuck a photo of a coach into the set.

Other stuff: Lamont played five seasons in the majors, all as a backup catcher for the Tigers. Except for the 1974 season, he didn't play in more than 15 games a season. But in '74, he worked as the backup for Jerry Moses (Bill Freehan was moved to first base) and appeared in 60 games, batting .217.

Lamont started his coaching career in the Royals organization. Then he became the third base coach for Jim Leyland with the Pirates. Lamont got his first major league manager job with the White Sox (1992-95) and then worked as the Pirates manager from 1997-2000. Lamont has rejoined Leyland with the Tigers. He is Detroit's third base coach.

Back facts: Please click on the scan to get a better look at the most awesome cartoon in the set.

Also, Lamont was the 44th major leaguer to hit a home run in his first big-league at-bat. A total of 109 players have accomplished that feat.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1975, Braves pitcher Tim Hudson was born.

#571 - Dave Lemanczyk

Card fact: This is Dave Lemanczyk's rookie card.

What I thought about this card then: I obtained this card in a trade in 1975. I thought Lemanczyk looked like he was going to cry -- in fact he appears as if he's going to cry on a lot of his cards. I also remember the background of the photo being a lot gloomier than it is. I mean the sun is shining in the photo, but I remember it as being darkness behind him.

What I think about this card now: I'm having a heck of a time spelling his name.

Other stuff: Lemanczyk came up as a reliever and part-time starter with the Tigers. But after he was taken by the Blue Jays in the 1976 expansion draft, he became a regular in the rotation for newbie Toronto.

Lemanczyk won 13 games in 1977. After a brutal 1978, he made the All-Star Game with the Jays in 1979, but didn't pitch. He was traded to the Angels in 1980 and ended his career that year.

Lemanczyk now has a baseball school on Long Island.

Back facts: Lemanczyk was born in Syracuse, which automatically made me look up where he went to school. He attended high school at Westhill, which I know well, and went to college at Hartwick, which I also know well. There aren't a ton of major leaguers from Upstate New York, so every one is special.

Also, I like how Deron Johnson didn't get a card in the '75 set, but he did get a cartoon.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1978, the Reds' Tom Seaver pitched the only no-hitter of his career. This, no doubt, frustrated Mets fans, who are still waiting for the franchise's first no-hitter.

#546 - John Knox

Card fact: This is John Knox's first solo card. He appeared on one of the 4-player rookie cards in the 1974 set.

What I thought about this card then: I never saw it. Knox is another one of those players that I didn't even know existed until I started to put together the set again in 2004.

What I think about this card now: It's amazing how many of the backgrounds on these cards make the player look like he's the last person on earth. Where is everyone?

Other stuff: Knox played four seasons in the majors, all for the Tigers, between 1972-75. The 1974 season was his best, when he appeared in a career-high 55 games, had a career-high 88 at-bats and hit .307.

Despite a career .274 average, Knox was only a part-time player -- known more for his fielding -- for Detroit. He was also used as a pinch-runner.

Back facts: There is even a baseball card set that commemorates the Mets' trip to Japan in 1974.

Other blog stuff: Former Dodgers pitcher Tommy John was born on this date 68 years ago.

#522 - Gary Sutherland

Card fact: This is Gary Sutherland's debut card as a Detroit Tiger. He skipped around a lot, but he had his best success with the Tigers.

What I thought about this card then: Didn't see it. I had no idea who Sutherland was for decades. He's another guy who was at the tail end of his career as I began to be interested in baseball.

What I think about this card now: Now THAT is a batting cage shot. It's like Sutherland is in a batting cage theme park.

Other stuff: Sutherland was a utility infielder for most of his career except on two occasions. The first was in 1969 during the first year of the Expos. Sutherland was selected from the Phillies in the expansion draft and became the Expos' starting second baseman in 1969. He scored the first run in Montreal history.

Sutherland didn't last long as the starter, platooning the following year, and then losing his job altogether and getting demoted to the minors. After some time in Houston's minor league organization, he was acquired by the Tigers and inserted as their starting second baseman.

Sutherland started at second for the 1974 and 1975 season. His 149 games played with the Tigers in '74 was a career high. He was not great at getting on base -- despite hitting lead off -- but Detroit was pretty much the worst team in baseball in '74 and '75, so they took what they had.

Sutherland ended his career with bits of seasons with Milwaukee, San Diego and St. Louis. He later worked as a scout in the Padres organization and is now in the Angels' front office.

(EDIT: Gary Sutherland died at age 80 on Dec. 16, 2024).

Back facts: Mentioning a minor league feat that occurred seven years into a major league career is not cool, Topps. Not cool.

Other blog stuff: American Top 40 radio host Casey Kasem was born on this date 79 years ago. I spent many a pre-teen Saturday night listening to American Top 40. I am going on record as saying I hated the long distance dedications.

#497 - Jim Nettles

Card fact: This is the final Topps card issued of Jim Nettles during his career.

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

What I think about this card now: A batting cage has appeared on back-to-back cards! I'm going to say that's a record without even checking any of the previous cards. Because that's how I roll.

Other stuff: Nettles is the younger brother of former Yankee (among other teams) Graig Nettles. I didn't know that Nettles had a brother who played major league baseball for a long time. That's because Jim Nettles' career was all but over by the time I started watching baseball.

Nettles started out with the Twins after four years in the minors. From there, he played for a variety teams. He was traded to the Tigers and played for both Detroit and its minor league teams. After 43 games with the Tigers in 1974, he moved on to play baseball in Japan and Mexico. He returned to major league baseball in the late '70s, playing in the minors for the Indians, Pirates and Royals.

In 1979, he played in 11 games for Kansas City. His last year in the majors was in 1981 when he had one at-bat for Oakland. After that, he managed for a number of minor league teams from the mid-1980s through the mid-90s. He was a minor league coach five years ago. His daughter is married to longtime Kansas City Royal Mike Sweeney.

Back facts: How nice of Topps to mention a major league brother combination on the back of a card of a player who was one-half of a major league brother combination.

Other blog stuff: Three players in this set celebrate birthdays on April Fool's Day. Willie Montanez is 63, Rusty Staub is 67 and Phil Niekro is 72.

#474 - Luke Walker

Card fact: This is the final card issued of Luke Walker during his career. It's also his only card -- he had eight Topps cards -- in which he's wearing a mustache.

What I thought about this card then: I never saw it. In fact, until very recently, I had no idea who Walker was.

What I think about this card now: Ah, the slanted field in Oakland has returned.

Other stuff: Walker was a starter and a reliever, mostly for the Pirates, from 1965-1974. His major league career was over by the time this set hit stores.

Walker is most known for his early 1970s performances for Pittsburgh. The Pirates were a playoff contender and Walker received starts in the 1970 playoff series against the Reds and the 1971 World Series against the Orioles. He lost both games. He threw the first pitch in the first World Series night game in Game 4 in 1971.

Walker went 15-6 with a 3.04 ERA for the Pirates in 1970, finishing 10th in the N.L. Cy Young Award voting. His performance declined after the 1971 season. After two more years with the Pirates, he was purchased by the Tigers in December 1973. He pitched mostly in relief during his final season with Detroit in 1974.

Back facts: Walker might have been more popular in the early '70s if he went by his first name. Another Jimmie Walker was making a name for himself starring in "Good Times," which debuted successfully in 1974.

Other blog stuff: The purple-pink border combo moves into sole possession of second place with this card. It is just four cards behind the orange-brown border combination.

#439 - Ed Brinkman

Card fact: This is the final Topps card of Ed Brinkman's career.

What I thought about this card: I associate this card with my brother as it was one of the first cards he pulled during 1975. My brother was a Red Sox fan, but his default teams then were the Rangers and Tigers.

What I think about this card now: I enjoy the Oakland A's frolicking in the background in their golden jerseys. I also like the word "Brink" on Brinkman's bat.

Other stuff: Ed Brinkman is the poster child for shortstops of the 1960s and 1970s. His lifetime batting average is .224 despite 15 seasons and 6,045 at-bats. Brinkman hit above .240 in just two seasons -- 1969 and 1970. His on-base percentage was abysmal.

Brinkman was on the field for his glove. He was known as a fielder who could cover lots of ground and he won a Gold Glove with the Tigers in 1972. In fact, he finished ninth in the AL MVP voting that year despite batting .203.

Brinkman was a high school teammate of Pete Rose and received a large signing bonus from the Washington Senators. He played with Washington for 10 years before being sent to Detroit in a big deal in which Aurelio Rodriguez, Joe Coleman, Denny McLain and others exchanged teams.

Brinkman finished his career playing for the Cardinals, Rangers and Yankees in 1975. He later was a manager in the Tigers' organization and a longtime coach and scout for the White Sox. Brinkman died at age 66, of complications related to lung cancer in 2008.

Back facts: Back in the '70s, it was OK for cartoonists to stereotype all nationalities. Lou Novikoff was a war-time outfielder for the Cubs between 1941-46.

Other blog stuff: The purple-pink border is waging a fierce battle for third place with green-light green and both are closing in on pink-yellow for second place. Both purple-pink (the My Little Pony design) and green-light green (the lime design) are at 33 cards each. Pink-yellow (the marshmallow peeps design) is at 35.

Two of the three border combinations just mentioned are a little more than a week away from making a major run on the No. 1 color combination, orange-brown.

#415 - John Hiller

Card fact: This card was in the first pack of the three packs that I bought as the first purchased packs of my so-called collecting career. For a time, I thought this was the first card that I pulled from that first pack, but I think it was merely my favorite card from that pack (I'm pretty certain the first card was Darold Knowles or maybe Hal McRae).

As mentioned before, the John Hiller card was one of three Tigers I pulled in that pack.

What I thought about this card then: Well, I thought it was amazing. Looking at the card now, I have no idea why, but it was a real favorite.

What I think about this card now: Still trying to process why it was such a favorite.

Other stuff: Hiller was one of the great relief pitchers of the 1970s. He once held the record for most saves in a season when he saved 38 games in 1973. That remained until Dan Quisenberry broke the record in 1983. Hiller continues to hold the record for most victories in one season as a reliever. He won 17 games in 1974.

I didn't know it at the time I pulled this card, but the most amazing part of Hiller's career is he suffered a heart attack just a few years into his major league career. In January of 1971, Hiller had the heart attack and it sidelined him until mid-season 1972. In view of that, his 1973 season was phenomenal and he won Comeback Player of the Year honors.

Hiller played with the Tigers his entire career up through the 1980 season. A native of Ontario, Canada, Hiller was inducted into the Canadian Baseball and Sports halls of fame. He lives in Michigan.

Back facts: Look at that won-loss record in 1974 -- 31 decisions in relief! That'll never happen again.

Also, Hank Gowdy played for 17 seasons between 1910-30, mostly for the Boston Braves.

Other blog stuff: Ross Grimsley, one of baseball's true characters of the 1970s, was born on this date and is 61 years old today.

#397 - Bill Freehan

Card fact: This is the only Topps card in Bill Freehan's career in which he is not listed exclusively as a catcher. The 1974 season was the only one in which Freehan played more games at a position other than catcher. He played 65 at first base and 63 beind the plate.

What I thought about this card then: Me no see. The first card of his I saw was his 1976 Topps card.

What I think about this card now: I have never known how to pronounce Freehan's name. I've always pronounced it "Free-HAN," which I suspect is wrong.

Other stuff: Freehan was born in Detroit, played his whole career with the Tigers, and was both a solid hitter and a record-setting fielder. All of those ingredients made him a hero among Tigers fans. He has but two transactions in his entire 15-year career. He signed with the Tigers in 1961 and was released by the Tigers in 1976.

Freehan was an 11-time all-star. His best seasons came in 1967 and 1968, when he was third and second, respectively, in A.L. MVP voting. He set a number of records for fielding, and caught more games than any other player in Tigers history. He ended his career ninth all-time in MLB history in total games caught.

After his career, Freehan did some broadcasting, then became the University of Michigan baseball coach in the 1990s.

(EDIT: Freehan died at age 79 on Aug. 26, 2021 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was in hospice care for more than two years).

Back facts: I learned about the term "hitting with your foot in the bucket" by reading a story as a young teenager about Al Simmons and the Philadelphia A's famous 1929 World Series comeback against the Cubs. It's been a long time since I ever heard any one mention a major leaguer as hitting with their foot in the bucket. I'm sure the coaches clean that right up these days.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1975, "Young Frankenstein" was released. "Roll, roll, roll in ze hay!"

#371 - Gates Brown

Card fact: This is the last Topps card of Gates Brown issued during his career.

What I thought about this card then: Oh, it was a favorite. Something about the photo, which appears to catch Brown in mid-gab, made me like it a lot. Oddly, I remember trading the card away. But I don't know why.

What I think about this card now: The wind-breaker, or whatever it is, under the uniform still seems strange even though it was very common in the '70s.

Other stuff: Brown is known for a few things. He was one of the best pinch-hitters in baseball history. He had to be, because he wasn't a great fielder due to his roundish stature. He hit a home run in his first major league at-bat, as a pinch-hitter. During the Tigers' World Series championship season in 1968, Brown was called upon to pinch-hit repeatedly and enjoyed great success, hitting .370 in 92 at-bats.

Brown is also known for a famous story in which he ended up having to stuff hot dogs down his jersey when called upon to pinch-hit. Brown wasn't in the starting lineup, so he decided to grab a couple of hot dogs, only to have manager Mayo Smith tell him to pinch-hit. He hid the hot dogs in his uniform and proceeded to hit a gapper for a double. He was forced to slide into second -- head first. When he emerged, he had ketchup, mustard and hot dog bits all over him. Cracked everyone up.

Brown later worked as a hitting coach for the Tigers during the late '70s and early '80s.

(EDIT: Gates Brown died on Sept. 27, 2013)

Back facts: Hector Torres was an infielder for a number of teams between 1968-77. But he didn't receive a card in the 1975 Topps set because he didn't play in the majors in '74.

Also, Topps will tell you Gates holds A.L. pinch-hitting mark, but it's not going to tell you which one. Figure it out for yourself, buddy.

And, you can see Brown's first name was William. "Gates" was a nickname given to Brown by his mother. He says he has no idea why his mom called him "Gates."

Other blog stuff: You may have noticed I took the day off on this blog yesterday. Things are a little hectic now. I hope I'm back on a regular schedule, but it's a little uncertain at the moment.

#344 - Ben Oglivie

Card fact: Ben Oglivie returned to the Topps set in 1975 after being left out of the 1974 set. Something about a .218 batting average in 1973.

What I thought about this card then: I didn't see it. I didn't know about Oglivie until his days with the Brewers, even though he had been in the majors for seven years before even coming to Milwaukee.

What I think about this card now: I'm stuck on wondering how Oglivie's name was supposed to be pronounced. We pronounced it "Ogilvie," but there is no "i" between the "g" and the "l" in his name, so now I'm confused. I suppose its "O-gli-vee."

Other stuff: Oglivie was a powerful outfielder who came up first with the Red Sox. He wasn't able to get established with Boston and was traded to Detroit in 1973. After some pretty good seasons with the Tigers, he was traded to Milwaukee for Rich Folkers and Jim Slaton (Slaton ended up signing back with the Brewers a year later).

Oglivie blossomed with the hard-hitting Brewers. He became a member of "Harvey's Wallbangers" and his 1980 season, in which he slugged 41 homers and 118 RBIs and hit .304, was so far above anything that he had done before that it probably would have been credited to steroid use in today's cynical times. As it was, Oglivie tied Reggie Jackson for the league lead in homers and became the first non-American player to lead the league in home runs.

Oglivie finished his career with Milwaukee in 1986, then went to Japan to play. He is now a coach in the Tampa Bay Rays' organization.

Back facts: I never get tired of cartoons that mention the Dodgers.

The write-up seems a tad odd to me. If Oglivie was such a good defensive outfielder, than how come he ended up a valuable pinch-hitter and designated hitter -- two job titles that don't require any defense?

Other blog stuff: This is an extraordinarily bad date in baseball history for the Dodgers -- Reggie Jackson's 3 home runs in Game 6 of the '77 World Series; Oakland's only win against the Dodgers in the 1988 World Series -- a bottom of the ninth blast by Mark McGwire; and an 11-0 pasting by the Phillies in Game 3 of the NLCS last year.

#323 - Fred Holdsworth

Card fact: This is Fred Holdsworth's first solo card.

What I thought about this card then: The Holdsworth card was one of the cards my friend had. To me, those cards were very strange because I had never seen them before. I thought Holdsworth looked like a ghost. I was glad I didn't have this card.

What I think about this card now: I'm wondering why Topps even created a card of Holdsworth this year. He pitched in just eight games in 1974.

Other stuff: Holdsworth pitched seven years in the major leagues, but didn't get a lot of playing time in those years. The height of his activity was in 1977 when he split the year between the Expos and the Orioles, pitching in 26 games.

He was mostly a relief pitcher and finished with just a 7-10 record for his career (that's an average of one win every year). After his playing career ended in 1980, he became an accountant.

Back fact: Tommy Hutton had a Vegas act? I've heard him announce games for quite awhile. I don't remember him bringing that up.

Other blog stuff: The light blue-green color combo (the "day baseball" color combo) is dead last in the standings. This is just the 12th card with that color combination, and it's been 83 cards since the last "day baseball" card.

#293 - Dick Sharon

Card fact: This is the final card of Dick Sharon issued during his playing career. He had only two Topps cards.

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

What I think about this card now: I love the shadow behind Sharon. Is that a shadow of the photographer crouching, preparing to take a photo of Sharon? I hope so. That would be classic.

Other stuff: Sharon had a brief career in the major leagues, lasting three seasons. He played for the Tigers in 1973 and 1974 and the Padres in 1975. He was a solid fielder, which made up for his career .218 batting average.

Sharon did have the honor of being traded for Nate Colbert, Willie Davis and Dick Drago. Of course, those were three separate trades, and the Davis deal was the only straight-up deal. Davis went to San Diego at the tail-end of his career and Sharon went to St. Louis (he never played for the Cardinals).

Back facts: I really need to start keeping track of how many cartoons in this set mention the Dodgers. It has to be around 20 now.

Also, the write-up must be addressed:

1. "Flyhawk"? Did they go back to the 1940s for that term? Only with the help of the rest of the sentence can I surmise that "flyhawk" means that Sharon was a good fielder.

2. And what a condescending sentence it is. I suppose it's better than, "his hitting sucks, but he can catch the ball."

3. Looking at the stats, Sharon actually improved his batting average in each of FIVE minor league seasons. And unlike the kindly write-up, I'm going to mention the sixth minor league season. He did not improve his batting average that year.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1975, former Houston Astros player Morgan Ensberg was born. If you haven't checked out his blog, you should. It's very interesting and insanely informative. Surely one of the best ever produced by a player.

#271 - Jerry Moses

Card fact: This is the final card of Jerry Moses during his career. Topps gave Moses a goodbye present by spelling his first name "Jerry" after spelling his name "Gerry" on all of his other cards, from 1970 through 1974. I guess the signature must have tipped Topps off. It's hard to miss a signature like that.

What I thought about this card then: Never saw it. However, Moses' rookie card was one of the first 1970 Topps cards I ever saw.

I always thought Moses was mopping out the dugout as his hands are positioned in the way you would hold a mop.

What I think about this card now: Moses' swing obscures the Detroit name on the front of his jersey, almost as if Topps was preparing for an impending trade and needed a pose in which all it had to do was airbrush the cap.

In fact, Moses was purchased by the Mets in January 1975, right before this set hit the streets.

Other stuff: Moses was a career backup for a variety of teams. He came up with the Red Sox and was actually an All-Star in 1970. But with Carlton Fisk coming up in the organization, Moses was traded to the Angels that offseason and bounced from team to team in ensuing years.

(EDIT: Moses died on March 27, 2018).

Back facts: I sure scanned that thing crooked.

Moses has one of the best middle names in the entire set in "Braheen." Also, I came within five days of posting this card on his birthday! I think that's the closest I've gotten yet!

One more thing: the write-up at the bottom reads like the person who was preparing to write it couldn't think of anything to mention, then suddenly realized that Moses had played for five different A.L. teams in five years. We have that person to thank for this wonderful piece of useless knowledge.

Other blog stuff: I am pleased to announce that someone has started a 1974 Topps blog! You can find it here. Please follow along as '74 Topps is also one of my all-time favorites, and this person has now relieved me of the obligation of starting a '74 Topps blog after I finish the '75 Topps one. Phew!