#600 - Rod Carew

Card fact: This is the very last card I needed to complete the 1975 Topps set.

What I thought about this card then: My brother had it and it was a very cool card. Carew's bat looks at least 70 feet long.

What I think about this card now: Carew wasn't exactly known as a slugger. I associate this pose with sluggers.

Other stuff: Carew was another one of the first baseball superstars that I knew. He seemed to have a lot of fans among my friends, which was a bit odd, because there isn't anybody in my state that knows a thing about the Twins. But I remember his 1976, 1977 and 1978 cards as being very coveted.

Of course, Carew is a Hall of Famer, hit .388 in 1978, was the rookie of the year in 1967, a member of 18 straight All-Star teams, and a member of the 3,000-hit club. He was also the subject of one the first baseball biographies I ever read. I have known the story about him being named after the doctor who delivered him on a train since I was a wee lad.

Carew signed with the Angels as a free agent after a famous falling out with the Twins' notoriously stingy owner Calvin Griffith. After 12 years with the Twins, Carew spent seven more with the Angels.

He later became a hitting coach for the Angels and the Brewers.

Back facts: When I was a kid I thought that George Torporcer was kneeling on the ground looking at bugs. He needed his glasses to get a good look at the bugs! That's how little boys think.

Other blog stuff: Normally, I do the set review every 100 cards. But I also need to do the All-Star update with this card. So I'll do the All-Star update here, and do the set review with the next card.

Carew fills the second base spot for the American League:

AL

1B - Dick Allen
2B - Rod Carew
3B - Brooks Robinson
SS - Bert Campaneris
OF - Bobby Murcer
OF - Jeff Burroughs
OF -
C - Carlton Fisk
P - Gaylord Perry

NL

1B - Steve Garvey
2B - Joe Morgan
3B - Ron Cey
SS - Larry Bowa
OF - Hank Aaron
OF - Pete Rose
OF - Jim Wynn
C - Johnny Bench
P - Andy Messersmith


Some of you may be thinking, "only one more All-Star and the teams are complete!" Well, as one commentor already gave away way back 300 cards ago, there will be no more All-Star cards.


Topps did not give Reggie Jackson an All-Star card in the 1975 set even though he was the starting right fielder for the American League in the 1974 All-Star Game. So the one outfield position in the A.L. is forever left blank because of Topps' goof.

#570 - Jim Wynn

Card fact: This is the first and only Topps card of Jim Wynn featured in Dodger gear. He is airbrushed into an L.A. uniform in the 1974 Topps traded series, and he is airbrushed into a Braves cap (while wearing a Dodger jersey) in the 1976 Topps set.

What I thought about this card then: This is another one of those cards that I saw for the first time in my trip to Cooperstown in 1975. It became one of my all-time coveted cards because I didn't obtain it for years. It was one of the last Dodgers I needed to complete the '75 team set.

What I think about this card now: It doesn't really look like Wynn. But I think that's just because his enormous smile in the photo. He was more serious-looking on most of his other cards.

Other stuff: Wynn came over to the Dodgers from the Astros in a deal that sent Claude Osteen to Houston before the 1974 season. Wynn bounced back from a miserable '73 season and helped the Dodgers reach the World Series in '74. He was named the National League's Comeback Player of the Year.

It was Wynn's last great season. He tailed off in '75 and was dealt to the Braves in the deal that gained the Dodgers Dusty Baker. Wynn closed out his career with Atlanta, the Yankees and the Brewers.

But before his arrival in L.A., Wynn spent 1963-73 as a hard-slugging center fielder for the Astros. Nicknamed the "Toy Cannon," he hit more than 200 home runs for Houston, a considerable feat since he played his home games in the monstrous Astrodome.

Wynn, who had his uniform number retired by Houston, now does TV postgame analysis for the Astros and does community work for the team.

(EDIT: Wynn died at age 78 on March 26, 2020).

Back facts: Yaz remains the last Triple Crown winner. And Topps is just plain redundant with that blurb at the bottom (EDIT: Miguel Cabrera won the Triple Crown in 2012).

Other blog stuff: We have completed the entire N.L. All-Star starting roster with the addition of Wynn:

AL

1B - Dick Allen
2B -
3B - Brooks Robinson
SS - Bert Campaneris
OF - Bobby Murcer
OF - Jeff Burroughs
OF -
C - Carlton Fisk
P - Gaylord Perry

NL

1B - Steve Garvey
2B - Joe Morgan
3B - Ron Cey
SS - Larry Bowa
OF - Hank Aaron
OF - Pete Rose
OF - Jim Wynn
C - Johnny Bench
P - Andy Messersmith


Four Dodgers on the team. That's why the N.L. won, you know.

#530 - Gaylord Perry

Card fact: It sure is strange seeing an Indian on an All-Star card, isn't it? That didn't happen much in the 1970s.

What I thought about this card then: I didn't see it. The first card of Gaylord Perry's I saw was his 1977 Topps card, and he looked like a grandpa then. He was not even 40.

What I think about this card now: It makes me feel slightly uncomfortable. I feel like I'm looking down the front of his uniform.

Other stuff: Perry, of course, is one of the most enduring characters of the game, a pitcher who became known for what he might throw more than anything else. Perry embraced his reputation as a spitball artist like no other pitcher. He would go through various mannerisms before throwing a pitch, touching his cap and his head  to keep the batter guessing. Thanks to Perry, as a kid, I thought K-Y jelly was a baseball invention.

Perry's other notable feature was his endurance. He began his career in 1962 and ended it in 1983. He pitched for eight teams, most notably the Giants, Indians and Padres. He was the first pitcher to win the Cy Young Award in both leagues, winning it with the Indians in 1972 and the Padres in 1978. He won his 300th game with the Mariners in 1982.

Perry is eighth all-time in strikeouts with 3,534. He was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1991. He's had a colorful post-career. He was a farmer until filing for bankruptcy. He coached college ball. He campaigned for politician Jesse Helms.

Perry is also the first person I think of when the topic of former ballplayers "letting themselves go" comes up. Seeing an expansive and bald Gaylord Perry sitting in his overalls does not call to mind a former athlete. But I guess he's earned the right.

(EDIT: Perry died at age 84 on Nov. 30, 2022).

Back facts: I'm fairly certain that cartoon image has been used before, but I'm too tired to look.

Also, Perry's 1972 season (24 wins and a 1.92 ERA) always amuses me, since he was traded, along with Frank Duffy, prior to the season by the Giants in exchange for Sam McDowell. It turned into a terrible trade for the Giants instantaneously as Perry won the Cy Young Award in his first year with Cleveland.

Other blog stuff: Let's add the American League starting pitcher to the 1974 All-Star lineup:

AL

1B - Dick Allen
2B -
3B - Brooks Robinson
SS - Bert Campaneris
OF - Bobby Murcer
OF - Jeff Burroughs
OF -
C - Carlton Fisk
P - Gaylord Perry

NL

1B - Steve Garvey
2B - Joe Morgan
3B - Ron Cey
SS - Larry Bowa
OF - Hank Aaron
OF - Pete Rose
OF -
C - Johnny Bench
P - Andy Messersmith

#470 - Jeff Burroughs

Card fact: This card recognizes the first time a Texas Ranger started in the All-Star Game. Burroughs was selected to start in 1974 and played left field for the American League.

What I thought about this card then: My brother had the mini card, and I'm quite sure it was the whole reason why he liked the Rangers so much in his early days of collecting. We both treated this card as something precious, and I'm sure I was jealous that my younger brother had such a cool card.

What I think about this card now: Burroughs is not wearing glasses on this card or in his 1976 Topps card. But he is wearing them on the 1974 Topps card that is also featured in the 1975 Topps MVPs subset.

Later, Burroughs is pictured wearing glasses almost exclusively while a member of the Atlanta Braves. As a kid, I considered the glasses-wearing Burroughs as a different person than the non-glasses-wearing Burroughs. I thought of the glasses-wearing Burroughs as inferior, which was inaccurate on my part since in his two best years -- 1974 and 1977 -- he is wearing glasses on his cards.

Other stuff: Burroughs was a No. 1 overall pick of the Washington Senators in 1969. He was always considered a strong hitter, and he showed it when he became the first Ranger to win the MVP award in 1974. After that seasons, Burroughs' average plummeted and he was dealt to the Braves in 1976 for five players that didn't amount to much for Texas.

With the Braves, Burroughs slammed his way through two good seasons (he hit 41 home runs the same year George Foster hit 52) before running out of steam. His at-bats decreased, he was dealt to Seattle, and he operated as a part-time player with the Mariners, A's and Blue Jays.

Burroughs later became known as the Little League coach for his son, Sean Burroughs, who as a former top prospect had a mediocre major league career, mostly with the Padres. Sean reappeared with the Diamondbacks in the 2011 season.

Back facts: I missed posting on Burroughs' birthday by three lousy days.

Other blog stuff: Let's add Burroughs into the American League lineup for the 1974 All-Star Game:

AL

1B - Dick Allen
2B -
3B - Brooks Robinson
SS - Bert Campaneris
OF - Bobby Murcer
OF - Jeff Burroughs
OF -
C - Carlton Fisk
P -

NL

1B - Steve Garvey
2B - Joe Morgan
3B - Ron Cey
SS - Larry Bowa
OF - Hank Aaron
OF - Pete Rose
OF -
C - Johnny Bench
P - Andy Messersmith

#440 - Andy Messersmith

Card fact: With this card, we are now two-thirds of the way through the 1975 Topps set.

What I thought about this card then: I didn't have it, but I was aware of it, and, damn, did I want it. Andy Messersmith was my favorite pitcher that I never saw play.

What I think about this card now: Messersmith's Topps Dodgers cards are the most uninteresting cards that I have seen for a pitcher. In his 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976 cards he is basically in the same mug shot pose. You can't see his arms in any of the photos. I have a very limited picture of what Messersmith looked like pitching because he was not shown in a pitching pose with L.A.

Other stuff: Messersmith is known mostly for his role in bringing down the reserve clause in 1975. Messersmith followed the path begun by Curt Flood and Catfish Hunter, and refused to sign a contract with the Dodgers after they would not give him a no-trade clause. The Expos' Dave McNally, also on a one-year reserve clause at the time, joined the fight, although he would retire at the end of the season.

Messersmith won the case before an arbitrator and signed a deal with the Braves. It was this decision that kicked off free agency. Messersmith struggled with Atlanta (and I have to say as a kid I thought "serves him right"). He was shipped to the Yankees where he didn't do any better. Messersmith closed his career back with the Dodgers in 1979, interestingly playing with a no-trade deal.

Lost in all this is the fact that Messersmith was a terrific pitcher, first with the Angels and then with the Dodgers. He is one of only 17 pitchers to win 20 games in the American and National leagues (Roy Halladay recently became the 17th). He also won back-to-back Gold Gloves while with the Dodgers.

Messersmith came to the Dodgers from the Angels in the deal that sent Bill Singer, Frank Robinson, Bobby Valentine and Billy Grabarkewitz to the Angels. He pitched in two games of the 1974 World Series against the A's but lost them both.

Messersmith later worked as a coach for Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz County in California.

Back facts: The other 20-game winner in the N.L. that year was Phil Niekro.

Also, how do you get "Andy" out of "John Alexander"?

Other blog stuff: Time to add the third Dodger to the 1974 N.L. All-Star roster:

AL

1B - Dick Allen
2B -
3B - Brooks Robinson
SS - Bert Campaneris
OF - Bobby Murcer
OF -
OF -
C - Carlton Fisk
P -

NL

1B - Steve Garvey
2B - Joe Morgan
3B - Ron Cey
SS - Larry Bowa
OF - Hank Aaron
OF - Pete Rose
OF -
C - Johnny Bench
P - Andy Messersmith

The N.L. is one player away from being complete. All it needs is another Dodger.

#420 - Larry Bowa

Card fact: Larry Bowa is one of only two starters on the 1974 N.L. All-Star team who didn't play for the Dodgers or the Reds. Hank Aaron is the other one.

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

What I think about this card now: I am clouded by my childhood adulation of Bowa, and all I can see as one of the greatest cards in the set that I would have killed for as a kid.

Other stuff: Out of all of the players who I wished was on the Dodgers when I was kid, Bowa was first and foremost. He was a five-time All-Star and a Gold Glover. Meanwhile, I suffered (somewhat ungratefully) with Bill Russell, who had some periodic fielding and hitting issues.

Bowa, who never made his high school baseball team, was the fiery cornerstone of the Phillies playoff teams of the 1970s, and he had a standout postseason in 1980 when Philadelphia won the World Series. Later, Bowa was dealt to the Cubs along with Ryne Sandberg in an epicly bad trade for Ivan DeJesus. Bowa played 3-plus seasons for Chicago before ending his career with the Mets, which I totally don't remember.

Bowa went on to manage the Padres and Phillies, and memorably so. I don't think I was aware of his volatile nature until he became a manager. Bowa later became third base coach for Joe Torre with the Yankees, and came over to the Dodgers when Torre was named Dodgers manager. Too little, too late for me.

Back facts: Ping Bodie was an outfielder for the White Sox, A's and Yankees between 1911-21.

Other blog stuff: The National League infield is now complete with the addition of Bowa:

AL

1B - Dick Allen
2B -
3B - Brooks Robinson
SS - Bert Campaneris
OF - Bobby Murcer
OF -
OF -
C - Carlton Fisk
P -

NL

1B - Steve Garvey
2B - Joe Morgan
3B - Ron Cey
SS - Larry Bowa
OF - Hank Aaron
OF - Pete Rose
OF -
C - Johnny Bench
P -

#400 - Dick Allen

Card fact: This is the first time that an all-star card has landed on a century number, meaning I need to update the all-star list AND update the state of the set on the same post.

Normally, I do both under the heading of "other blog stuff." But this time I will feature the all-star update in the "card fact" portion. Here it is:

AL

1B - Dick Allen
2B -
3B - Brooks Robinson
SS - Bert Campaneris
OF - Bobby Murcer
OF -
OF -
C - Carlton Fisk
P -

NL

1B - Steve Garvey
2B - Joe Morgan
3B - Ron Cey
SS -
OF - Hank Aaron
OF - Pete Rose
OF -
C - Johnny Bench
P -

What I thought about this card then: I didn't have it. But I vaguely recall someone else having it. I remember some cool kid I knew owned it, and I thought it was unattainable. Not that I wasn't a cool kid or anything.

What I think about this card now: Just a great card. But I've had a difficult time getting it well-centered. This one is better than what I had.

Other stuff: Lordy, where do you start? Allen was one of the most controversial figures in baseball history. He started out as a powerful star for the Phillies, winning N.L. Rookie of the Year honors in 1964, but was relentlessly booed by Philadelphia fans during his time there. Because of perceptions that he was difficult, he was traded to St. Louis for Curt Flood, a deal in which Flood famously refused to go to Philadelphia.

Allen was then traded to the Dodgers, who after a year, sent him to the White Sox in the Tommy John deal. Allen enjoyed a resurgence in Chicago, capturing the A.L. MVP award in 1972 and recording three strong seasons, despite a '73 season abbreviated by a broken leg. But Allen left the White Sox in mid-September after a feud with teammate Ron Santo. The White Sox shipped him to the Braves in the offseason. Allen later returned to Philadelphia for 1975 and 1976 and finished his career with Oakland in 1977.

Throughout the latter stages of his career, Allen is pictured wearing a helmet, even while in the field (such as on this card). Allen began wearing a helmet in the field in Philadelphia when fans started hurling objects at him.

Topps used three different first names for Allen during his career. It started out with "Richie," which is what he was called while with the Phillies. Then with the 1970 set, Topps shortened Allen's name to "Rich." It stayed that way until 1973 when it became "Dick." Allen said that he was always called "Dick" growing up and thought "Richie" was a little boy's name.

Allen is considered by many as a Hall of Famer and possibly the most obvious example of a player being undeservedly left out of the Hall. Detractors say Allen's career was a little too short and his fielding was not good.

(EDIT: Dick Allen died Dec, 7, 2020 at age 78, while still waiting for election to the Hall).

Back facts: There is the sad fact, White Sox fans. Traded to the Braves, right on the back of his White Sox card!

Other blog stuff: Inventory time! After 100 more cards, let's see what we have:

1. COLOR COMBINATIONS

Orange-brown has poured on the coal and padded its lead after holding only a one-card edge after 300 cards. Some of the earlier leaders/favorites, like green-light green, purple-pink and green-purple have fallen way behind. Last-place yellow-green didn't have one card in the past 100:

1. Orange-brown: 40
2. Pink-yellow: 34
3. Green-light green: 27
4. Yellow-red: 27
5. Purple-pink: 26
6. Green-purple: 25
7. Blue-orange: 20
8. Brown-tan: 20
9. Orange-yellow: 19
10. Red-orange: 19
11. Tan-light blue: 19
12. Yellow-light blue: 19
13. Red-blue: 18
14. Green-yellow: 17
15. Red-yellow: 17
16. Light blue-green: 16
17. Brown-orange: 15
18. Yellow-green: 12

2. POWDER BLUE UNIFORMS

Eleven more cards, including this one, to total 49 so far.

3. LOOKING UP

Just two more players looking to the skies for a grand total of 11. That's got to increase later in the set.

4. DUDE LOOKS LIKE A LADY

One guy who seemed like a gal to me back then. So the grand total is 9.

5. DECEASED

Eleven more departed players to add -- including a couple of recent ones in Ed Kirkpatrick and Ron Santo who weren't even in the last 100 cards. The total is at 39.

6. CHAW

Jackie Brown is the third player to display a chaw on cardboard thus far.

7. MLB SONS

Four more players who had sons who played in the majors. That's 19 total.

8. ROOKIE CUP/ALL-STARS

7/11

9. MOST POPULAR FIRST NAME

Jim has passed Dave/David and is now the overall leader with 17 players with that name.

10. MINIS

We had a mini surge. A total of 55 cards in the set thus far I have in mini form. That is 13.8 percent, up slightly from 100 cards ago.

All right, time to hit the next 100! Up next, one of the worst airbrush jobs in the entire set. Just awful.

#390 - Ron Cey

Card fact: Well, the moment has arrived. This is my most favorite card in the set. It's also my most favorite card of all-time. Favorite card when I was a kid. Favorite card now. I traded HANK AARON for this card, for crying out loud. And, no, I don't regret it one bit.

What I thought about this card then: Must. Have. Card.

What I think about this card now: Between the two blogs, I'm sure I have posted this card more often than any other. It's about the 6th or 7th time. I think I've said all I have to say about it. It became my favorite during 1975, I traded the '75 Aaron card for it, and then somehow, tragically, I lost that first '75 Cey card.

Why did Cey become my favorite then? Well, I've studied my younger self enough to come to the conclusion that I liked players with long hair and mustaches and that wore helmets. Add the fact that he was a Dodger, and I think it was a natural fit.

Other stuff: Cey is the best slugger the Los Angeles Dodgers have ever had. He led the franchise in career home runs until Eric Karros broke it. He came through in the clutch in some big postseason moments, most notably during the 1977 NLCS against the Phillies and the 1981 World Series against the Yankees. I remember being especially proud of him when he broke the N.L record for RBIs in the month of April in 1978. And how about the diving catch on a bunt by Bobby Murcer in the '81 World Series?

"The Penguin" had a distinctive trot around the bases -- very much like a waddle. And his batting stance was memorable, too.

I still have no idea why the Dodgers traded him to the Cubs after the 1982 season. No one has been able to give me a good reason. Hey, I liked Pedro Guerrero, too, but put him in the damn outfield.

Cey is now one of the Dodgers' biggest ambassadors, a frequent TTM and in-person signer -- as I will attest. His daughter, Amanda, is a big-time event/party planner in San Francisco.

Back facts: I didn't know what monuments were as a 9-year-old. I thought those rectangular drawings in the cartoon were gas station pumps. I thought Jimmy Piersall was fielding a fly down at the local Sunoco station.

Also, I double-checked the game facts in the write-up. They're all correct. Cey was 3-for-4 with 7 RBIs, two homers and a bases-loaded single. He also struck out looking.

Other blog stuff: This is the second Dodger all-star on the N.L. team so far, so let's add Cey to the list:

AL

1B -
2B -
3B - Brooks Robinson
SS - Bert Campaneris
OF - Bobby Murcer
OF -
OF -
C - Carlton Fisk
P -

NL

1B - Steve Garvey
2B - Joe Morgan
3B - Ron Cey
SS -
OF - Hank Aaron
OF - Pete Rose
OF -
C - Johnny Bench
P -

#350 - Bobby Murcer

Card fact: If there was a book on "The History of Airbrushing," this card would be Exhibit A in the lengths that Topps would go to to depict a player in the correct uniform.

I already posted about this card once, so I won't go into much detail, but to sum it up, Topps is telling you that Bobby Murcer made the American League All-Star Game as a Giant. Ohhhhhh-Kaaaaaaay.

What I thought about this card then: Never saw it. If I did, I think I might have wondered how a Giants player ended up at Yankee Stadium.

What I think about this card now: I've basically already mentioned it. It's possibly the most untrustworthy airbrushing job ever.

Other stuff: Bobby Murcer, a.k.a. "the next Mickey Mantle" when he came up in the 1960s, was thought to be the guy who would pull the Yankees out of their doldrums of the late '60s/early '70s. But he wasn't. Murcer was a talented player, Gold Glove fielder, and one of the highest salaried players in the game, but unlike Mantle, he wasn't surrounded by All-Star performers.

Murcer was eventually traded to the Giants for Bobby Bonds in October of 1974. He struggled with his power in Candlestick Park and was shipped to the Cubs two years later. Murcer then returned to the Yankees for the early part of the 1980s as a part-timer player.

After his playing career, he became an announcer for the Yankees and worked in that capacity for two decades. In late 2006, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. After a two-year battle, he died from brain cancer complications in 2008.

Back facts: Cyril Roy "Stormy" Weatherley was an outfielder for the Cleveland Indians in the late 1930s and early '40s. I doubt if anyone remembered him even in 1975.

Other blog stuff: Time to add another player to the 1974 All-Star lineup. I will place Murcer under the American League column, despite Topps' attempts to confuse me:

AL

1B -
2B -
3B - Brooks Robinson
SS - Bert Campaneris
OF - Bobby Murcer
OF -
OF -
C - Carlton Fisk
P -

NL

1B - Steve Garvey
2B - Joe Morgan
3B -
SS -
OF - Hank Aaron
OF - Pete Rose
OF -
C - Johnny Bench
P -

By the way, I realize I'm posting a Giants card immediately after the team clinched a spot in the World Series. Yes, it's coincidence, and no, I don't like it one bit.

#320 - Pete Rose

Card fact: This was the most identifiable signature out of anyone in baseball for me as a kid.

What I thought about this card then: Well, it was very cool. I never had the card myself, but someone I knew did. I don't remember who, but I know I saw it. I'm sure I was quite envious.

What I think about this card now: Even though the world is sliding away behind him, Pete Rose remains focused on the pitcher.

Other stuff: Pete Rose was everywhere when I was a kid. It was Reggie Jackson, Pete Rose and then everyone else. He was on after-shave commercials. He did that sprinting to first base thing every time he walked. He got made fun of a lot in my family because I didn't like the Reds, and my dad didn't like his hair.

Rose, like his former teammate Joe Morgan, had a habit of playing for teams I really disliked. For Rose it was the Reds and then the 1983 Phillies (it was extremely weird when I found out that Rose would play for the Expos).

Although he was very talented and knowledgeable on the baseball field, Rose didn't seem very smart. Obviously, he did some dumb things to get himself banned from baseball. He's become a tragic figure in the sport, even though it's hard for me to have sympathy for him.

(EDIT: Pete Rose died on Sept. 30, 2024 at age 83).

Back facts: I believe this is the third card to feature a cartoon about the player on the front of the card. Ron Reed and Steve Garvey are the other two. But I may have missed someone.

Also, the write-up at the bottom is slightly inaccurate. It was impossible for Rose to lead both leagues in doubles because he didn't play in the American League. What Topps meant was Rose "led the major leagues in doubles."

Yes, it's picky. But I'm paid to be picky. Although not here.

Other blog stuff: The last three All-Star cards have all been Reds. Here is the All-Star lineup as featured by Topps as of the Pete Rose card:

AL

1B -
2B -
3B - Brooks Robinson
SS - Bert Campaneris
OF -
OF -
OF -
C - Carlton Fisk
P -

NL

1B - Steve Garvey
2B - Joe Morgan
3B -
SS -
OF - Hank Aaron
OF - Pete Rose
OF -
C - Johnny Bench
P -

#260 - Johnny Bench

Card fact: This might be THE card of the 1970s. I know that's opinion, but I probably could write an essay on why it should be fact.

What I thought about this card then: I've said this several times before, but when I held this card in my hands as a 9-year-old, it had me so freaked out that I thought it would vanish, either via a gust of wind or by someone stealing it, or simply through spontaneous combustion. The card was just too cool to be possessed by someone like me.

I can remember where I was when I held the card. I was on a city street, standing in front of a store that had an awning over it. The only reason I would be at that particular site is because I was on my way home from the drug store after buying a pack of cards. So I must have been opening them on the way back and I pulled this card out of a pack. But I no longer own that Bench card that I pulled when I was 9. I must have traded it away. I was probably too freaked out by it.

What I think about this card now: For me, it's one of the iconic cards of the '70s. I know Bench's 1976 Topps card is great, but this one just means more to me. Bench has that catcher's crouch down pat, his glove looks like it just came out of the box yet it's perfectly broken in, and his signature is tremendous. Hell, I don't even like the Reds and I'm saying that.

Other stuff: Johnny Bench was at the height of his popularity at this point, one of the biggest stars in all of sports. I think, as a kid at that time, there were two sports figures that ruled above all others: Johnny Bench and Joe Namath. Later it would be Reggie Jackson and Roger Staubach, but Bench especially ruled right during the time that I became interested in baseball.

This was at the start of the Reds' back-to-back World Series titles and Bench had a kick-ass performance against the Yankees in 1976, so that just made him seem immortal.

Bench was also the closest thing to a sports TV star for me at that time, appearing on the Bubble Yum and Krylon Spray Paint commercials. He was always appearing on This Week in Baseball. Later, he hosted "The Baseball Bunch," but I was a teenager by then and too old for kiddie shows like that.

As for his playing ability, I could list his achievements forever. I think it's enough to say that he changed the perception of the catching position forever.

Back facts: I don't remember Sparky Lyle being referred to as "The Count." That was John Montefusco's nickname. Montefusco didn't have a card until 1976, though.

Other blog stuff: It's been 80 cards since we've had an All-Star. So I'm looking forward to adding another name to the All-Star list for 1974:

AL


1B -
2B -
3B - Brooks Robinson
SS - Bert Campaneris
OF -
OF -
OF -
C - Carlton Fisk
P -

NL

1B - Steve Garvey
2B - Joe Morgan
3B -
SS -
OF - Hank Aaron
OF -
OF -
C - Johnny Bench
P -

#180 - Joe Morgan

Card fact: This the first of three Reds all-star cards in the set. The Reds don't have the most, though. That honor goes to the Dodgers (Yay!)

What I thought about this card then: (*sigh*) I am a bit reluctant to admit it, but I kind of liked Joe Morgan when I was a kid. I know he played for the Big Red Machine -- which I didn't like at all -- but in the beginning Morgan seemed like a cool guy on a card. Later, when the BRM kept winning, he began to bother me. And then when Morgan went to the Giants, he really began to bother me. And then when he hit that home run in 1982 and pumped his fist as he ran around the bases he really, really began to bother me. And then when he became a self-important broadcaster, he really, really, REALLY began to bother me. And then when he became Barry Bonds' biggest apologist he really, really, REALLY, REALLY began to bother me.

I guess I can never go back to being 9 years old again.

What I think about this card now: That is one hell of a tilted field.

Other stuff: As just about everyone knows, Morgan began his career as a Houston Colt .45, was traded from the Astros to the Reds in a deal that turned out fantastically for Cincinnati, and helped the Reds to back-to-back World Series titles in two years in which he won back-to-back National League MVP awards. After his Reds career, he bounced around between the Astros, Giants, Phillies and A's, returning to the World Series with the Phillies in 1983.

Morgan was known for his short stature, his chicken flap maneuver before he swung at a pitch and his clutch-hitting (many times against the Dodgers, it seemed).

Even though many consider Morgan the greatest second baseman in the game, he is known more now for his broadcasting and his steadfast opposition to any kind of statistical analysis of the game. From what I've gathered, he refuses to read "Moneyball," which he has criticized several times. How can you criticize a book you won't read?

Many folks also cite Morgan for the Veterans Committee's inability to vote players into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

In short, he's not too popular with a lot of fans.

(EDIT: Morgan died at age 77 on Oct. 11, 2020).

Back facts: Five-foot-7 and 150 pounds. Would they let anyone even close to a major league field these days with those kind of vitals?

Oldie but goodie: Here is the Morgan card I had when I was 9, back when I liked the guy.

Other blog stuff: Time to add a second baseman to the all-star squad:

AL


1B -
2B -
3B - Brooks Robinson
SS - Bert Campaneris
OF -
OF -
OF -
C - Carlton Fisk
P -

NL

1B - Steve Garvey
2B - Joe Morgan
3B -
SS -
OF - Hank Aaron
OF -
OF -
C -
P -

#170 - Bert Campaneris

Card fact: The fifth all-star card that we've come across.

What I thought about this card then: I had the mini card and Bert Campaneris' pose is burned in my brain. This might be the only time a player is posed like that on a baseball card. It's certainly different.

What I think about this card now: As a kid, in my mind's eye, I always thought Campaneris was seated atop some building. But it looks like he's at an area at the end of the dugout or somewhere near the bullpen. It's kind of difficult for me to figure out.

Otherwise, you can't beat that shiny green jacket, the smile/grimace, the shadow across Dagoberto's face.

Other stuff: Bert Campaneris was a constant in my childhood -- a mainstay of the Oakland A's dynasty and one of the first free agents. He is one of of the best base stealers of all-time, leading the American League in the category six times. He was also a prolific bunter.

Campaneris was known for his volatile competitive nature. He threw his bat at the Tigers' Lerrin LaGrow after LaGrow hit Campaneris in the ankle during the AL Championship in 1972.

Among his other claims to fame are playing every position in a single game, which he did in 1965, and homering twice in his first game. He hit the first pitch he saw in the major leagues for a home run off of Jim Kaat.

Campaneris eventually signed with the Rangers after the 1976 season as the dismantling of the Swingin' A's began. His career started to decline after leaving the A's and he retired after the 1983 season with the Yankees, a season in which he actually hit .322 in 155 at-bats.

Back facts: Well, we're in the midst of a catcher equipment retrospective, aren't we? First the mask and now the shinguards.

Other blog stuff: Time to add to the all-star team. The left side of the infield for the American League is now complete:

AL

1B -
2B -
3B - Brooks Robinson
SS - Bert Campaneris
OF -
OF -
OF -
C - Carlton Fisk
P -

NL

1B - Steve Garvey
2B -
3B -
SS -
OF - Hank Aaron
OF -
OF -
C -
P -

Oh, and here's a look at the regular-sized card and the mini side-by-side:

#140 - Steve Garvey

Card fact: This is the first All-Star card I ever saw.

What I thought about this card then: This is one of the all-time coolest cards of my early collecting life. I had the mini Steve Garvey card, and for a long time, I never saw the regular-sized Garvey. When I finally acquired the regulation size Popeye, it seemed freakishly big and somehow so wrong. It took a long time getting used to it.

What I think about this card now: It's still a classic. Garvey's stance is instantly recognizable and I love the trees in the background.

Other stuff: I could write a long time about Garvey, but I'll keep it short. He is the first star of my favorite team that I ever knew. Garvey was just beginning to break out as I was beginning to learn about baseball. Although he was hugely popular with a lot of fans, he was never my favorite player. He was just too smooth and clean-cut for me. I preferred the guys with long hair and mustaches. When Garvey and Don Sutton got in that brawl in 1978, I was both horrified that players on my favorite team would bicker and also pleased that someone on Garvey's own team saw him as a bit irritating. Sutton won more of my respect on that day.

That's not to say I was totally down on Garvey. I was proud to have him on my team and sad when he left. Garvey was a tremendously clutch hitter and watching him during the 1978 postseason was awesome. He seemed to hit everything. He had a mechanical way about him, but he was awfully good.

I always remember him as a young guy. It's sad to know that he is 61 years old.

Back facts: Not only was Garvey a bat boy for the Dodgers, but he worked as a bat boy for the Tigers and the Yankees, too.

You'll note that 1974 was Garvey's real break-out season and he reached the All-Star Game that year through write-in ballot.

Other blog stuff: Here is the regular Garvey and mini Garvey (overhandled by a 9-year-old) side by side.

Also, it's time to fill in the All-Star team with Garvey's addition:

AL

1B -
2B -
3B - Brooks Robinson
SS -
OF -
OF -
OF-
C - Carlton Fisk
P -

NL

1B - Steve Garvey
2B -
3B -
SS -
OF - Hank Aaron
OF -
OF -
C -
P -