#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) 
(EDIT: Phil Garner died at age 76 on April 11, 2026)

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.

#558 - Dave Roberts

Card fact: The second Dave Roberts to be featured in this set. The first was the first of three Dave Roberts to play for the Padres.

What I thought about this card then: Well, first of all, dude looks like a lady. Secondly, I had the mini card, and it might have been my least favorite card in the set. It didn't fall into the camp of cards that we made fun of without mercy. I just kind of silently loathed it.

What I think about this card now: Dude looks more like a dooood, than a dudette.

Other stuff: Roberts was a utility infielder for the Padres, and later the Rangers, Astros and Phillies. Roberts actually enjoyed a productive 1973 season when he was San Diego's third baseman, and the Padres thought they had something special. But he fell off drastically in 1974, was sent down to Hawaii (oh, the misery, sent down to Hawaii), and never came close to performing like he did in '73.

Roberts later played all over the infield, even taking some turns at catcher, while staying in the majors until 1982.

Back facts: I did not like the pinky cartoon. The womanly fingers just added to the whole dude-lady perception in my 9-year-old mind. And hitting an inside-the-park home run against the Dodgers? Dude, that is so uncool.

Other blog stuff: Suzi Quatro was born on this date 61 years ago. Folks who know the '70s know who she is. I'll let everyone else stumble across it.

#513 - Dick Pole

Card fact: This is Dick Pole's solo debut. ... I'm sorry, everything I write in this post is going to sound dirty.

What I thought about this card then: My brother had this card, since he was a Red Sox fan. We were oblivious to the name. We though his long straight hair was strange. Definitely dude-looks-like-a-ladyish. A real ugly lady.

What I think about this card now: I posted this card on a Monday. Because I thought you might need a laugh. Because I'm here for you, the reader. You're welcome.

Other stuff: Dick Pole, of course, goes in the baseball names Hall of Fame, if such a Hall of Fame was constructed by 11-year-old boys (or, ahem, immature collectors). I find it remarkable that he was able to operate in the public eye for so long with a name like that. It's truly admirable.

Pole began as a Red Sox prospect and started and relieved for Boston. His career was altered when he was hit in the face by a line drive off the bat of the Orioles' Tony Muser in June of 1975. The liner broke his jaw and damaged the retina in his right eye, eventually costing him most of the vision in the eye.

Pole later was drafted by the expansion Mariners and pitched two years for Seattle in 1977 and 1978. After that, he pitched in Mexico. He later made a name for himself as a pitching coach, mostly with the Cubs and the Giants, but he coached for a number of teams over two decades. He was most recently a coach for Cincinnati through the 2009 season.

Back facts: Pole could have been known as "Richard Pole," but don't think that people would have grown wise to his disguise. Good for him, going by Dick. He wasn't afraid to whip it out there ... I know, I should have more self-control than that.

Other blog stuff: I'm pretty sure that the whole fascination with Dick Pole and Pete LaCock came from this post. I could be wrong. Worth a read though.

#366 - Ken Sanders

Card fact: Ken Sanders is airbrushed into an Angels cap on this card. He was released by the Indians in mid-season of 1974 and picked up by the Angels a week later.

What I thought about this card then: It absolutely freaked me out. I just addressed this card on the other blog. I was disturbed by the ball player who kind of looked like a woman -- but not really. Unlike some of the other players that we laughed at and tried to sneak into friends' collections, this card genuinely bothered me. I didn't want it in my collection at all.

What I think about this card now: I don't know why guys got haircuts like that in the '70s.

Other stuff: Sanders was a career relief pitcher for 13 seasons and nine teams from 1964-76. He started just one of the 408 games in which he appeared. His best stats are the 1.75 ERA he put up for the Brewers in 1970, and the league-leading 83 games he appeared in for Milwaukee in 1971.

But Sanders didn't play for an above .500 team (except for a brief appearance with the '68 Oakland A's) until the end of his career, which explains his 29-45 career won-loss mark. After his career, Sanders went to work for the Players Alumni Association. He also built a successful career in real estate.

Back facts: The write-up sounds so formal. "Accepted chances"? Does that mean he had the option of turning down the ball if it came to him? According to Baseball Almanac, 13 chances is the record for a major league pitcher, but Sanders is not listed. Perhaps Sanders' feat happened in a minor league game.

Other blog stuff: Television's "The Incredible Hulk," Lou Ferrigno, was born on this date in 1951. Too bad we don't have a card with a green-purple color border today. It was named in honor of the Hulk.

#285 - Ellie Rodriguez

Card fact: This is the seventh card in the set of a player posed in a catcher's crouch. I would have thought there would have been more by now.

What I thought about this card then: Believe it or not, this was a "dude looks like a lady" card. As a youngster, I thought Rodriguez looked girlish. Maybe it was because his first name was "Ellie" or maybe it was because the first time I saw this card it was owned by my friend Jennifer. I don't know. It's just what I thought at the time.

What I think about this card now: The cap reminds me very much of a cap I wore as a kid. But instead of the "A" on the cap, it had an "L.A." as in the old Los Angeles Angels. A well-meaning relative bought me a "Dodgers" cap that actually was a "Los Angeles Angels" cap, patterned after the Angels' caps of the 1960s. I didn't know any better at the time and wore it.

Other stuff: Ellie Rodriguez was coming off possibly his best year in the majors as he played in a career high 140 games and had a career high 395 at-bats in 1974. He came over to the Angels from the Brewers in an eight-player deal. Rodriguez was the semi-regular catcher for the Brewers. Before that he played for the expansion Royals and briefly with the Yankees.

Rodriguez ended his career as a back-up with the Dodgers in 1976 (his 1977 Topps card was the first Dodger I pulled that year). He is now a consultant and scout for the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

(EDIT: Ellie Rodriguez died at age 79 on April 23, 2026).

Back fact: It seems rather odd that Topps chose Rodriguez for a card number that ended in "5." Those numbers were usually reserved for semi-stars.

Also, the Red Rooster has been featured on the blog already.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1975, Ralph Kiner, Babe Herman, Earl Averill, Bucky Harris and Judy Johnson were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

#258 - Dave LaRoche

Card fact: I've got nothing, so let's start a tally on which teams come immediately after a checklist card. This time, it's a Cub. The last time, it was a Twin. More useless information, courtesy of the 1975 Topps blog.

What I thought about this card then: Well, we have a "dude looks like a lady" entry. We thought that long hair looked awfully girly, completely discounting the chest hair and the hint of a mustache.

What I think about this card now: Tough one. Not much to think about. And since I'm just staring at the screen, I'll move on.

Other stuff: Dave LaRoche was almost exclusively a relief pitcher for five teams during 14 years in the major leagues. His best seasons probably came with the Angels in the late 1970s.

In a famous story, which is on his wikipedia page, LaRoche was known as a complainer. One time, teammate Rod Carew got so fed up at LaRoche's whining that he challenged him to a fight. The two had it out in a broom closet in the clubhouse.

LaRoche also threw an eephus-style pitch, called "La Lob" during his career. He finished up with the Yankees and appeared in the World Series in 1981. He is now a pitching coach for the Blue Jays in the minor leagues.

LaRoche is probably most known now as being the father of two current major leaguers, Adam and Andy LaRoche. Andy used to play with the Dodgers, but now, because they've been traded so often and because they both share four-letter first names that begin with "A," I have a hell of a time keeping track of where they are or even who they are. This is why parents need to select names for their children that are distinct from their siblings.

Back facts: I like the complete transaction details in the write-up at the bottom. Also, Lynwood is not a good name. I can see why he went by "Schoolboy."

Other blog stuff: On the other blog, I noted that I may have to change the color-combination attributed to the Dave Lopes card. It appears that the actual color combination on the card is "brown-orange" not "brown-tan." I apparently have a copy in which the orange color is faded. So I have changed the Lopes label to "brown-orange," so that the color combination standings are accurate.

I'm sure you're all relieved.

#181 - Fred Beene

Card fact: This is the final card of Fred Beene issued during his major league career.

What I thought about this card then: I didn't have it and neither did my brother or my friends. I do remember seeing it somewhere, perhaps when we made a trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame and the entire 1975 set was displayed before me. I know we would have had a field day with the last name, the longish hair, the look off into the distance.

What I think about this card now: Beene is airbrushed into an Indians uniform. He is most likely a Yankee in this photo.

Other stuff: This is the second straight post about a guy who was rather short for a major leaguer. At 5-foot-9, Beene endured constant questions about his height. He played in the Orioles organization, but struggled to break through since the O's had such great pitchers in the late '60s/early '70s. Eventually, Beene was traded to the Yankees. He enjoyed a strong 1973 season out of the bullpen, but was traded to the Indians early in the 1974 season.

That deal, which sent Beene, Fritz Peterson, Steve Kline and Tom Buskey to Cleveland for Chris Chambliss, Dick Tidrow and Cecil Upshaw, apparently enraged the Yankees players who thought management was breaking up a great group. But the deal turned out very well for New York. (Topps was not able to get a photo of Beene as an Indian, even though he was traded to the team nearly a year before the set was issued. A pretty common problem back then).

Beene suffered arm trouble and didn't play in the majors past the 1975 season. He later served as a scout and was the guy who got Jim Morris signed to the Brewers. Morris was the player who quit baseball due to arm issues then came back 10 years later, made his major league debut for the Devil Rays at age 35, and was later played by Dennis Quaid in the movie "The Rookie."

Card facts: He is listed as 5-8 on the back of his card, but I've seen him mentioned as 5-9 elsewhere. ... I think "Spent 8 seasons in O's farm system" isn't exactly a career highlight.

Other blog stuff: If you want to read a detailed account on Beene, here it is. It sure came in handy. I haven't found stuff even half as complete for players far more accomplished than Beene. I guess that's what happens when you were a Yankee.

#167 - Rich Coggins

Card fact: This is the middle card of a three-card Topps trilogy that spanned Rich Coggins' brief major league career.

What I thought about this card then: Well, I can't explain it, but I thought Coggins looked like a lady, so I will file this under the "dude looks like a lady" column. I don't know why I thought that. His hair isn't long. Maybe it's the way it sticks out? Maybe the smile looked motherly to me? I don't know. Kids are weird.

What I think about this card now: This may be the biggest smile in the entire set. I'll have to do some research on that.

Other stuff: Coggins finished sixth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting in 1973. His teammate, Al Bumbry, finished first. Coggins is probably best known for being a part of a lopsided trade that brought Ken Singleton and Mike Torrez from the Expos to the Orioles. Coggins and Dave McNally went to the Expos.

Later, Coggins developed a thyroid condition and his career was over by the end of 1976.

Back facts: Fred Thayer developed the first catcher's mask for a player on the Harvard baseball team. The mask soon caught on everywhere and the tools of ignorance were born.

Other blog stuff: The pink-yellow combo is on quite a run lately. The "marshmallow peeps" combo is now the third-most common combo with 12 cards.

#159 - Steve Arlin

Card fact: This is the last card of Steve Arlin during his playing career.

What I thought about this card then: I vaguely recall someone else having this card. One of my friends perhaps. And, I remember being unsettled by Arlin's long hair. I didn't utter the actual words "dude looks like a lady," but only because Aerosmith didn't release the song until 12 years later.

What I think about this card now: This is a quintessential '70s card. Crazy colors. Airbrushing. Long hair. Player looking to the sky.

Other stuff: Steve Arlin played on the earliest of Padres teams and his stats showed it. San Diego apparently leaned on him heavily, because he pitched over 200 innings in 1971 and 1972 and led the league in losses each year (19 and 21, respectively).

Arlin was traded to the Indians in June of 1974, which apparently was still too late for Topps to get a photo of him in an Indians uniform for a 1975 set. He pitched in just 11 games for Cleveland in '74, and his career was over by the time this card came out. According to his wikipedia page, he then became a dentist.

(EDIT: Arlin died on Aug. 17, 2016).

Back facts: Note the write-up at the bottom. Arlin remains the pitcher who came the closest to throwing a no-hitter for the Padres, coming within an out of doing so. Only the Mets have gone longer without having a pitcher throw a no-hitter.

Other blog stuff: Way back when I pointed out a cartoon and said the person referenced in the cartoon had a grandson who appeared in the set. Arlin is the grandson.

You waited only 142 cards to get the answer. I'm sure it kept you up nights.

#136 - Jim Mason

Card fact: Another color combo that we haven't seen for 50 cards. Good to have you back, green-yellow!

What I thought about this card then: Never saw it. The first Jim Mason card I had was the 1977 card of him with the inaugural Blue Jays team.

What I think about this card now: Mason kind of has a Tim Lincecum thing going with that hair flip. It looks rather girly. Yes, girly enough to be categorized as a "dude who looks like a lady."

Other stuff: Mason's only a season of playing in more than 100 games came in 1974 when he started 152 games as the Yankees' starting shortstop.

It was a dark time for the Yankees at the position. Mason replaced the weak-hitting George Michael. Then, Mason followed his 1974 season by hitting .152 in 1975. Topps didn't even give him a card the next year. Mason was replaced at shortstop by Fred "Chicken" Stanley, another light hitter.

No wonder Yankees fans flipped over the rather mediocre Bucky Dent! Compared to the guys before him, he was practically Cal Ripken.

Back facts: Mason continues to hold the record of most doubles in a game with four. He holds it with many other people. In fact, 17 players have hit four doubles in a game since Mason did it. The most recent was Alex Rios on Aug. 17, 2008.

Other blog stuff: What do you think? Should we call this color combo the "lemon-lime" combo?

#75 - Ted Simmons

Card fact: This is the Undisputed King of all "dude looks like a lady" cards. An absolutely classic card.

What I thought about this card then: One of my friends had the mini card and we thought this guy was a freak. The regal look. The long mane flowing behind him. We found it quite disturbing.

What I think about this card now: You see a lot in 30 years time. The photo doesn't disturb me anymore. Heck, I think Timmy Lincecum might have him beat.

Other stuff: I always wanted Simmons to get more attention than he did. Everything was Johnny Bench this and Johnny Bench that. But Simmons was about as fine a hitting catcher as you will see. If it wasn't for the last few seasons of his career, he would have hit .300 lifetime, which isn't easy for a catcher.

Back facts: Simmons had 619 at-bats in 1973 and 599 in 1974. The vast majority were when he was catching, rather than playing first or elsewhere. I wonder if anyone talked about him wearing down as the season went along like they do with Russell Martin.

Other blog stuff: I know purple-pink is a favorite for the color combo that appears most in this set. But right now it is far behind orange-brown. We'll see what happens when the MVP subset arrives, though. There are purple-pinks all over the place then.

#38 - Buddy Bell

Card fact: Finally, we have reached our first dude who looks like a lady. Or at least that's what we thought when we were kids.

What I thought about this card then: "He looks like a girl."

What I think about this card now: It's quite the light-hearted card. Fresh-faced, long-haired "Buddy" offers a smile and a swing for the photographer. And we smile along with Bell as he admires his blast.

Other stuff: Bell is the third player in the set so far that went on to become a major league manager (Bill Russell and Dusty Baker are the other two).

Back facts: I think I mentioned this before, but Buddy's real first name, David, is also the first name of his son, former major league third baseman David Bell. His middle name, Gus, is the first name of his father, former major leaguer outfielder Gus Bell.

Also, a quick note about the birth dates. When we were kids, any player with a birth date in the 1950s, like Bell, was a youngster. An up-and-coming player. Of course, now all these guys are in their late 50s. I feel old.

Other blog stuff: This color combo just screams summer: blue sky/green grass. But I don't know what to call it.