#657 - Bob Oliver

Card fact: This is the last Topps card issued of Bob Oliver during his career.

What I thought about this card then: This is one of the first cards I ever saw in 1975. It came out of my brother's first packs of cards. It's still strange to see this card with sharp corners and no scuff marks, because in my mind, the Oliver card I see is my 8-year-old brother's card.

Oliver has the honor of being one of the first cards I saw in my first two years of collecting. In 1974, the year in which we received some cards from my mother and threw them away at the end of the season, Oliver's card is one of my early memories.

What I think about this card now: Oliver is airbrushed into an Orioles cap. He was traded from the Angels to the Orioles in September 1974. The bird logo on Oliver's cap is freakishly huge.

Other stuff: Oliver made a brief appearance with the Pirates in 1965, then didn't resurface in the majors until 1969 after he was picked up by the expansion Royals.

He was a key offensive component of the Royals, enjoying a breakout year in 1970 when he drove in 99 runs. He was dealt to the Angels in early May of 1972, and he produced a powerful 1973 season for California.

After that, he settled into a utility role for the Angels, Orioles and Yankees, finishing up in 1975. He later managed in an independent league and operated his own baseball school. Oliver is the father of longtime lefty hurler Darren Oliver. In fact, both Olivers were teammates of Nolan Ryan during their careers.

(EDIT: Bob Oliver died on April 19, 2020, at age 77).

Back facts: Topps goes through all of that trouble painting that giant smiling birdie, and the Orioles go and trade him to the Yankees before the card even hits the stores.

Other blog stuff: I'd like to direct your attention to the "Reeling in the Years" segment on the sidebar. It lists all of the set-related blogs of which I'm aware. Some haven't been publishing for awhile. But several have been added since the start of this blog, including most recently, the 1986 Topps blog, which is a blog I actually considered starting myself at one time.

#635 - Chuck Dobson

Card fact: Chuck Dobson is wearing an airbrushed Angels cap and uniform. Dobson was acquired by the Angels in June of 1974. This is also Dobson's first Topps card since the 1972 set and the final Topps card issued during his career.

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

What I think about this card now: I like the stacked signature in the corner. It's a bit unusual.

Other stuff: Dobson pitched fairly successfully for the Kansas City and Oakland A's from 1966-71. Known as a strikeout pitcher, he won in double figures from 1967-71 and led the American League in starts with 40 and shutouts with five in 1971.

Arm and shoulder problems plagued him and eventually cost him the 1972 season and most of the 1973 season. He was property of the Mexican League Mexico City Tigers when purchased by the Angels. He pitched for the Angels in '74 and '75 and in the minors in 1976.

Dobson is known for two other things. One is being Reggie Jackson's roommate as the two were the first regular interracial roommates in baseball history. Also, Dobson appears in dramatic fashion on one of the best-known baseball cards, but it's not his card.

(EDIT: Dobson died at age 77 on Nov. 30, 2021).

Back facts: Dobson gets a card number ending in "5" strictly based on his performance of at least three years prior to this card.

Other blog stuff: Since I made a statement that this card was the only one I had in regular, mini and OPC form, I have since acquired the Dobson card in all three forms. Why Chuck Dobson? Hey, you take what you can get with the '75 set.

#625 - Boog Powell

Card fact: This card really marks the homestretch for this set. With the exception of two cards, it is all players from here on out.

What I thought about this card then: Oh, my goodness, it was a laugh riot. It was the funniest card we ever saw at that young age.

What I think about this card now: The card was the very first Cardboard Appreciation subject on my other blog. It was the first one for all the reasons you can think of -- and for a few more that you can't think of because you're not 9 anymore.

Other stuff: Boog Powell made up the meat of the order for the Orioles' lineups through the 1960s and into the 1970s. He was at the tail end of his Orioles career at this point, as this is his final Topps card as an Oriole.

Powell won AL MVP honors in 1970 and finished second behind Harmon Killebrew in 1969. He hit six home runs in the postseason. He absolutely wore out the Twins in back-to-back ALCS.

Powell was traded to the Indians in February of 1975, so he was already with another team by the time this card came out. He finished his major league career in 1977 with the Dodgers. Powell is now known just as much for his barbecue as his playing career.

And just one more thing:

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Back facts: I missed posting on Powell's 70th birthday by two days.

Other blog stuff: The orange-brown border combination bounces back to join the pink-yellow combo at the top with its 53rd card.

#607 - Jim Holt

Card fact: Jim Holt is looking way up in the sky because he doesn't want to show you that he is really wearing a Twins cap. Holt was traded from the Twins to the A's in August of 1974. He is painted into a green-and-gold jersey.

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

What I think about this card now: One of the more unsettling "looking up" cards in the set. Also, you might be interested to know that Holt's uniform number with the A's was 38. His uniform number with the Twins was 26. And you can see the number 26 on the bill of his cap. Can't fool me, Topps.

Other stuff: Holt played first base and the outfield for the Twins and A's between 1968-76. He was a part-timer for most of his career, although he hit .297 in 132 games for the Twins in 1973 when Harmon Killebrew was dealing with a knee ailment that sidelined him for a good chunk of the season.

The Twins traded Holt for Pat Bourque late in the season in '74 (Bourque was returned to the A's after the season). Holt's biggest moment with the A's was knocking in two runs as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning of Game 4 of the '74 World Series against the Dodgers. Holt's single broke open a close game and a close series and gave the A's a 5-2 victory. Oakland would go on to win the Series in 5 games.

(EDIT: Holt died on March 29, 2019 at age 74).

Back facts: I don't know why "an accomplished big league hitter" is necessary. He's in the big leagues. He's a hitter. I think that makes him "accomplished."

Other blog stuff: The orange-brown border combination has moved back into first place with its 52nd card. It's apparently going to be a dogfight until the end.

#602 - John Vukovich

Card fact: John Vukovich is airbrushed into a Reds cap. He was traded from the Brewers to the Reds on Oct. 22, 1974.

What I thought about this card then: I never saw it. In fact, I didn't even know Vukovich existed until his final card, from 1981 Fleer. By then his career was a matter of at-bats from being over. Also, I thought he was Brewers pitcher Pete Vukovich's brother for a long time. They are not related.

What I think about this card now: The two Vukovichs don't look alike at all. I don't know what I was thinking.

Other stuff: Vukovich is associated mostly with the Phillies. He came up to the majors with Philadelphia and spent 1970, 1971 with the team. After two years with the Brewers and one with the Reds, he returned to the Phillies and stayed there the rest of his career.

Actually, he rarely played for Philadelphia the second time around. But the fans liked him.

After his career, he became a coach, mostly with the Phillies, even serving as interim manager for Philadelphia in the late '80s. His coaching career lasted almost two decades, despite being diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2001.

Vukovich remained a coach through 2004. Despite surgery back in '01, he became ill again in 2006 and died at age 59 in 2007.

Back facts: It is almost painful when I see high school exploits brought up in the card bios of major leaguers.

Other blog stuff: The orange-brown border color combination reties the green-light green border combo for the overall lead with its 51st card.

#588 - Rick Auerbach

Card fact: This is the first card of Rick Auerbach wearing an actual Dodger uniform. He's airbrushed into a Dodger cap and uniform in the 1974 Topps set.

What I thought about this card then: OK, it's story time. When I was around 8 or 9 or whatever First Communion age is, I received a watch from my grandfather as a gift for the occasion. The watch had a brownish background, but when you tilted the glass toward the light, the brown would glow a deep orange. It reminded me of root beer and the orange glow the drink gives off if you have it in the right kind of glass. I claimed that the watch was "root-beer-colored." I went on a root beer kick. I coveted root beer candies, especially those root beer Bottle Caps candies. I wanted to go to the A&W drive-thru all the time.

When I pulled this card, it became an instant favorite for the same reasons. The deep orange and the brown. The orange stands in the background. It was a Root Beer card!

What I think about this card now: The adult in me sees a photo taken in Candlestick Park. Bleah. I need some root beer.

Other stuff: Auerbach came up to the majors with the Milwaukee Brewers, starting at shortstop for the young franchise at the age of 22 in 1972. He hit just .218 that season and was eventually acquired by the Dodgers as insurance for starting shortstop Bill Russell, who had some injury issues.

Auerbach hit .342 in a supporting role for the Dodgers in 1974. After a down year in '75, Auerbach was relegated to a pinch-hitting/back-up role. He wound up with the Reds (after bouncing through the Mets and Rangers organizations without ever playing in the majors for them), and hit above .300 twice for Cincinnati as a pinch-hitter.

Auerbach ended his career with the Mariners in 1981.

Back facts: I remember being taken aback by the cartoon because it lacked a cartoon figure in it. It was just a bunch of words! Also, I enjoy how Topps refers to "Dirty Al" Gallagher in the past tense. Gallagher may have ended his major league career in 1973, but he's still kicking!

Also, Russell apparently was so well-known to card collectors that he didn't require a first name in the write-up. By the way, the whole Bill Russell-Celtics' Bill Russell/Rick Auerbach-Red Auerbach thing was lost on me as a kid. I didn't follow basketball.

Other blog stuff: With this card, the orange-brown border combo reties the green-light green border combo for the overall lead with 50 cards apiece.

#572 - Roger Nelson

Card fact: This is the final Topps card of Roger Nelson's career.

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

What I think about this card now: Where to begin? This does not look like a man who played major league baseball. And what is that insignia on his melted cap, a treble clef?

Other stuff: Nelson never pitched for the White Sox after he was traded to them in October 1974. In fact, he was released by the White Sox in March of '75, probably before a lot of kids pulled his card out of a pack that year.

Nelson came up to the majors as a member of the White Sox. Then after a visit with the Orioles, he was selected by the Royals in the expansion draft. He became a key part of Kansas City's first starting rotation, going 7-13 with a 3.31 ERA.

Nelson didn't do much the next two years, but had a 2.08 ERA in 34 games in 1972 for K.C. That enabled the Royals to trade him to the Reds for Hal McRae. Nelson had two mediocre years for the Reds, then bounced around between the White Sox, A's and Royals until 1976.

Back facts: Topps makes a valiant effort in the write-up, but it's all for naught as the White Sox went and released Nelson.

Other blog stuff: The orange-brown border combo regains sole possession of the overall lead with this card, the 49th orange-brown bordered card.

#549 - Bill Butler

Card fact: The original Billy Butler! ... Actually, there was another Bill Butler besides this guy and the current Royals designated hitter. He was an outfielder for the 1884 Indianapolis Hoosiers of the American Association.

What I thought about this card then: I had the mini card. For some reason, I could never get it in my head that Butler was a pitcher. I always thought he was a hitter. And that was long before the current Billy Butler came along.

What I think about this card now: It looks like Butler has just spotted his nemesis across the way.

Other stuff: Butler pitched for seven seasons for the Royals, Indians and Twins. He was an original Royal, going to Kansas City from the Tigers in the expansion draft. He started 29 games for Kansas City in that first year in 1969, going 9-10.

Butler moved between the majors and minors the next four years, getting dealt to Cleveland in 1972. When he arrived in Minnesota in 1974, he seemed to find a spot in the majors for good, getting the occasional start for the Twins in 1974 and 75.

Butler was back in the minors in '76 and traded to the Dodgers in 1977, but he never played for Los Angeles and retired the next year. He finished with a 23-35 record and a 4.21 ERA in 134 games.

Back facts: Gee whiz, is that what 16-year-olds looked like in 1975?

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1951, Willie Mays made his major league debut. He was 0-for-5.

#544 - Steve Mingori

Card fact: The orange-brown border combination is back in the lead again with 47 total cards.

What I thought about this card then: I didn't see it. But the 1976 Steve Mingori card was a personal favorite, probably because I was influenced by my friend the Royals fan, and the fact that Mingori was left-handed.

The mid-to-late '70s Royals are one of my all-time favorite non-Dodgers eras. So folks like Mingori stand out to me.

What I think about this card now: I like the batter-pitcher confrontation going on in the background. They seem like the only two people on the field (or maybe the pitcher is really an infielder. It's hard to tell).

Other stuff: Mingori's career spanned the entire 1970s, starting with the Indians in 1970 at age 26 and ending with the Royals in 1979. He spent 1973-79 with Kansas City, which was his hometown team.

Mingori became a valued left-handed reliever for the pennant-winning Royals. He threw sort of side-armed, which complemented other righty relievers out of the pen like Mark Littell. Mingori appeared in seven games for the Royals in the postseason between 1976-78.

Mingori worked as a pitching coach with the Blue Jays after his playing career. He died in 2008 at age 64.

Back facts: Well, that's a cool cartoon. According to baseball-reference.com, 11 major league players were born on Feb. 29th, including Pepper Martin, Al Rosen and Terrence Long.

Other blog stuff: OK, this blog is dedicated to the '70s, so this is the only reason I would mention this. On this date 65 years ago, Cher was born.

#539 - Jesse Jefferson

Card fact: A couple of days after the pink-yellow border combination pulled even with the orange-brown border combo, orange-brown comes back with its first offering in 52 cards to regain the overall lead with 46 cards.

What I thought about this card then: I did not see it. The first card of Jesse Jefferson's I saw was his 1976 card when he's with the White Sox. Still rockin' the Afro, though. The nice thing about Jefferson's cards is he pitched from 1973-82, and he's featuring an Afro in every one of his cards.

What I think about this card now: It's good to see the tilted background again. A nice wide view of the ballfield falling off the shelf.

Other stuff: Jefferson pitched for nine seasons for the Orioles, White Sox, Blue Jays, Pirates and Angels. With the exception of his first two years in the majors, he had a losing record in every season, resulting in an unenviable 39-81 career won-loss record.

A lot of that came as a result of being on the expansion Blue Jays for the first four years of its existence.

Jefferson led the league in errors committed by a pitcher, twice (1977 and 1981).

Back facts: Have you ever tried to squat while flat-footed? You won't be squatting for long. I think the stance is more a matter of necessity than being "correct."

Other blog stuff: Still waiting for those erased comments to reappear, Blogger. The weekend is half over.

#482 - Tom McCraw

Card fact: This is the final card of Tom McCraw issued during his career.

What I thought about this card then: My brother had this card. It was one of those cards that I was glad he had. I had no interest in acquiring it.

What I think about this card now: McCraw is airbrushed into an Indians cap. He was purchased by the Indians from the Angels in July of 1974. It appears that Topps left McCraw in his Angels jersey.

Other stuff: McCraw was a first baseman and outfielder for the White Sox, Senators, Indians and Angels. He spent the first seven years of his career with Chicago. He had speed but didn't have a ton of power, which is unusual for a guy who played so many games at first base.

McCraw was the first designated hitter in Angels history. After his playing career, he became a major league hitting coach and worked for several organizations for 30 years, just concluding that phase of his career a few years ago. He was a regular on Frank Robinson's coaching staffs.

Back facts: I really wish that McCraw had seven fewer at-bats for the Angels in 1974. Then all of his listed stats for the Angels and Indians in 1974 would match up exactly. Symmetry rules!

Other blog stuff: After losing a little bit of ground as the overall leader, the orange-brown combination is pulling away again. This is the 45th orange-brown card so far, which is six more than the next highest combination.

#477 - Tom Hutton

Card fact: I've got no facts for this card. His eyes match with his uniform. How's that? There's your fact.

What I thought about this card then: I didn't see it. The first card of Tom Hutton's I saw was his 1976 Topps card. He had the white man's afro going. But his hair was so light, it looked gray, so I thought he looked like a little grandpa swinging the bat. I'm sure Hutton would be thrilled by that, seeing as he was 28 at the time.

What I think about this card now: That is one impressive signature. It puts just about every modern day ballplayer's autograph "skills" to shame.

Also, Hutton has already been featured on the backs of two different cards in this set. Same cartoon, but different cards.

Other stuff: Hutton started in the Dodgers organization and had some terrific seasons in the minor leagues, but just couldn't break through L.A.'s lineup. He was traded to the Phillies in a deal for Larry Hisle (Hisle never played for the Dodgers). The Phillies were a lot worse than the Dodgers at the time so Hutton had no trouble breaking through, working as a backup infielder and outfielder with Philadelphia.

Hutton later played for the early Blue Jays teams and finished up his career with the Expos. Since his playing career ended, he's been an announcer for a variety of teams and worked several years for ESPN. I remember him working with the Expos back in the 1980s. Last I knew, he was a color guy with the Marlins. I always see him when MLB Extra Innings has its free preview every April.

Back facts: The Brooklyn Dodgers' games in Jersey City were perceived by some fans as a sign that Walter O' Malley was willing to move the team elsewhere. O'Malley said that wasn't necessarily true at the time -- he was hoping to get a new stadium in New York -- but of course it did end up being true.

Other blog stuff: Jimmy "The Toy Cannon" Wynn was born on this date in 1942. We have yet to arrive at his card in the set. It's a great one.

#460 - '74 N.L. Championships

Card fact: That is Pittsburgh's Frank Taveras in the photo. I'm reasonably sure the other guy is Steve Garvey, but it's kind of hard to tell.

What I thought about this card then: You have no idea how awesome I thought this card was in 1975. Think of it: I loved action cards, because they were so rare then. I loved moment-in-time cards (I still do). I loved cards of Dodgers doing well. Add it all together and this quite possibly was the card that I was most impressed with in the entire set.

What I think about this card now: The dust rising from second base is terrific.

Other stuff: If that is indeed Garvey, then this is a play from the third inning of Game 1 of the 1974 N.L. Championship Series. Garvey hit a one-out double off of Jerry Reuss at Three Rivers Stadium. He was stranded there, but the Dodgers won the game 3-0.

Back facts: The Dodgers were almost as impressive with their pitching in this series as the A's were in their championship series. Don Sutton threw a four-hit shutout in Game 1, then allowed just three hits in Game 4. Andy Messersmith did pretty good in Game 2, too. Only a blow-up by Doug Rau in Game 3 mucked things up.

Other blog stuff: If you're a team collector, would you put this card in your binder if you rooted for the Dodgers or Pirates? Right now, this card is in my team binder, but I don't know if it would be if the Pirates were my favorite team.

#447 - Terry Crowley

Card fact: Terry Crowley is airbrushed into a Reds cap and uniform. In fact, this is almost positively the same photo shoot that led to Crowley's 1974 Topps card when he was still with the Orioles. Crowley is pictured in Yankee Stadium on each card. You can see the Anacin sign in each photo.

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

What I think about this card now: Topps had quite a bit of time to get Crowley in a Reds uniform. He was acquired by Cincinnati in mid-March of 1974. I know the majority of the photos back then were from spring training. Perhaps Crowley didn't arrive in time for Topps' photographer.

Other stuff: Crowley was an outfielder/first baseman/designated hitter who is most known for his years with the Orioles. He started out with Baltimore before being acquired by Texas at the end of 1973 (he's featured as a Ranger in a 1974 Topps Traded card even though he never played for the Rangers). The Reds then picked him up four months later.

After a couple of years with the Reds and a very brief period with the Braves, the Orioles reacquired Crowley, and thus began the most successful portion of his career. Crowley was a key part of manager Earl Weaver's platoon system, and Crowley enjoyed his best years in 1979 and 1980 as a pinch-hitter.

Crowley ended his career in 1983 with Montreal and ranked in the top 10 in all-time pinch hits when he was done. He later became a hitting coach for decades for both the Orioles and Twins. It was recently announced that Crowley would not return to the Orioles as full-time hitting coach and work only part-time in the Orioles' organization.

Back facts: I've often wondered when the phrase "The Big Red Machine" began. I always associated it with the 1975 and 1976 Reds teams, but I suppose it could have started as early as 1970 when the Reds reached the World Series.

Other blog stuff: This is the first orange-brown bordered card in 45 cards. It's still first overall, but let's see if it hangs on to No. 1 in the next couple of weeks.

#402 - Bob Tolan

Card fact: Here is another name that does not match the signature on the card. I remember Tolan being called "Bobby," but Topps always referred to him as "Bob" on his cards.

What I thought about this card then: I didn't see it. But no doubt I would have thought it was cool.

What I think about this card now: I can't figure out what that yellow tuft is behind Tolan's hair at the back of his head.

Other stuff: Tolan began  his career with the Cardinals, but blossomed into a full-time outfielder with the early Big Red Machine teams in Cincinnati in the early 1970s. Tolan led the league in stolen bases in 1970 and later was a key figure for the Reds in their NLCS victory over the Pirates, scoring all three runs in a Game 2 victory.

Tolan ruptured his Achilles tendon playing basketball during the offseason and missed the entire 1971 season. He won Comeback of the Year honors with the Reds in 1972. But 1973 began a downward slide for Tolan. His hitting suffered, and he squabbled with management. He left the team without permission and broke team rules by growing a beard. At the end of September he was suspended for the rest of the season and missed the playoffs.

The Reds traded Tolan to the Padres ahead of the 1974 season. Tolan filed a grievance against Cincinnati and won the case, but his hitting wasn't the same. After a couple years with San Diego, he joined the Phillies as a part-time player in '76. He left for Japan after a dismal season between the Phillies and Pirates in 1977. Later Tolan worked as a coach for the Padres.

Tolan's son, Robbie, was a prospect in the Nationals organization. He was shot by a police officer in 2008 during a dispute and the resulting injury may have halted his baseball career.

Back facts: As a kid, I thought players were special if the cartoon referred to the team for which he played.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1982, Steve Garvey signed a contract to play with the Padres, disappointing Dodger fans everywhere. I know someone who changed his favorite team from the Dodgers because of this. I do not understand that decision.

#398 - Elias Sosa

Card fact: Elias Sosa is rocking an airbrushed Cardinals cap while posing in Candlestick Park in San Francisco. He was traded from the Giants to the Cardinals in mid-October of 1974.

What I thought about this card then: Never saw it. I didn't know Sosa until he was a Dodger in 1976.

What I think about this card now: Quite the signature -- loops all over the place.

Other stuff: Sosa was a relief pitcher for 12 seasons with the Giants, Cardinals, Braves, Dodgers, A's, Expos, Tigers and Padres. He started just three of the 601 games in which he pitched. He was your classic relief workhorse, especially with the Giants, A's and Expos in which he averaged 60-70 games a season.

Sosa is probably most famous for allowing the second of Reggie Jackson's three home runs during Game 6 of the 1977 World Series. The 1977 Topps Sosa card was one of the first Dodgers I pulled that year, so I was extra disappointed in Sosa's gopher ball.

Back facts: You see the mention of the trade on the back. Sosa was actually traded from the Cardinals to the Braves in May of 1975. He pitched just 14 games for St. Louis.

Other blog stuff: This is the 40th orange-brown bordered card in the set. That is six more than the next highest color combo.

#377 - Tom Hilgendorf

Card fact: The orange-brown border color combination is kicking ass. This is the 39th card with this color combination, which is now six more than the next highest. It's possible that orange-brown is going to end up the overall winner.

What I thought about this card then: Tom Hilgendorf is the poster-child for those cards that featured players who looked much older to me than they actually were. (I guess in this case poster-child isn't the best phrase. But "poster-man" doesn't sound right).

I had Hilgendorf pegged for 48 years old. His 1976 card doesn't do him any favors either. Hilgendorf was actually 32 when this card came out.

What I think about this card now: Is Hilgendorf wearing his cap tilted to the side? Well there's nothing "old" about that.

Other stuff: Hilgendorf was a relief pitcher for the Cardinals, Indians and Phillies between 1969-75. He was actually signed in 1960, and it took him nine years to make the majors. Hilgendorf was a lefty specialist for the Indians. After being traded to the Phillies, he enjoyed his best season in 1975, going 7-3 in 53 relief appearances with a 2.14 ERA. But the Phillies released him at the start of the 1976 season. He was picked up by the Pirates a week later, but never pitched in the majors again.

Hilgendorf was one of the victims of the famed "Ten-Cent Beer Night" in Cleveland in June of 1974. The game eventually was forfeited to the Rangers because of drunk, rowdy fans. A riot erupted in the 9th inning, and the players armed themselves with bats for fear of being harmed. Hilgendorf suffered a concussion when he was hit by a steel chair. The next day, he pitched in relief and got the win.

Back facts: Bauer still holds that World Series record.

Other blog stuff: Ken Griffey Jr. was born on this date in 1969. He's 41. And he still looks younger than Hilgendorf on this card.

#376 - Steve Yeager

Card fact: Feast your eyes on the first Dodger card I ever pulled from a pack that I purchased with my own allowance.

What I thought about this card then: Well, it was just about the coolest card on the planet for a couple of months. I distinctly remember standing in the middle of the playground at school (our school had a very expansive playground area), staring at my Steve Yeager card. I took my cards to school quite often in 4th, 5th and 6th grade.

This card is probably the reason why I like this particular batting pose on cards so much. It's also probably the reason why I like cards that feature players in their batting helmets.

What I think about this card now: Yet another orange-brown bordered Dodger card. Humph.

Also, check out those sideburns.

Other stuff: As much as I liked this card, Yeager was a constant thorn in my Dodger-rooting side as a kid. He couldn't hit, and he always batted eighth in the order. I don't know how many rallies I saw die because he came up to bat.

Yet, I was fiercely proud of Yeager when his injury led to the invention of that flap that hung from the chin of a catcher's mask to protect a catcher from getting struck in the throat. The flap came about after Yeager was hit in the throat by a broken bat from teammate Bill Russell, piercing his esophagus. Yeager was standing in the batting circle at the time, and he had nine pieces of wood taken out of his neck. Trainer Bill Buhler later made the flap that covered the neck. Now, catcher's masks are created so the helmet comes down to protect the neck area.

Yeager was a good defensive catcher with a terrific throwing arm. And he was the best indication that I had that the Dodgers were going to win the World Series against the Yankees in 1981. The light-hitting Yeager hit two home runs in that series and the Dodgers won 4 games to 2.

Yeager is known for a variety of non-baseball things among Dodger fans. He is the nephew of famed pilot Chuck Yeager. He had a small part in the Major League movies. He once posed for Playgirl. I always thought he was trying to look like Michael Caine.

He later became a coach in the Dodgers' organization.

Back facts: I believe my first knowledge of what a grand slam was came from this card.

Other blog stuff: Here is the first Dodger card I pulled in 1975:

That is the finest piece of history I'll ever own.

#372 - John D'Acquisto

Card fact: This is John D'Acquisto's first solo card.

What I thought about this card then: This is one of the first cards I ever pulled from a pack, so it's got a special place in my collecting heart. Even if it is a Giant.

What I think about this card now: A pretty lame pose there by John.

Other stuff: D'Acquisto started off quickly for the Giants in 1974. He went 12-14 and led the team in strikeouts with 167 in 215 innings. He was named to the Topps All-rookie team (but did not receive a trophy on his card). But D'Acquisto had a disastrous sophomore year and eventually was dealt to the Cardinals in the offseason of '76. St. Louis had him for a couple of months before trading him to San Diego. With the Padres, he remade himself into a reliable relief pitcher. He stayed with the Padres through the rest of the '70s. Then he ended his career with the Expos, Angels and A's.

After his career he became an investment banker but was involved in a fraud case and sentenced to prison for 63 months in 1996. Later it was determined that he was set-up by others in a much bigger scam. Those people were then sent to prison and D'Acquisto was released in 2002. Virtually all of the counts against him were dropped.

Back facts: This cartoon has been stuck in my brain since I was 9. But I'm quite certain that I didn't even know what a walk was when I was 9.

Other blog stuff: Here is the card that I pulled out one of those first three packs that I bought in 1975:

#369 - Merv Rettenmund

Card fact: People took so much more pride in their penmanship then than they do now. There is no chance, if Merv Rettenmund played now, that you would be able to make out more than the "R" in his last name when he signed an autograph.

I know that's not a fact. It's an observation. I suppose I should have made this category "card observation."

What I thought about this card then: This was one of my favorite cards in the set. I don't know why. I do know it came from a pack that I bought after a summer walk to the drugstore. Those were the best walks. The only destination was to a place where you would purchase cards.

What I think about this card now: It's a strange one. If you squint a little, it appears if that stadium construction in the background is a UFO. And Rettenmund looks a bit wacky with the helmet on his head and that stupid backswing pose that they made players do back in the day. There is no way you're hitting a ball anywhere with a lazy backswing like that.

Other stuff: Rettenmund played 13 years for the Orioles, Reds, Padres and Angels. He started off quickly as a key part of the Orioles' World Series teams between 1969-71. He hit very well in '70 and '71. But his hitting declined to below average year after year until he was a part-time player and reliable pinch-hitter.

Rettenmund then built a second career as a hitting coach for a number of major league teams. He has a rather, um, promotional, web site.

(EDIT: Merv Rettenmund died at age 81 on Dec. 7, 2024)

Back facts:

1. The cartoon question forgot the word "the." But drawing Marilyn Monroe could get a little distracting, I guess.

2. Mervin Weldon Rettenmund has to be in the top 10 of best baseball names ever.

3. You should never put on the back of a baseball card that someone is "a fine athlete." If he's playing major league ball, he's "a fine athlete," no matter what John Kruk says.

4. "Hits ball solidly." Not in 1974.

Other blog stuff: That's the original card that I pulled out of that pack at the drug store.