#517 - Checklist, 397-528

Card fact: This is the second and last tan-light blue bordered checklist card. There's only one other checklist card left and it is another pink-yellow one.

What I thought about this card then: Probably didn't have it. Probably wouldn't have thought anything about it if I did.

What I think about this card now: For the first time, a checklist card comes along during a rare easy day for me. But I still have nothing to say.

Other stuff: I've got nothing else. Sorry.

Back facts: Topps still hasn't figured out whether it's "checklist" or "check list." I don't think it's going to come to a conclusion by the time the set is over.

Also, the back gives you a look at who is on cards 518-528, which we haven't covered yet.

Other blog stuff: A trio of '70s stars were born on this date. Glen Campbell, Jack Nicholson and Peter Frampton

#484 - Glenn Beckert

Card fact: This is the final Topps card of Glenn Beckert issued during his career.

What I thought about this card then: This is another card that I remember pulling during a family vacation in Western New York. I remember being struck by how tiny Beckert was (although it was only because the photographer took the shot from so far away) and also by how tiny Beckert's bat was.

What I think about this card now: I like the shadow underneath Beckert's signature. It's cool.

Other stuff: Beckert started out with the Red Sox, but came up to the majors with the Cubs. He teamed with Don Kessinger to form the Cubs' middle infield combination during the 1960s and early '70s (I still confuse the two).

Beckert was a four-time all-star, a good fielder, and seldom struck out. He finished third in the National League in batting average in 1971, and really piled up the hits during his career. If it had lasted more than 10 years, he could've been among the all-time hits leaders at the rate he was going.

After that '71 season, his output declined and he was traded to the Padres in 1973. Beckert was merely a backup for San Diego, and he retired in 1975. After his career, he worked as a commodities trader.

(EDIT: Beckert died at age 79 on April 12, 2020).

Back facts: My, what a violent cartoon.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1975, the movie "Tommy" debuted. This is another one of those movies from that time that weirded me out when I was a kid.

#421 - Mets/Yogi Berra

Card fact: This is not the most expensive checklist in the set, which surprised me when I was collecting it. I figured Yogi's face would boost the cost a tad.

What I thought about this card then: Not much. You know those team cards.

What I think about this card now: Lordy. How many players did the Mets have on their team? It looks like there's 70 people there. Also, the guy in the bottom right corner looks like he's wearing a Red Sox jacket.

Other stuff: Yogi Berra was in the third of his four years as Mets manager. It would not be a good one. The Mets had just come off a World Series appearance in 1973. But they went 71-91 in 1974, good for 5th in the N.L. East. Ace Tom Seaver dealt with hip issues and had an off-year. It would mark the beginning of the decline of the Mets, which would last until the mid-1980s. Berra would be replaced in 1975 and the Mets would finish dead last between 1977-79.

Back facts: There are three players on this checklist who did not play for the Mets in 1974. Gene Clines would come over in a trade for catcher Duffy Dyer. Bob Gallagher came to the Mets from the Astros in a deal for Ken Boswell. Joe Torre was dealt from the Cardinals to the Mets in the offseason for Ray Sadecki and Tommy Moore.

(EDIT: Yogi Berra died on Sept. 22, 2015).

Other blog stuff: How well did Topps represent the Mets of 1974 in its '75 set? Let's take a look.

New York put 37 players on the field in 1974. Topps featured 23 of them, including three players airbrushed into new non-Mets unforms -- Dyer, Sadecki and Boswell. Twenty-three players is not a lot. It's one of the smallest numbers for a team set so far.

But the only notable player left out of the set -- and I use "notable" very loosely -- is somebody named Dave Schneck, who had 254 at-bats as an outfielder for the '74 Mets. They would be the most at-bats in a three-year career for Schneck, and his final game would be on Oct. 1, 1974. A .205 batting average that year just didn't cut it with the Mets or with Topps.

Here is where the Mets rate with the other teams so far:

1. Tigers 78.37% of players featured
2. Orioles 78.13%
3. Dodgers 74.29%
4. Giants 71.43%
5. Indians 71.11%
6. Royals 70.59%
7. Red Sox 70.27%
8. Angels 68.89%
9. Expos 68.29%
10. Brewers 66.67%
11. Cardinals 65.12%
12. White Sox 65.0%
13. Phillies 62.5%
14. Mets 62.16%
15. Pirates 61.5%
16. Padres 55.8%

#396 - Fred Norman

Card fact: Fred Norman's pose on this card is quite similar to the one on his 1976 Topps card. But they were definitely taken at different times as he's featured in different stadiums. Either that or Topps did some cutting and pasting.

What I thought about this card then: I acquired it fairly early in 1975. I still have that card. It has a crease that travels down the center of the card, top to bottom, from the top part of the card to about the mid level of Norman's cap.

What I think about this card now: It's nice. For a Red. A Norman card was once the oldest card I owned. So that's the card I think of when his name comes up.

Other stuff: Norman began in the majors as a 20-year-old pitching for the Kansas City A's in 1962. He ran through quite a few teams before emerging as a consistent starter for the Padres in the early '70s. But Norman is most known for being a starter with the Big Red Machine teams of the mid-1970s. He pitched with Cincinnati for seven years, winning in double figures each year. His final year was with Montreal in 1980.

Back facts: "Tiny" Bonham was a 20-game winner for the Yankees in the 1940s. He's listed as 6-foot-2, 215 pounds. That's not tiny. But it's not fat either.

Other blog stuff: Bill Buckner is 61 years old today.

#391 - Don DeMola

Card fact: This is Don DeMola's rookie card. He'd have only two Topps cards in his career. His 1976 card was his last.

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

What I think about this card now: Once again, the Coca-Cola ad is prominent on an Expos card. This is one of the best examples, and rivals the Ernie McAnally card. Also, I'd love to know what the sign says beyond the green fence -- "in the to keep" is leaving me in the dark.

Other stuff: DeMola came up with the Yankees in the late 1960s, but was released and out of baseball in 1972. He signed with Montreal and competed as a reliever in 85 games for the Expos in 1974 and 1975. He played in the minors in the late '70s, but never returned to the majors.

DeMola later got into the fur business and teaches some baseball.

Back facts: So much to comment on here:

1. I have never heard the term "kicks" in reference to arguing with an umpire. I've heard of a lot of old-time phrases that others haven't (ballhawk, etc.), but this is totally new. How would you use that in a sentence?

2. The 1975 card says that for 1972, DeMola was "not in organized ball." His 1976 card says that DeMola "did not play." So, did Topps do some research between 1975 and 1976 and find out that DeMola just sat on his ass the entire 1972 season? Is that why they changed the wording?

3. How do you know when a baseball "smokes"?

Other blog stuff: DeMola was just featured on another blog. Funny how that happens.

#389 - Tony Solaita

Card fact: This is Tony Solaita's rookie card.

What I thought about this card then: I never saw it. I did pull his 1978 Topps card and knew at an early age that he was the first and only major league player to be born in American Somoa.

What I think about this card now: What is that ghostly Royals figure in the dugout doing?

Other stuff: Solaita was known as a terrific and powerful hitter in the minor leagues, but didn't get much of a shot in the majors until coming up with Kansas City in 1974. From that point he was mostly a backup first baseman and designated hitter with the Royals, Angels and Blue Jays. He then played in Japan in the early 1980s.

After his career, he returned to American Somoa -- he grew up there as a boy before moving to Hawaii -- and helped revive Little League baseball there.

Solaita was murdered in 1990 in a dispute over a land transaction.

Back fact: Those might be the most lengthy minor league stats in the whole set. Check out that 1968 season in High Point-Thomasville.

Other blog stuff: Johnny Bench was born on this date 63 years ago. He'll always be Mr. Krylon Spray Paint to me.

#387 - Jim Spencer

Card fact: It's been a dozen cards since we last saw a bat pictured on one of these cards. That's just too long if you ask me.

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

What I think about this card now: Jim Spencer looks like he could fill out a cap.

Other stuff: Spencer started out as the regular first baseman for the California Angels in the early 1970s. He was know for his glove -- he won two Gold Gloves -- and could hit a little. He was traded to the Rangers where he started DHing, then went to the White Sox in the Bill Melton deal.

 It was during that time that I discovered Spencer. He was part of the Southside Hitmen team, although a relatively small part. But he had 18 home runs in 1977 and I was really annoyed when he was traded to the Yankees for virtually nothing. Spencer played in the postseason for the Yankees in the 1978, 1980 and 1981, and I no longer liked him.

He finished his career with Oakland in 1982. Spencer died of heart attack in 2002.

Back facts: According to baseball-reference, Richard Darwin Miller was actually Ralph Darwin Miller. He played in 1898 and 1899 for Brooklyn and Baltimore.

But he's not the only major leaguer to have reached 100 years of age, according to several sources, including this one, which says there have been at least 15 major leaguers to live to be 100. Tony Malinosky, who played a single season for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1937, is believed to be the only living major league centenarian.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1978, Pete Rose left the Cincinnati Reds to sign with the Phillies.

#352 - Darold Knowles

Card fact: Back on this post, I mentioned that the first card I ever pulled from a pack of cards that I bought was either the Hal McRae card or another card. This is the other card. If I was forced to make a decision between the two, I'd say this is the card that I pulled first. But I really can't recall.

What I thought about this card then: Well, no doubt, I thought it was cool if it was the first card I ever pulled. I do know that I had no idea that Darold Knowles was airbrushed into a Cubs cap (while in the Oakland A's stadium).

What I think about this card now: I can't believe I had this card for so long before realizing his cap was airbrushed, especially since the look on Knowles face seems to indicate that he's pulled a fast one. "I wonder if they'll be able to tell that I'm wearing a fake Cubs cap," he seems to be saying.

Other stuff: Knowles was a much-traveled relief pitcher who found his niche with the Oakland A's dynasty of the early 1970s. After playing for the Orioles, Phillies and Senators, he was traded to Oakland in the middle of the 1971 season. He became a key part of the bullpen, used mostly to set-up reliever Rollie Fingers.

Knowles pitched for the A's championship teams in 1972, 1973 and 1974. He famously pitched in all seven games of Oakland's World Series against the Mets in 1973. Interestingly, he didn't pitch in either the '72 or '74 Series (he was injured in 1972).

Knowles' effectiveness declined a little in 1974, and after the season he was sent to the Cubs in a package deal to acquire Billy Williams. A couple years later, he was sent to the Rangers. He played for the Expos and Cardinals to close out his career. He later worked as a coach for the Cardinals and Phillies.

Back facts: The cartoon question doesn't specify why Pete Gray played with one arm, but the cartoon certainly illustrates it. I remember finding this cartoon kind of shocking when I was a youngster.

Other blog stuff: Here it is: Maybe, possibly, the first card I ever pulled from a pack of cards:

Neat, huh?

(EDIT: I have since become completely certain that this is the first card I pulled out of a pack that I bought).

#304 - Pirates/Danny Murtaugh

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OK, onto the stats:

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

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

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

1. Tigers 78.37% of players featured
2. Orioles 78.13%
3. Giants 71.43%
4. Royals 70.59%
5. Red Sox 70.27%
6. Angels 68.89%
7. Expos 68.29%
8. Cardinals 65.12%
9. White Sox 65.0%
10. Phillies 62.5%
11. Pirates 61.5%
12. Padres 55.8%
 
Second-to-last. The current Pirates are familiar with that.

#286 - Mike Jorgensen

Card fact: This is only the second card in the set that shows a player posed in a first baseman's stretch. The other one was a long time ago.

What I thought about this card then: Me no see.

What I think about this card now: I grow more and more nostalgic for the Expos uniform by the hour.

Other stuff: Mike Jorgensen had a surprisingly long playing career for someone who reached 400 at-bats in only two seasons. He lasted 18 seasons, but his finest years were with Montreal in the mid-1970s. He came over to the Expos from the Mets in the same deal that sent Ken Singleton to the Expos for Rusty Staub.

Jorgensen later played for Oakland, Texas, the Mets again, Atlanta and St. Louis. He was the victim of a bean ball while with the Rangers and doctors later found a blood clot, caused by the beaning, that could have killed him (A serious incident, no doubt, but Jorgensen's wikipedia page is a little melodramatic).

Jorgensen later managed in the Cardinals organization, and briefly managed the Cardinals before Tony La Russa's hiring in the mid-1990s. He's worked in player evaluation for the Cardinals ever since.

Back facts: I have three of them.

1. I came the closest to featuring a card on a player's birthday with this card. Jorgensen celebrated his 62nd birthday on Monday.

2. I've heard of a tuxedo called a monkey suit, but never a baseball uniform.

3. As the write-up says, Jorgensen's home run did indeed clinch the N.L. East title for the Pirates. The Pirates and the Cardinals each began Oct. 1, 1974 with identical 86-74 records. The Pirates played the Cubs that day and won 6-5. The Cardinals played the Expos and led 2-1 going into the bottom of the eighth inning with Bob Gibson on the mound. With two outs, Willie Davis singled and stole second. Jorgensen then delivered a two-run homer off Gibson to give the Expos the 3-2 lead, the eventual margin of victory. That put the Pirates ahead of the Cardinals by a game, and clinched the division. (The Pirates played another game on Oct. 2 -- perhaps a makeup game? But the Cardinals were done for the season).

Interesting that Jorgensen eliminated the Cardinals and then ended up working for St. Louis for all those years.

Other blog stuff: Former Mets pitcher, current Mets/TBS broadcaster Ron Darling was born on this date 50 years ago.

#276 - White Sox/Chuck Tanner

Card fact: I have two of them:

1. This is the fourth team card to use the light blue-tan color combination. That's more than any other color combo used on a team card.

2. This is the only White Sox team card to use the floating heads. The Cubs started the "floating heads on team cards" trend in the 1971 set and used it again in '72 and '74. But suddenly, the White Sox appeared as floating heads in the '75 set and the Cubs used the traditional (or "untraditional" for them) team shot. Then, in 1976, the Cubs reverted back to the floating heads and the White Sox the team shot and everything was normal from there on out.

The question: Why oh why did the White Sox get the floating heads in 1975? This has perplexed me for decades!

What I thought about this card then: Floating heads! Floating heads! They're so funny!

What I think about this card now: This has to be the goofiest card in the whole set. And there are a lot of goofy cards in the set.

Other stuff: The White Sox finished 80-80 in 1974 (what happened to the other two games?). They declined after that and Chuck Tanner was out of a job after the 1975 season. Chicago re-emerged in 1977 under Bob Lemon and "the Southside Hitmen."

Back facts: Roger Nelson is listed in the right-hand column, about midway through. Nelson was purchased by the White Sox from the Reds in the fall of 1975, and Topps responded by airbrushing Nelson into a White Sox cap on his '75 card. But Nelson never played for the White Sox. He was released by the team in March of 1975. Oops.

Other blog stuff: Let's see if Topps left out anyone notable from the White Sox's 1974 team.

The White Sox used 40 players in 1974, and Topps featured 26 of them in the set, plus a guy who didn't play for the White Sox. But it didn't leave out anyone too notable. Bill Stein had the most at-bats for a person who didn't get a card, with 43. Up-and-coming Lamar Johnson batted 29 times and didn't get a card. Among the pitchers, poor Bill "Bugs" Moran pitched 15 games for the White Sox and started five, recording a 1-3 record. It would be his only major league season. But he never got a card.

So, here is where the White Sox rate with the other teams shown so far, in terms of percentage of players in the set from the respective 1974 squads:

1. Tigers 78.37% of players featured
2. Orioles 78.13%
3. Giants 71.43%
4. Royals 70.59%
5. Red Sox 70.27%
6. Angels 68.89%
7. Expos 68.29%
8. Cardinals 65.12%
9. White Sox 65.0%
10. Phillies 62.5%
11. Padres 55.8%

#257 - Checklist, 133-264

Card fact: This is the second of the two border color combinations that Topps used for its 1975 set checklists. The first checklist in the set displayed the pink-yellow (marshmallow peeps) combo, while this checklist features the tan-light blue (seaside) combo.

What I thought about this card then: Again, I don't have the foggiest idea whether I had this card or not. I'm guessing I didn't, because I don't recall the tan-light blue borders on the checklists.

What I think about this card now: Once again, I'm relieved that it's checklist time, and I don't have to do any research. I'm in birthday recovery mode, and I'm a year older for crying out loud. It's nice of the '75 set to give the old man a break.

Other stuff: There is no other stuff. Just names and numbers and tiny square boxes.

Back facts: My goodness the back of this card is severely miscut! I'm just noticing that for the first time.

Also, you get a sneak peek at what cards are coming up on the blog as they're featured immediately under the checklist listing at No. 257.

Other blog stuff: On this date in 1975, Wilbur Wood pitched his second straight start for the White Sox and hurled his second straight shutout. It wasn't quite as amazing as you might think as the All-Star break was between the two starts. But still pretty impressive.

#248 - Randy Jones

Card fact: Do we have a photo at Dodger Stadium? I'm not very good at this, unless it's really obvious.

What I thought about this card then: Didn't see it. My introduction to Randy Jones was on his 1976 Topps card.

What I think about this card now: It's still odd, after all these years, to see Jones without his perm/afro.

Other stuff: Jones pitched on some lousy Padres teams, but managed back-to-back breakout seasons in which he won 20 games each season. I remember his 1976 season well when he went into the All-Star break with a 16-3 record. Jones started the All-Star Game and received the win, after saving the National League's victory the previous season.

Jones suffered a nerve injury near the end of the year and didn't enjoy another winning season the rest of his career. He was traded to the Mets in 1980 and endured two rocky years before calling it quits after 10 seasons. Jones now runs a caterng business, is the maker of his own barbecue sauce, and does radio announcing with the Padres.

Back facts: It appears Topps really doesn't want to tell you about Jones' 1974 season. Let's all talk about 1973 and hope nobody notices that 8-22 record.

Other blog stuff: This is the third straight card to feature the color tan in the border. Sadly, that streak will end at three.

#246 - Cardinals/Red Schoendienst

Card fact: This is the only team card in the set in which the first name of the manager also describes his team's primary color. How's that for fact? But I know it's true. There ain't no color called "Sparky."

What I thought about this card then: Next!

What I think about this card now: They couldn't have spared space for two more characters and typed "Red" instead of "R" in front of Schoendienst?

Other stuff: Red Schoendienst enjoyed fairly instantaneous success as manager for the Cardinals by leading them to the World Series in back-to-back years just three years into his campaign. Schoendienst remained manager for another decade. The 1974 team was actually fairly good, finishing second in the National League East. The offense definitely outshined the pitching.

Back facts: There are three players on this checklist that didn't play a game for the Cardinals in 1974 -- Ken Rudolph, Ray Sadecki and Elias Sosa. Rudolph and Sosa arrived in an offseason trade with the Giants. Sadecki came from the Mets in a deal for Joe Torre in October 1974.

Other blog stuff: Let's see how Topps did representing the Cardinals team of 1974.

Even though St. Louis finished second, it used a lot of players to do so. Forty-three players wore Cardinal red in '74. Topps featured 28 of those players in its 1975 set, plus the three players who didn't play for St. Louis in '74, Rudolph, Sadecki and Sosa. Topps also featured cards of Joe Torre, Jose Cruz, Tim McCarver and Orlando Pena, all players who competed for St. Louis in '74 but are listed with other teams in the 1975 set.

Topps didn't skip anyone noteworthy from that '74 team. Someone named Tom Heintzelman had 74 at-bats for St. Louis in '74 and didn't get a card. No biggie, except for Heintzelman's mom.

So here is where the Cardinals rate with the other teams examined so far, in terms of having the most players from their team represented in the 1975 set:

1. Tigers 78.37% of players featured

2. Orioles 78.13%
3. Giants 71.43%
4. Royals 70.59%
5. Red Sox 70.27%
6. Angels 68.89%
7. Expos 68.29%
8. Cardinals 65.12%
9. Phillies 62.5%
10. Padres 55.8%

Not great. But the Cardinals had a LOT of fringe players in 1974.

#172 - Red Sox/Darrell Johnson

Card fact: This is Darrell Johnson's first appearance on a card as a manager. He was promoted from Triple A Pawtucket to manage Boston for the 1974 season. He would lead the Red Sox to their first World Series appearance in eight years in 1975.

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

What I think about this card now: It's an interesting team photo. Unlike the traditional straight-on shot, the camera man shot the team from above at an angle. I like it.

Other stuff: Johnson was manager of the Red Sox for just two-and-a-half seasons. He was replaced midway through the 1976 season by Don Zimmer after Boston went 41-45. He would later become the first manager in Seattle Mariners history.

Back facts: Red Sox rookie Fred Lynn is featured in this set on one of the four-photo rookie cards, but he is left off of the checklist.

Other blog stuff: Let's see how well Topps did representing the 1974 Red Sox in the '75 set:

There were 37 players to suit up for the Red Sox in 1974, a pivotal year in the team's return to prominence. Topps featured 26 of those players in the 1975 set, which is pretty good.

The most unfortunate absence in the set is Juan Marichal, who pitched in 11 games and went 5-1 in 1974 with the Red Sox. Marichal would return to the majors for the 1975 season, albeit briefly, with the Dodgers. He pitched in two games. It sure would have nice to see Marichal in the 1975 set.

Also missing is Dick McAuliffe, who had 272 at-bats in 100 games for the Red Sox. But McAuliffe took a job as a Red Sox minor league manager for the 1975 season. The Red Sox returned McAuliffe to the field in September of 1975, and he played for Boston in seven games before retiring for good. Bob Veale also pitched in 18 games for the '74 Red Sox but that was his final year.

So the Red Sox fair pretty well in the percentage of players represented in the set. Here are the updated standings:

1. Tigers 78.37% of players featured
2. Orioles 78.13%
3. Royals 70.59%
4. Red Sox 70.27%
5. Expos 68.29%
6. Phillies 62.5%
7. Padres 55.8%

#164 - Mickey Rivers

Card fact: Is there a name that goes better with baseball than "Mickey"?

A list:

Mickey Rivers, Mickey Mantle, Mickey Cochrane, Mickey Lolich, Mickey Vernon, Mickey Morandini, Mickey Stanley, Mickey Tettleton, Mickey Welch, Mickey Klutts, Mickey Owen, Mickey Hatcher.

That's quite a list.

What I thought about this card then: I didn't see it. The 1976 card of Rivers pretending to look up for a fly ball is the first Rivers card I ever saw. And Rivers was a Yankee as far as my childhood was concerned.

What I think about this card now: The standard player photos of the day really failed base-stealers. These players, more than any other, seem like they should be moving. But Rivers ain't going nowhere in that photo.

Other stuff: "Mick the Quick" was a regular part of my upbringing. We would watch him every weekend (we only caught games on TV on the weekend when I was growing up) and laugh as he shuffled from the on-deck circle to home plate like he was the oldest man in the world. I remember Phil Rizzuto being particular amused by him while broadcasting the games.

I had a difficult time disliking Rivers, even though he was part of those hated Yankee teams of the late '70s. He just seemed so comical. And I had a weakness for base stealers. Rivers was probably the fastest guy ever to play for the Yankees.

Rivers came to the Yankees in the trade for Bobby Bonds. He was with New York for only three-plus years before getting traded to the Rangers. He had a great season for Texas in 1980 and then faded after that, retiring after the 1984 season.

Back facts: Evar Swanson STILL holds the record for the fastest recorded time around the bases. Swanson was an infielder for the Reds when he set that record in 1929. He was timed during a special session, not during a game. Rivers also was timed prior to a game. I'm quite sure the only reason the record hasn't been broken in 81 years is because no one has set out to break it. It's probably been broken during games many times, but I don't know if anyone is clocking players' times around the bases then. At least not for official record-keeping purposes.

Also, Sisler no longer holds the record for most hits in a season. That'd be Icheeeeerrrrrow.

Other blog stuff: I wrote briefly about the Rivers card and its Fan Favorite equivalent on my other blog, for those of you don't read the other blog.

#158 - Jerry Grote

Card fact: The 15th player in the set to be wearing a batting helmet. In case you're interested, Thurman Munson (card #20) was the first.

What I thought about this card then: I never saw it. Since Grote was a Met, I was vaguely aware of him, but not really until the Dodgers acquired him. At the time I was obsessed with whether you pronounced his name "Groat" or "Groatie."

What I think about this card now: Forget about that. Do you pronounce it "Groat" or "Groatie"?

Other stuff: Grote sealed his place in history as the primary catcher for the 1969 Mets pitching staff of Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, etc. He was always known as an excellent defensive catcher and Johnny Bench famously said, "If Grote and I were on the same team, I would be playing third base."

Grote wound up with the Dodgers during their World Series teams of 1977 and 1978. He retired after the '78 season, but returned in 1981 to play for the Royals. The Dodgers picked Grote up again in September of 1981. He played in two games, but didn't compete in the postseason for L.A., which won the World Series that year.

(EDIT: Jerry Grote died on April 7, 2024 at age 81).

Back facts: It is always cool to see "Colt .45s" listed on the back of a card. Even when it's Joe Morgan's card.

Other blog stuff: Players in this set celebrating birthdays on April Fool's Day are: Phil Niekro (age 71), Rusty Staub (age 66) and Willie Montanez (age 62).

#153 - Rick Reuschel

Card fact: This card is a real disappointment coming after Rick Reuschel's 1974 card. But I guess Topps had to ration its action shots in the 1970s.

What I thought about this card then: Never saw it. It does look like a card I would make fun of though. Sorry, Rick.

What I think about this card now: Well, not so much the card, but the name. I am much relieved that I have been pronouncing Reuschel's name correctly all these years. It is indeed, RUSH-el. I was never sure about that.

Other stuff: When I think of Rick Reuschel, I think of how he had some good years for the Cubs, then went to the Yankees and things fell apart. Even when he returned to the Cubs, things didn't go well. It wasn't until he signed with the Pirates and then when he joined the Giants that he regained his form that he had during his first stint with the Cubs.

I also remember him appearing to grow larger and larger as his career progressed. He was always a portly fellow. His nickname was "Big Daddy." I noted that he is listed as 6-3 and 230 pounds on his 1975 card, and 6-3 and 240 pounds on his 1991 card. But he seemed to me to have gained more than 10 pounds during those latter years.

Back facts: How many people do you know whose full, given first name is "Ricky"?

Other blog stuff: More birthday items. Mariah Carey is 40 today. Wow. Time is moving much too fast.

#149 - Tim Foli

Card fact: This is another one of the cards that I pulled from the first packs of cards that I ever purchased.

What I thought about this card then: I thought it was a cool shot of Foli, looking very suave -- despite the glasses -- after a casual swing of the bat.

What I think about this card now: I believe this photo features the very same ballpark as the photo in the Jim Rooker card in the previous post. But the fence and the warning track are much farther behind Foli than Rooker.

Other stuff: Foli was a solid fielding, rather poor hitting shortstop who enjoyed a long career with the Mets, Expos, Pirates and Angels, mostly. His average and on-base percentage were lousy most years, but he kind of put it all together for the 1979 Pirates and was one of the key members of the We Are Family World Series champions.

Foli was known for his explosive temper, and he was involved in several confrontations and fights both as a player and a coach. I was raised to believe that guys wearing glasses were the timid types. But perhaps that's what got Mr. Foli so upset. Damn stereotypes!

Back facts: I don't know how long it took me to make the connection that the "Pee Wee" mentioned in the cartoon was THE Pee Wee Reese. But it was a lot of years.

Oldie but goodie: Here is one of the cards that I have owned longer than almost any one in my collection. Thirty-five years. And it's got the rounded corners to prove it.

Other blog stuff: In a bit of a take-off on White Sox Cards' suggestion, I'm calling this color combo the "seaside combo." You've got tan (the beach) and light blue (the water). It works for me.

#146 - Padres/John McNamara

Card fact: This is John McNamara's first appearance as the Padres' manager on a baseball card. He replaced Don Zimmer, who was let go after a 60-102 season. McNamara managed San Diego to the exact same mark in 1974, yet got to keep his job.

What I thought about this card then: I thought McNamara looked like an elf.

What I think about this card now: McNamara is still somewhat elfian, but I'm also distracted by the guy on the right with what appears to be a towering mound of hair. Or maybe it's a shadow.

Other stuff: McNamara started his major league managerial career with the A's in 1970, but my first encounter with him was with the Padres. I didn't like him much when he managed the Reds, and liked him a little more when he took over for the Red Sox. Of course, Boston fans don't have much nice to say about him. And Dave Stapleton really has unkind things to say about McNamara. Let's just say he thinks he should have replaced Buckner on defense in Game 6.

Back facts: Nate Colbert is listed on the Padres checklist, but he is listed as a Tiger on his own card. He was traded to the Tigers on Nov. 18, 1974.

Other blog stuff: Time to see if Topps left any key Padres players out of the '75 set.

The Padres used 43 players in 1974. That is the most of any of the teams we have seen so far. San Diego was five years removed from expansion and absolutely sucked. The Padres didn't even have a winning season until they had existed for 10 years. So they threw a lot on the wall and hoped some of it stuck.

Out of the 43 players, Topps featured just 24 in the set. That is just 55.8 percent, the worst percentage so far. Also, three of the players from that '74 team are featured with other teams -- Colbert (Tigers), Steve Arlin (Indians) and Clarence Gaston (Braves). But two of the players in the Colbert trade -- Ed Brinkman and Dick Sharon -- remained Tigers in the '75 set, cutting down even more on the number of Padres in the set. Topps did try to make up for that by featuring two airbrushed Padres who didn't even play for the team in 1974 -- Danny Frisella and Brent Strom.

Topps didn't really leave out anyone notable. The biggest ones were pitcher Mike Corkins (25 appearances) and two hitters at the end of their careers -- Horace Clarke (90 at-bats) and Matty Alou (81 at-bats).

So the Padres sink to the bottom (a position they should know well) as far as the percentage of players representing their team in the '75 set. There were just too many comings and goings for Topps to handle:

1. Tigers 78.37% of players featured
2. Orioles 78.13%
3. Royals 70.59%
4. Expos 68.29%
5. Phillies 62.5%
6. Padres 55.8%