Random Topps Card of the Day: 1978 Topps #705 1978 Rookie Outfielders Bergman, Dilone, Hurdle, Norwood

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Tuesday, March 26, 2013:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1978 Topps #705.
• Player Name, position, team: 1978 Rookie Outfielders: Dave Bergman, Houston Astros; Miguel Dilone, Pittsburgh Pirates; Clint Hurdle, Kansas City Royals; Willie Norwood, Minnesota Twins.
• Major League Debut: Bergman: August 26, 1975; Dilone: September 2, 1974; Hurdle: September 18, 1977; Norwood: April 21, 1977.
• Any special information about player: Bergman: Bats: left. Throws: left.; Dilone: Bats: both. Throws: right.; Hurdle: Bats: left, Throws: right.; Norwood: Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): Bergman: 16 (first Topps card); Dilone: 7 (first); Hurdle: 14 (first); Norwood: 3 (first).
• Commentary: It's been a while since the Topps Card Randomizer picked a four-player card for the Random Card of the Day. So instead of waxing poetic about the careers of each of these players, I'll just stick to a couple of sentences about each one. At least each played longer than a season. Bergman would go on to have the longest playing career of the four featured on this card. In 1978, he played in 104 games, mostly at first base (although he did get to play in left field...so yeah, he was an outfielder) and went on to hit at a .231 clip with 0 home runs and 12 rbi's. He would continue to play for the Astros until 1981, when he was traded off to the Giants. He would continue his career with the Tigers in 1984, in time to help them win a World Series, and finished his career with the team six years later. Dilone spent parts of 12 seasons with seven different franchises over the course of his career. Although listed as a Pirate, he was traded by the Bucs all the way to Oakland just before the 1978 season. With the A's, Dilone appeared in 135 games, hit .229 with 1 home run and 14 rbi's. He would also steal 50 bases and lead the league in being caught 23 times, which shows he was daring on the base paths. His time in Oakland ended in 1979 when his contract was purchased by the Cubs. He would go on to play for the Indians, White Sox, return to the Pirates, Expos, and finish with the Padres in 1985. Clint Hurdle is known now as the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates and prior to that, the Colorado Rockies. But in 1978, as a rookie with the Royals, he would hit .264 with 7 home runs and 56 rbi's playing the outfield and first base. He left KC after the 1981 season in a trade to the Reds. Hurdle would log time with the Mets and Cardinals (spending more time in the minors than the bigs) before retiring as a player in 1987. Norwood's logged in 125 games for the Twins in 1978, hitting .255 with 8 home runs and 46 rbi's. He would only see 130 games of big league action with the Twins the following two seasons, but no more afterwards. He spent two seasons with the Reynosa Broncos of the Mexican League before ending his playing career after the 1982 season.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.50-$1.25.
• How many cards of each player do I own?: Bergman: 17 cards; Dilone: 7 cards; Hurdle: 14 cards; Norwood: 3 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1980 Topps #546. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. We're looking back at a card from 1980 here on the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama