Random Topps Card of the Day: 1977 Topps #640 Carlton Fisk

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Tuesday, June 17, 2014:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1977 Topps #640.
• Player Name, position, team: Carlton Fisk, catcher, Boston Red Sox.
• Major League Debut: September 18, 1969.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1976 stats (Red Sox): 134 G, 487 AB, 76 R, 124 H, 17 2B, 5 3B, 17 HR, 58 RBI, .255 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Signed with the Yankees as a Free Agent 07/22/1972. Bats: left. Throws: left.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 22. This is his sixth Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Carlton hit .417 in 1975 A.L. Playoffs and belted 2 Homers in World Series. One came in 12th inning to win Game #6, 7-6."
• Commentary: Yes, I know that Carlton Ernest Fisk played for eleven seasons with the Boston Red Sox. Yes, I know he was a World Series hero and his dramatic twelfth inning homer will go down in baseball lore as one of the greatest moments of all time (depicted on 2001 Topps #791, the last card in the set)., Yes, I know that after a long but incredible career that he went into the Hall of Fame, wearing the bold "B" on his cap instead of the scripted "C". But for as long as I've been following baseball, Carlton Fisk will always be a member of the Chicago White Sox. In 1977, Fisk hit for a career high .315, had career high percentages of .402/.521/.922, hit 26 home runs, drove in 102 rbi's, became an All-Star for the fifth time in his career, and finished 8th in the MVP voting. When Topps came out with it's 2002 Topps Archives: The Best Years product, Fisk was included as a subject, and his 1977 season was selected as his best year (a close second would have been his 1985 season...37 homers, 107 rbi's, but a .238 average did him in). Yes, he played more seasons in the Second City, and the way the Sox ended his career wasn't the best way to go about it (letting him break the record for career games caught and then letting him go the next day). But there is no doubt in my mind that Pudge will always be one of baseball's best, and most durable, catcher. 
• Beckett value: $2.00-$5.00.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 77 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1995 Topps #499. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. We're looking back at a card from 1991 here on the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1977 Topps #10 Reggie Jackson

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Friday, November 29, 2013:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1977 Topps #10.
• Player Name, position, team: Reggie Jackson, outfielder, New York Yankees
• Major League Debut: June 9, 1967.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1976 stats (Orioles): 134 G, 498 AB, 84 R, 138 H, 27 2B, 2 3B, 27 HR, 91 RBI, .277 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the A's #1st, June 1966. Signed with the Yankees as a Free Agent 11/29/1976. Bats: left. Throws: left.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 21. This is his ninth Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Reggie tied for 2nd in Homers in A.L. in 1976 and was 10th best in R.B.I's."
• Commentary: So much has been written about the career of Reginald Martinez Jackson that I'm not going to do the usual career summary that normally appears here in the commentary. No. Two things will be discussed. First, his numbers from the 1977 season, and second, the controversy over this particular card and how Topps could have, if they so chose to do so, depicted him as an Oriole instead of a Yankee. Let's get the stats out of the way first. In his first season in the Bronx, Jackson would hit for a .286 average, launch 32 home runs, drive in 110 rbi's, steal 17 bases, and percentages of .375/.550/.925. In the 1977 World Series, five of Jackson's nine hits were home runs, including three in Game 6, sealing the World Series victory for the Yankees and earning him the nickname "Mr. October." Now that we have that out of the way, let's talk about the card itself (something I should be doing more of instead of these biographies). With free agency coming, and knowing that the team could not afford to pay him large sums of money, Jackson was traded to the Baltimore Orioles. This has been considered Jackson's "Lost Season." Why? In a stretch from 1971 through 1978, Jackson would appear in the playoffs all but one year (1976). From 1971 through 1984, Jackson would be named an All-Star in every season except one (1976). In Topps' second attempt at a Traded set, Jackson was not among the 43 subjects. Had he been, his name would have been the biggest in the set, and probably (in my opinion) would have lent some credibility to the set. But thanks to the guys at the Baseball Card Blog, we now have a "What Could Have Been" 1976 Topps Traded Reggie Jackson card, appropriately numbered #500T.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Finally, instead of immortalizing Jackson in an Orioles uniform for his stint with the team in 1976 (save for a team card), upon signing with the Yankees in November, Topps took time to airbrush a Yankees helmet and pinstripes over Jackson's Orioles uniform. This move would be akin to say, something like Jose Reyes' 2013 Topps card as a Blue Jay in Series 1 without having played for the team yet. In today's Hobby, the Jackson card would be nothing new. Topps has been doing this for years now. But this had to be a big deal back then, especially for O's fans and team collectors who now could only dream of having their own Jackson O's card. It wasn't until Keith Olbermann showed the world that indeed Topps had a card of Jackson at the ready as an Oriole...and he had the proof (card) too.
  
  
  
  
  So there's Reggie, smiling, wearing an Orioles' jersey, with the iconic orange bird atop the helmet. And the Yankees name up above. Sigh. But thanks to Cliff Corcoran over at Camden Chat, we know know what a true 1977 Topps Reggie Jackson Orioles card would have looked like had Topps actually proceeded to make one.
  
  
  
  
  
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $4.00-$10.00.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 142.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1993 Topps #657. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Flash back with the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1977 Topps #653 Diego Segui

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Monday, June 10, 2013:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1977 Topps #653.
• Player Name, position, team: Diego Segui, pitcher, Seattle Mariners.
• Major League Debut: April 12, 1962.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1975 stats (Red Sox): 33 G, 71 IP, 2-5, 41 R, 38 ER, 45 SO, 43 BB, 4.82 ERA.
• Any special information about player: Signed with the Redlegs as a Free Agent before the 1958 season. Contract purchased by the Mariners from the Padres 10/22/1976. Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 14. This is his fourteenth and final Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: n/a.
• Commentary: Funny how baseball works. One year you pitch in the World Series with the Red Sox (the picture on this card shows today's subject wearing a jersey with the Sox' red trim although there is no logo on the batting helmet), the next you're stuck in the minors for a whole season. Such was the tale of Diego Segui's career. An established veteran pitcher with the A's (three stints), Senators, Pilots (one of the few who can lay claim to that honor), Cardinals, and Red Sox, Segui had compiled a record of 92-104 and an ERA of 3.68 with 1,207 strikeouts in more than 599 games pitched as a starter and reliever. After the '75 World Series, Segui was released by the Red Sox. Unable to find a MLB team to sign him, he signed a minor league deal with the Padres' AAA-team in Hawaii. It would be his third go-around with the Hawaii Islanders with three different organizations: the Washington Senators, the Kansas City Athletics, and now the Padres. Already a legend in the Aloha State, Segui would guide the Islanders to an incredible 11-5 record with a 3.18 ERA to go with 105 strikeouts in 147 innings of work. After the 1976 season concluded, the expansion Seattle Mariners took a chance and signed Diego to a one year deal. Rejuvenated by the return to Seattle, not only did he make the team out of spring training, he was their first ever starting pitcher. Unfortunately, the Angels spoiled Segui's homecoming, and the Mariners lost the game 7-0. Segui would finish the 1977 season with an 0-7 record, a career worst 5.69 ERA, two saves, and strikeout 91 batters in 40 games (7 were starts). Unable to find the form that once made him one of the games more unique pitchers, Segui would pitch his last season with Cordoba in the Mexican League. After retiring, he watched his son David develop into a bonafide major leaguer in his own right. The SABR BioProject has a very in-depth article about the career of Diego Segui that can be accessed here.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.30-$0.75.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 1 card.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1993 Topps Traded #73T. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Flash back with the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1977 Topps #495 Al Hrabosky

(Due to the flooding that occurred in my neighborhood on Thursday, April 18, 2013, I was not able to get this post out at the scheduled time. I am just catching up now.)

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Saturday, April 20, 2013:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1977 Topps #495.
• Player Name, position, team: Al Hrabosky, pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals.
• Major League Debut: June 16, 1970.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1976 stats (Cardinals): 68 G, 95 IP, 8-6, 42 R, 35 ER, 73 SO, 39 BB, 3.32 ERA.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Cardinals #1st, February 1969. Bats: right. Throws: left.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 11. This is his sixth Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Al was N.L. Fireman of Year in 1975 & led loop with .813 Pct. Had distinction of defeating Dodgers 3 times."
• Commentary: Okay Cardinals fans, I have a question for you. Have the Cardinals brought back the cap that "The Mad Hungarian" is wearing on this card for any promotions or throwback days? I was in St. Louis last month and passed by the Cardinals Team Shop at Union Station and don't think I saw this cap on the shelf? Is this an actual baseball cap or was this in the pillbox style that the Pirates wore for many years? I can't tell here, can someone enlighten me? Anyway, Al earned the nickname "Mad Hungarian" thanks to a combination of his heritage, his demeanor on the mound, and the way he intimidated batters who had no choice but to face him towards the end of ball games throughout the 70's. His best season came in 1975 when he went 13-3, with 22 saves, an ERA of 1.66, and 82 strikeouts in 65 games. In 1977, his final season with the Cardinals, he pitched in 65 games, finishing 39 of them, claimed an 6-5 record with 10 saves, 68 k's, and an ERA of 4.38 in 86.1 innings of work. Why the decline in numbers? Could it have been because new Cards skipper Vern Rapp demanded that Al cut his hair and shave the moustache? With the source of his intimidation gone, the Cardinals thought it would best if they cut ties (see what I did there???) with the Samson-like closer. He was traded across the state to the Royals for Mark Littell and Buck Martinez at the end of the season. The change of scenery did him a world of good because in two seasons with KC, the closer saved 31 games of the 84 games he finished, earned a 17-11 record, struck out 99, had a cumulative ERA of 3.28. He signed with the Braves as a free agent in 1979, and spent three seasons in the Braves' bullpen, although not as the de facto closer. After one season with the White Sox' minor league team in Denver, the Mad Hungarian called it a career. He did return to the Cardinals organization in 1985, providing color commentary for Cardinals games ever since.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.30-$0.75.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 11.

Tomorrow is Retro Sunday, the one day of the week that we feature a card from 1951-1975. The card we will feature tomorrow is: 1963 Topps #245. Come back at 1:00 PM CST to see who (or what) it is.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1977 Topps #617 Bobby Darwin

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Monday, April 8, 2013:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1977 Topps #617.
• Player Name, position, team: Bobby Darwin, outfielder, Boston Red Sox.
• Major League Debut: September 30, 1962.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1976 stats (Red Sox): 43 G, 106 AB, 9 R, 19 H, 5 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 13 RBI, .179 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Signed with the Angels as a Free Agent before the 1962 season. Traded by the Brewers to the Red Sox 06/04/1976. Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 6. This is his sixth and final Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Originally a pitcher, Bobby was converted to outfield by Tom Lasorda."
• Commentary: Bobby Darwin was not an outfielder when he was plying his trade in the minors. In fact, when he made his major league debut with the Angels in 1962, he was the starting pitcher who was not able to get past the 3rd inning of his ballgame. It would also be the last time he'd see action in the majors until 1969. After a seven season hiatus from the bigs, in which he compiled a 31-44 record in the minors, he returned to Los Angeles, this time as a Dodger. In three early season games, all in relief, he would allow 4 earned runs in 3.2 innings of work, giving him an ERA of 9.82. But Tom Lasorda, who at the time was a coach for the Dodgers, saw that Darwin was a decent hitter in the minors and suggested that Darwin try his hand as a fielder instead of a pitcher. The experiment worked. In 1970, playing for the Single-A Bakersfield Dodgers, Darwin hit for a .297 average, with 23 home runs and driving in 70 rbi's to go with an OPS of .926. He even stole 10 bases. He did even better in Spokane the following year, hitting .293, 17 homers, and 55 rbi's against stronger competition in AAA. The Dodgers had seen enough of his early season work and called him up for a mid-June/mid-July stretch of 11 games in which he would hit .250 with a home run and 4 rbi's as a pinch hitter/right fielder. The Twins must have seen something in Darwin as well because they sent Paul Powell to the Dodgers to get him. In his four years with the Twins, Darwin patrolled right field for most of his 490 games. He would hit a decent .257 with 70 home runs and 282 runs driven in. He also led the American League in strikeouts (the bad kind...if he had these numbers as a pitcher, it would have been a good year) with a total of 409 whiffs between 1972-1874. By 1975, he was traded to the Brewers, where he found work as a bench player/pinch hitter. In 1976, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox, and must have made enough of an impact with Topps (or maybe it was because he was shipped to Boston) that they included Darwin in their "Traded" set at the end of the year. With the Red Sox in 1977, he appeared in 4 games, hitting .222 with one run driven in before he was traded to the Cubs on May 28. After a brief run in Wichita, Darwin appeared in 11 games for the northsiders, hitting just .167 before being released by the Cubs before the end of August. It would be the last time he would appear in the majors as a player. After one final run with Tampico in the Mexican League, Bobby Darwin retired as a player. In 1983, he was hired by the Dodgers as a scout, a role that he has held with the organization ever since.
• Beckett value: $0.12-$0.30.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 2 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1986 Topps #45. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Flash back with the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1977 Topps #86 Pat Zachry

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Saturday, January 05, 2012:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1977 Topps #86.
• Player Name, position, team: Pat Zachry, pitcher, Cincinnati Reds.
• Major League Debut: April 11, 1976.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1976 stats (Reds): 38 G, 204 IP, 14-7, 70 R, 62 ER, 143 SO, 83 BB, 2.74 ERA.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Reds, #19th, June 1970.  Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 11. This is his second Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "One of two rookies to earn spot in Reds' starting rotation in 1976, Pat was Earned Run Average champion of American Association, 1975."
• Commentary: Look into the eyes of Pat Zachry on this card and you will see the glare that intimidated opposing batters in 1976. Yes, he was a rookie, but when you don't know what your facing, you only get nervous at the plate.  On the strength of the statistics above, Pat Zachry was voted the National League Rookie of the Year in 1976.  In the postseason, he won both Game 2 of the NLCS vs. the Phillies AND Game 3 of the World Series by the identical scores of 6-2.  So what does he do for an encore?  Unfortnately, the sophomore slump hit him hard, and after going 3-7 with a 5.04 ERA, the Reds traded him off to the New York Mets with three other players.  The man the Reds got in return?  Just some guy named Tom Seaver.  With the Mets, Zachry did much better, thanks to a 7-6 record and a 3.76 ERA, to go with 63 K's.  The following year, he made the NL All-Star Team. After a 6 season stay with the Mets, he was traded to the Dodgers for Jorge Orta.  Two seasons later, it was off to Philadelphia, where he traded for Al Oliver.  But after 10 games, Zachry was released, and his MLB career was over.  
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.12-$0.30.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 11.

Tomorrow is Retro Sunday, the one day of the week that we feature a card from 1951-1975. The card we will feature tomorrow is: 1963 Topps #216. Come back at 1:00 PM CST to see who (or what) it is.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1977 Topps #130 Al Oliver

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Tuesday, December 25, 2012:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1977 Topps #130.
• Player Name, position, team: Al Oliver, first baseman, Montréal Expos.
• Major League Debut: September 23, 1968.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1976 stats (Pirates): 121 G, 443 AB, 62 R, 143 H, 22 2B, 5 3B, 12 HR, 61 RBI, .323 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Signed by the Pirates as a Free Agent 06/13/1964. Signed with the Cubs as a Free Agent 01/29/2010. Bats: left. Throws: left.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 14. This is his ninth Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Al had pinch-Double in 1975 All-Star Game helping N.L. to victory."
• Commentary: The 1977 Topps set was one that could be easily sorted by team thanks to the large font used for the team name.  I'm trying to remember which blogger was it that was trying to collect cards of players with folding chairs, but the picture used for Al Oliver's card is certainly unique in that regard.  Al was a previous subject on the RotC, with his 1984 Topps card selected a couple of years ago.  Before he would go on to choose #0 on all of his jersey's, Oliver was #16 for a Pirates team that was very dominant throughout the seventies (five division titles, including a World Series Championship in 1971).  He also was the last player to hit a home run at Forbes Field, and the first to score a run at Three Rivers Stadium a few weeks later.  By 1977, Al was a three-time All-Star and perennial MVP candidate.  That year, he was very productive at the plate, hitting an exceptional .308 average with 19 home runs, 82 rbi's, thirteen stolen bases, 40 walks which helped his OBP go up to an astounding .353 (and an OPS of .834).  Primarily the Buc's left fielder, Oliver had a .981 fielding percentage with only 6 errors in 317 chances.  This would also be Oliver's last season with Pittsburgh as he was involved in a 4-team trade (Pirates, Rangers, Braves, and Mets) that involved 11 players (including the likes of Bert Blyleven and Tom Grieve).  When the smoked cleared, Oliver was now a member of the Texas Rangers, where he did not disappoint with his bat (a .324 average to go with 14 home runs and 89 rbi's).  His career would continue on with the Expos, Giants, Phillies, Dodgers, and Blue Jays before calling it quits for good after the 1985 season.  Although he did not get the necessary number of votes to stay on the HOF ballot (4.3% in 1991), many believe that he should be considered by the Veterans Committee for HOF induction one day.  
• Beckett value: $0.30-$0.75.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 33 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1979 Topps #376. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. We're looking back at a card from 1979 here on the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1977 Topps #584 Ed Goodson

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Saturday, October 20, 2012:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1977 Topps #584.
• Player Name, position, team: Ed Goodson, third baseman-first baseman, Los Angeles Dodgers.
• Major League Debut: September 5, 1970.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1976 stats (Dodgers): 83 G, 118 AB, 8 R, 27 H, 4 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 17 RBI, .229 AVG.
• Any special information about players: Drafted by the Giants, #1st (Special), June 1968. Traded by the Braves to the Dodgers 11/17/1975.  Bats:  left.  Throws:  right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 6. This is his fifth card.
• Blurb on the back: "Ed has a reputation as an outstanding pure hitter and helped Dodgers as left-handed pinch-hitter & in infield, 1975."
• Commentary: How do you top the classic and colorful 1976 Topps design?  By creating this in 1977.  Imagine if the Hobby Blogging Community was around back then...they would have panned this design mercilessly.  And then still buy it because:  1.  It's Topps.  2.  It's the only thing out there.  Fans eventually (as they always do) liked the design, so much so that the 2012 Topps Archives used this design for their Cloth Stickers insert set.  James E. Goodson was not an everyday player, but did start 267 of the 314 games he played.  As the blurb on the back stated, he was primarily used as a pinch-hitter.  The Dodgers won the NL pennant in 1977 and Goodson even got an at bat (his only one) in Game 6.  Alas, 1977 was his last year in the majors.  He spent the 1978 season with the Indians' AAA team in Portland, and then hung up the spikes for good not long afterwards.  I couldn't find what he did after his playing career ended, but I don't think he's the same Ed Goodson character from that TV show inspired by a twitter feed...what's it called (no, I'm not mentioning it here or linking to it...there are kids here.  But William Shatner played the dad on the TV show before it got cancelled).  
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.12-$0.30.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 3.

Tomorrow is Retro Sunday, the one day of the week that we feature a card from 1951-1975. The card we will feature tomorrow is: 1965 Topps #298. Come back at 1:00 PM CST to see who (or what) it is.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1977 Topps #174 Nelson Briles

It's about time I focus on the blog again.  Here is the first of hopefully the return of the Random Topps Card of the Day posts until further notice.

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Monday, October 1, 2012:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1977 Topps #174.
• Player Name, position, team: Nelson Briles, pitcher, Texas Rangers.
• Major League Debut: April 19, 1965.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1976 stats (Rangers):  32 G, 210 IP, 11-9, 87 R, 76 ER, 98 SO, 47 BB, 3.26 ERA.
• Any special information about player:  Signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as an Free Agent prior to the 1964 season. Traded by the Royals to the Rangers 11/11/1975.  Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 15. This is his thirteenth Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: None. The caption on the cartoon on the left side of the statistics box reads "Twins shortstop Roy Smalley is nephew of MGR Gene Mauch."  
• Commentary: Can you imagine the backlash Topps would have had if the Internet had been made available to the public back in at the end of the 1976 baseball season?  If Topps had made the announcement that this would be the design of their eponymous 1977 Topps product on-line, how many people do you think would be screaming to the heavens that this design was an epic fail?  Topps last two designs prior to this were among the most colorful and easily remembered of the time (and then don't forget 1972).  This one left a lot to be desired.  Fast forward almost 35 years later, and it has been deemed a classic.  So much so, in fact, that the design was used in 2012 Topps Archives for the Cloth Stickers insert set.  Personally, I like the large portrait utilized by this design.  It is easy to sort by team, thanks in part to the large and colorful team name above the player's name.  Briles had a very good career in his fourteen years in Major League Baseball.  He was even an MVP candidate during the 1967 and 1968 campaigns, compiling a 33-16 record and a 2.66 ERA in 399 innings of work for the Redbirds. During the 1967 World Series, Briles started and earned the decision in Game 3, beating the heavily favored Red Sox 5-2 in a complete game.  He moved on to Pittsburgh prior to the 1971 season and helped the Pirates become WS champs that year by pitching a complete game shutout in Game 5 of the series.  Briles spent two seasons with the Rangers, going 17-13 with a 3.59 ERA in Texas before heading to Baltimore before the 1977 season was out. His last appearance on a baseball card can be found in their 2002 Topps Super Teams set, along with his fellow Cardinals from the 1967 champs.  Nelson Briles passed away on February 13, 2005, at the age of 61.
• Beckett value: $0.30-$0.75.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 4 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1995 Topps #155. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Flash back with the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1977 Topps #599 Mike Tyson

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Tuesday, January 18, 2011:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1977 Topps #599.
• Player Name, position, team: Mike Tyson, second baseman, St. Louis Cardinals.
• Major League Debut: September 5, 1972.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1976 stats (Cardinals): 76 G, 245 AB, 26 R, 70 H, 12 2B, 9 3B, 3 HR, 28 RBI, .286 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Cardinals, #3rd, January 1970. Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 9. This is his fourth card.
• Blurb on the back: "Mike's first major league Homer came on June 19, 1973 and gave Cardinals a rain-shortened 1-0 victory over the Expos. he was named Cardinals' Rookie of Year with 6 game-winning hits."
• Commentary: Another 70's design. Bit lackluster and less colorful compared to the last two years, but it works for its era and is now more appreciated today. This isn't the boxer Mike Tyson, but based on that stare, it looks like he could knock anybody out. One of the few who can lay claim to playing with both the Cardinals and the Cubs. Was the Cardinals' second baseman throughout the mid to late 70's. Although injuries did take him out for half the season in 1976. He was not known for power (27 home runs in 1o seasons), but very good with the glove.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.12-$0.30.
• How many cards of each player do I own?: 7 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1995 Topps #189. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. We're looking back at a card from 1982 here on the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1977 Topps #594 Biff Pocoroba

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Saturday, October 23, 2010:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1977 Topps #594.
• Player Name, position, team: Biff Pocoroba, catcher, Atlanta Braves.
• Major League Debut: April 25, 1975.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1976 stats (Braves): 54 G, 174 AB, 16 R, 42 H, 7 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 14 RBI, .241 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Braves 17th, June 1971. Bats: both, Throws: right.
• Any special information about this specific card: Pocoroba's second regular Topps (total includes regular and traded cards only). The only problem I have with the cards from 1977 Topps (at least the ones in my possession anyway) are that many are so off-center, you have to wonder if quality control was asleep at the wheel back then. Of course, if you've ever seen pictures of the process of cutting cards (I think Topps Magazine #5 had this), you could only imagine that with millions of sheets to print, certainly some would have been cut improperly. Such is the case of this second-year card of Biff Pocoroba. Now I have to admit, until I pulled this card for the CotD, I have only heard the name Biff used twice in my lifetime. The first Biff I knew was the muppet from Sesame Street (Biff and Sully), and the other was Biff from the Back to the Future movie. Thanks to a great 1974 season in AA-Savannah (.311, 9 HR, 45 RBI's), Biff made the jump to the majors in 1975 (that's according to the bio. It also goes on to say that he hit left part of the season. Of course he did, he was a switch hitter). It was in 1977 that he appeared in 113 games, the only season in his ten seasons, all with Atlanta, that he reached 100 games. Of course, with the number of games played that year, he reached career highs in a number of offensive statistic (46 runs, 96 hits, 8 home runs, 44 runs batted in, .290 average, .445 slugging). In fact, the following year, he made the NL All-Star team. Injuries over the years cost him playing time, and after the 1984 season, he called it a career.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.12-$0.30.
• How many cards of each player do I own?: 9 cards.

Tomorrow is Retro Sunday, the one day of the week that we feature a card from 1951-1975. The card we will feature tomorrow is: 1961 Topps #458. Come back at 1:00 PM CST to see who (or what) it is.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1977 Topps #596 Jerry Martin

We reset the Topps Card Randomizer to come up with seven new cards to present for this week. Introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Monday, June 14, 2010:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1977 Topps #596.
• Player Name, position, team: Jerry Martin, outfielder, Philadelphia Phillies.
• Major League Debut: September 7, 1974.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1976 stats (Phillies): 130 G, 121 AB, 30 R, 30 H, 7 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 15 RBI, .248 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Signed with the Phillies as a Free Agent 07/17/1971. Bats Right, Throws: right.
• Any special information about this specific card: Martin's first regular Topps card (his rookie card. Total includes regular and traded cards only). The 1977 Topps design utilized many design elements used in the past: the facsimile autograph, the large team letters, a flag (this time with the position of the player depicted), and a decent sized picture. A good mix of action and posed shots...this one being in the latter category. The previous year marked Martin's first full year in the majors, playing all three outfield spots for the Phils. The back of the card looks like a camp bulletin board (you can tell by the posts at the bottom of the card and the grass that's growing alongside of the posts). Along with his name and stats is a comic commemorating historic events in baseball's past. In this case, it's of Jimmy PIersall, "who ran backwards to commemorate his 100th homer." The blurb below the stats talks about Martin's "only Grand Slammer of 1975" against the Dodgers at Los Angeles on June 13. Martin would go on to play for the Cubs, Giants, and Royals before calling it a career for good with the New York Mets.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.12-$0.30.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 12 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1995 Topps #542. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. See you then.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1977 Topps #488 1977 Rookie Outfielders Clark, Jones, Mazzilli, Thomas

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Tuesday, May 11, 2010:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1977 Topps #488.
• Player Name, position, team: 1977 Rookie Outfielders: Jack Clark, San Francisco Giants; Ruppert Jones, Seattle Mariners; Lee Mazzilli, New York Mets; Dan Thomas, Milwaukee Brewers.
• Major League Debut: September 12, 1975 (Clark); August 1, 1976 (Jones); September 7, 1976 (Mazzilli); September 2, 1976 (Turner).
• Any special information about player: Clark: Bats: right, Throws: right; Jones: Bats: left, Throws: left; Mazzilli: Bats: both, Throws: right; Thomas: Bats: right, Throws: right.
• Any special information about this specific card: The first card for Clark, Jones, Mazzilli, and Thomas. The second multi-player card the randomizer has picked this year. The 1977 Topps set wasn't one of Topps better designs in the late 70's, but still does have its fair share of admirers. Clark had the best career of the four on this card, being a 4-time All-Star and perrennial MVP candidate, his best year came in 1987 (.286, 35 HR, 106 RBI) as a member of the Cardinals. Jones (notice that Topps airbrushed the logo off the cap...was he not with the M's at the time the picture was taken???) became a two-time All-Star, and was on the Tigers the year they won it all in 1984. Mazzilli, an All-Star in 1979, was a Met for six seasons before a journey that saw him play for Texas, the Yankees, and Pittsburgh. He came back to the Mets in time to help win the 1986 World Series. Of the four that share this card, Thomas had the shortest career, a two season stint with the Brewers. Mental health issues plagued him during his stay with the Brewers.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $1.25-$3.00.
• How many cards of each player do I own?: Clark: 39 cards; Jones: 15 cards; Mazzilli: 19 cards; Thomas: 1 card.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1995 Topps #54. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. We're looking back at a card from 1995 here on the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1977 Topps #423 Gary Lavelle

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Wednesday, April 7, 2010:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1977 Topps #423.
• Player Name, position, team: Gary Lavelle, pitcher, San Francisco Giants.
• Major League Debut: September 10, 1974.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1976 stats (Giants): 65 G, 110 IP, 10-6, 37 R, 33 ER, 71 SO, 52 BB, 2.70 ERA.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Giants #20th, June 1967. Bats: both, Throws: left.
• Any special information about this specific card: Lavelle's third regular Topps card (total includes regular and traded cards only). The aspects of the design leave much to be desired. The team logo above, the little flag with the position, the facsimile autograph, the plain picture. Not one of Topps' best efforts, but it's the late 70's, and after a fantastically iconic design used the year before, this design must have been met with a lot of dropped jaws, wondering, "This is it???" This card indicates that Gary was drafted in the 17th round in the 1967 draft. Actually, he was the 17th PLAYER selected in the 20th ROUND of that year's draft. Meaning that this card is an ERROR CARD!!! Lavelle became the closer for the Giants in the late 70's-early 80's, and was even named to the All-Star team in 1977. Love the glasses though. Not in the style of Kent Tekulve, but again...IT'S THE LATE 70's!!! The blurb on the back, indicates that Gary "was 3-0 at Candlestick Park, 1975." Meaning that he went 3-3 outside of San Francisco. The thing is that this card doesn't include stats for games started or saves, so unless you look at the actual number of games pitched, (in 1976, he showed up 65 times), you wouldn't know if he was a starter or a reliever (or both). The cartoon on the back is green with blue ink, and shows two boys playing catch along a fence. The caption indicates that "Joe Garagiola and Yogi Berra were neighbors as kids." Who'd have thought???
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.10-$0.30.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 12 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1997 Topps #282. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Hope you will be too.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1977 Topps #350 Larry Dierker

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Wednesday, March 10, 2010:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1977 Topps #350.
• Player Name, position, team: Larry Dierker, pitcher, Houston Astros.
• Major League Debut: September 22, 1964.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1976 stats (Astros): 28 G, 188 IP, 13-14, 85 R, 77 ER, 112 SO, 72 BB, 3.69 ERA.
• Any special information about player: Signed with the Colt .45's as a Free Agent before the 1964 season. Bats: right, Throws: right.
• Any special information about this specific card: Dierker's thirteenth regular Topps card. How cool is this card? It's one of the few I have in my collection that shows the stats of a player from the Houston Colt .45's. Yes, I know they eventually became the Astros, but the stats on the back show that he played for the Colt .45's in 1964 before the team name change the following season. Picture takes up most of the design, with a simple team name in big bold letters for easy sorting (I guess). The player name is below, and a pennant with the position is added on the right. Facsimile autograph is present (which I wonder how it works when you want an already "autographed card" autographed? I don't know, never got into autograph cards. But I digress. The back of the card looks like it's on a large outdoor sign (notice the two wooden posts at the bottom, complete with grass). A green on gray card back makes for very easy reading of the stats. A cartoon on the left lets us know that the Oakland A's stole 341 bases in 1976.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.30-$0.75.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 5 cards.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1993 Topps #49. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Hope you will be too.
Sincerely,

JayBee Anama