tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76636878989320686802024-02-07T18:09:50.727-07:001978 BaseballThis blog will be a card by card run through the 1978 Topps Baseball setMatt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.comBlogger347125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-50318338263398469582020-05-18T20:15:00.000-07:002020-05-18T20:15:08.939-07:001978 Topps Baseball #356 New York mets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpn0A6sg7DoUdsD5hpVJvFR4dlCB8-Q_pjtoWIeFoc8NpAIAFHEIb-yP97-GjeeB4e-Ld-Q8ttCc14ZfP1yY2T2uYX_HCq3xj09_IbA4P8Kk5eucQNHJgXJga9ZXHMhlVwG5gcaGt0oU/s1600/78topps356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1056" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpn0A6sg7DoUdsD5hpVJvFR4dlCB8-Q_pjtoWIeFoc8NpAIAFHEIb-yP97-GjeeB4e-Ld-Q8ttCc14ZfP1yY2T2uYX_HCq3xj09_IbA4P8Kk5eucQNHJgXJga9ZXHMhlVwG5gcaGt0oU/s320/78topps356.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAQLzWrATrDTGZ3uAAj7Sg1R3WzQLhdYHWO6EB2UUe5AL3I5U5bJd10fPmDCERQak1sNMB7dxgfnchheETHJxRYycsCl2Nv48MeU1szqn6P5bk2ulJ5mmF1uJmg1NeGJqtRoXNRr_L_k/s1600/78topps356b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="759" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAQLzWrATrDTGZ3uAAj7Sg1R3WzQLhdYHWO6EB2UUe5AL3I5U5bJd10fPmDCERQak1sNMB7dxgfnchheETHJxRYycsCl2Nv48MeU1szqn6P5bk2ulJ5mmF1uJmg1NeGJqtRoXNRr_L_k/s320/78topps356b.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
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The 1978 season was a low point in the history of the New York mets. The stars of the early-mid 70s (Tom Seaver, Jon matlack, Dave Kingman, etc.) were gone and Joe Torre was left with a shell of a team to manage. It would take several years for the mets' fortunes to turn around.<br />
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Team Record: </b>66-96 (6th in NL East, 24 games behind Philadelphia Phillies)</li>
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<ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Attendance:</b>1,007,328 (10th in NL) </li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Team Batting:</b> .245 (11th in NL)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Team Home Runs:</b> 86 (8th in NL)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Team Runs Scored:</b> 607 (8th in NL)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Team Stolen Bases: </b>100 (8th in NL)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Team ERA:</b> 3.87 (10th in NL)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Team Fielding: </b>.979 (2nd in NL)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>All Stars:</b> Pat Zachry</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>NL Leaders:</b> craig Swan ERA (2.43)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>NL Awards:</b> ---</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Batting Leader:</b> Lee mazilli .273</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Home Run Leader:</b> Willie montanez 17</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>RBI Leader: </b>Willie montanez 96</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Stolen Base Leader:</b> John Stearns 25</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Victories Leader:</b> Nino Espinosa 11</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Losses Leader: </b>Nino Espinosa, Jerry Koosman (15)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>ERA Leader (starters):</b> craig Swan (2.43)<br /><b>ERA Leader (relievers):</b> Skip Lockwood (3.57)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Strikeout Leader: </b>Jerry Koosman (160)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Saves Leader:</b> Skip Lockwood (15)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Players who could have had 1978 Topps New York mets cards (minimum 100 AB or 40 IP):</b></li>
<ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Tom Greive - got a card with Texas Rangers</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Paul Siebert (0-2, 5.14 ERA in 27 games)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Tom Hausman (3-3, 4.70 ERA in 10 starts)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Dwight Bernard (1-4, 4.31 ERA in 30 games/1 start)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Dale murray - got a card with cincinnati Reds</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Willie montanez - got a card with Atlanta Braves</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-45631368902971632372020-05-17T20:11:00.000-07:002020-05-17T20:11:09.023-07:001978 Topps Baseball #355 - Bill Travers<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QeK1WRX22pgMUa5H-hHFgxdAMMD_rbMHkXE_bvvOpmYEe9H6bLrBlAbf0FCJYk1Izr23VyOVOGE4V4E0fezMR7kUQiManGpeTh-UmkQFcHhqrc8ccmtt5CJ6Gq6ddZHyWoIjNq2Eocs/s1600/78topps355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QeK1WRX22pgMUa5H-hHFgxdAMMD_rbMHkXE_bvvOpmYEe9H6bLrBlAbf0FCJYk1Izr23VyOVOGE4V4E0fezMR7kUQiManGpeTh-UmkQFcHhqrc8ccmtt5CJ6Gq6ddZHyWoIjNq2Eocs/s320/78topps355.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>Bill Travers started the 1978 season on the disabled list and did not make his first start until May 15.</li>
<li>This was the second of four seasons that Travers would have double figures in wins.</li>
<li><b>1978 Stats:</b>12-11, 4.41 ERA in 28 starts</li>
<li><b>1978 Highlights</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL197806100.shtml">June 10</a> - Pitched a five-hit shutout against the Toronto Blue Jays as the Brewers won 5-0.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL197808170.shtml">Aug 17</a> - Shut the Blue Jays out on five hits again in Milwaukee's 6-0 win.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL197809042.shtml">Sept 4 </a>- Picked up his 10th win of the year and struck out a season-high seven batters as the Seattle Mariners were shut out 5-0.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-47552727178592516582020-05-16T20:11:00.000-07:002020-05-16T20:11:01.507-07:001978 Topps Baseball #354 - Cesar Geronimo<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-RNS86GoXwEvhKYerLKMPaW3Y2CjT_s6T-Vk3b4Ip3bugJopjntqfWYZP9dVMD61EZTpEA2NrAI2u10lNTUxo91cFeEBtiHWcyabgZe6gc96TnalKlz0DjGd354PqYdkUMLdIMjK1S0/s1600/78topps354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="753" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-RNS86GoXwEvhKYerLKMPaW3Y2CjT_s6T-Vk3b4Ip3bugJopjntqfWYZP9dVMD61EZTpEA2NrAI2u10lNTUxo91cFeEBtiHWcyabgZe6gc96TnalKlz0DjGd354PqYdkUMLdIMjK1S0/s320/78topps354.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNu-bSB3joQqcGBv9q3PsXFOvAvAb2_fXfPLE_Ws4Eb2sNyGYfvLrmG90Zgrl9D5LwtG16HRX-W-xNI7ou63lgDGQdfgcwXz7j2u-CixMsbhXNm-TKGg7KPcOd1T57LZaBZcET_ZUltYE/s1600/78topps354b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1052" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNu-bSB3joQqcGBv9q3PsXFOvAvAb2_fXfPLE_Ws4Eb2sNyGYfvLrmG90Zgrl9D5LwtG16HRX-W-xNI7ou63lgDGQdfgcwXz7j2u-CixMsbhXNm-TKGg7KPcOd1T57LZaBZcET_ZUltYE/s320/78topps354b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>Cesar Geronimo is listed as the starting center fielder for the 1978 Cincinnati Reds, but he only had 296 at bats and started only 86 times. Dave Collins was coming up at that time and he would start to take playing time from Geronimo in the next few years.</li>
<li>Geronimo had a rough offensive year of his career in 1978. He started in center field in 1979, but after that he would be a backup for the rest of his career.</li>
<li>Cesar batted over .300 for the first five weeks of the season</li>
<li><b>1978 Stats</b>: .226, 5 HR, 27 RBI in 122 games</li>
<li><b>1978 Highlights</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN197809270.shtml">April 29</a> - Had two hits, a home run, and three RBI in Cincinnati's 14-7 win over the New York Mets.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT197806100.shtml">June 10</a> - Homered in the 9th inning to help the Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-4.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN197806240.shtml">June 24</a> - Had three hits in the Reds' 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-25910869611971234162020-05-15T20:09:00.000-07:002020-05-15T20:09:06.306-07:001978 Topps Baseball #353 - Doug Bair.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRCNbw_Gig52cGc5N8rFKTvPc3JWcaCVQkEckyNXiGCDeWa4mL-2kN1-CQQKhEDdGUcM2Ho62ds-nIRgTg1mreP7BfGzSY7J8Lag608IzlPcMizNep904gvYho75hsFweoymtUL4g4rY/s1600/78topps353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRCNbw_Gig52cGc5N8rFKTvPc3JWcaCVQkEckyNXiGCDeWa4mL-2kN1-CQQKhEDdGUcM2Ho62ds-nIRgTg1mreP7BfGzSY7J8Lag608IzlPcMizNep904gvYho75hsFweoymtUL4g4rY/s320/78topps353.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuNs8lRXbLHFTKSlpYZd5cmR46LYOtGez6kk0smq2vQDaRu3Ik-N2AwXcuPzJ5iiLtIprJNRyaVIjqU1oSpNit27ZEYUD6dnpT8ME-ETr1ajULhKJGlv6htkSBvRh_xDmRY6t-VohkP8/s1600/78topps353b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="1600" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuNs8lRXbLHFTKSlpYZd5cmR46LYOtGez6kk0smq2vQDaRu3Ik-N2AwXcuPzJ5iiLtIprJNRyaVIjqU1oSpNit27ZEYUD6dnpT8ME-ETr1ajULhKJGlv6htkSBvRh_xDmRY6t-VohkP8/s320/78topps353b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>Doug Bair was acquired by the Cincinnati Reds in a trade with the Oakland A's in February 1978. The Reds sent Dave Revering and cash to Oakland in return.</li>
<li>Bair had his best season in 1978. He became the Reds' closer after the trade of Dale Murray to the Mets in mid May. Doug had career highs in just about every category in 1978.</li>
<li><b>1978 Stats:</b> 7-6, 28 saves, 1.97 ERA in 70 games</li>
<li><b>1978 Highlights:</b></li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN197805072.shtml">May 7</a> - Pitched three shutout innings to earn the save in Cincinnati's 4-2 win over the Montreal Expos.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN197807140.shtml">July 14</a> - Struck out six batters in three shutout innings and earned the win as the Reds beat the New York Mets 6-3.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN197809270.shtml">Sept. 27</a> - Earned his 28th and final save of the 1978 season by pitching two shutout innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He saved the game for Pedro Borbon, who somehow went 8-2 as a reliever in spite of a 4.98 ERA.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<br />Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-7052271202546953782020-05-14T19:57:00.000-07:002020-05-14T19:57:05.942-07:001978 Topps Baseball #352 - Tony Scott<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnl3rh3CseZZabPMzkmCYFxkgy1ys2K0kuD7nlD_cCkjM8ScvDEI6-r5BtVzFwQ0RSdTLuYqh8pMEYsxY2jjoDbghbaIVZT6cYBWcowggonkdupBGPPJo7oTCvTwVEfR2gPtdZnsU6r40/s1600/78topps352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1204" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnl3rh3CseZZabPMzkmCYFxkgy1ys2K0kuD7nlD_cCkjM8ScvDEI6-r5BtVzFwQ0RSdTLuYqh8pMEYsxY2jjoDbghbaIVZT6cYBWcowggonkdupBGPPJo7oTCvTwVEfR2gPtdZnsU6r40/s320/78topps352.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXYtaZqyyEb_hVt3UhFN2d__zi6z09cFeheIw2Af7Pqrg8rrCPiEChWPmjZcdB67LZ4rqp-XHkfDU23TwiZg9ht0v8IPW8P9jxG1R2IcDsxLLlOvf_zEWe9OVCGyIqnULUlOykBj_-gE/s1600/78topps352b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="1600" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXYtaZqyyEb_hVt3UhFN2d__zi6z09cFeheIw2Af7Pqrg8rrCPiEChWPmjZcdB67LZ4rqp-XHkfDU23TwiZg9ht0v8IPW8P9jxG1R2IcDsxLLlOvf_zEWe9OVCGyIqnULUlOykBj_-gE/s320/78topps352b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm back again. I finally got a scanner so that I can scan the rest of my 1978 cards.</div>
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<ul>
<li>Tony Scott served as a backup outfielder for the Cardinals in 1978. Scott played in all three outfield spots.</li>
<li>Scott started six of the first seven games in center field, but was relegated to the bench after starting out with a .174 average in those six games.</li>
<li>Tony started playing regularly in 1979 and remained a starter until being traded to Houston for Joaquin Andujar in 1981. Scott had won an arbitration case before the 1981 season so perhaps that had something to do with the trade. </li>
<li><b>1978 Stats:</b> .228, 1 HR, 14 RBI in 96 games</li>
<li><b>1978 Highlights:</b></li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN197805070.shtml">May 7</a> - Had three hits and raised his batting average from .212 to .270 in the Cardinals' 8-4 victory over the San Diego Padres</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN197807200.shtml">July 20</a> - Appeared as a pinch hitter and singled in the tying run off of Rollie Fingers as the Cardinals beat the San Diego Padres 3-2.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN197808110.shtml">Aug 11</a> - Hit a pinch home run in the 8th inning to put the Cardinals ahead 1-0 and singled and scored in the 12th inning to help the Cardinals beat the New York Mets 4-1.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<br />Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-88073403329959875552018-03-03T22:05:00.001-07:002018-03-03T22:16:33.805-07:001978 Topps Baseball #351 - Jeff Torborg<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-14kCG8rhG_VNy6qWyFamlOYkpM6TdkKXNXV5Xg2Z4PR-obFP-IhOqjYxCa6vltsxl4FqRsZ7W29ZquAPhIglqMWwSe-nCEfJn973-GHVg5GZ8uMUkiVEpFykiWKDLNKAe3yeIKsnUM/s1600/78topps351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1056" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-14kCG8rhG_VNy6qWyFamlOYkpM6TdkKXNXV5Xg2Z4PR-obFP-IhOqjYxCa6vltsxl4FqRsZ7W29ZquAPhIglqMWwSe-nCEfJn973-GHVg5GZ8uMUkiVEpFykiWKDLNKAe3yeIKsnUM/s320/78topps351.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj509y1cvLCvrGBiXhG0hgrzQGT_M0juEmbC4Vn3BubNHsadxmROkIfCO0thCtkDqxPE22RV9quhR-gcslM8IKAoJImSB_eBF0H_ACSLbxPjsjKAbDMZH6ehvVBmg-ObrOdy6glS4H5W3Y/s1600/78topps351b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="1040" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj509y1cvLCvrGBiXhG0hgrzQGT_M0juEmbC4Vn3BubNHsadxmROkIfCO0thCtkDqxPE22RV9quhR-gcslM8IKAoJImSB_eBF0H_ACSLbxPjsjKAbDMZH6ehvVBmg-ObrOdy6glS4H5W3Y/s320/78topps351b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<li>Jeff Torborg was a backup catcher with the LA Dodgers and the California Angels from 1965-1973. </li>
</blockquote>
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<li>Jeff was born in Plainfield, New Jersey. My father was born there a year earlier. I wonder if they knew each other.</li>
</blockquote>
<br />
<ul>
<li> Torborg was tasked with replacing Frank Robinson as manager of the Indians in 1977. He managed the team for part of 1977, all of 1978, and part of 1979 before <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19790724&id=Aj8sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xs0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5226,4647918&hl=en">being let go in July 1979</a>.</li>
<li>After his dismissal from the Indians Jeff coached with the New York Yankees from 1979-1988.</li>
<li>Jeff managed the Chicago White Sox from 1989-1991. He was named AL Manager of the Year in 1990.</li>
<li>Torborg moved to the New York Mets for the 1992 season. He had a rough time as the Mets' manager and lasted one full season and a partial season in 1993.</li>
<li>Jeff was a sportscaster for the remainder of the 1990s and was hired to manage the Montral Expos in 2001.</li>
<li>Jeff <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1957&dat=20020305&id=0XMhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uogFAAAAIBAJ&pg=991,1182756&hl=en">moved from the Expos to the Florida Marlins</a> in 2003 after Jeff Loria sold the Expos and bought the Marlins. Torborg was replaced by Jack McKeon early in 2003 and the Marlins went on to win the World Series under McKeon.</li>
<li>Torborg was a sportscaster for a few years and is now living in New Jersey.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<li><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;">
<br />
<li><b>Managerial Record</b>:</li>
</blockquote>
</li>
<br />
<ul><ul>
<li><b>Minor League Career: </b>Never managed in the minors</li>
<li><b>Major League Career:</b> 634-718 (.469) in 11 seasons</li>
<ul>
<li><b>Cleveland Indians</b> (1977-1979): 157-201 .439</li>
<li><b>Chicago White Sox </b>(1989-1991): 250-235 (.515)</li>
<li><b>New York Mets </b>(1992-1993): 85-115 .425</li>
<li><b>Montreal Expos</b> (2001): 47-62 .431</li>
<li><b>Florida Marlins</b> (2002-2003): 95-105 .475</li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-60023550221492319352018-02-11T20:57:00.000-07:002018-02-11T20:57:05.051-07:001978 Topps Baseball #350 - Steve Garvey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-snGCOsOt-B_L5LA8J0UU7yBIlvHNckMTkNY-CLRP9WNlPOmoav7OlpQ24fnF9a7O8_xPxDUDsA1zOG_LGimEv_de_QtiQQ4GMnvzoM-rnKCAesBgjgd5hVJJFl8mRIZ-Wyed4W4-i8/s1600/78topps350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="759" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-snGCOsOt-B_L5LA8J0UU7yBIlvHNckMTkNY-CLRP9WNlPOmoav7OlpQ24fnF9a7O8_xPxDUDsA1zOG_LGimEv_de_QtiQQ4GMnvzoM-rnKCAesBgjgd5hVJJFl8mRIZ-Wyed4W4-i8/s320/78topps350.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WAP6j9D38pjq7d4aTfKLCkmX776CJT_QJej-4m1X4_neesAbpmqxa5EdYn30vUoMTmgEw47JwUJVA8HjqGQSvuvq4G6qgN1guIXc4HcUaiTh9eeluj3v7o3Hu0isqyCIVry_qyAuO4c/s1600/78topps350b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="1056" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WAP6j9D38pjq7d4aTfKLCkmX776CJT_QJej-4m1X4_neesAbpmqxa5EdYn30vUoMTmgEw47JwUJVA8HjqGQSvuvq4G6qgN1guIXc4HcUaiTh9eeluj3v7o3Hu0isqyCIVry_qyAuO4c/s320/78topps350b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">Even though Steve Garvey was a Dodger, his cards were always among the most desired by the kids on my block.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Steve had a good year in 1978, leading the NL with 202 hits. He was an NL All Star for the fifth of eight straight seasons. He was on the NL All Star team a total of ten times during his career. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Steve started the season with a 21-game hitting streak and had a 20-game hitting streak at the end of the season (it was broken on the last day of the season when he had only one at bat to preserve his consecutive games streak).</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><br /></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>1978 Stats</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">Regular Season: .304, 26 HR, 106 RBI in (his usual) 162 games</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">NL Championship Series: .389, 4 HR, 7 RBI in 4 games; NLCS MVP</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">World Series:.208, 0 HR, 0 RBI in 6 games</li>
</ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>1978 Highlights</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN197808080.shtml">Aug 8</a> - Knocked in all three Dodger runs with two home runs as the Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 3-2.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL197809100.shtml">Sept 10</a> - Had five hits as the Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 11-5.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI197810040.shtml">Oct 4</a> - Homered twice and tripled<a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1988&dat=19781005&id=o2wiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=o6wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1424,2944979&hl=en"> to lead the Dodgers to a 9-5 win</a> over the Philadelphia Phillies in game 1 of the NL Championship Series.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-27052245796041809292018-02-09T20:56:00.000-07:002018-02-09T20:56:15.842-07:001978 Topps Baseball #349 - Rick Camp<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilethpXFuNgA-2uqfQCcJQh8OFzjLaEKE5b4_wiZv2pkM8WncIMhkYuvFn_sBr_LBr_t9-nKDrtXjnW7YXI0y62PFXXqcbsvEUZyiPsQyMozNZp9e12BAfuL5z6LSQwnfleKHDQV6Wals/s1600/78topps349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="756" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilethpXFuNgA-2uqfQCcJQh8OFzjLaEKE5b4_wiZv2pkM8WncIMhkYuvFn_sBr_LBr_t9-nKDrtXjnW7YXI0y62PFXXqcbsvEUZyiPsQyMozNZp9e12BAfuL5z6LSQwnfleKHDQV6Wals/s320/78topps349.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8_WsVcciVB88QFqvYp370w7BsMtyf4zTll10qd2ny3pXT3H2cd7tTWqHyaGVKHtFLG6oHgiQtbRoztmxHLQLxVtF40bvb8wMvZHCjLj_CDFQOBBga6-dCP4NQz_384Tg6vtVZ-Rydh4/s1600/78topps349b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1056" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8_WsVcciVB88QFqvYp370w7BsMtyf4zTll10qd2ny3pXT3H2cd7tTWqHyaGVKHtFLG6oHgiQtbRoztmxHLQLxVtF40bvb8wMvZHCjLj_CDFQOBBga6-dCP4NQz_384Tg6vtVZ-Rydh4/s320/78topps349b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>Rick Camp was a middle reliever for the Braves in 1978. He started four games in June and July and those starts may have landed him on the disabled list. Rick's first start came on June 27. He had pitched 1.2 innings on June 25. Then he made a relief appearance on June 30. Camp started a game two days later on July 3. He made two more starts before going on the DL. Rick pitched pretty well as a starter -- he won two of his four starts and pitched six scoreless innings in another start but didn't get the decision.</li>
<li>Rick pitched in AAA Richmond in 1979 and then had his two best seasons in 1980 and 1981. In 1980 Camp was <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=348&dat=19800420&id=cestAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7TIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2652,2619099&hl=en">just happy to be on the team</a> after enduring a nerve problem in his arm.</li>
<li><b>1978 Stats</b>: 2-4, 3.75 ERA in 42 games (4 starts)</li>
<li><b>1978 Highlights</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN197807030.shtml">July 3</a> - Went six innings and earned his first win of the season over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Braves beat the Dodgers 4-2.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN197807030.shtml">July 15</a> - Pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings in his last start and got the victory in a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-26117082091640596992018-02-05T14:51:00.000-07:002018-02-05T14:51:01.310-07:001978 Topps Baseball #348 - Del Unser<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKbb1sQYLfDpBZAsnxgYWIZmLmOpgW9y4M172wRJPPrWHD6OFx0w1uGYDyIvGbsEH6tgPUdgWfswarV2awnYMm3YK8NB_Cc2NSwpAGHyiRm6N6XLHFRMKo_Eg6e4_Jg8ynXrpIM4v-FA/s1600/78topps348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKbb1sQYLfDpBZAsnxgYWIZmLmOpgW9y4M172wRJPPrWHD6OFx0w1uGYDyIvGbsEH6tgPUdgWfswarV2awnYMm3YK8NB_Cc2NSwpAGHyiRm6N6XLHFRMKo_Eg6e4_Jg8ynXrpIM4v-FA/s320/78topps348.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHoMUxLHqG4PQ1eJeQqdtthsczNlT0HUQjo8tEX8UrhaL7oXG0IdgxEKblKOIFRlASOBTbxYsaNiGQsMebQDcQcCSDEeVscw5AgHSJBrEkKOnclPq7bfarqg8Mlw0OKIWlfDenPOpSwA/s1600/78topps348b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1056" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHoMUxLHqG4PQ1eJeQqdtthsczNlT0HUQjo8tEX8UrhaL7oXG0IdgxEKblKOIFRlASOBTbxYsaNiGQsMebQDcQcCSDEeVscw5AgHSJBrEkKOnclPq7bfarqg8Mlw0OKIWlfDenPOpSwA/s320/78topps348b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>Although Del Unser played for several teams, I always think of him as a Phillie. Perhaps it's because the first card I saw of him was the 1974 card and he was pictured with the Phillies. Or perhaps it was because he was a member of the famous 1980 Philadelphia team.</li>
<li>Del had his toughest year (except his final season) of his career. He was in the starting lineup in eight of the Expos' first nine games, but after that his starts were infrequent (about 1-2 a month). </li>
<li><b>1978 Stats</b>: .196, 2 HR, 15 RBI in 130 games (179 AB)</li>
<li><b>1978 Highlights</b>: </li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN197804092.shtml">April 9</a> - Had two hits, scored a run, and knocked in a run in a 5-0 win over the New York Mets</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON197807010.shtml">July 1</a> - Homered in the bottom of the 9th inning to lead the Expos to a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-61229400265630946962018-02-04T11:51:00.000-07:002018-02-04T11:51:22.763-07:001978 Topps Baseball #347 - Terry Forster<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80oK39jGG016UN0oLZKro95kqj9CKvu3NgZLCWy_JBLXiETqPUEdCE4iu8Dnc1zFNaWHZAWa1IFgMvAhKhD4jam60gSFxsRY3rI68kR3aQfK5rWUGyeY-iPrDPaYMYEChBvVHo_UkH2c/s1600/78topps347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1047" data-original-width="745" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80oK39jGG016UN0oLZKro95kqj9CKvu3NgZLCWy_JBLXiETqPUEdCE4iu8Dnc1zFNaWHZAWa1IFgMvAhKhD4jam60gSFxsRY3rI68kR3aQfK5rWUGyeY-iPrDPaYMYEChBvVHo_UkH2c/s320/78topps347.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SX-K6e2M1grQHbJDqhgLHJQPc0xKPIWzF8REmQ49x1Cu6Q-3y_u9sJHzxT7IQpocEIh4qzsi2UKFxRu9EaglniVkA5CCCzW3euV5ts4O_EOzcmIWAhs45diQq1aG4v8AhsUGhMDo654/s1600/78topps347b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="1056" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SX-K6e2M1grQHbJDqhgLHJQPc0xKPIWzF8REmQ49x1Cu6Q-3y_u9sJHzxT7IQpocEIh4qzsi2UKFxRu9EaglniVkA5CCCzW3euV5ts4O_EOzcmIWAhs45diQq1aG4v8AhsUGhMDo654/s320/78topps347b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>Terry Forster left the Pittsburgh Pirates after the 1977 season and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent. Terry's signing was done early enough for Topps to airbrush him into a Dodger uniform for his 1978 card.</li>
<li>Forster led a talented Dodger staff in saves and in ERA in 1978. Terry even went 4 for 8 for a .500 batting average.</li>
<li>He had a rough time with injuries in 1979 and in 1980.</li>
<li><b>1978 Stats</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li>Regular Season: 5-4, 22 saves, 1.93 ERA in 47 games</li>
<li>NL Championship Series: 1-0, 0.00 ERA in 1 game</li>
<li>World Series: 0-0, 0.00 ERA in 3 games (4 innings)</li>
</ul>
<li><b>1978 Highlights</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN197809110.shtml">Sept 11</a> - Got a 3-inning save as the Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 7-2. It was Terry's 19th save of the season. Forster was a "Giant Killer" in 1978 -- he was 2-1 with 4 saves in eight games against the Giants.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN197810070.shtml">Oct 7</a> - Pitched a scoreless top of the 10th inning in game 4 of the NL Championship Series and then got the victory when Bill Russell singled in Ron Cey with the winning run in the bottom of the 10th</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-25622948636304083982018-02-02T20:13:00.000-07:002018-02-02T20:13:20.596-07:001978 Topps Baseball #346 - Larry Biittner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzKZFCKElCd6eyYzOKRrnXSFpfSEgRsnzstlCEurySiDqJIvwpHQ2A0bIxyG9qDHh4EmS3ZWtD2XCfATfq_TcTbe9Na7vQ5nDhAuP0iaDG3lnSnjx4SLKVHY5oxIxdb23Hc1Rz6s9iFs/s1600/78topps346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="759" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzKZFCKElCd6eyYzOKRrnXSFpfSEgRsnzstlCEurySiDqJIvwpHQ2A0bIxyG9qDHh4EmS3ZWtD2XCfATfq_TcTbe9Na7vQ5nDhAuP0iaDG3lnSnjx4SLKVHY5oxIxdb23Hc1Rz6s9iFs/s320/78topps346.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WpjFbi7vxUEssHZyj23qkOsVM_lbkY58blS1AHDDuCKzTvelMPrKz93TGBg4pZCUFTss-KVJ-MXTVxcf35Dd8929ExyCW8YeD1x-oZhyrHvao760cjRRrv76nWPwXiqajyuuMq0V-M0/s1600/78topps346b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="1056" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WpjFbi7vxUEssHZyj23qkOsVM_lbkY58blS1AHDDuCKzTvelMPrKz93TGBg4pZCUFTss-KVJ-MXTVxcf35Dd8929ExyCW8YeD1x-oZhyrHvao760cjRRrv76nWPwXiqajyuuMq0V-M0/s320/78topps346b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">Larry Biittner was a backup left fielder and first baseman for the Chicago Cubs.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>1978 Stats:</b> .257, 4 HR, 50 RBI in 120 games</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>1978 Highlights</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL197804280.shtml">April 28</a> - Appeared as a pinch hitter in the top of the 10th inning and singled in the eventual winning run to help the Cubs beat the Atlanta Braves 4-3</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU197806160.shtml">June 16</a> - Had four hits and scored twice in Chicago's 7-6 win over the Houston Astros.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN197809240.shtml">Sept 24</a> - Had two hits and knocked in the winning run in the top of the 9th inning as the Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-11072278085995347722018-01-23T20:11:00.000-07:002018-01-23T20:11:11.925-07:001978 Topps Baseball #344 - Sam Ewing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1g1pQKS8V_bx07xstkWSM0p-9eCxk9doyq72GzLsAuSFEcuPLTw2mlxUsNoWTKQkyzZ-2Igsv4x2FkcHSUoQi_xA4l_-BiEA8ttguUV68AFlQHHETBdDbNwJD9GnnJYPp3dRuRJ3p2A/s1600/78topps344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1g1pQKS8V_bx07xstkWSM0p-9eCxk9doyq72GzLsAuSFEcuPLTw2mlxUsNoWTKQkyzZ-2Igsv4x2FkcHSUoQi_xA4l_-BiEA8ttguUV68AFlQHHETBdDbNwJD9GnnJYPp3dRuRJ3p2A/s320/78topps344.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSymQ4b65KC4FBWEH9K-mkt2bEV17OEyNNwagubkVHP6btyxdxTAdDORl15vbeLtDMdkFhZeApG4hyWDZuKsqZcOuCIuwEsAU5YD2FpxOiPYqovh90M9XvBpPrE5bUAzsQ1Pp5I_7Nw8/s1600/78topps344b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="1056" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSymQ4b65KC4FBWEH9K-mkt2bEV17OEyNNwagubkVHP6btyxdxTAdDORl15vbeLtDMdkFhZeApG4hyWDZuKsqZcOuCIuwEsAU5YD2FpxOiPYqovh90M9XvBpPrE5bUAzsQ1Pp5I_7Nw8/s320/78topps344b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>There are some rough looking cards in this part of my set. I'll need to get a card lot or something to replace some of these.</li>
<li>This was Sam Ewing's last major league season. After the season he went to Japan for the 1979 season.</li>
<li>Sam Ewing had some good years in AAA but except for the 1977 season he didn't have much success in the majors.</li>
<li><b>1978 Stats</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li>Toronto Blue Jays: .179, 2 HR, 9 RBI in 40 games.</li>
<li>Syracuse Chiefs (AAA): .233, 1 HR, 5 RBI in 8 games</li>
</ul>
<li><b>1978 Highlights</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TOR/TOR197805150.shtml">May 15</a> - Singled in two runs as a pinch hitter during a 9-run Toronto outburst in the 7th inning. Toronto beat the California Angels 10-6.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TOR/TOR197807010.shtml">July 1</a> - Pinch hit for Luis Gomez and hit a 2-run home run in Toronto's 9-3 win over the Cleveland Indians</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-66072113607328369382018-01-22T19:40:00.000-07:002018-01-22T19:40:26.608-07:001978 Topps Baseball #343 - John Wathan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwG6eIM8RMtlu3MS19kEFq0ZAczozT_ZPJKyJNtRGdczEbzRHRuvJBHDj8QnlfyGY9vqc9SVCimS1pUNnIgFHY5rmin3MZj-_rZIzPiNBtOaxS0veLvuy83yyHlIajHDFEaoBDvHEeIy4/s1600/78topps343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1047" data-original-width="751" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwG6eIM8RMtlu3MS19kEFq0ZAczozT_ZPJKyJNtRGdczEbzRHRuvJBHDj8QnlfyGY9vqc9SVCimS1pUNnIgFHY5rmin3MZj-_rZIzPiNBtOaxS0veLvuy83yyHlIajHDFEaoBDvHEeIy4/s320/78topps343.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>John Wathan played well as a backup first baseman and catchter in 1978. Wathan didn't have a lot of power, but he batted .300 for the season.</li>
<li><b>1978 Stats</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li>Regular Season: .300, 2 HR, 28 RBI in 67 games</li>
<li>AL Championship Series: .000 (0 for 3) in 1 game</li>
</ul>
<li><b>1978 Highlights</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA197804280.shtml">April 28</a>: Appeared as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 8th inning. He singled in a run and then scored the tying run in Kansas City's comeback 7-6 win over the Seattle Mariners.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA197807090.shtml">July 9</a>: Had 3 hits, including a double and a home run, as the Royals beat the Baltimore Orioles 10-4.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-5234185812604743102018-01-21T15:32:00.000-07:002018-01-21T15:32:02.313-07:001978 Topps Baseball #341 - Mike Flanagan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1D6tAgawj9fpzb7HDJMgv4yIpj1Nbm4QNAGq8a0jpMRHOCVrGY-pNEyJS603gUVgPpN8YJY0d_TzVheXNgNyvTbC_xzY54SZo9AByifpUngwziiJjcthQhjX1rxh32nUm3CiNH_xWJ8A/s1600/78topps341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="784" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1D6tAgawj9fpzb7HDJMgv4yIpj1Nbm4QNAGq8a0jpMRHOCVrGY-pNEyJS603gUVgPpN8YJY0d_TzVheXNgNyvTbC_xzY54SZo9AByifpUngwziiJjcthQhjX1rxh32nUm3CiNH_xWJ8A/s320/78topps341.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONPyMsoRvCaTPAgGcpZD2qtpWS65JNpw3dCgQOz8Bj_Y4eEV9RwR3FqMyZcYwswZkvRDKuLn9-AKs-wQVJlACe4ZbH3ZohOiWmoyNyfap222A2DNEvtRphtVwI8XXctO6wtmPl6QcrNs/s1600/78topps341b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1040" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONPyMsoRvCaTPAgGcpZD2qtpWS65JNpw3dCgQOz8Bj_Y4eEV9RwR3FqMyZcYwswZkvRDKuLn9-AKs-wQVJlACe4ZbH3ZohOiWmoyNyfap222A2DNEvtRphtVwI8XXctO6wtmPl6QcrNs/s320/78topps341b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>Mike Flanagan was an all-star for the only time in his career in 1978. It's a bit odd that he made the AL All Star team in 1978 but didn't make it in 1979 (his Cy Young year).</li>
<li><b>1978 Stats</b>: 19-15, 4.05 ERA in 40 starts</li>
<li><b>1978 Highlights</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BAL/BAL197805230.shtml">May 23</a> - Allowed two hits and shut out the Detroit Tigers 2-0.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BAL/BAL197806130.shtml">June 13</a> - Went the distance and then some in an 11-inning 3-2 win over the Seattle Mariners. It was his fourth complete game victory in a row.</li>
<li><br /></li>
</ul>
</ul>
Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-9892279911935609342018-01-20T20:49:00.000-07:002018-01-20T20:49:15.809-07:001978 Topps Baseball #340 - Bake McBride<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6rdzfrYE9V5gMaJC8D5jzWAVOOszkuYzQE_c9XQlDBUvtbs1e90tKAfCCgWVwdm2-5eFYiwzUvfxYpdLTT9ZK4riTtmZohVJI4Tw1aVUSwV2qM48pcttF0snK8-kdtd2g4UIfLpZ2Ic/s1600/78topps340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="751" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6rdzfrYE9V5gMaJC8D5jzWAVOOszkuYzQE_c9XQlDBUvtbs1e90tKAfCCgWVwdm2-5eFYiwzUvfxYpdLTT9ZK4riTtmZohVJI4Tw1aVUSwV2qM48pcttF0snK8-kdtd2g4UIfLpZ2Ic/s320/78topps340.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14wwCOJJXrTfukrKMDOgzmqJfbd-G4pCpgUKgGD65EfBgWDieOBuP6sbr7JkgwcIbW6lrnprWV6ZpkLMddngK59dGp8Jj0SVL4Y9jcUU7zDTzZE9k439eEiHc5Rjl5NwzHd75rgjTJ_o/s1600/78topps340b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1055" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14wwCOJJXrTfukrKMDOgzmqJfbd-G4pCpgUKgGD65EfBgWDieOBuP6sbr7JkgwcIbW6lrnprWV6ZpkLMddngK59dGp8Jj0SVL4Y9jcUU7zDTzZE9k439eEiHc5Rjl5NwzHd75rgjTJ_o/s320/78topps340b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">Bake McBride had his lowest batting average in 1978. It looks like he was hurt for a couple of weeks in late July.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>1978 Statistics:</b></li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">Regular Season: .269, 10 HR, 49 RBI in 122 games</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">NL Championship Series: .222 (2 for 9) in 3 games</li>
</ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>1978 Highlights</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN197806302.shtml">June 30</a> - Had three hits, scored one run, and knocked in a run in Philadelphia's 6-5 win over the Chicago Cubs</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN197808270.shtml">Aug 27</a> - Had four hits and scored four runs as the Phillies beat the LA Dodgers 9-3.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
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Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-274268167916585292018-01-19T15:08:00.000-07:002018-01-19T15:08:06.820-07:001978 Topps Baseball #339 - Mario Guerrero<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgth5Fo0JZ9m_ZFb_AkDA_n-YBoBKi-jwTHvXd6COh05JzCHZmCRqf1N_YubJA6Iut5I9KNHLgKF16F8IHR3Nytf2fRMCoRhRE9kkR33yHuBof59WY31ftOj0dDb84tpajdFOvvzhiOcg/s1600/78topps339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="756" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgth5Fo0JZ9m_ZFb_AkDA_n-YBoBKi-jwTHvXd6COh05JzCHZmCRqf1N_YubJA6Iut5I9KNHLgKF16F8IHR3Nytf2fRMCoRhRE9kkR33yHuBof59WY31ftOj0dDb84tpajdFOvvzhiOcg/s320/78topps339.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6WQQDvPC1Q-X4qQk4Oz3XkWXxAlxaQfGIZ1ZcbBMhxvMuPlPD1eQWkfJ3pQSVrHgcffgFoCBaKiK7jkeCjsramk7cE8hhXhGqTpXdXHW4wQa_0dezBl968Cn91UGZeVwMwyK2mKAnHg/s1600/78topps339b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1040" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6WQQDvPC1Q-X4qQk4Oz3XkWXxAlxaQfGIZ1ZcbBMhxvMuPlPD1eQWkfJ3pQSVrHgcffgFoCBaKiK7jkeCjsramk7cE8hhXhGqTpXdXHW4wQa_0dezBl968Cn91UGZeVwMwyK2mKAnHg/s320/78topps339b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>Mario Guerrero signed with the San Francisco Giants as a free agent in December 1977. But Mario never played for the Giants during the regular season. On April 7 he was sent to the Oakland A's as a player to be named later in the Vida Blue trade.</li>
<li>Guerrero had career highs in most categories in 1978. He was the starting shortstop for the A's for most of the season.</li>
<li>Mario was replaced as the starting shortstop by Rob Picciolo in 1979 and he split time with Picciolo in 1980.</li>
<li><b>1978 Stats</b>: .275, 3 HR, 38 RBI in 143 games</li>
<li><b>1978 Highlights</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIN/MIN197804190.shtml">April 19</a> - Had four hits in Oakland's 6-5 win over the Minnesota Twins.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK197804290.shtml">April 29</a> - Knocked in four of Oakland's five runs as the A's beat the Cleveland Indians 5-1.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET197805120.shtml">May 12</a> - Hit a one-hopper off <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2706&dat=19780516&id=8NtJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xx0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=3590,957272&hl=en">of the face of Tiger pitcher Steve Foucault</a> in the 9th inning. A run scored during Oakland's seven run 9th inning and the A's won 10-4.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-20938362520609621512018-01-18T11:30:00.000-07:002018-01-18T11:30:56.705-07:001978 Topps Baseball #338 - Dave Heaverlo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWBLw0OZ6bVs_xt3VaNzFCVG9JwNtIrLOXnmIN-7_kZO3mxF6jgHaUxmoFKBTOIb0_dRymiRIDgw0Q1esnqGeHhyphenhyphenOEhT4vnrP8o9CKkeGsyddsr-CcthOwrmJn2pUeiIVNaqNuMX-8o8/s1600/78topps338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWBLw0OZ6bVs_xt3VaNzFCVG9JwNtIrLOXnmIN-7_kZO3mxF6jgHaUxmoFKBTOIb0_dRymiRIDgw0Q1esnqGeHhyphenhyphenOEhT4vnrP8o9CKkeGsyddsr-CcthOwrmJn2pUeiIVNaqNuMX-8o8/s320/78topps338.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>Before the 1978 season Dave Heaverlo was traded to the Oakland A's in the big Vida Blue deal. The A's got six players and $300,000 for Blue.</li>
<li>Dave had career highs in appearances and innings pitched in 1978. He was second to Elias Sosa in saves on the team -- Sosa had 14 and Heaverlo had ten.</li>
<li><b>1978 Stats</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li>Oakland A's - 3-6, 3.25 ERA, 10 saves in 69 games</li>
</ul>
<li><b>1978 Highlights</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CAL/CAL197804080.shtml">April 8</a> - Earned his first save of the season in the second game of the season and Oakland's first victory of the season by pitching a scoreless 9th inning as the A's beat the California Angels 4-2.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS197809020.shtml">Sept 2</a> - Earned his last save of the season by pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings to preverve a 4-3 win over the Boston Red Sox. At the time the Red Sox appeared to be comfortably ahead of the New York Yankees in the AL East (5 1/2 game lead), but that was to change soon.</li>
</ul>
<li>In 2016 Dave<a href="http://www.wildcatsports.com/news/2016/1/27/BB_0127164910.aspx?path=baseball"> made a $250,000 contribution</a> to Central Washington University's athletic program. The school was his alma mater.</li>
<li>Here is an interview with Dave done in 2009:</li>
</ul>
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Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-5581669558831198042018-01-17T11:11:00.000-07:002018-01-17T11:11:24.510-07:001978 Topps Baseball #337 - Tom Grieve<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKVi5aCBdHx_6Lw5h97Q_stnF22reMFilM2py7XbjssPYFYNpJvwViFHi-LTOb20lYoN__c_WgxhnoO_4JolClTp8iDqjeMuEaqCO_2Q2XaZnxSeyz509CRJrPOQJ2FheXn1XcLWStXk/s1600/78topps337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1164" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKVi5aCBdHx_6Lw5h97Q_stnF22reMFilM2py7XbjssPYFYNpJvwViFHi-LTOb20lYoN__c_WgxhnoO_4JolClTp8iDqjeMuEaqCO_2Q2XaZnxSeyz509CRJrPOQJ2FheXn1XcLWStXk/s320/78topps337.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>Before the 1978 season Tom Grieve was traded to the New York Mets as part of that huge 4-team, 10 player deal involving Bert Blyleven, Jon Matlack, Al Oliver, among others.</li>
<li>Tom was used primarily as a pinch hitter by the Mets in 1978. He had 110 plate appearances in 54 games and played in the field in only 26 games.</li>
<li>Grieve was headed toward the end of his playing career in 1978. After the season he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, where he played in only nine games in 1979. That was it for his playing career.</li>
<li><b>1978 Stats</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li>New York Mets: .208, 2 HR, 8 RBI in 54 games (107 AB)</li>
</ul>
<li><b>1978 Highlights</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON197804140.shtml">April 14</a> - <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=19780415&id=ZxksAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-cYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2979,2750139&hl=en">Hit a solo home run</a> in the top of the ninth inning to tie the game. The Mets beat the Montreal Expos 3-2 in 10 innings.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN197804220.shtml">April 22</a> - Appeared as a pinch hitter in the top of the 7th inning and singled in Tim Foli with the tying run. The Mets eventually beat the Chicaco Cubs 3-2.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
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Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-5347815198972505922018-01-15T10:41:00.000-07:002018-01-15T10:41:09.765-07:001978 Topps Baseball #336 - Steve Busby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqvY14GTsqMtM3TjDTm52-dVqXLOxAj53diHTlDiAf-8oRVE1i3Ec4bvFJmLuZSDUFoUIkjBLEUCKEYfdWZiuPBRpgfDqPBNwHNEnaiwmMLtk0VBbiMk97dEMKLQDnRjHuB_-74CtRf4/s1600/78topps336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1156" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqvY14GTsqMtM3TjDTm52-dVqXLOxAj53diHTlDiAf-8oRVE1i3Ec4bvFJmLuZSDUFoUIkjBLEUCKEYfdWZiuPBRpgfDqPBNwHNEnaiwmMLtk0VBbiMk97dEMKLQDnRjHuB_-74CtRf4/s320/78topps336.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqJD7YDftTrfIoJJ7CKdFXpa1mvDMsUqzLCpUt7zl2VuPcV_tn-do1khVHur_g1X6nD2Nho_hTgcadxNUNNSCsw4_cXaTS16uzpPNsRLLyeKjmqUkTunE6cMcTmSZgBmZyAu9vPn9ISk/s1600/78topps336b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="1600" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqJD7YDftTrfIoJJ7CKdFXpa1mvDMsUqzLCpUt7zl2VuPcV_tn-do1khVHur_g1X6nD2Nho_hTgcadxNUNNSCsw4_cXaTS16uzpPNsRLLyeKjmqUkTunE6cMcTmSZgBmZyAu9vPn9ISk/s320/78topps336b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>It was a tough year for Steve Busby as he tried to come back from rotator cuff surgery. Steve started the year with the Royals but was sent to AAA Omaha in late April after making four starts. Busby injured his back in July and missed more time. Steve was <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19780830&id=WjBPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fgIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5585,5081282&hl=en">brought back to Kansas City</a> in late August and made three September appearances.</li>
<li><b>1978 Stats</b>: </li>
<ul>
<li>Kansas City Royals: 1-0, 7.59 ERA in 7 games (5 starts)</li>
<li>Omaha Royals (AAA): 3-7, 5.45 ERA in 12 starts</li>
</ul>
<li><b>1978 Highlights</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE197804090.shtml">April 9</a>: Started the third game of the season and got the win by pitching 5 1/3 scoreless innings as the Royals beat the Cleveland Indians 5-4.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-87903258834107891302018-01-14T12:01:00.000-07:002018-01-14T12:01:17.752-07:001978 Topps Baseball #335 - Bucky Dent<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSlk5a3-rvWghvKI367cQVnKt4fJ6Qd0yKUltAnky7k4CNBeS421av3quksVDlVvR1RkywVY3qtPDK52AQkiCv8Aj_mo2-FV-yreDQdHHu9vR_IKzQbotiTB7qS4IOMYq75fk9JA-83w/s1600/78topps335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSlk5a3-rvWghvKI367cQVnKt4fJ6Qd0yKUltAnky7k4CNBeS421av3quksVDlVvR1RkywVY3qtPDK52AQkiCv8Aj_mo2-FV-yreDQdHHu9vR_IKzQbotiTB7qS4IOMYq75fk9JA-83w/s320/78topps335.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>Bucky Dent is a name that will live on in infamy for Boston Red Sox fans as he hit the home run that propelled the Yankees to the AL East title in the 1-game playoff at the end of the 1978 season.</li>
<li>Dent was a solid shortstop for several years. He was a three-time AL All Star and was second to Mike Hargrove in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 1974. Dent usually had a fielding percentage above league average but his range factors were slightly below league average.</li>
<li><b>1978 Stats</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li>Regular Season: .243, 5 HR, 40 RBI in 123 games</li>
<li>AL Championship Series: 3 for 15 (.200), 4 RBI in 4 games</li>
<li>World Series: 10 for 24 (.417), 3 runs scored, 7 RBI in 6 games</li>
</ul>
<li>1978 Highlights: </li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS197810020.shtml">Oct 2</a> - Hit a 3-run home run over the Green Monster off of Mike Torrez to put the Yankees ahead 3-2. The Yankees eventually won the game 5-4.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA197810150.shtml">Oct 15</a> - Had three hits, two runs scored, and knocked in a run as the Yankees beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 12-2 in game 5 of the World Series.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN197810170.shtml">Oct 17</a> - Had three hits and three RBI as the Yankees beat the Dodgers 7-2 in game 6 of the World Series. Dent was named the World Series MVP.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
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Bucky Dent's home run in game 163 of the 1978 season. He hit that one even choking up on the bat.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Lvbi8vzg1io/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Lvbi8vzg1io?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Bucky Dent and Mike Torrez reminisce about the home run:</div>
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Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-71617694116648394912018-01-13T10:40:00.000-07:002018-01-13T10:40:06.658-07:001978 Topps Baseball #334 - John Stearns.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhM7Nshod2__Vz8DEUNy266XonUDftMAZKZmcCAGUHLyF_leCYkCj0Hp8kkhQGDqxqTPz0fx3BoSYi4jVDa8dqtYsTtYCDMTZTRd0oIsJ0d1fK_f4aB4FdahJrq-0LGfqKOPT2QOCdVJ0/s1600/78topps334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhM7Nshod2__Vz8DEUNy266XonUDftMAZKZmcCAGUHLyF_leCYkCj0Hp8kkhQGDqxqTPz0fx3BoSYi4jVDa8dqtYsTtYCDMTZTRd0oIsJ0d1fK_f4aB4FdahJrq-0LGfqKOPT2QOCdVJ0/s320/78topps334.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
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<li style="text-align: center;"><br /></li>
<li>This was John Stearns' second season as the starting catcher for the New York Mets. John had career highs in home runs, RBI, and runs scored in 1978. </li>
<li>John broke the NL record (held by Johnny Kling in 1902) for stolen bases by a catcher by stealing 25 bases.</li>
<li>John started 134 games behind the plate in 1978. Stearns spent most of April and the first part of May below the Mendoza line but he heated up in mid-May and ended up batting .264.</li>
<li><b>1978 Stats</b>: .264, 15 HR, 73 RBI in 143 games</li>
<li><b>1978 Highlights</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU197805270.shtml">May 27</a> - Appeared as a pinch hitter in the 8th inning and hit a 2-run game-tying double. He stayed in the game and had a sacrifice fly in the 9th inning to add an insurance runs in the Mets' 9-7 victory over the Houston Astros.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT197806300.shtml">June 30</a> - The box score is nothing special, but this was the game where John broke Dave Parker's jaw in a home plate collision.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON197808090.shtml">Aug 9</a> - Had three hits and scored three runs as the Mets beat the Montreal Expos 10-3.</li>
</ul>
<li>Just before the collision:</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>The Cobra a few weeks later:</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmj0HVbShSbiqAazwVir90XzTzWzHJyCr-ok_mwcf6ZKQhaN1DUywGPFQLR57pC7l4X4QzQ-w8M8R23Di9YIpbe9qdcqdIoaS4RzUcyMGdHkI2pXPu8S_nuR0UScjUBNvr8JZ_BgvR6GE/s1600/050321parker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmj0HVbShSbiqAazwVir90XzTzWzHJyCr-ok_mwcf6ZKQhaN1DUywGPFQLR57pC7l4X4QzQ-w8M8R23Di9YIpbe9qdcqdIoaS4RzUcyMGdHkI2pXPu8S_nuR0UScjUBNvr8JZ_BgvR6GE/s320/050321parker.jpg" width="294" /></a></div>
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Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-89353693262378850442018-01-12T19:17:00.000-07:002018-01-12T19:17:22.514-07:001978 Topps Baseball #333 - Jim Todd.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuseLXnSUjICeQy44po0DEBFFJjoPa-oQEW4RkLPQFUFIqvJ0OE5sx-vVRa-1svHHOZYJ2cokDZ1owuQkxgRrKEYTeSLTJT_CZf5GEK_Qw1taxI8fmlAPuE0XQaoINjMuw7GPJ03wI7Y/s1600/78topps333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuseLXnSUjICeQy44po0DEBFFJjoPa-oQEW4RkLPQFUFIqvJ0OE5sx-vVRa-1svHHOZYJ2cokDZ1owuQkxgRrKEYTeSLTJT_CZf5GEK_Qw1taxI8fmlAPuE0XQaoINjMuw7GPJ03wI7Y/s320/78topps333.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOA-psD7mh4Q628fDWT0yFtl25SxvMtxZaWqpdCXR_Q6fhyphenhyphenaVEkxA-bU8yl4RW4oLJ9qNwcABXnMSSB6Y5pLxp8iC42muQRZ7G7T82_iQEHyELauWzbLpUrfQeOctE90UQVBuyEdia294/s1600/78topps333b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="1056" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOA-psD7mh4Q628fDWT0yFtl25SxvMtxZaWqpdCXR_Q6fhyphenhyphenaVEkxA-bU8yl4RW4oLJ9qNwcABXnMSSB6Y5pLxp8iC42muQRZ7G7T82_iQEHyELauWzbLpUrfQeOctE90UQVBuyEdia294/s320/78topps333b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li> <span style="text-align: center;">Jim Todd was acquired by the Seattle Mariners in October 1977. Todd was mostly a long reliever for the Mariners in 1978.</span></li>
<li>The Mariners released Todd in February 1979 during a salary dispute. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1979/03/13/archives/the-slippery-case-of-jim-todd-sports-of-the-times.html?mcubz=3">Here is an article</a> detailing the issue. The difference between Jim and the Mariners was $20,000. I don't know how the case eventually came out.</li>
<li><a href="http://lancasteronline.com/sports/lancaster-resident-jim-todd-recalls-his-stint-in-the-majors/article_29cfd0bc-e89e-592d-8b35-77624ee1d8af.html">Here is a "where are they now" article</a> written in 2013.</li>
<li>The article linked above had a cool picture of Jim's 1978 card altered with his current picture. He still has the mustache.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7HZxv1OzRFrjA0cGWmq0htPqb50o9TAQH88uMqzmWX30vzAevMEhk-YNafjXSeLb_wz7OYnIsJ1eP9DjcVP5FTjTNnVFYCCHs8JtuCTaEaERl42anVWmJfmBwYvC4v9ty2Ckv8BcaXU/s1600/jim_todd_today.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="638" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7HZxv1OzRFrjA0cGWmq0htPqb50o9TAQH88uMqzmWX30vzAevMEhk-YNafjXSeLb_wz7OYnIsJ1eP9DjcVP5FTjTNnVFYCCHs8JtuCTaEaERl42anVWmJfmBwYvC4v9ty2Ckv8BcaXU/s320/jim_todd_today.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li><b>1978 Stats</b>: 3-4, 3 saves, 3.88 ERA in 49 games (2 starts)</li>
<li><b>1978 Highlights</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA197805231.shtml">May 23</a> - Earned his first save of the season by pitching two scoreless innings as the Mariners beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIN/MIN197808070.shtml">Aug 17</a> - Pitched four shutout innings (11th-14th) to earn the win in Seattle's 6-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals</li>
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Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-50037942138043429192018-01-11T17:01:00.000-07:002018-01-11T17:01:19.508-07:001978 Topps Baseball #332 - Duane Kuiper.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Duane Kuiper was the starting second baseman for the Cleveland Indians in 1978. Duane didn't have power (he had only one career HR), but he usually had a pretty good batting average, put the ball in play most of the time, and was above average as a fielder.</li>
<li>A knee injury in June 1980 caused him to miss the rest of the season. Kuiper became a part-time player after the injury.</li>
<li>Duane was traded to the San Francisco Giants after the 1981 season. He played there from 1982-1985. He had his own radio show on KNBR while he was still a player. Kuiper has been an announcer for the Giants since 1986 except for a one year stint with the Colorado Rockies in 1993.</li>
<li><b>1978 Stats</b>: .283, 0 HR, 43 RBI in 149 games</li>
<li><b>1978 Highlights</b>: </li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS197804232.shtml">April 23</a> - Had four hits, two RBI, and scored twice in Cleveland's 10-7 win over the Boston Red Sox. His single in the top of the 11th inning scored Larvell Blanks, broke a 7-7 tie, and proved to be the game winner. His batting average jumped from .182 to .240.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE197807090.shtml">July 9</a> - Went 3 for 4 with two doubles, two runs scored, and a RBI as the Indians beat the Red Sox 7-1.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE197809220.shtml">Sept 22</a> - Had two hits and scored the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Indians beat the New York Yankees 7-6.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-42299920095344320152018-01-10T15:00:00.000-07:002018-01-10T15:00:08.130-07:001978 Topps Baseball #330 - Bob Watson.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOEr4AcCsDNGD004BbDhbepzMB29zEGJhMlz08eYnigNGSC0AGzH8qv-d-uNpEKsIiQ5w-OD3L8y2Z0f32cfaGvhmHp_-TR_NPQigpGtzcuxS14kxO0e7jXO0MverW2DsRtB9HNvMO8Y/s1600/78topps330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1057" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOEr4AcCsDNGD004BbDhbepzMB29zEGJhMlz08eYnigNGSC0AGzH8qv-d-uNpEKsIiQ5w-OD3L8y2Z0f32cfaGvhmHp_-TR_NPQigpGtzcuxS14kxO0e7jXO0MverW2DsRtB9HNvMO8Y/s320/78topps330.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>Bob Watson repeated his .289 batting average from 1977, but he didn't hit for quite as much power. Watson spent two weeks on the DL in late August.</li>
<li><b>1978 Stats</b>: .289, 14 HR, 79 RBI in 139 games</li>
<li><b>1978 Highlights</b>: </li>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN197804210.shtml">April 21</a> - In the bottom of the 9th with Dodgers on 1st and 2nd base, Bob caught a liner off the bat of Ron Cey, stepped on first to double off Reggie Smith, then threw the ball to Roger Metzger to get Bill Russell. The triple play ended the game and the Astros won 8-6.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN197706020.shtml">June 2</a> - Had four hits and scored two runs in Houston's 6-3 11-inning victory over the Cincinnati Reds</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU197706240.shtml">June 24</a> - Hit for the cycle and knocked in five runs as the Astros beat the San Francisco Giants 6-5 in 11 innings.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663687898932068680.post-64764689121852460312018-01-09T06:00:00.000-07:002018-01-09T06:00:18.138-07:001978 Topps Baseball #329 - John Verhoeven.<br />
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<ul>
<li>John Verhoeven was in the minor leagues for the entire season in 1978 and in 1979. </li>
<li>After his playing career ended in 1983 John <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1991-03-10/sports/sp-493_1_cal-state-dominguez-hills">started a pitching school</a> in California. He went on to be a college coach, <a href="http://magazine.biola.edu/article/12-summer/winning-ways/">coaching for Biola University</a> (La Mirada, CA). In 2013 John served as the pitching coach for Azusa Pacific University</li>
<li><b>1978 Stats</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li>Iowa Oaks (AAA): 6-7, 4.83 ERA, 9 saves in 44 games</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Matt Runyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386635541020320778noreply@blogger.com0