1978 Topps Baseball #352 - Tony Scott

I'm back again. I finally got a scanner so that I can scan the rest of my 1978 cards.

• Tony Scott served as a backup outfielder for the Cardinals in 1978. Scott played in all three outfield spots.
• 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.
• 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. 
• 1978 Stats: .228, 1 HR, 14 RBI in 96 games
• 1978 Highlights:
• May 7 - Had three hits and raised his batting average from .212 to .270 in the Cardinals' 8-4 victory over the San Diego Padres
• July 20 - 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.
• Aug 11 - 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.

1978 Topps Baseball #324 - Vern Rapp

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• As a player, Vern Rapp was a catcher who never got the call to the majors. He played from 1946-1950 and then spent the next two seasons in military service. Vern resumed his playing career and played from 1953-1960 before becoming a manager. 
• Vern Rapp was a successful minor league manager in the 1960s and 1970s. He managed AAA Indianapolis (Reds system) from 1969-1975 and had only one year under .500, but Rapp wasn't likely to move up to the majors with Sparky Anderson doing so well. 
• Vern moved on to manage AAA Denver (Expos system) in 1976 and had a great record there. Rapp even put himself into a game at the age of 48 and was 1 for 1 with one RBI.
• Rapp succeeded Red Schoendienst as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1977. The Cards were successful in 1977, going 83-79 and finishing in third place. But the players didn't like Vern's strict style and there were some clashes between players and management (including Al Hrabosky and others having to shave their beards). Rapp was relieved of his duties and succeeded by Ken Boyer in April 1978 after the Cardinals started with a 6-10 record.
• Vern coached for the Montreal Expos from 1979-1983. He was hired to manage the Cincinnati Reds in 1984.
• The Reds didn't play very well in 1984 and Rapp was replaced by player-manager Pete Rose on August 15, 1984.
• After his tenure with the Reds Vern retired to Colorado and took up fly fishing. He passed away on December 31, 2015 at the age of 87.
• Managerial Record:
• Minor League Career: 1955; 1961-1962; 1965-1976;18 seasons 1218-1176 (.509)
• Major League Career: 140-160 (.467)
• St. Louis Cardinals (1977-1978) 89-90 .497
• Cincinnati Reds (1984) 51-70 .421

1978 Topps Baseball #301 - Buddy Schultz

• Interesting that even though Buddy Schultz spent the entire 1977 season with the St. Louis Cardinals that Topps couldn't come up with a recent picture of him. This is an airbrushed picture from about 1976.
• Buddy Schultz was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1972. Schultz was in the minors from 1972-1975. He got a late season call-up in 1975 and was 2-0 with a 6.35 ERA in six appearances.
• Schultz was with the Cubs in the beginning of the 1976 season. He was sent to the minors in early July and spent most of July and all of August in AAA. He was called back up in September. Buddy was 1-1 with a 6.08 ERA in 29 games for the Cubs.
• Early in spring training in 1977 Schultz was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for a minor leaguer. Buddy had a good year for the Cardinals, going 6-1 with a 2.32 ERA in 40 games (3 starts). He made two starts in AAA in June. Schultz had a pulled hamstring and missed three weeks in July.
• Schultz didn't have as good of a year in 1978. He was 2-4 with 6 saves and had a 3.80 ERA in 62 games. He was the only left hander in the St. Louis bullpen. He appeared in 62 games and warmed up in another 80 games during the season.
• Buddy's last major league season was in 1979. He was 4-3 with 3 saves and had a 4.46 ERA in 31 games. He had an inflamed tendon and missed most of the last two months of the season.
• Schultz had a torn rotator cuff and had surgery in 1980. He tried a couple of comebacks in 1980 and in 1982 but didn't get beyond AAA.

• 1978 Stats: 2-4, 6 saves, 3.80 ERA in 62 games
• 1978 Highlights:
• June 25 - Pitched 2 1/3 shutout innings and earned his first win of the year as the Cardinals came back to beat the Montreal Expos 7-5.
• June 27 - Notched his third save of the season as he and starter Pete Vuckovich combined on a 2-0 shutout of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

1978 Topps Baseball #281 - Eric Rasmussen

• Eric Rasmussen started the 1978 season with the Cardinals but on May 26 he was traded to the San Diego Padres for George Hendrick. Hendrick had lost his starting job to Oscar Gamble and wanted to be traded.
• Eric got off to an inauspicious start with the Padres. In his first start for the team on May 30 he was bombed by the Dodgers. Rasmussen allowed seven runs in 1 2/3 innings. Rasmussen eventually righted the ship, winning seven straight starts from June 14-July 18.
• Eric and teammate John D'Acquisto formed a rock band called Wild Pitch in 1979.
• 1978 Stats: 
• St. Louis Cardinals: 2-5, 4.18 ERA in 10 starts
• San Diego Padres: 12-10, 4.06 ERA in 27 games (24 starts)
• TOTAL: 14-15, 4.09 ERA in 37 games (34 starts)
• 1978 Highlights:
• April 29 - Pitched a 4-hit shutout against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• July 8 - Allowed three hits in a complete game shutout against the Atlanta Braves.
• Aug 27 - Shut out the New York Mets on six hits. It was Eric's 11th win in his last 14 decisions. Rasmussen would win his next start on August 31 and then lose five straight games in September.

1978 Topps Baseball #257 - Hector Cruz

• I knew him as Heity Cruz instead of Hector. Heity Cruz was traded (with Dave Rader) to the Chicaco Cubs after the 1977 season for Jerry Morales, Steve Swisher, and cash.
• Cruz played for the Cubs until June 15. Hector was traded to the San Francisco Giants for pitcher Lynn McGlothen. If Topps had made a traded set that year Cruz likely would have been pictured as a Cub instead of a Giant.
• Cruz originally came up as a third baseman. The Cardinals thought he would be able to replace Ken Reitz, but Heity's defense left something to be desired. Cruz spent the rest of his career as a backup outfielder and occasional third baseman.
• 1978 Stats:
• Chicago Cubs: .237, 2 HR, 9 RBI in 30 games
• San Francisco Giants: .223, 6 HR, 24 RBI in 79 games
• TOTAL: .227, 8 HR, 33 RBI in 109 games
• 1978 Highlights:
• April 28 - Went 3 for 4 with two solo home runs to help the Cubs beat the Atlanta Braves 4-3. Cruz had three games against the Braves in which he had three hits. He was 15 for 42 (.357) against the Braves during the season.
• Aug 26 - Had two hits (including a home run), scored twice, and knocked in two runs in the Giants' 4-1 win over the Montreal Expos.
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1978 Topps Baseball #230 - Al Hrabosky

• Before the 1978 season Al Hrabosky was traded to the Kansas City Royals for Mark Littell and Buck Martinez. Hrabosky led the Royals with 20 saves.
• 1978 Stats:
• Regular season: 8-7, 20 saves, 2.88 ERA in 58 games
• AL Championship Series: 0-0, 3.00 ERA in 3 games
• 1978 Highlights:
• May 8 - Gave up Carl Yastrzemski's 368th career home run. Manager Whitey Herzog ordered Al to intentionally walk Jim Rice to get to the left handed hitting Yaz. Carl hit a 3-run home run to ice the 8-4 Boston victory.
• Aug 15 - Pitched three shutout innings to earn his 15th save in Kansas City's 4-2 win over the Detroit Tigers

1978 Topps Baseball #195 - Larry Dierker

• This was Larry Dierker's final card, and it also served as a "career retrospective" card. Dierker was released during spring training in 1978.

1978 Topps Baseball #170 - Lou Brock

• Lou Brock had the roughest year of his Hall of Fame career in 1978. Brock played in only 92 games and batted only .221. He was benched by manager Ken Boyer in mid June 
• Lou finished the season 100 hits short of 3,000. Brock would bounce back the next year, bat .301, and get his 3000th hit. Lou retired after the 1979 season.
• 1978 Stats: .221, 0 HR, 12 RBI in 92 games
• 1978 Highlights:
• July 26 - Brock's RBI single in the top of the 8th inning proved to be the game winner as the Cardinals beat the San Francisco Giants 2-1.
• Aug 21 - Had three hits, scored two runs, and knocked in two runs in the Cardinals' 14-9 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

1978 Topps Baseball #143 - Keith Hernandez

• Keith Hernandez won the first of 11 straight Gold Glove awards in 1978. He would be the reigning NL Gold Glove winner at first base from 1978-1988. Hernandez had a fall-off at the plate in 1978 -- it would be his worst offensive season between 1976 and 1988.
• 1978 Stats: .255, 11 HR, 64 RBI in 159 games
• 1978 Highlights: 
• April 10 - Went 4 for 5 in the Cardinals' 11-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• May 29 - Scored two runs and had three hits to help the Cardinals beat the New York Mets 6-2.
• Aug 20 - Had two hits and scored three runs as St. Louis beat the Atlanta Braves 6-4.

1978 Topps Baseball #111 - Mike Tyson

• Mike Tyson was the starting second baseman for the Cardinals in 1978. It would be his last season as the full-time 2B for the team. Mike was right at league average in fielding, but his offense left something to be desired. Ken Oberkfell came up the following season and took over the starting job at 2B. 
• 1978 Stats: .233, 3 HR, 26 RBI in 125 games
• 1978 Highlights:
• June 30 - Doubled in the winning run in the 10th inning of the Cardinals' 2-1 victory over the Montreal Expos
• Sept 4 - Doubled and scored what would be the winning run in the bottom of the 8th inning as the Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2.

1978 Topps Baseball # 88 - Mike Phillips

• This looks like an old picture of Mike with the New York Mets. Topps must not have been able to get a picture of Mike with the Cardinals at the end of the 1977 season, so they broke out the airbrush.
• Phillips had a career high .268 batting average as a utility infielder in 1978. Phillips backed up at 2B, SS, and 3B.
• 1978 Stats: .268, 1 HR, 28  RBI in 76 games
• 1978 Highlights:
• April 13 - Hit a 2-run triple off of Bert Blyleven in the third inning. The hit made the score 6-1 at the time. The Cardinals held on to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-5.
• June 28 - Went 3 for 4, walked twice, and scored a run in the Cardinals' 7-5 victory over the Pirates.
• Aug 13 - Had four hits in five at bats as the Cardinals beat the New York  Mets 6-1.

1978 Topps Baseball #58 - Bob Forsch

• Bob Forsch dropped off from his 20-win season the previous season. Forsch was off to a good start (9-6, 3.18 ERA) at the end of June, but he lost nine of his next ten starts. Bob didn't pitch badly -- his ERA only rose from 3.18 to 3.48 during that time.
• 1978 Stats: 11-17, 3.70 ERA in 34 starts
• 1978 Highlights:
• April 16 - Pitched a no-hitter as the Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-0.
• June 30 - Allowed one run in nine innings and got the win as the Cardinals beat the Montreal Expos 2-1 in 10 innings. Forsch wouldn't win another game for two months.
• Aug 30 - Allowed two runs in a complete game 4-2 victory over the Houston Astros.

1978 Topps Baeball #32 - Garry Templeton

• At first it looked like Garry Templeton was going to have a dreadful season in 1978. He ended the month of April batting .185. Garry got the average up to .225 by the end of May and steadily improved until he finished at .280.
• 1978 Stats: .280, 2 HR, 47 RBI in 155 games
• 1978 Highlights:
• May 30 - Had three hits and knocked in two runs to help the Cardinals beat the New York Mets 8-2.
• July 14 - Had three hits and scored two runs as the Cardinals beat the LA Dodgers 4-1.
• Aug 11 - Hit a 2-run double in the top of the 12 inning of the Cardinals' 4-1 victory over the Mets.

1978 Topps Baseball #1 - Lou Brock '77 Record Breaker

• When this card came out I thought this would be one of those records that never would be broken. It took almost 50 years for someone to break Ty Cobb's record. Rickey Henderson came along and took care of that. Now Rickey's record is "a record that never will be broken."
• Baseball undergoes evolution and records that looked unreachable years ago may be reachable in the future. What do you think is the record that is least likely to be broken? Please vote in the poll on the right.