1978 Topps Baseball #62 - Jim Barr

• Jim Barr was relegated to a 5th starter / reliever role with the Giants in 1978 after several good seasons as a starting pitcher. The Giants had a surplus of starting pitchers and Barr was on the trading block in June. Teams were hesitant to make offers for Jim since he was due to become a free agent after the 1978 season. Barr left the Giants after the season and signed with the California Angels.
• Barr had an odd day on May 14. He started the first game of a doubleheader and faced three batters before giving way to Lynn McGlothen. Jim then pitched the 8th and 9th innings of the second game. After that, Jim didn't make any appearances until June 18.
• It's interesting to see the "one of the hardest throwers in the game" line on the back of this card. Usually a hard thrower is associated with a high strikeout number. Barr's highest strikeout total was 97 in 1977.
• 1978 Stats: 8-11, 1 save, 3.53 ERA in 32 games (25 starts)
• 1978 Highlights:
• May 3 - Pitched a five-hit shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals. There were two thirty-minute rain delays, but Jim stayed in the game and beat the Cards 4-0.
• Aug 26 - Allowed one run and six hits in a complete game 4-1 win over the Montreal Expos.