Sunday, December 31, 2017

1978 Topps Baseball #316 - Henry Cruz





  • Henry Cruz played in his final major league season in 1978. Cruz split time between AAA Iowa and the Chicago White Sox. Henry was a pinch hitter in April and then saw some playing time in the outfield from May-July. Cruz was sent to the minors at the end of July and that was it for his major league career.
  • Cruz played in AAA from 1979-1981 and then played in the Mexican League from 1982-1985.
  • There will be a few posts that are out of order. I have about 20 cards in a different location that I can't scan right now.
  • 1978 Stats:
    • Iowa Oaks (AAA): .270, 5 HR, 18 RBI in 28 games
    • Chicago White Sox: .292, 2 HR, 10 RBI in 53 games
  • 1978 Highlights:
    • June 7: Had two hits and knocked in two runs in Chicago's 8-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins
    • June 8: Had two hits and scored a run as the White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 2-1.

Saturday, December 30, 2017

1978 Topps Baseball #325 - Bruce Sutter

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  • Bruce Sutter had one of his roughest years (statistically speaking) in 1978. His ERA was below 2.00 for most of the season until August 19. On that date Sutter entered the game against the Cincinnati Reds in the top of the 9th inning with the Cubs leading 6-3. Bruce allowed three runs to score (including a 2-run homer by Ken Griffey) and the game went into extra innings. Sutter then allowed three more runs in the top of the 10th to lose the game. His ERA went from 1.91 to 2.54 and he never recovered. Sutter still went to his second of five straight All Star Games.
  • 1978 Stats: 8-10, 3.19 ERA, 27 saves in 64 games
  • 1978 Highlights:
    • July 11 - Pitched 1 2/3 shutout innings and earned the win in the All Star Game.
    • August 1 - After getting a nine-day rest, Sutter pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts to save the game for winner Dennis Lamp. The Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2.
    • August 7 - Earned his fifth save in seven days by striking out Dave Parker, preserving a 5-4 Cub victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

1978 Topps Baseball #314 - Paul Lindblad






  • Hello again. I finally got access to a scanner so that I can scan the rest of my 78 cards and keep the blog going. I made posts without pics and saved them and now they get to see the light of day.
  • Paul Lindblad started the season with the Texas Rangers. Lindblad made only one appearance between the beginning of the season and mid-May. 
  • On August 1, Lindblad was purchased by the New York Yankees for the stretch run. Paul made six appearances as a reliever and started one game for the Yankees in the last two months of the season. Lindblad wasn't used during the ALCS  but he made an appearance in game 1 of the World Series.
  • After the 1978 season Lindblad was sold to the Seattle Mariners. Paul didn't make the club in spring training and was cut before the 1979 season.
  • 1978 Stats (regular season):
    • Texas Rangers: 1-1, 2 saves, 3.63 ERA in 18 games
    • New York Yankees: 0-0, 4.42 ERA in 7 games (1 start)
  • 1978  Stats (post season)
    • ALCS: not used
    • World Series: 0-0, 11.57 ERA in 1 game (3 runs in 2.1 innings)
  • 1978 Highlights:
    • May 19 - Pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless ball and earned the save as the Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners 4-2.
    • June 12 - Allowed 1 hit and no runs in two innings to earn the save in the Rangers' 6-5 win over  the Kansas City Royals.