Friday, January 30, 2015

MISSING IN ACTION-"IN ACTION" #24: 1972 ORLANDO CEPEDA

Let's go and give another future Hall of Fame player a "missing" In Action card in the 1972 set: the "Baby Bull" Orlando Cepeda.
Check it out:


Cepeda wasn't quite finished with his excellent 17-year career by 1972, as he'd have a nice comeback year as a full-time designated hitter for the Red Sox in 1973, but his all-star days were behind him by this point.
Between 1972 and 1974 he'd play for four organizations (Braves, A's, Red Sox and Royals), but nevertheless he'd retire with over 2300 hits, 1100 runs scored, 375 home runs, 1300 runs batted in and a nice .297 batting average.
A seven time all-star, he was both a Rookie of the Year in 1958 and a Most valuable Player in 1967.
He had to wait a while for Cooperstown to let him into their hallowed doors, as he wasn't elected by the BBWA during his 15 years of eligibility.
It wasn't until the Veteran's Committee elected him in 1999 that he would join former Giants teammates Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Juan Marichal (among others) in upstate New York as a certified baseball "legend".

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