You know, before "Reader Jim" asked me to create a 1976 Topps Ivan
DeJesus card, I never even realized he initially came up with the Los
Angeles Dodgers, and even "deserved" a card in the 1976 set!
Anyway, first up, here's the card:
Turns out DeJesus played in 63 games for the Dodgers in 1975, good for 99 plate appearances and 87 at-bats.
He hit .184 with a couple of doubles and a triple, with 10 runs scored and two runs batted in.
It really wasn't until 1977, now as a Chicago Cub, that he would become a full-time Major League player.
By the time he retired as a player after the 1988 season, he played
for the Dodgers, Cubs, Phillies, Cardinals, Yankees, Giants and Tigers
over the course of 15 seasons, and finished with a .254 average with
1167 hits and 194 stolen bases.
Between 1977 and 1980 he had some solid seasons for the Cubs, even
leading the National League in runs scored in 1978 with 104, and twice
topping 40 stolen bases (in 1978 and 1980).
I just always figured he came up with the Cubs. Goes to show you learn something new every day!
