Next up on my "Then and Now" series is former pitcher Milt Pappas,
who put together a nice 17-year career before retiring after the 1973
season.
Check out the card:
Pappas was one of those few guys that actually had a "career
capper" card of sorts since he retired AFTER Topps set up their set for
the new year.
In this case, Pappas appears in the '74 set even though he was already done with Major League ball.
Therefore that is why I have him here on a 1974 template, which came out nice and clean.
Pappas was only 34 years old when he retired, even with the 17-year
career, as he came up with the Baltimore Orioles as an 18-year old back
in 1957.
Though never a 20-game winner or big strikeout guy, he did have
consistent, solid years that led him to a 209-164 record with a 3.40
E.R.A., 43 shutouts and 1728 strikeouts as he pitched for the Orioles,
Reds, Braves and Cubs.
A little historical footnote: when Pappas won his 200th game in
1972, he became the first pitcher in Major League history to reach that
mark without a 20-win season.
