Today I go and crate a "missing" 1972 In-Action card for "Sweet" Lou Piniella, then of the Kansas City Royals.
Check out the card:
Piniella was establishing himself as a solid Major League player,
already taking home the American League Rookie of the Year in the 1969,
the Royals inaugural season, and just putting in consistent numbers
every year there.
After being traded to the New York Yankees before the 1974 season,
Piniella found his permanent home in the big leagues, playing the final
eleven seasons of his career there.
Along the way he was a member of two championship teams, hit .300
or better five times, and eventually would even become manager of the
Yanks before moving on to a long career leading Major League squads.
Over his 18-year career he hit .291, with 1705 hits in 5867
at-bats, and besides 10 games split between the Orioles in 1964 and the
Indians in 1968, he'd do it all with the Roylas and Yankees between
1969-1984.
In 1986 he took over as Yankee manager, and would go on to manage
for another 23 seasons, guiding the Yanks, Reds, Mariners, Devil Rays
and Cubs.
He would lead his teams to a World Series win in 1990 (Reds), an
American League record 116 win season in 2001 (Mariners), eight 90+ win
seasons (all but the Devil Rays), and six 1st place finishes (with the
Reds, Mariners and Cubs).
Not a bad career spanning 46 years!
