The next guy up for the "1976 Project" I have going on with "Reader
Jim", is long-time relief pitcher Joe Hoerner, who could have been
included in the 1976 Topps set considering some of the other guys who
put in less time during the 1975 season but got
into the set.
Take a look at the card I came up with first:
Hoerner pitched in 25 games for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1975,
not figuring in a decision over 21 innings of work while posting a nice
2.57 earned run average.
That ERA was a good sign of the solid 14-year career he'd put in
the big leagues, as he'd finish with a 2.99 figure over 493 appearances
and 563 innings pitched.
Between 1963 and 1977 he'd play for the Colt 45's (Astros),
Cardinals, Phillies, Braves, Royals, Rangers and Reds, and took home a
championship in 1967 while with the Cards in St. Louis.
A true man out of the 'pen, he never started a Major League game,
with all of his 493 appearances coming in relief, and he'd go on to
finish with 98 saves with a high of 17 in 1968, his finest season, as he
also went 8-2 with a sparkling 1.47 ERA over
47 games for the National League champ Cardinals.
