Here’s
a “missing” 1977 card for former San Diego Padre outfielder Luis
Melendez, who was pretty much wrapping up an eight-year Major League
career by the time this card would have come out:
Melendez appeared in 72 games for the Padres after starting the year
with the St. Louis Cardinals and playing 20 games for them. Combined he
would hit .224 with 32 hits in 143 at-bats combined, with 15 runs scored
and five runs batted in.
Making his debut in 1970 Melendez played his whole career with St. Louis
before moving on to San Diego during the 1976 season, and after a scant
eight games in 1977 his pro career would come to a close.
All told, he would finish with a .248 average with 366 hits over 1477
at-bats in 641 lifetime games, with 167 runs scored and 122 RBI’s,
playing all but one game in the outfield between 1970 and 1977.