Thursday, August 25, 2016

1976 PROJECT: MIKE GARMAN RE-DO

Today I post a “re-do” of former pitcher Mike Garman’s 1976 Topps card, which was originally an airbrushed to show him on his new team, the Chicago Cubs, for which “Reader Jim” wanted a St. Louis Cardinal version to reflect the team he suited up for in 1975.
First up, the original:


Now the redesigned card with the Cardinals:




As I’ve stated before, I have always thought of a year’s baseball card set as more of a “yearbook” of sorts for everything that happened the previous year, and agree with Jim that having cards reflect that seem to make more sense.
Of course the other side of the argument is just as valid and I do see the reasoning, but nevertheless I am more than happy to accommodate Jim and what he asked me to create.
Garman put together a nice ‘75 season in St. Louis, posting a 3-8 record which wasn’t indicative of his 2.39 earned run average with 10 saves in 66 appearances and 79 innings pitched.
He would pitch for nine-years in the Major Leagues, collecting 42 saves and 22 wins (against 27 losses) generally out of the bullpen, as only eight of his career 303 games were as a starter.
He’d also finish with a 3.63 ERA and 213 strikeouts in 433.2 innings, with his only postseason action coming in 1977 as a member of the National League champ Los Angeles Dodgers.

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