Here’s
a 1971 card that truly is “not missing in action” since not only did
the player barely play the previous season, but he appeared on a
multi-player rookie card in the 1971 set, Minnesota Twins pitcher Hal
Haydel:
Haydel appeared in four games for the Twins in 1970, posting a 2-0
record with a 3.00 earned run average over nine innings pitched as a
September call-up.
The following season he’d appear in another 31 games, going 4-2 with a
4.28 E.R.A. and a save in 40 innings, but those would be the last of his
big league appearances.
After playing for the Twins’ minor league AAA affiliate Tacoma Twins in
1972, having a rough season that saw him go 2-8 with a 7.14 E.R.A., he
retired from pro ball, finishing his MLB career with a 6-2 record along
with a 4.04 E.R.A. in 35 appearances and 49 innings pitched.