Here’s
a new one for the blog: I wanted to create a “not so missing” 1972 card
for former Twin and future manager Chuck Manuel, but realized I had an
image better suited for a 1973 card, which I already produced a while
back. When I went and saw the previous 1973 card, I realized it actually
had a better image for a 1972!
So I swapped images, and we end up with what you see here:
Manuel appeared in only 18 games for the Twins in 1971, batting .125
with two hits over 16 at-bats. He’d get a lot more playing time the
following season, playing 63 games, but would end up playing in the
Minors the entire 1973 season before making a brief MLB comeback in 1974
with the Los Angeles Dodgers, albeit only four games.
After another brief season with the Dodgers in 1975, Manuel would go and
take his talents to Japan, where he would downright mash the ball
between 1976 and 1981.
From 1977 to 1980, his home run totals were 42, 39, 37 and 48, while
driving in no less than 94 runs for Yakult and Osaka Kintetsu.
Of course, we all now that after his playing days, he’d become a long
time coach and manager in the Big Leagues, guiding the Cleveland Indians
and Philadelphia Phillies to the Post Season, winning it all with the
Phillies in 2008 while taking home the NL Pennant the following year.