Here’s
a really “not so missing” 1978 card for former Boston Red Sox pitcher
Jim Burton, who made the last appearance of his brief Major League
career in 1977:
Burton, who originally came up in 1975 and appeared in 29 games, with
four of them starts, for the eventual American League champions, made
only one appearance in 1977 after spending all of 1976 in the Minors.
In that One appearance for the Red Sox, Burton threw 2.2 innings of
scoreless ball against the Baltimore Orioles, striking out three while
giving up two hits.
Sadly for him that would end up being the last action he’d see on a Big
League mound, as he would play in the New York Mets system in 1978
before retiring.
In 1975 he posted a record of 1-2 with an earned run average of 2.89
over 53 innings, and even got a card in that awesome 1976 Topps set.
Overall, he finished his brief career with a 1-2 record, sporting an ERA
of 2.75 over 55.2 innings and 30 appearances, with a save thrown in for
good measure.