Rojas, who had played the previous seven years with the Philadelphia Phillies, was traded in October of 1969 to the St. Louis Cardinals, just enough time for Topps to issue his 1970 card with a “generic” capless image of him and a “Cards” designation for team.
Turns out, after only 23 games with the Redbirds he would be dealt again, this time to the new Kansas City franchise in June of 1970, setting up this card pictured here some 50 years later by yours truly.
Turns out the 31-year-old wasn’t done as a player, going on to appear in four straight All-Star games between 1971 and 1974, even getting some MVP votes in 1971 and 1973.
He would play out his career with the Royals, being a part of the teams’ surge towards the top of the American League West at the end of the decade.
By the time he retired in 1977 at the age of 38, he put in an under-the-radar 16-year career, collecting 1660 hits and a .263 batting average while making five All-Star teams, while leading his league in fielding percentage three times.
Considering the Royals traded for Rojas straight up by sending the Cardinals Fred Rico, who ended up never playing a game for St. Louis, it was a really key trade for the young organization along the lines of Amos Otis, giving them some experienced players to go along with guys like Frank White and future Hall of Famer George Brett.
Not bad.