Of course, as you can see from the image of his actual rookie card, he was already airbrushed over to his new team, the Chicago Cubs, for whom he’d immediately make an impact with two consecutive batting championships in 1975 and 1976.
But as you can see, the original image had him suited up with his first Big League club, the Texas Rangers, with whom he hit a blistering .351 in his first taste of Major League action over 21 games in 1973.
Nevertheless, after the blockbuster trade that saw him head North while former Cubs ace Fergie Jenkins went to Texas in October of 1973, Madlock did NOT disappoint, hitting .313, .354 and .339 over the next three seasons before the Cubs moved him to San Francisco before the 1977 season.
“Mad Dog” would go on to win another two batting titles while with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1981 and 1983, and finish with a career .305 average over his 15-year career which concluded after the 1987 season.
If I’m not mistaken he is still the only eligible player to win four or more batting titles and not be in the Hall of Fame.
Interesting...