Time
to go and create a 1973 “not so missing” card for former outfielder
Curt Motton, who was left out of the Topps set after only 48 games
played during the 1972 season:
Motton began the 1972 campaign as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers, for
whom he hit .167 over just six games, going 1-for-6 at the plate with a
couple of runs batted in and a run scored.
On may 26th, he was traded to the California Angels for pitcher Archie
Reynolds, and he went on to hit .154 over 42 games, collecting six hits
in 39 at-bats for his new team.
It would be his only time with the California franchise, as by the time
the 1973 opened he was back with his original team, the Baltimore
Orioles, who he came up with in 1967.
Between 1973 and 1974, Motton would appear in only 12 combined games for
the O’s, going 2-for-14 at the plate with four RBIs before calling it a
career.
Over his eight-year MLB tenure, he hit .213 with 121 hits in 567
at-bats, but most importantly was a member of the juggernaut Oriole
teams between 1969 and 1971, with a World Championship in 1970.