On the blog today, we have a career-capping "not so missing" 1973 card for former pitcher Ron Klimkowski, who finished up a brief four-year Major League career with 16 games as a New York Yankee in 1972:
Klimkowski came up with the Yanks as a
25-year old in 1969, having a nice debut where he threw 14 innings over
three games, allowing only one run to the tune of a sparkling 0.64 ERA.
The
following year he appeared in 45 games, going 6-7 with a very nice 2.65
ERA in 98.1 innings, even throwing the only shutout of his career while
also collecting a save.
1971 saw him with the Oakland A's,
where he appeared in 26 games and post a record of 2-2 with a nice 3.38
ERA in 45.1 innings, saving two games while spending all year as a
reliever.
In what turned out to be the last action of his Big
League tenure, Klimkowski was back with the New York Yankees in 1972,
appearing in 16 games, going 0-3 with a 4.02 ERA, starting three games
and collecting one save, striking out 11 and walking 15.
He
would spend all of 1973 in the Yankees' Minor League system, without
getting another shot at Major League ball again, retiring after the
season.
All told, the man had a very nice 2.90 ERA over his
career, appearing in 90 games and going 8-12 with a shutout, four saves,
and 79 strikeouts in 189 innings of work.
