Getting a little "cheeky" today with a "not so missing" 1973 card for former 20-game winner Jim Merritt, who found himself struggling in the Big Leagues just two seasons after a banner year in 1970:
Merritt,
who had a banner year for the National League champ Cincinnati Reds in
1970, struggled with arm issues in 1972, appearing in only four games,
going 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA over eight innings.
Found
this typical Topps image with the "looking up" angle, perfect for the
era, as Merritt was actually in a Texas Rangers uni, the team he'd be
suiting up for in 1973.
In 1970 he had arguably his best season in the Majors when he went 20-12
with the Reds, finishing fourth in Cy Young voting while making his
only All-Star team.
I say “arguably” because that year his earned run average was a high 4.08, while in 1967 with the Twins he went 13-7 with a wonderful 2.53 ERA over 37 appearances, 25 of those starts, tossing a career-high four shutouts with 161 strikeouts.
Overall, he’d finish his career with a record of 81-86, posting an ERA of 3.65 over 297 appearances and 1483 innings of work, throwing nine shutouts while collecting seven saves along the way.
I say “arguably” because that year his earned run average was a high 4.08, while in 1967 with the Twins he went 13-7 with a wonderful 2.53 ERA over 37 appearances, 25 of those starts, tossing a career-high four shutouts with 161 strikeouts.
Overall, he’d finish his career with a record of 81-86, posting an ERA of 3.65 over 297 appearances and 1483 innings of work, throwing nine shutouts while collecting seven saves along the way.
