Fun card to add to the WTHBALLS "stable", a dedicated 1977 manager card for Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Lemon, who was just about to take over the helm of the Chicago White Sox:
Somehow
Topps was able to have Lemon shown on the White Sox team card for the
1977 set, even though he hadn't managed yet, so that's why you have this
card created here.
After
an earlier managerial stint with the Kansas City Royals between 1979
and 1972, Lemon was back at the head of a Major League team, leading the
South Siders to a very nice 90-72 season, giving us that potent line-up
with guys like Oscar Gamble, Richie Zisk and Eric Soderholm.
He'd
start off the 1978 season with Chicago, but would get the ax 74 games
into the season after a 34-40 start, good for fifth place in the
American League West.
But
don't fret for the guy, as his fortunes would be incredibly improved,
getting hired by the New York Yankees, for whom he coached before his
White Sox stint, and all he would do is guide the Yankees straight to a
World Championship.
Of
course, to get there the Yanks had to overcome a huge gap between them
and the first place Boston Red Sox, culminating with a dramatic one-game
playoff that gave us Bucky Dent and his home run heroics.
A true baseball “lifer”, Lemon would also find his way to Cooperstown in
1976, elected by the BBWAA based on his 207 wins, all with the
Cleveland Indians, which included SEVEN 20-win campaigns in only ten
full seasons. Amazing.
