On the blog this fine day, another "do-over" for Pete Vuckovich and his 1977 Topps card, showing him with the team he played for in 1976, the Chicago White Sox:
Vuckovich
originally appeared in an airbrushed Toronto Blue Jays uni for the
upcoming inaugural season, and I then created a re-done card showing him
actually suited up in a Blue jay uniform, doing away with the
70's-tastic airbrushing job.
Today we go and show him in the uniform of the team he played for the previous year, the South Side White Sox.
In
his first full season in the Big Leagues, Vuckovich appeared in 33
games, seven of them starts, going 7-4 with a 4.65 ERA over 110.1
innings, completing one and striking out 62 batters.
It’s easy to forget the rather pedestrian career Vuckovich had leading
up to his 1982 Cy Young Award when he led the Milwaukee Brewers to an
American League title, eventually losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in
the World Series.
Some may even question if Jim Palmer or even Dan Quisenberry were more worthy recipients of the award (I thought “Quiz” was ripped off three awards to be honest, from 1982 to 1984).
Nevertheless, Vuckovich had his high-point that season, going 18-6 with a 3.34 earned run average, beating out future Hall of Fame Orioles pitcher Palmer for the Cy Young honors.
Sadly for Vuckovich, however, he came up with arm troubles the following year and only appeared in three games before missing the entire 1984 season before returning in 1985, playing for two more seasons before retiring for good after the 1986 season.
He’d win only eight games after his award winning season, finishing with 93 career wins against 69 losses over 11-years and 286 appearances.
Some may even question if Jim Palmer or even Dan Quisenberry were more worthy recipients of the award (I thought “Quiz” was ripped off three awards to be honest, from 1982 to 1984).
Nevertheless, Vuckovich had his high-point that season, going 18-6 with a 3.34 earned run average, beating out future Hall of Fame Orioles pitcher Palmer for the Cy Young honors.
Sadly for Vuckovich, however, he came up with arm troubles the following year and only appeared in three games before missing the entire 1984 season before returning in 1985, playing for two more seasons before retiring for good after the 1986 season.
He’d win only eight games after his award winning season, finishing with 93 career wins against 69 losses over 11-years and 286 appearances.
