Up on the blog today, we have a 1972 "not quite missing" card for speedster Bill North, who made his Major League debut during the 1971 season with the Chicago Cubs:
North
appeared in only eight games for the Cubs that year, hitting a
blistering .375 with six hits over 16 at-bats, with three runs scored
and one stolen base.
A two-time stolen base champ in mid-1970's. North played 11 years
in the Big Leagues, between 1971 and 1981 for the Cubs, A's, Dodgers and
Giants.
He led the A.L. in stolen bases in 1974 and 1976, with totals of 54
and 75. He would have led the league in 1973, ending up one behind
leader Tommy Harper, had he not sprained his ankle on September 20th, which also cost him seeing any action in the post-season.
He'd end up with 395 stolen bases to go along with a .261 lifetime
average, 640 runs and 1016 hits, while being on two championship teams
with Oakland in 1973 & 1974.
Funny enough, he was also the very first designated hitter in
Oakland A's history, going 2 for 5 in the 1973 season opener against the
Minnesota Twins.
Go figure…
