Today on the blog, we go and give terribly underrated All-Star Bill Buckner a second "Dedicated Rookie", this time a 1971 edition after he had one created for the 1970 earlier:
Buckner
was one of those players that received more than one slot in the
dreaded multi-player rookie cards Topps would sprinkle in their sets,
hence today's creation.
"Billy Buck" made his first appearance in a Major League uniform in 1969
with the Los Angeles Dodgers, getting into a single game and making one
plate appearance.
However he would go on to play on the big league level straight on
through to 1990, putting in seven .300+ seasons, winning a batting title
while with the Cubs in 1980, posting three 100+ RBI years, reaching
200+ hits twice and leading the league in doubles
in 1981 and 1983.
By the time he retired he collected over 2700 hits, with just under
500 doubles, 174 homers and 1208 runs batted in with a .289 career
average.
What always got me with his career was the fact that in 9397 career at-bats, the man struck out only 453 times! Just awesome.
Some may even consider this career Hall-worthy. At the very least it can be argued, no?
"Billy Buck", a guy who is sadly remembered for one bad play instead of the great 22-year career…
