Tuesday, November 14, 2023

GIMMIE A DO-OVER: 1971 JOHN MATIAS

Up on the blog this fine day, a "do-over" for one-year Big Leaguer John Matias and his 1971 Topps card, which originally had him as a Kansas City Royal, a team he'd never actually play for:

Do-over

As-issued by Topps
 
Matias came up to the Majors in 1970, appearing in 58 games for the Chicago White Sox and hitting .188 with 22 hits in 117 official at=bats.
In the off-season he would be traded to the Royals along with Gail Hopkins for Pat Kelly and Don O'Reilly and spend the year in their Minor League system before being purchased by the San Diego Padres before the 1972 campaign.
Again, he'd never suit up for his new team, playing instead in their Minor League system before heading off to the Minnesota Twins system for a handful of games in 1973.
In 1974 he decided to try his hand in the Mexican League, playing the next five years for Juarez and hovering around the .300 mark before playing for Mexican City and Veracruz in 1979.
Incredibly, in 1980 the Hawaii native would be back in the Padres' system, playing for this "hometown" Hawaii Islanders for 12 games before calling it a career.
He definitely got his mileage over his career!