REVISITING MY "MISSING" 1977 FRANK LaCORTE

For a guy who pitched over 100 innings in 1976, it baffles me as to why Topps didn't give Frank LaCorte a card in their 1977 set.

So allow me to do just that, and take a look at my card design:

LaCorte appeared on a 1976 multi-player rookie card, but for some reason after appearing in 19 games with 105.1 innings pitched, Topps couldn't find a spot for him in their 1977 set.

LaCorte posted a 3-12 record for the Braves, with a 4.70 earned run average and 79 K's.

He wouldn't really hit his stride until 1980 after he joined the Houston Astros, where he'd work out of the 'pen for the next four seasons before finishing up his career with the California Angels in 1984.

Overall he posted a 23-44 record with a 5.01 ERA, 26 saves and 372 strikeouts over 490 innings and 253 appearances.

 

NOT REALLY MISSING IN ACTION- 1979 FRANK LaCORTE

Up on the blog today we have a third "not so missing" card creation for former pitcher Frank LaCorte of the Atlanta Braves, this time a 1979 edition to go with his 1977 and 1978 customs:

LaCorte appeared in only two games for Atlanta in 1978, going 0-1 over 14.2 innings with a 3.68 earned run average.

That said it was a nice "comeback" of sorts since his 1977 campaign was a disaster, when he went 1-8 over 14 games, with an ugly 11.68 earned run average over 37 forgetful innings, walking 29 batter, giving up 67 hits and 48 earned runs.

He would go on to pitch ten seasons in the Big Leagues, becoming a decent arm out of the bullpen for the Houston Astros between 1979 and 1983 before one last year under the Major League sun in 1984 with the California Angels.
All told, he finished his career with a record of 23-44 along with an ERA of 5.01 and 26 saves over 253 appearances and 490 innings of work.

 

NOT REALLY MISSING IN ACTION- 1978 FRANK LaCORTE

Today we have a “not so missing” card for former Atlanta Braves pitcher Frank LaCorte, who appeared in 14 games during the 1977 season:

LaCorte went 1-8 over those games, with an ugly 11.68 earned run average over 37 forgetful innings, walking 29 batter, giving up 67 hits and 48 earned runs. Ouch!
However he would bounce back from that season and go on to pitch ten seasons in the Big Leagues, becoming a decent arm out of the bullpen for the Houston Astros between 1979 and 1983 before one last year under the Major League sun in 1984 with the California Angels.
All told, he finished his career with a record of 23-44 along with an ERA of 5.01 and 26 saves over 253 appearances and 490 innings of work.

MISSING IN ACTION- 1977 FRANK LaCORTE

For a guy who pitched over 100 innings in 1976, it baffles me as to why Topps didn't give Frank LaCorte a card in their 1977 set.

So allow me to do just that, and take a look at my card design:

LaCorte appeared on a 1976 multi-player rookie card, but for some reason after appearing in 19 games with 105.1 innings pitched, Topps couldn't find a spot for him in their 1977 set.

LaCorte posted a 3-12 record for the Braves, with a 4.70 earned run average and 79 K's.

He wouldn't really hit his stride until 1980 after he joined the Houston Astros, where he'd work out of the 'pen for the next four seasons before finishing up his career with the California Angels in 1984.

Overall he posted a 23-44 record with a 5.01 ERA, 26 saves and 372 strikeouts over 490 innings and 253 appearances.