NOT REALLY MISSING IN ACTION: 1977 STEVE BOWLING

Up on the blog today, we have a 1977 "not so missing" card for two-year Major League outfielder Steve Bowling, who made his Big League debut in 1976 as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers:

Bowling appeared in only 14 games for Milwaukee, hitting .167 with seven hits over 42 at-bats, scoring four and driving in two.

The following year he would find himself a member of the new Toronto Blue jays franchise, playing in 89 games and hitting .206, scoring 19 and driving in 13.

It's surprising Topps didn't give Bowling a card in their 1978 set considering all the playing time he had that season, so years ago I did create a "missing" card for him in that set.

Anyway, after two more seasons in the Minors for the White Sox and Reds, he'd call it a career for good after 1979.

His final career stats: a .199 batting average, with that single home run and 15 runs batted in over 103 games and 236 at-bats.

MISSING IN ACTION- 1978 STEVE BOWLING

Here's a "Missing in Action" 1978 card for former Toronto Blue Jays player Steve Bowling.

Check it out:

I don't know what happened here, but Bowling played in 89 games for the Jays in their inaugural season, good for 236 plate appearances and 194 at-bats. You'd think that was enough to warrant a card.

In that playing time, Bowling hit .206 with eight doubles, a triple and a homer, with 19 runs scored and 13 runs batted in.

He played briefly in 1976 with the Milwaukee Brewers before being drafted by Toronto in the expansion draft, and actually would never play Major League ball again after his 1977 performance.

After two more seasons in the Minors for the White Sox and Reds, he'd call it a career for good after 1979.

His final career stats: a .199 batting average, with that single home run and 15 runs batted in over 103 games and 236 at-bats.