MISSING IN ACTION- 1976 SAM McDOWELL "1976 PROJECT"

"Sudden Sam" McDowell is the next player up in the ongoing "1976 Project" for Reader Jim.

Though I created a 1975 card for him using the same photo, I had to relent and use the image again, cleaned up and improved, for the 1976 version.

Take a look:

McDowell really should have had a card in the 1975 set, that is a no-brainer. But a 1976 edition would be more of a "Career Capper", closing out a brilliant, if not tumultuous, 15-year career that saw him  lead the American League in strikeouts five times, while also pacing the league in walks issued in equal amounts.

He'd finish with 141 career wins along with a 3.17 earned run average and 2453 strikeouts, with two 300+ seasons under his belt.

In 1970 he posted his only 20-win season, and in 1965 he led the A.L. with a 2.18 ERA, but it was those strikeouts, as in 325 in 1965, 304 in 1970, 283 in 1968 and 279 in 1969 that made him stand out of the pitching crowd.

A six-time all-star, his career was sadly derailed when he hit 30 years  of age, pitching for the Giants, Yankees and Pirates, never topping more than six wins in any season.
Who knows "what could have been" had he been able to stay healthy...

THEN AND NOW #42: MUDCAT GRANT 1972

Time to celebrate Jim "Mudcat" Grant and his 14-year career with a "Then and Now" card in the 1972 set.

Take a look at what I came up with:

Though he did have a card in the 1972 Topps set, he was already done with his Major League days, finishing up with the Oakland A's at the end of the 1971 season after starting it with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Between 1958 and 1966 he was primarily a starter, putting in his finest big league season in 1965 while a member of the American League champion Minnesota Twins, going 21-7 with a 3.30 earned run average, six shutouts and 142 strikeouts over 270.1 innings and 41 games, 39 of which were starts.

By the time he retired, Grant posted a 145-119 record with a 3.63 ERA, 18 shutouts and 54 saves over 571 games and 2442 innings playing for the Indians, Twins, Dodgers, Expos, Cardinals, A's and Pirates.

DEDICATED ROOKIE- 1970 BILL BUCKNER

Let's go and give former first baseman Bill Buckner a "Dedicated Rookie Card" in the 1970 set shall we?

Buckner 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…

MISSING IN ACTION- 1974 GARY ROSS

I think a pitcher who appeared in a third of his teams' games the year before deserves a card, don't you?

So I went ahead and designed a 1974 Topps card for San Diego Padre Gary Ross.

Check it out:

For the 1973 season Ross appeared in 59 games for the Padres, finishing 29 of them with a total of 76.1 innings pitched.

He fashioned a 4-4 record with a 5.42 earned run average and 44 strikeouts.

I always remember him towards the end of his career when with the  California Angels, for whom he pitched between 1975 and 1977.

Overall he played for the Chicago Cubs, Padres and Angels between 1968 and 1977, finishing with a 25-47 career record, with a 3.92 ERA and 378 K's over 283 games and 713.2 innings pitched.

JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT- 1970'S BASEBALL TRIVIA PART #111 (A REVISIT OF #29)

Let's revisit my quiz set from December 19th, 2013.

For that week I focused on M.V.P.'s of the 1970's.

Give it a shot and come back tomorrow for the answers…

1. Among all M.V.P.'s in the 1970's (besides Vida Blue), who sported the lowest batting average during their award winning season?

2. What batter drove in the fewest runs during their M.V.P. season?

3. Who scored the fewest runs during their M.V.P. year?

4. Who had the lowest On Base Percentage among M.V.P.'s in the 1970's?

5. Among all M.V.P.'s of the 1970's, who hit the fewest home runs during their winning season?

***SPOILER ALERT! ANSWERS BELOW: 

1. Johnny Bench, Reds. .270 in 1972.

2. Pete Rose, Reds. 64 R.B.I.'s in 1973.
 
3. Willie Stargell, Pirates. 60 runs in 1979.
 
4. Thurman Munson, Yankees. .337 OBP in 1976.

5. Pete Rose, Reds. 5 homers in 1973.

HALL OF FAME #30: OSCAR CHARLESTON: CLASS OF 1976

Next up on the Hall of Fame train, we move on to 1976 and former Negro League legend Oscar Charleston, who played and managed in the league for 30 years between 1915 to 1945.

Check out my card:

Though he played for many organizations during his illustrious career, it was his time with the Pittsburgh Crawfords that really established his legendary career.

As player-manager, he guided was many consider the greatest Negro League team ever, stocked with other legends like Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige and Judy Johnson.

According to some researchers, Charleston finished his career with a batting average hovering around .350, with a slugging percentage of about .575.

Since his induction to the Hall of Fame, he is frequently mentioned when there is discussion as to the greatest players of all-time, regardless of Major or Negro League.

In 1999 he was ranked #67 on the Sporting News list of the "100 Greatest Baseball Players", and he was also nominated for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

MISSING IN ACTION- 1976 CHRIS ARNOLD "1976 PROJECT"

Here's the next player in the on-going "1976 Project" for "Reader Jim", former San Francisco Giant Chris Arnold.

Check out my card design:

Arnold played in 29 games during the 1975 season after coming off a half-season of play the previous year, easily the most of his six-year career.

While playing both in the infield and outfields, Arnold chipped in with a .267 batting average based on his eight hits in 41 at-bats, all of those hits being singles.

His 1976 season would end up being the last of his career, which was spent entirely in 'frisco, finishing with a .237 career average with 103 hits in 435 at-bats over 273 games.

MISSING IN ACTION-1970 CAP PETERSON

Here's a "missing" 1970 Topps card for a guy who already capped off his career in 1969, outfielder Cap peterson:

By the time this card would have been released, Peterson was out of the Majors for good, ending an eight-year career in the big leagues playing for the San Francisco Giants, Washington Senators and Cleveland Indians.

In 1969 he appeared in 76 games, good for 137 plate appearances and 110 official at-bats.

He hit .227 for the Tribe, with 25 hits, eight runs scored, a single homer and 14 runs batted in.

After his playing days he went into the family business, and sadly I read that he passed away at the young age of 37 in 1980 from a kidney illness.

ONE OF THOSE GEMS FROM MY YOUTH: 1976 WILLIE HORTON

This is one of those cards that has stuck with me for almost 40-years as a piece of cardboard art: the 1976 Topps Willie Horton card.

Take a look…

Man, what's NOT to like here?!

The colors all meshing well with the photo, the cool-as-hell bad-ass Horton looking like a lumberjack at the place.

Horton just looks like a beast up there!

Ever since I pulled one of those out of a pack it was one of my favorites from that set.

Just awesome.

It's funny how, being in the design business myself and frequently using high-resolution photographs, I always appreciate and cherish those "low-fi" photos Topps used back then that just seemed to make the card that much more "mythic"!

I don't know if a crisp, clean image would have made this any better. In fact it probably wouldn't look as cool to me!

Go figure…

MISSING IN ACTION-"IN ACTION" #45: 1972 NORM CASH

Let's go and give "Stormin' Norman", former Detroit Tigers slugger Norm Cash a "missing" 1972 "In-Action" card shall we?

Here's what I came up with:

I like the close up shot, differing a bit from the images I've been using for all the others in this thread.

Cash was still putting in productive years at the tail-end of his career, having a strong 1971 season that saw him hit 32 homers (just one off the league lead), with 91 runs batted in and a nice .283 batting average for the era.

By the time he retired after the 1974 season he finished with 377 homers, 1104 RBI's, 1045 runs scored and a solid .271 batting average.

His 1961 year was massive, posting a league-leading .361 average with 193 hits, 119 runs scored, 41 homers and 132 RBI's.

Besides average, Cash would pace the American League in hits, on-base-percentage and intentional base-on-balls.

But it all gave him nothing but a fourth place finish in MVP voting thanks to guys like Maris, Mantle and Gentile.

MISSING IN ACTION- 1976 EDDIE BANE "1976 PROJECT"

The next player up for my ongoing "1976 Project" for "Reader Jim" is former pitcher Eddie Bane of the Minnesota Twins.

Check it out:

Bane didn't play much during the 1975 season, but this being Jim's project I created the card at his request.

For the '75 season Bane appeared in four games, all starts, and posted a 3-1 record with a 2.86 earned run average and 14 strikeouts in 28.1 innings of work.

As we all know, Bane, who starred on his college team at Arizona State was was named to the All-America team, was drafted 11th overall in the 1973 amateur draft and went right to the Majors without any Minor League time.

It didn't help much, as the young arm posted a 0-5 record with a 4.92 ERA over 23 games, six of which were starts.

After playing in the Minors the entire 1974 season, he made those aforementioned four starts in 1975 before putting in the most time in any one season in 1976, appearing in 17 games, 15 of which were starts, logging 79.1 innings pitched.

He'd finish the year at 4-7 with a 5.11 ERA, but it would mark the last action he'd see on a Major League mound, as he'd go on to pitch in the Minor Leagues another four years before retiring as a player for good in 1980.

All told Bane finished his Big League career with a 7-13 record, with a 4.66 ERA and 80 strikeouts over 44 games and 168 innings pitched.

JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT- 1970'S BASEBALL TRIVIA PART #110 (A REVISIT OF #28)

Let's revisit my trivia set from December 2013, at the time the 28th set of this long thread.

I'll post the answers tomorrow as usual.

Today's trivia will deal with 200+ strikeout seasons by pitchers during the decade of the 1970's.

See how many you can get. As usual the answers will be posted tomorrow.

1. Who was the only pitcher to fan 200+ batters in a season with UNDER 200-innings pitched?

2. Who walked the fewest batters in a season in which they also struck out 200+?

3. Who lead his lead in strikeouts with the fewest amount in a season for the decade?

4. Who faced the lowest amount of batters during a season which saw him strikeout 200 or more batters?

5. Who sported the lowest strikeouts-per-nine-innings ratio among 200 strikeout pitchers during the '70's?

***SPOILER ALERT! ANSWERS BELOW: 

1. Dennis Eckersley, Indians. 1976. 199.1 innings.

2. Fergie Jenkins, Cubs. 1971. 37 walks with an amazing 263 K's.
 
3. Nolan Ryan, Angels. 1979. 223 strikeouts.
 
4. Dennis Eckersley, Indians. 1976. 821 batters faced.

5. Wilbur Wood. White Sox. 1972. 4.61 K's per nine innings. He pitched an incredible 376.2 innings that year!

MISSING IN ACTION- 1979 STEVE BURKE

Here's a "missing" 1979 card for a guy that I admit I may be stretching: former pitcher Steve Burke, who played for the Seattle Mariners.

Take a look at my card:

Burke only played during the 1977 and 1978 seasons in his career, and it was in 1978 that he pitched in 18 of his career 24 games, all out of the 'pen for the Seattle club.

During that season he posted a 0-1 record with a 3.49 earned run average and 16 strikeouts over 49 innings of work.

Still, since I did come across this nice picture of him I couldn't help but whip-up a card for him.

He did appear in one of the multi-player rookie cards in the 1978 set, but now we have a dedicated card for him and his career 0-2 record, with a 3.34 ERA and 22 K's over 24 career games and 64.2 innings.

MISSING IN ACTION- 1975 JIM TYRONE

Here's a 1975 "Missing in Action" card for Jim Tyrone, former outfielder for the Chicago Cubs and Oakland A's.

Check out my card:

Tyrone played in 57 games during the 1974 season, good for 87 plate appearances with 15 hits over 81 at-bats.

That translated into a .185 batting average with a triple and three homers, as well as 19 runs scored and three RBI's.

Evidently he was used as a pinch-runner a bit since his runs scored outnumbered his hit total, even with his six base on balls that year.

He played little during the 1975 season before missing out the entire 1976 year, finding himself in Oakland for the 1977 campaign.

Thus with his playing time in '77 he got his Topps card the following year in the sweet 1978 set.

But he would never play another Major League game after 1977, playing a few more years in the Oakland Minor League system until 1979 before retiring for good.

NICKNAMES OF THE '70'S #34: "MR. CUB" ERNIE BANKS

Time to go ahead and celebrate yet again one of the great's of all-time, and give him a "Nicknames of the '70's" card: "Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks.

Here's the card:

What needs to be said?

The most beloved baseball player in the North Side of Chicago, two-time Most Valuable Player (1958 and 1959), 500+ home runs, 2500+ hits, 11-time all-star and all-around great guy.

Oh, I may as well throw in the 1300+ runs scored, 1600+ runs batted in, 400+ doubles and 90 triples he chipped in as well, setting him on a straight path to the Baseball Hall of Fame with his 1977 induction, a no-brainer in anyone's book!

"Mr. Cub", wish there were more like him!

THEN AND NOW #41: TITO FRANCONA 1970

Since I haven't had the chance to design a "Then and Now" card using the 1970 Topps template, I figured I'd go and make one up for former outfielder/first baseman Tito Francona, father of future player and manager Terry Francona.

Check out my card:

Tito was pretty much wrapping up a nice 14-year career in 1970 (watch for my 1971 "Career Capper" soon!), which saw him finish second in Rookie of the Year voting in 1956 when he came up with the Baltimore Orioles, and also put in some solid seasons with the Cleveland Indians between 1959 and 1964.

The 1959 season was arguably his best, as he hit an eye-opening .363 with 145 hits over 399 at-bats, with 20 homers and 79 runs batted in.

Those numbers got him a fifth-place finish for MVP when voting came around.

After he moved on to St. Louis in 1965 he began a slow decline in numbers and bounced around a bit before retiring after the '70 season.

Between 1965 and 1970 he suited up for the Cardinals, Phillies, Braves, A's and Brewers, ending up with a respectable .272 career average with 1395 hits, 125 homers and 656 RBI's in 1719 games.

HALL OF FAME #29: RALPH KINER: CLASS OF 1975

Up next in the "Hall of Fame Inductee" parade is former slugger Ralph Kiner, who was admitted into Cooperstown's hallowed halls in 1975.

Check out my card design:

Imagine averaging 97 runs, 37 homers and 1010 runs batted in over your ENTIRE career?! Just awesome.

As we all know, Kiner broke in with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1946 and promptly led the National League in homers with 23, then proceeded to lead his league in that same department for the next six years, with FIVE of those seasons with 40 or more, all consecutively.

In 1947 he smashed 51 homers, then topped himself two years later when he outright demolished the ball, hitting 54 home runs while setting his personal best in slugging with a .658 mark

In his 10 short years as a Major League player he led the league 17 times in a positive offensive category.

Injuries curtailed what could have been a monster career, but he produced plenty enough for the BBWA to induct him in 1975, cementing his place in baseball history, and he was already entrenched as the long-time New York Mets TV announcer, where he even copped an Emmy Award and kept us all in stitches with malapropisms for over 50 years.

MISSING IN ACTION- 1973 MICK KELLEHER

Here's the first of what will be THREE "missing" cards for former infielder Mick Kelleher, who first appeared on a baseball card in 1977, five years after his Major League debut:

I tell you, I didn't even remember that Kelleher came up with the Cardinals, then went on to play for the Astros and then the Cardinals yet again before moving on to the team I always remember him with, the Cubs.

In 1972 he played in 23 games for the Cardinals, hitting .159 with 10 hits over 63 at-bats. Not much of a showing for the 24-year old, but at the very least perhaps a slot on a multi-player rookie card?

He got to play in more games the following season, yet Topps left him out of their set yet again in 1974 and once again in their 1975 set, this time as a Houston Astro.

Needless to say, I'll be tackling those in the near future as well!

Kelleher put in 11 years as a Major League player, moving on to the Detroit Tigers and California Angels in 1981 and 1982 before becoming a long time coach (presently with the New York Yankees).

He retired with a .213 batting average, collecting 230 hits over 1081 at-bats in 622 games.

He never did get to put in a full year, but the closest he came was in 1976 when he appeared in 124 games and posted 363 plate appearances, pretty much setting career highs in almost every category.

Keep an eye out for the other "missing" cards for Kelleher right here, as I've already scored a few photos of him that will work perfectly…

JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT- 1970'S BASEBALL TRIVIA PART #109 (A REVISIT OF #27)

Time to revisit a trivia set I posted in December, 2013. See if any ring a bell and I'll post up the answers tomorrow.

1. Of all 20+ home run seasons in the decade, what player had the fewest hits?

2. Of all 20+ home run hitters, who had the fewest R.B.I.'s for the year?

3. What player had the fewest runs scored in a 20+ homer season?

4. Who had the fewest at-bats with 20+ homers in a season during the '70's?

5. Who had the lowest batting average in a season among 20+ hitters during the decade?

***SPOILER ALERT! ANSWERS BELOW: 

1. Dave Kingman, Giants. 62 hits in 1973.

2. Oscar Gamble, Indians. 44 in 1973.
 
3. Willie McCovey, Giants. 43 in 1975.
 
4. Cliff Johnson, Yankees & Astros. 286 in 1977.

5. Dave Kingman, Giants. .203 in 1973.

DEDICATED "ROOKIE CARDS" #15: 1972 J.R. RICHARD

Always one of my favorite subjects for card creations, here's a "dedicated rookie" 1972 card for former Houston Astros fireballer J.R. Richard.

Richard appeared in his first four games during the 1971 season, and blew the MLB world wide-open when he struck out 15 batters in his first start.

It would take a few years, but he'd become the power-arm all-star by the 1975 season, and would go on to post two 300+ strikeout campaigns, four straight 200+ K years,  four straight seasons of 18+ wins (1976-1979), and an E.R.A. crown in 1979 before tragically having his career cut short in 1980 by a stroke.

His final numbers are indicative of what we could have expected well into the 1980's had he not been cut down at the age of 30: a 107-71 record with 1493 strikeouts and a 3.15 ERA in 238 games and 1606 innings.

It really would have been something to see Richard and Nolan Ryan team up to rack-up incredible numbers together.

One of the ultimate "what could have been" stories in baseball during my childhood for sure…

MISSING IN ACTION- 1976 GREG TERLECKY: "1976 PROJECT"

Here's a "missing" card for a guy who saw his only Major League action in 1975, pitcher Greg Terlecky, check it out:

Funny enough, the only Topps card Terlecky would appear on is a multi-player rookie card in the 1977 set, as a member of the Chicago White Sox.

But it was as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1975 that Terlecky made his MLB "bones", appearing in 20 games, all if relief, good for an 0-1 record with a 4.45 earned run average over 30.1 innings of work.

It would be the only action he'd see on a Major League mound, spending 9 seasons toiling in the minors for St. Louis, Chicago and Pittsburgh, calling it a career after the 1979 season at Springfield in Double-AA.

MISSING IN ACTION- 1971 RAY OYLER

I recently came across this nice usable image for former shortstop Ray Oyler as a California Angel, and since he didn't have a card in the 1971 set I figured I'd whip one up, even though it's a bit of a stretch considering the minimal time he played in 1970.

Nevertheless, here goes:

The 1970 would end up being the last in Oyler's six-year career.

It wasn't much of a showing, as he collected two scant hits over 24 at-bats, good for a .083 batting average in the 24 games he got into that season.

But when you look at his career, Oyler was all glove and no bat, almost literally.

By the time he hung up his cleats after 1970, he retired with a .175 batting average, based on his 221 hits over 1265 at-bats.

Between 1965 and 1970, he topped .200 once, when he hit .207 in 1967 for the Detroit Tigers.

However, on a positive note, during the Tiger's World Series run in 1968 Oyler played in 111 games for the champs, arguably the high point of his career before being selected by the expansion Seattle Pilots for the 1969 season.

Quite a few teammates reflected on Oyler's defensive prowess, some even stating that no matter what the batting average was, having Oyler as their shortstop helped their team.

Talk about the epitome of "good field, no hit"!

ANOTHER HEAD-SCRATCHER: 1973 STEVE DUNNING

Let's take a look at another classic from the Topps 1970's family: a 1973 card of former pitcher Steve Dunning.

Beyond the painfully obvious airbrushing of the cap (love the crazy shadowing on the "C" logo), many of us are left wondering as to exactly what uniform he is wearing on the card.

I've read a few places that think it can be an older Cleveland Indians home jersey, with "Indians" across the chest, while I've also read that it could be a minor league uni form their Portland Beavers Triple-A franchise.

I'll be honest, the very little we do see of the letters look like neither the end of the word "Indians" OR even the end of the words "Portland" or "Beavers".

Anyone know for sure what uni Dunning is wearing here?

You have to wonder why Topps didn't just leave a photo of Dunning unaltered for the card since he pitched for Cleveland for three years up to this point.

Granted the Indians did switch over to that cap from a dark blue one the previous year, so it was a dramatic change in attire for the Tribe.

But nevertheless….

And speaking of Dunning, seems he has TWO "missing" cards that I need to tackle in the future, a 1974 card with him as a Texas Ranger, and a 1977 edition with him as a Montreal Expo player.

I'm having no luck tracking down an image of either options. Any help?

WHY? 1970 TOPPS BILLY HARRIS

While I understand that Topps was probably scrambling for Royals players to represent on their 1970 set after the inaugural season out in Kansas City, I'm still scratching my head over their inclusion of former second baseman Billy Harris.

First, let's take a look at his '70 Topps card:

Harris saw very little action in 1969, playing in 5 games, with seven plate appearances (all official at-bats) and two hits. Strange to see he was given a slot in this set, no?

In 1968 he came up with the Cleveland Indians, playing in 38 games with 94 plate appearances, giving you the entirety of his Major League career.

His final numbers: 43 games with 110 plate appearances, 101 of which were official at-bats.

He collected 22 hits, good for a .218 final average, with 11 runs scored and three runs batted in.

Among those 22 hits were six doubles and a triple, with a couple of stolen bases thrown in.

Yeah I get that the new Royal team had to be represented, but looking at their 1969 roster I see a few guys who could have gotten a card over him. Odd.

MISSING IN ACTION-"IN ACTION" #44: 1972 WILLIE DAVIS

It's time to give former Dodger outfielder Willie Davis a "missing" 1972 in-action card.

So here's what I came up with:

Davis was coming off of one of his best seasons as a Major League player, hitting .309 with 198 hits, 33 doubles, 10 triples and 10 home runs for Los Angeles in 1971, leading to his first all-star nod and the first of three consecutive Gold Glove Awards.

Two years later he would get his second, and actually last all-star selection in an excellent 18-year career that has him topping 2500 hits, 1200 runs scored and 1000 runs batted in.

It's easy to forget what kind of career Davis actually had thanks to contemporaries like Mays, Aaron, Robinson and Clemente manning outfields during the same era.

By the time he retired after a handful of games in 1979, he suited up for the Dodgers (1960-1973), the Expos (1974), the Rangers (part of 1975), the Padres (other part of 1975) and the California Angels (1979 after missing the 1978 season).

On a side-note, never knew he had the nickname "3-Dog". Kind of like it, and it may need to have it's own "Nickname" card on this blog in the future.

JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT- 1970'S BASEBALL TRIVIA PART #108 (A REVISIT OF #26)

Let's revisit my trivia set from Thanksgiving, 2013.

See what rings a bell and I'll post the answers tomorrow.

1. Who posted the fewest at-bats on his way to a batting championship during the decade?

2. Who scored the fewest runs during a batting championship season?

3. What batting champ had the fewest amount of hits during his league-topping season?

4. What batting champ had the fewest extra-base hits during the 70's?

5. Who was the only batting champ during the 1970's to whiff over 100 times in the same season as his batting win?

***SPOILER ALERT! ANSWERS BELOW: 

1. Rico Carty, Atlanta Braves, 1970. 478 at-bats.

2. Rod Carew, Minnesota Twins. 1972. 61 runs.
 
3. Tony Oliva, Minnesota Twins. 1971. 164 hits.
 
4. Rod Carew, Minnesota Twins. 1972. Only 27 EBH: 21 doubles, 6 triples and 0 Home runs.

5. Dave Parker, Pittsburgh Pirates. 1977. 102 K's.

TRADED: 1975 LEE MAY

Here's a 1975 "Traded" card for former slugger "Big Bopper" Lee May, who was still shown as a member of the Houston Astros in the 1975 set due to a late trade during the off-season.

Check out my card design:

Traded to the Baltimore Orioles from the Houston Astros on December 3, 1974, it would turn out to be a very nice trade for the O's.

All May would do is go on to put in six solid seasons in Baltimore, consistently hitting around 25 homers a year while driving in approximately 85-90 runs.

In 1976 he led the American League in runs batted in with 109 while clubbing 25 homers, teaming up nicely with Reggie Jackson to help lead the team to a second place finish behind eventual American League champs the New York Yankees.

May would end up retiring with over 2000 hits, 350 homers and 1200 RBI's, while being named to three All-Star teams and having two top-10 MVP finishes (1972 and 1976).

After some playing time with the Kansas City Royals in 1982 he called it a career after 18-years and 2071 games.

HALL OF FAME #28: JUDY JOHNSON: CLASS OF 1975

Here's a 1975 "Hall of Fame Induction" card for one of the greatest third basemen in Negro Leagues history, Judy Johnson:

There's surprisingly little written about him considering he's a Hall of Famer, and I can find much more written about other Negro League players.

But what is known is that he starred in the Negro Leagues between 1918 and 1936, playing for the Hilldale Club, Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords, playing alongside such players as John Henry Lloyd (who mentored the young Johnson) and Josh Gibson (who Johnson in turn mentored himself).

A two-time all-star in the league, he also won a Negro League title with the Hilldale club in 1925 and hit as high as .416 in a season (1929).

After his playing days he went on to scout and coach in the Majors, becoming the first African-American coach in Major League history after signing on with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1954.

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.

NICKNAMES OF THE '70'S #33: "BOOMER" GEORGE SCOTT

Time to give former slugger George "Boomer" Scott a "Nickname of the 70's" card in my on-going series.

Take a look at what I came up with:

A colorful card to say the least, just screaming "1970's baseball"!

What a bad-ass Scott looked like back then! Right out of some biker movie right?

Scott was in his prime in 1975, hence the '75 template for the card.

That season was arguably his best in 14-years of Major League ball, leading the American League in both homers and runs batted in with 36 and 109 respectively.

Overall he put together an excellent career playing for the Red Sox, Brewers, Royals and Yankees between 1966 and 1979, slamming 271 home runs with 1051 RBI's, 1992 hits and a .268 batting average.

Defensively all he managed to do was take home eight Gold Gloves for his work at first base, and though he was only named to three all-star games, he garnered MVP attention in seven seasons, or half his career!

Not too shabby to say the least...

A DOOZY IN AIRBURSHING: 1977 MANNY SANGUILLEN

Here is one classic of an airbrushed card from Topps, the 1977 Manny Sanguillen edition:

Where do we even begin?

The collar on his jersey? The paint job on his batting helmet?

The helmet literally looks hand painted, as in colored in with a crayon or marker! Love it!

Since I've been documenting these cards on the blog, I've grown to really appreciate them as I go along, remembering how much fun I had staring at these painted pictures before the age of Photoshop.

But before we examine Sanguillen's career, let's not forget those awesome period-perfect sideburns! Wicked…

Sanguillen really get's overlooked when it comes to how well he played during his 13-year career, all but 1977 spent with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

This was a catcher who hit over .300 four times, with a high of .328 in 1975, while also topping .280 another four times, before retiring with a robust .296 career average.

I personally think he may have been ripped off a Rookie of the Year in 1969 when he hit .303 with 62 runs scored and 57 runs batted in as a rookie catcher, losing to the Dodgers Ted Sizemore (an STRONG argument can also be made for Sanguillen's teammate Al Oliver, who also could have won).

He was named to three all-star teams, and even garnered some MVP support in 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1975 as a member of the Bucs.

A very nice career for a solid catcher during the 1970's who gets forgotten among the Bench's, Fisks, Munsons and Simmons of the Majors…