Today
we have a “missing” 1978 card for former Oakland A’s outfielder Larry
Murray, who really should have had a card after appearing in 90 games
during the 1977 season:
Murray hit .179 with 29 hits over 162 at-bats for the A’s that season
after coming over from the New York Yankees as part of the deal that got
them Mike Torrez.
He also scored 19 runs while stealing 12 bases while getting the first
real taste of significant play after never playing more than eight games
with New York in the previous three years.
In 1978 he’d only play in eleven games, hitting .083 with a single hit
over twelve at-bats, but he’d come back in 1979 and get the most playing
time he’d see over a season when he appeared in 105 games, hitting .186
with 42 hits over 226 at-bats.
That action would get him his first Topps card in the 1980 set, only to never appear in a Major League game again.
After only 13 games in the Minor Leagues during the 1980 season, he’d be finished with pro ball, only 27 years of age.
Go figure.