Here’s
a fun card to add to the blog, a not so missing” 1975 card for one year
pitcher Leon Hooten of the Oakland A’s, who actually got a spot on a
multi-player rookie card a few years later in the 1977 Topps set as a
member of the inaugural Toronto Blue Jays:
Hooten appeared in six games for the A’s during their 1974 season, the
third straight World Championship season for the franchise.
He didn’t factor in a decision, but put up a nice 3.24 earned run
average, allowing three runs over 8.1 innings, with a strikeout and four
walks.
He’d spend the next two years in the Oakland Minor League system before
getting selected by the upstart Blue Jays in the Expansion Draft as the
59th pick, but he would never play for them, not even in their Minors
system.
But he did walk away with an appearance on a Topps card, getting a spot
in their “Rookie Pitchers” card #478 along with Jim Gideon, Mark
Lemongello and Dave Johnson.