On the blog today, we move on to the American league in celebrating the starters of the classic 1971 All-Star game, with a 1972 "missing" All-Star card for starting catcher Ray Fosse:
Now,
you'll notice I had to break down and use the image Topps used for his
1971 "Super" card since, believe it or not I just CANNOT find a usable
portrait image of him from the period. Incredible that I've been looking
for months and nothing.
Regardless, the "Marion Mule" made his second straight All-Star game in 1971, and was a burgeoning star in the league.
By
season's end he took home his second straight Gold Glove, while also
hitting .276 with 12 homers and 62 runs batted in for the Cleveland
Indians.
Contrary to what many believe, the All-Star injury at the hands of Pete
Rose did not derail his career, as other injuries along the way in the
following years also contributed to his drop in performance.
Nevertheless, by the time Fosse retired after a brief stint with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1979, he finished with a .256 average, with 758 hits over 2957 at-bats, driving in 324 runs while scoring 299 himself over 924 Big League games.
On another note, you really have to wonder how good those Cleveland Indians could have been by the late-70’s had they NOT traded away players like Graig Nettles, Dick Tidrow, Chris Chambliss and Fosse.
Rest in Peace Ray Fosse...
Nevertheless, by the time Fosse retired after a brief stint with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1979, he finished with a .256 average, with 758 hits over 2957 at-bats, driving in 324 runs while scoring 299 himself over 924 Big League games.
On another note, you really have to wonder how good those Cleveland Indians could have been by the late-70’s had they NOT traded away players like Graig Nettles, Dick Tidrow, Chris Chambliss and Fosse.
