On the blog today, we return to my on-going "expanded league leaders" thread, going through the 1970's and expanding on the years that Topps only had the top performer of each league for a particular category on a league-leader card.
Today we move on to the 1975 N.L. League Leaders for Home Runs, featuring three thumpers who'd make any line-up a threat:
We
begin with Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt, who took home the
first of what would eventually be eight Home Run titles over his stellar
career, pacing the league with 36 "jacks" in 1974.
He would
lead the league the next two seasons as well, then go on to do the same
in 1980 and 1981, 1983 and 1984, and finally 1986 when he would also
take home his third MVP Award.
The man was a machine, topping
30+ homers 13 times and driving in 100+ runs nine times before he was
through, while also performing on the defensive end of the game with his
ten Gold Glove Awards.
In second place with 33 home runs in 1974 is another future Hall of Famer, Cincinnati Reds all-timer Johnny Bench.
Bench
had himself another wonderful season in 1974, hitting the
aforementioned homers while leading the league with his 129 RBIs, the
third time he led in that department.
He also scored a
career-best 108 runs that year, while leading the league with 315 total
bases, all numbers that would get hima fourth place finish for the MVP
Award at season's end.
He wasn't done yet, as he'd play
another nine seasons, through the 1983 campaign, finishing up with two
MVP Awards, 14 All-Star nods and 10 Gold Glove Awards. Elite to say the
least!
In third place with 32 home runs, the "Toy Cannon",
Jimmy Wynn of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who helped the team return to the
World Series in 1974.
Wynn had an excellent year in 1974,
driving in 108 runs, which were a career-best, while also scoring 104
runs, stealing 18 bases, and drawing 108 walks to give him a very nice
.408 on-base-percentage.
All of that got him a fifth-place finish for the MVP Award, which was taken home by teammate Steve Garvey.
Well
there you go, the top-three home run hitters in the National League in
1974, shown in all their glory on an expanded 1975 league-leader card.
Next up, the American League's best three sluggers for 1974. See you then!
