The next OPC image variation we take a look at is the 1977 card for
pinch-hitter extraordinaire Jose Morales of the Montreal Expos:
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Nothing earth-shattering between the two cards, but the OPC edition is
indeed slightly nicer, and I suspect more up-to-date, image of Morales.
Never a full-time player, he'd find his groove as a bat off the bench,
specializing as a pinch-hitter with some success in the role.
Of course if any of you remember the 1977 set, you’ll remember that
Morales set a new Major League record for pinch-hits in a season in 1976
when he collected 25, breaking the record held by Dave Philley and Vic
Davalillio, appearing on a “Record Breaker” card in the set.
He would play twelve seasons in the Big Leagues, finishing up with a
nice .287 career batting average with 375 hits over 1305 at-bats between
1973 and 1984.
