Up on the blog today, we take a closer look at the OPC and Topps image variation for Joe Ferguson's 1977 cards:
 |
| OPC version |
 |
| Topps version |
Whereas
the Topps card has the catcher with the St. Louis Cardinals, for whom
he suited up in 1976, the OPC card has him airbrushed into a Houston
Astros uniform, reflecting his recent trade to the team.
After
putting in half a season with the Cardinals in 1976, Ferguson was part
of a multi-player trade that also saw former All-Star pitcher Larry
Dierker head to St. Louis.
Ferguson would have a decent year for the Astros in 1977, hitting .257 over 132 games with 16 homers and 61 runs batted in.
He'd
start 1978 with the Astros before finding himself where it all began,
the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he started his career in 1970 and where
he played up until 1976.
He had himself a nice 14-year Major League career,
really acting as a back-up or platooning catcher, with only two seasons
seeing him get as many as 500 plate appearances: 1973 with L.A. and 1977
with Houston.
His 1973 season with the Dodgers got him some MVP consideration, as he hit .263 with 25 homers and 88 runs batted in, along with 87 walks and 84 runs scored. Not bad at all!
For his career, he finished with a .240 average with 122 homers and 445 RBIs, with 719 hits over 3001 at-bats.
His 1973 season with the Dodgers got him some MVP consideration, as he hit .263 with 25 homers and 88 runs batted in, along with 87 walks and 84 runs scored. Not bad at all!
For his career, he finished with a .240 average with 122 homers and 445 RBIs, with 719 hits over 3001 at-bats.