Today on the blog, we spotlight my 1981 Drake's "Big Pitchers"
custom card for Tommy John, from my recent custom set released a couple
of months ago:
Fun set to create in special zip-lock package, adding to the fun oddball "Big Hitters" set Drakes put out there in 1981.
Tommy John had an incredible Major League career that was essentially "done" in 1975 after developing arm trouble.
However
thanks to a new surgery technique that eventually took his name, he
managed to not only come back but pitch for another 14 seasons, 26
TOTAL, leading to 288 wins over 760 games, with 700 of those as a
starter.
He went on to post three 20-win seasons after his
surgery, along with two top-5 Cy Young finishes, as well as three
All-Star teams.
By the time he did finally retire at the age
of 46 after the 1989 season, he wound up with a record of 288-231, with
an ERA of 3.34 in 4710 innings, with 46 shutouts and 2245 strikeouts.
Just amazing, and I'm glad I got to see him pitch at the end of his career with the New York Yankees.
