Time to reach back and revisit another 10+ year-old post from the blog. This time it's my "missing" 1974 card for Buzz Capra of the New York Mets:
Capra was purchased by the Braves from the Mets in March of 1974, so I
don’t think Topps would have had him on his upcoming team in time for
printing.
Capra appeared in 24 games for the “Ya Gotta Believe” Mets of 1973, all out of the bullpen, as he posted a 2-7 record with a 3.86 earned run average.
But once in Atlanta in 1974 he was in a groove, as he went on to lead the National League in ERA with a sparkling 2.28 along with a 16-8 record over 39 games, 27 of which were starts.
Capra appeared in 24 games for the “Ya Gotta Believe” Mets of 1973, all out of the bullpen, as he posted a 2-7 record with a 3.86 earned run average.
But once in Atlanta in 1974 he was in a groove, as he went on to lead the National League in ERA with a sparkling 2.28 along with a 16-8 record over 39 games, 27 of which were starts.
Those numbers got him some attention, as he finished ninth in Cy Young voting as well as 20th in M.V.P.
Sadly for him (and Atlanta), arm troubles derailed his career and
he only played parts of the next two seasons before one last hurrah in
1977, appearing in 45 games, mainly in relief, and posting 139.1 innings
before calling it a career.
