1977 gaylord perry

gaylord perry got the slight photo cropping and tilted facsimile autograph treatment from o-pee-chee in 1977.  here is perry's 1977 o-pee-chee card:

here's the topps front:

now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

first things first - the cartoon.  darrell johnson won a pennant with the red sox and two years later found himself managing an expansion team.  he never faced gaylord perry as player, and while he later managed the rangers, perry was long gone by then, even after a second stint with texas.

1977 was perry's last season with the rangers for a couple of years, anyway.  he went to san diego for the 1978 season (and won his second cy young award, becoming the first pitcher to win the award in both leagues) before returning to the rangers for a short time in 1980.  in 1977, however, perry won 15 games, 4 by shutout.  he twice struck out 13 batters in a game; the second time came against darrell johnson's mariners in perry's final start of the season.

it's worth noting that perry was around 37 years old when the photo for his card was taken.  he looks at least 10 years older than that.  the ol' spitball must age a pitcher something fierce.

voici à vous, 1977 gaylord perry!

1980 gaylord perry

in february of 1980, the padres sent future hall of famer gaylord perry from whence he came - back to the rangers for willie montanez. here is his 1980 o-pee-chee card:

here's the topps front:

now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

perry had pitched well for the pads in 1979, a year after winning his second career cy young award and getting his 3000th strikeout (a dodger, no less), but the padres didn't give him as much support as he had enjoyed in 1978. his record was just 12-11 although he sported a 3.06 era over his 30 starts. he began the 1980 season 21 wins away from 300, but managed just 6 in his return to texas before they traded him to the yankees in mid-august. in the bronx, perry won another 4 games in 10 appearances, but left as a free agent and joined the braves for the 1981 season. unfortunately, he would have to wait until 1982 when he was a seattle mariner before he would earn his 300th win.
 
voici à vous, 1980 gaylord perry!