1976 Topps #600 - Tom Seaver

• Tom Seaver was one of my favorite players. Three posters of ballplayers were on my wall during this time -- Seaver, Rod Carew, and Pete Rose.
• A year-by-year entry of this legend's 21-year career would be quite long, so here are the highlights:
• National League Rookie of the Year in 1967
• Won three NL Cy Young Awards (1969, 1973, 1975)
• Won 311 games in his career
• Had 20 or more wins five times: 1969, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1977
• Led the NL in victories three times (1969, 1975, 1981)
• Had a 2.86 career ERA and led the NL in ERA three times (1970, 1971, 1973)
• Had 3640 career strikeouts
• Led the NL in strikeouts in 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975, and 1976
• Struck out over 200 batters in nine straight seasons (1968-1976), narrowly missed the 200 plateau in 1977 (196), and then struck out 226 in 1978.
• Postseason record:
• 1969 NLCS 1-0, 6.43 ERA in one start
• 1969 World Series 1-1, 3.00 ERA in two starts (pitched a complete-game 2-1 victory in the series-clinching game 5)
• 1973 NLCS 1-1, 1.62 ERA in two starts
• 1973 World Series 0-1, 2.40 ERA in two starts
• 1979 NLCS 0-0, 2.25 ERA in one start
• Was a 12-time All Star. All Star Game record:
• 1967 - pitched a scoreless 15th inning to earn the save
• 1968 - pitched two scoreless innings and struck out five batters
• 1969 - on the roster but did not pitch
• 1970 - started the game and pitched three scoreless innings
• 1971 - on the roster but did not pitch
• 1972 - on the roster but did not pitch
• 1973 - pitched a scoreless 8th inning
• 1975 - pitched on inning (the 6th) and got a blown save as he allowed a 3-run homer to Carl Yastrzemski
• 1976 - pitched two innings (4th and 5th) and allowed one run on a Fred Lynn solo homer
• 1977 - pitched the 6th and 7th innings and allowed three runs (two earned)
• 1978 - on the roster but did not pitch
• 1981 - pitched one inning (2nd) and allowed a run on a Ken Singleton solo home run
• Pitched for the New York Mets from 1967 until the middle of the 1977 season
• Was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for four players on June 15, 1977
• Traded back to the Mets after the 1982 season
• Pitched one season for the Mets (1983) but was left unprotected in the free agent compensation draft and was taken by the Chicago White Sox
• Pitched for the White Sox from 1984 until the middle of the 1986 season
• Won his 300th game on August 4, 1985 against the New York Yankees
• Traded to the Boston Red Sox for Steve Lyons on June 29, 1986
• Finished the 1986 season with the Red Sox but was left off of the post season roster due to a knee injury
• Attempted a comeback with the Mets in June 1987 but didn't pitch well in three minor league appearances and retired
• Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1992 with the highest percentage of all time (98.84% - 425 of 430 ballots)
• Seaver is the only player in the Hall of Fame who is wearing a Mets cap
• Seaver has done a lot of broadcasting for NBC and for the Mets and Yankees since the end of his playing career
• Tom and his wife own a vineyard in California
• Baseball Digest articles:
• The New Robin Roberts - August 1967
• The Many Faces of Tom Seaver - June 1973
• Tom Seaver Still Thrives as Major League Winner - April 1982
• 300th Victory Added to the Tom Seaver Legend - November 1985
• Tom Seaver Picks His Ten Most Memorable Games - November 1988
• Liked to face: Rance Mulliniks (.000 in 16 AB); Joe Pepitone (.043 in 23 AB); Ken Singleton (.061 in 33 AB)
• Hated to face: Steve Ontiveros (.500 in 18 AB); Terry Puhl (.444 in 45 AB); Chris Cannnizzaro (.429 in 21 AB)

Footage of a very young Tom Seaver in his first major league game


Tom Seaver on The Baseball Bunch

1976 Topps #530 - Don Sutton

• Don Sutton had a very long Hall of Fame career. Sutton was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1964. Don moved up the ladder quickly, pitching for three clubs in the minors in 1965. He made the ballclub during spring training in 1966 and except for a brief stint in 1968 and a rehab assignment in 1988 he never looked back.
• Sutton was a good fourth starter for the Dodgers in 1966. He went 12-12 with a 2.99 ERA in 35 starts. Don wasn't used in the World Series. By and for the Little Leagues - July 1966 Baseball Digest. Sutton moved up to #3 starter in 1967 after the retirement of Sandy Koufax and was 11-15 with a 3.95 ERA.
• The Dodgers were mediocre in the first few years after Koufax retired and Sutton's record showed it. In 1968 Don was 11-15 with a 2.95 ERA. Sutton was 17-18 with a 3.47 ERA in 1969 and 15-13 with a 4.08 ERA in 1970.
• In 1971 Don went 17-12 with a 2.54 ERA. Sutton made his first NL All Star team in 1972 (he pitched the 4th and 5th innings without allowing a run) and went 19-9 with a 2.08 ERA. Don also led the NL with nine shutouts in '72. Sutton had a similar year in 1973 (18-10, 2.43 ERA) and pitched a scoreless fifth inning in the All Star Game.
• Sutton didn't make the All Star team in 1974 but he helped the Dodgers win the NL West title by going 19-9 with a 3.23 ERA. Don led the NL with 40 games started. Don started and won games 1 and 4 of the NLCS. Sutton started and won game 2 of the World Series, which was the only game the Dodgers would win in that series.
• Don went 16-13 with a 2.87 ERA in 1975. He pitched two scoreless innings in the 1975 All Star Game. In 1976 Sutton won over 20 games for the only time in his career. He had a 21-10 record with a 3.06 ERA.
• Before the 1977 season Don signed a four-year, $1 million contract. Sutton made his last NL All Star team in 1977. He started the game, pitched three scoreless innings, and got the win. During the regular season Don had a 14-8 record and a 3.18 ERA. Sutton started game 2 of the NLCS and had a complete-game victory. He started game 1 of the World Series and pitched into the 8th inning but didn't get the decision (the Dodgers lost the game in 12 innings). Don started game 5 and pitched a complete game for the victory.
• Don was 15-11 with a 3.55 ERA in 1978. He started and lost game 3 of the NLCS. Sutton started and lost games 2 and 5 of the World Series. Don and Dodger star Steve Garvey got into a scuffle in the locker room before a game on August 20. Garvey was upset about some things Sutton said in an article. Neither player was seriously hurt, and Sutton issued an apology several days later.
• The Dodgers had a rough year in 1979 and Sutton struggled along with the rest of the team (12-15, 3.82 ERA). In 1980 Don bounced back and led the NL in ERA. Sutton was 13-5 with a 2.20 ERA for the season. After the 1980 season Sutton became a free agent and signed with the Houston Astros.
• In 1981 Don was 11-9 with a 2.61 ERA. Sutton suffered a fractured kneecap on October 2 when he was hit by a pitch from Jerry Reuss. The injury caused Don to miss the Division Series against the Dodgers, which the Astros lost three games to two.
• Don started off well for the Astros in 1982, but the Astros weren't contending that year. Don was 13-8  with a 3.00 ERA when he was traded on August 30 to the Milwaukee Brewers for Kevin Bass, Frank DiPino, and Mike Madden. Sutton was 4-1 with a 3.29 ERA in seven starts for the Brewers and helped them win the AL East title. Don started and won game 3 of the ALCS. Don started game 2 of the World Series and left the game with the score tied 4-4 after pitching six innings. He started game 6 but took the loss as he allowed seven runs (five earned) in 4.1 innings.
• Sutton pitched two more seasons for the Brewers. He was 8-13 with a 4.08 ERA in 1983 and 14-12 with a 3.77 ERA in 1984. After the 1984 season Don was traded to the Oakland A's for Ray Burris and two minor leaguers. Sutton wasn't happy with the trade.
• Don pitched for the A's for less than a season. Sutton was 13-8 with a 3.89 ERA when he was traded to the California Angels on September 10 for two minor leaguers. Don went 2-2 for the Angels to finish the 1985 season. Don Sutton: An Unsung Achiever among Mound Elite - September 1985 Baseball Digest.
• Sutton was 15-11 with a 3.74 ERA for the Angels in 1986. He won his 300th game on June 18 by pitching a complete game 3-hitter against the Texas Rangers. Don started game 4 of the ALCS against Roger Clemens but didn't get the decision (he allowed one run in 6.1 innings and the Angels won the game in the 11th inning). Sutton pitched 3.1 innings in game 7 of the series and allowed one run. He entered the game after starter John Candelaria allowed seven unearned runs in 3.2 innings.
• Don pitched one more season (1987) for the Angels, going 11-11 with a 4.70 ERA in 34 starts. Jim Palmer once said that Sutton had showed him how to doctor a baseball (Palmer fingers Sutton as a baseball 'doctor' - August 26, 1987 Gainsville Sun). After the 1987 season the Angels declined to pick up Sutton's option and released him.
• In 1988 former teammate John Candelaria accused Sutton of setting up one of his drunken driving arrests in 1987 by calling the police.
• Don signed with the Dodgers for the 1988 season. Don missed time in June and July with a sprained right elbow and pitched in a rehab assignment for Class A Bakersfield. Sutton made one more start on August 9 but took the loss. He was 3-6 with a 3.92 ERA in 16 starts when the Dodgers released him on August 10. Two days later Don's mother was killed in an automobile accident.
• After his playing career Sutton became an announcer for the Atlanta Braves. He announced with them from 1989-2006. The Braves cut the number of broadcast games after the 2006 season and Sutton moved on to announce for the Washington Nationals for the 2007 and 2008 seasons. Don now announces for the Braves on their radio network.
• Sutton was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1998. He ended up with 324 career wins, 3,574 strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.26.
• Liked to face: Eddie Mathews (.053 in 19 AB); Earl Williams (.071 in 28 AB); Manny Trillo (.089 in 45 AB)
• Hated to face: Rudy Law (.483 in 29 AB); Rance Mulliniks (.441 in 34 AB); Ralph Garr (.426 in 61 AB)

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1976 Topps #435 - Phil Niekro

• 
  
  Phil Niekro was a Hall of Fame knuckleball pitcher who pitched for 24 seasons and won 318 games in his career. When this card was made it wasn't obvious that Niekro would be a future HOFer. He had 145 career wins at the age of 37 when the 1976 season started. Phil had 121 victories after the age of 40.
• 
  
  Niekro was drafted by the  Milwaukee Braves in 1958. He pitched in the minors from 1959-1962, mostly as a reliever. Phil didn't pitch in 1963 (military service).
• Niekro made the Milwaukee Braves club in 1964. Phil pitched in ten games for the Braves (0-0, 4.80 ERA) before being sent back to the minors in mid-May. In 1965 Niekro was 2-3 with six saves and a 2.89 ERA in 41 games (1 start). Phil split the 1966 season between the Braves and AAA Richmond. He was 4-3 with a 4.11 ERA in 28 games for the Braves in '66.
• Phil led the NL with a 1.87 ERA in 1967. He started 20 games and relieved in 26 others. He was 11-9 with nine saves in '67. The Braves made Niekro a full-time starter in 1968. He went 14-12 with a 2.59 ERA in 34 starts in 1968.
• Niekro had one of his best seasons for the NL West Champion Braves in 1969. He made the All Star team (Phil pitched a scoreless 9th inning and earned the save), finished second to Tom Seaver in Cy Young Award balloting, and finished 9th in MVP voting. Phil went 23-13 with a 2.56 ERA during the regular season. Niekro took the loss in game 1 of the NLCS.
• The 1970 season was Phil's worst season of the decade. He led the NL with 40 home runs allowed and went 12-18 with a 4.27 ERA. Niekro came back in 1971 to go 15-14 with a 2.98 ERA. He was 16-12, 3.06 in 1972 and 13-10, 3.31 in 1973. Phil no-hit the San Diego Padres on August 5, 1973.
• Phil was a 20-game winner for the second time in 1974. He went 20-13 and led the NL in wins, complete games (18) and innings pitched (302.1). Phil was third in NL Cy Young Award balloting behind Dodgers Mike Marshall and Andy Messersmith that year.
• Niekro made the NL All Star team in 1975 but didn't get into the game. He went 15-15 with a 3.20 ERA in 1975. Phil was 17-11 with a 3.29 ERA in 1976. Phil Niekro: The Braves' Bargain Pitcher - November 1976 Baseball Digest.
• Starting in 1977 Phil had a run in which he led the NL in starts and in losses. Niekro was 16-20 in 1977 and 19-18 in 1978. Phil was an NL All Star in 1978 and got Darrel Porter to foul out to end the game. He also won the first of five Gold Glove awards. In 1979 Niekro led the NL in wins (21) and in losses (20). Phil led the NL in complete games and in innings pitched for the third straight year in 1979 and also won his second Gold Glove. Niekro won the Gold Glove again in 1980 and was 15-18.
• Phil was 7-7 in 22 starts in the strike-shortened 1981 season. In 1982 Niekro led the NL with a .810 winning percentage. He went 17-4 in 35 starts and was an All Star again (he didn't get into the game). Phil won a Gold Glove and was fifth in Cy Young Award voting. Niekro started game 2 of the NLCS and had a 3-2 lead after six innings but the bullpen was unable to hold the lead. Phil Niekro Still Knuckles Down To Task of Winning - January 1983 Baseball Digest.
• Niekro went 11-10 with a 3.97 ERA in 1983 and won a Gold Glove for the fifth and final time. The Braves released Phil after the season and he signed with the New York Yankees. End of the Line for An Old Brave? - February 1984 Baseball Digest.
• In 1984 Phil went 16-8 with a 3.09 ERA and was an AL All Star (again he didn't get into the game). Niekro Still  Makes Batter Knuckle Under - September 1984 Baseball Digest. Niekro was 16-12 with a 4.09 ERA in 1985. Phil won his 300th game in his last start of the season on October 6. He didn't throw the knuckleball until the 9th inning but still pitched a complete game 4-hit shutout.
• Phil was released by the Yankees during spring training in 1986. He signed with the Cleveland Indians and went 11-11 in 32 starts. A Rare Pair of Indinas: Knucksie and Candy - October 1986 Baseball Digest.
• Niekro's last season was 1987. He started with the Indians and went 7-11 with a 5.89 ERA in 22 starts. On August 7 Phil was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for Don Gordon and a minor leaguer. Niekro was 0-2 with an 8.25 ERA in three starts for the Blue Jays before being released on August 31. The Braves brought Phil back for one last start on September 27. Phil lasted 3+ innings and gave up 5 runs. After Niekro was taken out the scoreboard showed highlights from his career and Phil left to a standing ovation.
• After his playing career Niekro managed the Colorado Silver Bullets all woman baseball team. Phil was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1997. His nephew Lance was a first base prospect for the San Francisco Giants. Lance didn't make it as a first baseman so Phil taught him the knuckleball. Lance signed with the Braves organization in 2009. Phil is now a member of the Kiz Toys Board of Advisors.
• 
  
  Liked to face: Rich Gedman (.045 in 22 AB); Dave Campbell (.071 in 28 AB); Jim Hickman (.100 in 30 AB)
• 
  
  Hated to face: Lonnie Smith (.514 in 37 AB); Larry Biitner (.471 in 34 AB); Ken Singleton (.441 in 34 AB)

Phil's knuckleball during the 1982 National League Championship Series (game 2)

1976 Topps #355 - Steve Carlton

• 
  
  Steve Carlton was a Hall of Famer who pitched from 1965-1988. Carlton was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1963. Pirates Missed Their Chance of Signing Steve Carlton - August 1984 Baseball Digest. He was in the minors in 1964, stayed with the Cardinals in 1965, and bounced between the minors and the Cardinals in 1966.

• 
  
  Steve wasn't used much in 1965 (0-0, 2.52 ERA in 15 games-2 starts). He missed two months from late June to late August and missed another month from late August to late September. Carlton came back to the majors to stay on July 31, 1966. He started 9 games for the Cards in '66 and was 3-3 with a 3.12 ERA.

• 
  
  Carlton became part of the Cardinals' rotation in 1967. He was 14-9 with a 2.98 ERA in 28 starts. Steve started and lost game 5 of the 1967 World Series. In 1968 Carlton was 13-11 with a 2.99 ERA in 33 starts. Steve was named to his first NL All Star team and pitched a scoreless 6th inning. Carlton made two relief appearances in the 1968 World Series but wasn't involved in either decision.

• 
  
  After the 1968 season the Cardinals went on a trip to Japan. While in Japan Carlton experiment with a slider and started using it in the 1969 season. Steve started the 1969 All Star game for the National League and was the winning pitcher, allowing two runs in three innings. He was 17-11 with a 2.17 ERA, which was quite good in a hitter's season. On September 15 Steve struck out 19 New York Mets but lost the game 4-3 as Ron Swoboda hit two 2-run homers. Carlton fell off in 1970 and led the NL in losses with 19. He was 10-19 with a 3.73 ERA that season.

• 
  
  The 1971 season was Steve's last one as a St. Louis Cardinal. He bounced back to win 20 games for the first time in his career. He was 20-9 with a 3.56 ERA for the Cards in '71. After the season Steve demanded a raise. Cards owner Gussie Busch wasn't willing to give Carlton as much as he wanted and Steve was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for Rick Wise.

• 
  
  Carlton had one of the greatest seasons ever by a post World War II pitcher in 1972. Pitching for an awful team, Steve led the NL in wins (27), ERA (1.97), strikeouts (310), starts (41), complete games (30), and innings (346.1). Carlton pitched a scoreless 6th inning in the All Star game, won his first Cy Young Award, and was 5th in NL MVP voting. Steve Carlton: At Last A Winner for the Phils - November 1972 Baseball Digest

• 
  
  Steve fell off again in 1973 and led the NL with 20 losses. He was 13-20 with a 3.90 ERA and led the NL in starts (40) and complete games (18). Carlton had a better year in 1974 (16-13, 3.22 ERA) and was named to the NL All Star team (he wasn't used in the game). Steve had an off season (for him) in 1975. He was 15-14 with a 3.56 ERA in 37 starts.

• 
  
  In 1976 Carlton returned to the 20-win club and led the NL with a .714 winning percentage. He had a record of 20-7 with a 3.13 ERA. Steve started and lost game 1 of the NLCS. Carlton won his second NL Cy Young award in 1977. He was 23-10 with a 2.64 ERA. Steve was an NL All Star but didn't pitch in the game. Carlton started game 1 of the NLCS and got a no-decision. He started and lost game 4 of the NLCS. Steve Carlton: Pitcher with the Classic Style - December 1977 Baseball Digest.

• 
  
  Steve was 16-13 with a 2.84 ERA in 1978. He started and won game 3 of the NLCS -- it was the only game the Phillies won in the series. In 1979 Steve was 18-11 with a 3.62 ERA. He started the 1979 All Star Game and allowed a 2-run homer to Fred Lynn. He pitched only the first inning and allowed 3 runs.

• 
  
  The Phillies finally broke through in 1980 and won a World Championship. Carlton was a big reason why the Phillies won. He won his third Cy Young Award, was an All Star again (he didn't pitch in the game), and was 5th in NL MVP voting. Steve was 24-9 with a 2.34 ERA and led the NL in wins,starts, innings, and strikeouts. He started and won game 1 of the NLCS, and he started game 4 but got a no-decision. Steve started and won games 2 and 6 of the World Series.

• 
  
  Carlton had another good year in the strike-shortened 1981 season. He was 13-4 with a 2.42 ERA in 24 starts, was an All Star (but didn't get in the game), and won a Gold Glove Award. Steve had his last great season in 1982. He won his fourth Cy Young Award, was an All Star (he pitched two scoreless innings), and led the NL in wins (23), starts (38), complete games (19), shutouts (6), innings (295.2), and strikeouts (286).

• 
  
  Steve finally started to slow down in 1983. He still pitched a lot, leading the NL with 283.2 innings pitched. Carlton was 15-16 with a 3.11 ERA in 37 starts and led the NL in strikeouts with 275. Steve started and won games 1 and 4 of the NLCS. He started game 3 of the World Series against Jim Palmer and lost 3-2.

• 
  
  Carlton was 13-7 with a 3.58 ERA in 33 starts in 1984. In 1985 Steve missed 2 1/2 months of the season and was 1-8 with a 3.33 ERA in 16 starts. He started the 1986 season with the Phillies but was released on June 24 after starting the season 4-8 with a 6.18 ERA in 16 starts. Steve signed with the San Francisco Giants but was released after going 1-3 with a 5.10 ERA in 6 starts. Carlton then caught on with the Chicago White Sox and was 4-3 with a 3.79 ERA in 10 starts.

• 
  
  The White Sox didn't offer Carlton a contract for the 1987 season and he signed with the Cleveland Indians. Carlton was 5-9 with a 5.37 ERA for the Indians when they traded him to the Minnesota Twins for a minor leaguer on July 31. Steve didn't help the Twins much during their stretch run (1-5, 6.70 ERA in 9 games - 7 starts) and he was left off of their postseason roster. Steve started the 1988 season 0-1 with a 16.76 ERA and the Twins released him on April 28.

• 
  
  Carlton and Nolan Ryan had a see-saw race for the all time strikeout lead from 1982-1984. Steve tailed off and Ryan ended up almost 1600 strikeouts ahead of Carlton after all was said and done. Steve was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1994 with 96% of the vote. Some quotes attributed to him stirred up some controversy in 1994, but he has continued to be a popular guest at appearences.

Steve Carlton's record:

329 wins (11th most all time)

4136 strikeouts (4th most all time)

10 All Star selections

4 Cy Young awards

4 TSN Pitcher of the Year awards

1 Gold Glove

• 
  
  Official Website
• 
  
  Liked to face: Candy Maldonado (.080 in 25 AB); Marc Hill (.086 in 35 AB); Dale Berra (.115 in 52 AB)
• 
  
  Hated to face: Jesus Alou (.436 in 55 AB); Ellis Valentine (.404 in 47 AB); Johnny Bench (.298 with 12 HR in 124 AB)

An interview with Steve Carlton:


Here is a 2009 interview with Steve:

1976 Topps #330 - Nolan Ryan

• It would take several posts to do Mr. Ryan justice. He's a legend. We didn't always think so though. Perhaps it was his winning percentages. He was usually right around .500 and he also never won a Cy Young Award.

• Here's a list of his accomplishments:

7 no-hitters

12 one-hitters

8 All Star games

Strikeout leader 11 times

ERA leader twice

Lifetime record: 324-292 (.526)

All time strikeout leader (5714)

All time walk leader (2795)

27 major league seasons (all-time record)

Number retired by the Angels (#30), Astros (#34), and Rangers (#34)

Major League All Century Team

Hall of Fame in 1999 (98.79% of the vote)

• Seven of the ten pitchers with the highest similarity scores are in the Hall of Fame. Two others will be there (Randy Johnson and Bert Blyleven) and the tenth might get there if the writers don't hold the 'roids against him (Roger Clemens).
  
  

• Nolan Ryan's website

• Nolan Ryan Foundation
  
  


• Baseball Digest articles:


• October 1972 - Nolan Ryan Fastest Gun in the West!

• May 1973 - Nolan Ryan Next 30 Game Winner?

• May 1975 - Nolan Ryan Entering his Prime as Power Pitcher

• December 1976 - Bob Feller: Was he Faster than Nolan Ryan?

• September 1979 - Nolan Ryan: Baseball's No. 1 Strikeout Artist
  


• March 1980 - When Nolan Ryan Almost Quit the Game

• May 1982 - Nolan Ryan Chases SO Record of 'The Big Train'

• January 1982 - Nolan Ryan Belongs in a Higher League!

• July 1985 - Strikeout King Nolan Ryan Still A Power Pitcher at Age 38
  
  


• August 1989 - Nolan Ryan: The Greatest Strikeout Pitcher Ever!
  
  


• August 1991 - Nolan Ryan Legend Grew From 'A Little White Lie'


• November 1991 - Nolan Ryan: Still A Gem Among his Pitching Peers


• February 1994 - Farewell to Nolan Ryan: He Was A Baseball Treasure
  
  


• Nolan Ryan is now President of the Texas Rangers.
  


• Liked to face: Gates Brown (.000 in 24 AB); Eric Davis (.040 in 21 AB); Butch Wynegar (.050 in 40 AB)


• Hated to face: Manny Sanguillen (.524 in 24 AB); Lonnie Smith (.500 in 24 AB); Gary Sutherland (.417 in 24 AB)
  

Nolan Ryan's 5000th Strikeout August 12, 1989




Nolan Ryan's 7th No-Hitter




Nolan Ryan on the soap opera Ryan's Hope in September 1975.

Nolan Ryan vs. Robin Ventura

1976 Topps #250 - Fergie Jenkins

• Ferguson Jenkins pitched for four teams from 1965-1983. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1991. He had 284 career wins, 3,192 career strikeouts, and a 3.34 career ERA.
  

• Jenkins had a long and successful career. I'll put up some highlights, but a much better place to read about Fergie is in this link to his SABR biography.
• He was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies and was traded to the Chicago Cubs with a couple of other guys for Bob Buhl and Larry Jackson. Buhl won six games for the Phillies and was done in 1968. Jackson had a couple of pretty good years but retired after the 1968 season after he was drafted by Montreal in the expansion draft.
• Fergie started out as a reliever/spot starter and was moved into the Cubs starting rotation in 1967.
  
  
  
• Jenkins was a league leader in victories (2 times), complete games (9 times), and home runs allowed (7 times). Fergie won the 1971 NL Cy Young Award.
• Won 20 or more games every year from 1967-1972 and again in 1974 (July 1969 Baseball Digest - Fergie Jenkins: The Best Pitcher in Baseball?).
  
• Traded to the Texas Rangers after the 1973 season for Vic Harris and Bill Madlock.
• Fergie had one good year (25-12 in 1974) and one so-so year (17-18 in 1975) for the Rangers before being traded to the Boston Red Sox for Steve Barr, Juan Beniquez, and Craig SkokJ
• Things didn't really work out in Boston--Jenkins was 12-11 in 1976 and 10-10 in 1977. He ended up in Don Zimmer's doghouse and was traded back to Texas after the '77 season for John Poloni and cash (April 1978 Baseball Digest - Fergie Jenkins and the Red Sox: A Marriage That Failed).
• Jenkins had a good comeback season in 1978 (18-8, 3.04 ERA). May 29, 1978 Sports Illustrated - Back on the Comeback Trail Again. He was 16-14 in 1979 (August 1979 Baseball Digest - Fergie Jenkins Wants to go out a Winner) but fell to 12-12 in 1980 and 5-8 in 1981. Jenkins was arrested while crossing the Canadian border with a small quantity of drugs in 1980. He was permanently suspended by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn (the first time this was ever done for a drug-related offense) but was reinstated a couple of weeks later by an arbitrator.
• After the 1981 season Jenkins signed with the Cubs as a free agent and pitched for them in 1982 and 1983. He was released during spring training in 1984.
  
• Fergie's official site.
  
  
• Here is a link to the Fergie Jenkins Foundation, which supports several charities.

• Fergie's Hall of Fame page.
  
  
• Liked to face: Deron Johnson (.174 in 109 AB); Bobby Bonds (.181 with 29 strikeouts in 94 AB); Dick Allen (.160 with 24 strikeouts in 75 AB)

• Hated to face: Pete Rose (.316 in 114 AB); Tony Perez (.333 in 93 AB with 8 HR); Al Oliver (.330 in 88 AB)
  
  

1976 Topps #235 - Bert Blyleven

• Bert Blyleven had a long career (1970-1992) for several teams. He is currently the most hotly debated Hall of Fame candidate. Bert had a lifetime record of 287-250 with a 3.31 ERA. He struck out 3701 batters (5th all-time) and struck out over 200 batters eight times in his career. Blyleven has a 5-1 lifetime record with a 2.47 ERA in postseason play. In his baseball reference similaritiy scores, the only players in the top ten who aren't in the Hall of Fame are Jim Kaat and Tommy John.

• Blyleven was drafted in 1968 by the Minnesota Twins. He pitched in the minors in 1969 and in the first part of the 1970 seasons. Bert showed he was ready for the majors in 1970 when he started the season 4-2 with a 2.50 ERA for AAA Evansville. He made his debut as a 19-year-old on June 5, 1970. Bert was 10-9 with a 3.18 ERA in 25 starts for the AL West Champion Twins and was named Sporting News Rookie Pitcher of the Year.

• Bert was a workhorse for the Twins from 1971-1975. He started at least 35 games a year in each of those seasons and his lowest number of innings pitched during that time was 275.2. His highest ERA during that span was 3.00 in 1975. Blyleven experienced some criticism from Twins fans during that time in part because his records were usually around .500. He had records of 16-15 (1971), 17-17 (1972), 20-17 (1973), 17-17 (1974), and 15-10 (1975). Here is a July 1971 Baseball Digest about Bert. Here is a February 1975 Baseball Digest article about Bert's early career. I remember reading this article when I was a young 'un and thinking Blyleven was baseball's best pitcher.

• In 1976 Bert was traded to the Texas Rangers in a six-player deal. Blyleven was playing out his option and the Twins woudn't have been able to sign him. He pitched well for the Rangers, but was actually under .500 in 1976 (13-16 for both teams combined). Bert pitched a no-hitter against the California Angels on September 22, 1977. He was slowed by a groin injury during the '77 season and made "only" 30 starts (14-12, 2.72 ERA). During the season Blyleven flipped off a camera during a nationally telecast game, and he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates after the 1977 season. He was part of the first four-team trade in major league history.

• In 1978 Blyleven came back to have a good season. He led the Pirates in several categories and was 14-10 with a 3.03 ERA in 34 starts. Bert helped the Pirates to the 1979 World Championship by going 12-5, although his ERA was an uncharacteristically high 3.60. He won game 3 of the National League Championship Series and game 5 of the World Series.

• Bert slipped to 8-13 in 1980 and had his highest ERA to date (3.83). After the season he was traded to the Cleveland Indians. He pitched well for the Indians in the strike-shortened 1981 season. In 20 starts Bert was 11-7 with a 2.88 ERA. In 1982 Bert had an elbow injury and made only four starts. He struggled in 1983 (7-10, 3.91 ERA) but bounced back in 1984 to go 19-7 with a 2.87 ERA in 32 starts. He missed a few starts in 1984 after he broke his foot while joking around in the bullpen.

• Blyleven started the 1985 season with the Indians but was traded back to the Twins in midseason. For both teams combined he was 17-16 with a 3.16 ERA and led the AL in complete games with 24. Are Bert Blyleven's Best Years Still Ahead? (March 1985 Baseball Digest article).In 1986 Bert set a record by allowing 50 home runs. He had a 17-14 record with a 4.01 ERA and also recorded his 3000th strikeout during the season. Here is a July 1986 Baseball Digest article about Bert's durability. Blyleven allowed 46 homers in 1987, went 15-12, and helped the Twins to a World Championship by winning two games in the ALCS and one game in the World Series.

• Bert's last season with the Twins was 1988. He led the AL in losses and had his highest ERA. He ended up 10-17 with a 5.43 ERA. After the season Blyleven was traded to the California Angels. Bert had his last good season in 1989. He was 17-5 with a 2.73 ERA in 33 starts and led the AL with five shutouts. He was the AL Comeback Player of the Year. Here is a September 1989 Baseball Digest article about Bert throwing Father Time a curve. Blyleven was 8-7 in 1990 before injuring his rotator cuff in early August. He missed all of the 1991 season and didn't make his first start in 1992 until May 19. Bert was 8-12 with a 4.74 ERA in 1992 and was not resigned by the Angels after the season. He tried out for the Twins in 1993 but announced his retirement after failing to make the club.

• Bert Blyleven looks back on his storied career (June 2006 Baseball Digest).

• For the last nine years Bert has been a color analyst for the Minnesota Twins. He has been known to have some slipups from time to time (using bad words, etc.). He has a website on which he talks about baseball-related things and about the Hall of Fame.

• Liked to face: Robin Yount (.182 in 110 AB); Pat Kelly (.149 in 87 AB); Bill Melton (.123 in 65 AB)
• Hated to face: Lou Whitaker (.385 in 65 AB); Ben Oglivie (.316 in 79 AB); Willie Wilson (.321 in 78 AB); Reggie Jackson (batted only .214 vs. Blyleven but homered six times)
  
  

1976 Topps #55 - Gaylord Perry

In 1976 Gaylord Perry was about 2/3 of the way through a career that seems like it lasted forever. He started his career with the SF Giants in 1962 and didn't hang 'em up until 1983. Perry was a five-time All Star who won 314 games in his career. He won a Cy Young Award in both leagues (1972 with Cleveland and 1978 with San Diego) and won 20 or more games five times.

I saw Perry at an old-timers charity game several years ago. He wore a generic jersey with the insignias of all eight teams he played for sewed on the front. It was good for a few laughs. Here is a good biography of Perry's career from the SABR Biography Project.