no. 750 - denny mclain

Who is the man: You're looking at the beginning of the end for Denny McLain. On top of the world with the Tigers in 1968 and 1969, McLain endured the most tumultuous season of his major league career in 1970. He was suspended for half the season by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn for suspected bookmaking. He was then suspended again for dousing two sportswriters with buckets of water, and then suspended for the rest of the season for carrying a gun on a team flight. He was traded by the Tigers after the season.

Can ya dig it: This is McLain's first appearance as a Washington Senator and his first appearance without his glasses on a Topps card since 1967.

Right on: McLain is no older than 26 in this photo but looks about 42.

You see that cat McLain is a bad mother: Still the last player to win more than 30 games in a season with 31 in 1968.

Shut your mouth: McLain loved to drink Pepsi, as many as 24 bottles a day. When the company heard that, they made him a sponsor and delivered 10 cases of Pepsi to his home every week.

No one understands him but his woman: McLain married Sharon Boudreau, the daughter of Cleveland Indians great Lou Boudreau. They had a stormy marriage with Sharon leaving Denny several times. When McLain went to prison -- the second time -- Sharon divorced him. But they later remarried.

(My observation on the back): That is a much earlier photo of McLain. Also, I don't think even someone as brash as McLain was believed he could repeat his 1968 performance.

no. 729 - dick billings

Who is the man: Dick Billings spent most of the 1970 season with Triple A Denver. His minor league season was such a success that he was called up in September for 11 games.

Can ya dig it: Those red helmets look so cool with the black-border design. I know I've mentioned this before, but it's all I think of when I see these Senators cards.

Right on: Dick signed his card "Rich Billings." I think he should've stayed with Rich.

You see that cat Billings is a bad mother: Billings was the catcher when the Rangers' Jim Bibby threw his no-hitter against the Oakland A's in 1973.

Shut your mouth: Billings was drafted in 1965 and made his major league debut in 1968 but didn't become a catcher until the 1969 season.

No one understands him but his woman: Billings batted clean-up in the Senators' final game in 1971. "That tells you how bad a team we had," Billings once said.

(A word about the back): Lifetime .181 batting average. These are the cards that we couldn't wait to get rid of as kids.

no. 706 - joe foy

Who is the man: Joe Foy was in his final season in the majors when this card was issued. He was picked up by the Senators for the 1971 season in the Rule 5 Draft but released in July.

Can ya dig it: This is Foy's first card in which he isn't featured without a cap or in an airbrushed cap since the 1968 Topps set.

Right on: I know Foy was hassled for weight issues during his career, but the windbreaker under the uniform isn't helping. He looks about 30 pounds heavier than he is here.

You see that cat Foy is a bad mother: While with the Mets in 1970, Foy went 5-for-5 with two home runs against the Giants in a 7-6 victory.

Shut your mouth: Foy acquired a reputation for using alcohol and drugs. When he was asked about it by a reporter in 1971, Foy answered, "How many young people in New York do you know who haven't smoked grass?"

No one understands him but his woman: Foy is part of what's considered one of the worst trades in Mets history. New York traded a young Amos Otis to Kansas City for Foy, who disappointed during his time in New York.

(A word about the back): I don't know what the NL record for consecutive games with a base on balls is now, but I'm willing to bet that Barry Bonds holds the record.

no. 673 - gerry janeski

Who is the man: Gerry Janeski was coming off his rookie season when this card was issued. He appeared in a whopping 35 games for the 1970 White Sox, going 10-17 for a team that won just 56 games.

Can ya dig it: The comically painted red cap makes this card look ancient to me, as if it's from a time long, long ago. The longer I look at it the sillier it looks.

Right on: This is Janeski's only Topps card.

You see that cat Janeski is a bad mother: Janeski threw a complete-game shutout in his second major league start. It came against the Oakland A's in Oakland and Janeski allowed just three hits. A grand total of 2,901 in the stands saw it.

Shut your mouth: Janeski was known as "the wheat germ kid" as a rookie. He took wheat germ and liver pills and other vitamins, ran three miles a day and did 70 push-ups at a time.

No one understands him but his woman: Janeski is listed as "Gerry" here and on baseball-reference, but almost everywhere else, he is "Jerry".

(A word about the back): Janeski tied for the league league in wins in 1969 while pitching in the Red Sox organization. He pitched in the minors for the Red Sox for five years until he was sent to the White Sox as compensation for an earlier trade. Boston earlier dealt pitcher Billy Farmer to the White Sox, but Chicago soon found out Farmer had a sore arm as the pitcher quit after tossing a few balls during the first spring workout because the pain in his arm was so intense.

no. 655 - mike epstein

Who is the man: Mike Epstein didn't perform quite as well in 1970 as he did in 1969, but he still struck for 20 home runs.

Can ya dig it: The Senators cards simply go with this design. Another great one.

Right on: I'm a little surprised Epstein isn't airbrushed for this card since this is the sixth and final series. He was traded to the A's in early May of 1971. Maybe that wasn't enough time, I don't know when the final series was put to bed.

You see that cat Epstein is a bad mother: Epstein was the leading hitter on the U.S. baseball team that won the gold medal in the 1964 Olympics.

Shut your mouth: Epstein's nickname was "Superjew," which seems terribly inappropriate today but was embraced by Epstein when it was given to him by minor league manager Rocky Bridges.

No one understands him but his woman: Epstein became sick of the Orioles constantly sending him down to the minors (he was blocked at first base by Boog Powell and couldn't adapt to the outfield), and when he was sent down again just before the 1967 season, he refused to report. Instead, he and his wife went to his native New York and stayed with his grandmother. He was traded to the Senators two months later.

(A word about the back): I enjoy how the bio mentions that Epstein grew up in the shadow of Yankee Stadium and the photo on the front shows him in Yankee Stadium.

no. 620 - frank howard

Who is the man: Frank Howard was entering the 1971 season as the reigning "Most Feared Slugger" in the American League. He led the AL in home runs and RBIs in 1970, as well as walks and intentional passes.

Can ya dig it: Howard looks so damn intense on his cards.

Right on: The double hat look, a.k.a. "the subhelmet alliance" (god, I miss writing like that on card blogs and the reaction it received) is very strong here.

You see that cat Howard is a bad mother: Howard was 6-foot-7 in a time when they didn't make baseball players that big. He won NL rookie of the year honors in 1960.

Shut your mouth: Dodgers teammate Jim Gilliam once said about Howard: "A man that big should hit 50 homers every year -- and I mean every year."


No one understands him but his woman: Howard was always critical of his ability, saying he could hit for power, but he was average or below average in other areas. After his career he said: "When people look back on their careers, they say they wouldn't change a thing. I would have. I would have made the adjustments. I would have given myself the chance to put up big numbers."

(A word about the back): Howard had two giant hits for the Dodgers in the '63 World Series -- one a double and one a home run but both at least 450 feet.

no. 591 - jackie brown

Who is the man: After nine years in the minors, Jackie Brown made his first appearance in the major leagues in 1970, pitching in 24 games for the Senators.

Can ya dig it: One of my favorite cards from those first 1971 Topps cards I owned as a young teen. The dark background drew me instantly (it could be a night card, but I'll probably never know for sure). And the Senators were such a strange team to a young kid in the late '70s. Who were they?

Right on: Rookie card!

You see that cat Brown is a bad mother: Brown spent most of his major league career as a reliever, but was a starter for most of 1974 with Texas and 1976 with Cleveland. In 1974, he outpitched the Angels' Nolan Ryan with a 5-0 victory, causing Brown's teammates to start calling him "ace". It didn't last long, though, as Brown ended up back in the bullpen.

Shut your mouth: Brown was the White Sox's pitching coach in the early 1990s. In explaining pitcher Alex Fernandez's turnaround season in 1993, Brown explained it simply: "If your objective is to not let the hitters hit the ball, it's going to be a long year."

No one understands him but his woman: The Expos traded for Brown in 1978, sending the Indians Andre Thornton in exchange. Thornton would go on to multiple 30-home run seasons for Cleveland.

(A word about the back): Brown's brother Paul pitched in 36 games for the Phillies between 1961-68 (there was a 5-year visit to the minors between 1963-68). He went 0-8 in his career.

no. 566 - tim cullen

Who is the man: Tim Cullen provided another season of good-glove, no-hit action for the Senators in 1970. He was entering his final year with Washington.

Can ya dig it: This card is a little too grungy for my liking. Gum-stain remnants, scuffing all the way around, and a well-nibbled top right corner.

Right on: Look that ball into your glove, Tim!

You see that cat Cullen is a bad mother: Cullen was named to the Topps Rookie All-Star team for 1967. He features one of those giant trophies on his 1968 Topps card.

Shut your mouth: Cullen's nickname was "The Worm" for the way he hit the dirt to get a groundball. I suppose it's appropriate now that this card is dingy.

No one understands him but his woman: Cullen is the last nonpitcher to bat ninth in an American League game prior to the start of the designated hitter in 1973. While playing for the White Sox against the Yankees in 1968, Cullen started at second base and hit ninth and White Sox pitcher Gary Peters hit sixth.

(A word about the back): I like the brevity of the last sentence in the write-up. "Briefly with Chisox," when "briefly with the White Sox" would work, too. Also, it's true Cullen played just four months with the White Sox in '68 before being traded back to the Senators -- for the same player he was traded to the White Sox for, Ron Hansen.

no. 535 - curt flood

Who is the man: Curt Flood was waiting for his lawsuit against Major League Baseball to go to court when this card was issued. Flood, who refused to report to the Phillies after being traded to the team in October 1969, didn't play a single game in 1970.

Can ya dig it: Flood was traded from the Phillies to the Senators in November 1970. He's actually wearing a Cardinals cap in this photo despite the half-hearted airbrushing attempt to show a "W" on his hat.

Right on: This is Flood's final card from his playing career and a pretty sad one. Cardinals teammate Bob Gibson estimated that Flood received 4 or 5 death threats a day while he sat out the 1970 season.

You see that cat Flood is a bad mother: Flood won seven straight Gold Gloves between 1963-69.

Shut your mouth: When Flood challenged baseball's reserve clause, NL president Charles Feeney said it would "destroy the game."

No one understands him but his woman: Players Association leader Marvin Miller told Flood that he didn't have a chance of winning his suit and that he'd never have a job in baseball again, even if he won the case (he didn't). Miller said Flood merely asked whether players would benefit by his lawsuit and Miller told him they would and so would those that followed. "That's good enough for me," Flood said.

"You're a union leader's dream," Miller told him.

(A word about the back): There you see 13 zeroes where the 1970 season should be, without a word of explanation. It's almost spooky.

no. 518 - joe grzenda

Who is the man: Although Joe Grzenda appeared in more games in his first year with the Senators in 1970 than he had any other year in his career, it was a struggle. He posted a 4.98 ERA in 49 games.

Can ya dig it: I'm not sure if this is a night card. He appears to be posing in front of darkened stands, which could easily be during the day. But the light shining on him could indicate it's night.

Right on: This is the third of Grzenda's four Topps cards and by far his best one. In his first two, he's without a cap. In his last, he's staring to the sky so you look up his nostrils.

You see that cat Grzenda is a bad mother: Grzenda bounced back in 1971, recording a 1.92 ERA for Washington and was the Senators' best relief pitcher.

Shut your mouth: Grzenda, who played for six major league teams and 12 minor league teams, once famously told The Sporting News, "I'd like to stay in baseball long enough to buy a bus, then set fire to it."

No one understands him but his woman: Grzenda was the last Washington Senator on the mound at RFK Stadium in 1971, which was after it was announced that the team was moving to Texas. He was pitching in the ninth against the Yankees in the final game of the season when fans swarmed the field before the final out. The players charged off the field to safety and the game was forfeited to the Yankees. Grzenda kept the ball he was holding and when MLB baseball returned to Washington in 2005, before that first game, Grzenda handed the ball to President George W. Bush, who threw out the first pitch with it.

(A word about the back): Grzenda made his major league debut in 1961 but didn't get a card until Topps' 1969 set.

no. 497 - horacio pina

Who is the man: Horacio Pina pitched in a career-high 61 games for the Senators in 1970, logging just 71 innings, with a productive 2.79 ERA.

Can ya dig it: Another shot in Yankee Stadium but kind of a different look than a lot of the other "frieze" photos in the set.

Right on: This is Pina's rookie card even though he had been in the majors since 1968.

You see that cat Pina is a bad mother: Pina is the first Mexican native to win a World Series ring. He was a relief pitcher for the Oakland A's when they beat the Mets in the 1973 World Series.

Shut your mouth: Pina formed a strong bond with his manager, Ted Williams, in part because Williams spoke some Spanish. Williams had a Mexican background on his mother's side. Pina learned how to fish from Williams and they would go to the movies together.

No one understands him but his woman: Pina's last name has a tilde over the "n," but it never appeared on his cards or on his uniform. Pina didn't pay any mind, saying in an interview a few years ago, "I didn't know what that little thing over the 'n' was even called! It was only later I found out it was called a tilde."

 (A word about the back): Pina would later pitcher another Mexican League no-hitter -- this one a perfect game -- during a 21-4 season in 1978.

no. 462 - senators

Who is the man: The era of good feeling in the nation's capital ended after just a year. After finishing fourth under new manager Ted Williams in 1969 with an 86-76 record, the Senators fell back to last in 1970 at 70-92.

Can ya dig it: I don't know what the team is standing/sitting on in front of the seats. Is it dirt around the field? Is it concrete? I don't think it's grass. It looks gray or blue.

Right on: You would think this would be the last Senators team card. But technically it's not. Even though the Senators moved to Arlington, Texas, for the 1972 season and Topps airbrushed all of the Senators players' individual cards and listed them as Rangers, the Rangers' team card that year features this exact photo. You can clearly see "Senators" on all of their jerseys, but the team name at the top of the card says "Rangers".

You see that cat Williams is a bad mother: Ted Williams is in the first row, fifth from the left.

Shut your mouth: Identifying players when they don't have numbers on the front of their jerseys is difficult, especially when the photo is taken from this distance. I'm going to assume the tallest guy in the back row is Frank Howard, but beyond that I can't venture a guess.

No one understands him but his woman: The man in the dark jacket on the right certainly gets a prominent position in the photo. I don't know who it is, but it looks like it could pass for Senators owner Bob Short, the man who moved the team.

(A word about the back): This is the second incarnation of the Senators and they had been around for only 10 years at this point. Still some pretty good seasonal records considering the bottom standings say the team finished ninth, tenth, tenth, ninth, eighth, eighth, sixth, tenth, fourth and sixth.

no. 427 - bernie allen

Who is the man: Bernie Allen had completed his fourth season with the Senators when this card was issued. He shared time at second base with Tim Cullen in 1970.

Can ya dig it: I'm guessing the dude in yellow shirt and brown pants is a sportswriter. He has that sportswriter feel (and he's holding what could be a notebook).

Right on: Allen is one of those people who doesn't dot the "I" in his name. I don't know how you keep yourself from doing that.

You see that cat Allen is a bad mother: Allen finished third in the AL Rookie of the Year voting in 1962 while playing for the Twins.

Shut your mouth: Allen was a quarterback for Purdue in the late '50s/early '60s. He also kicked field goals and in 1960, his field goal beat No. 3 Ohio State. After the game, Allen went looking for Ohio State coach Woody Hayes, who had told him he was too small to play in the Big Ten. "I just wanted to ask him if I was too small to play, but he just took off and ran away from me," Allen said.

No one understands him but his woman: Allen is kind of the forgotten man at second base for the Twins in the 1960s. He took over for Billy Martin at second in 1962. And Allen relinquished the second base job to Rod Carew in 1967.

(A word about the back): Very odd that Topps is mentioning that Allen is the team's player rep. I wonder how many times that's appeared on the back of a baseball card?

no. 399 - jim french

Who is the man: Jim French played in a career-high 69 games for the Senators in 1970. With the exception of his 13-game .297 batting average as a rookie in 1965, the .211 that French hit in 1970 also was a career-high.

Can ya dig it: This is a terrific-looking card and probably one of the best-conditioned cards I own in this set.

Right on: This is the final card issued during French's career.

You see that cat French is a bad mother: French may not have hit for a high average but he knew how to get on base. According to SABR, French is one of 13 major league position players through 2007 who accumulated more walks than hits during their careers (minimum 100 at-bats). French totaled 121 walks and 119 hits.

Shut your mouth: After his career ended, French became a practicing lawyer. He received his degree from John Marshall Law School. Another baseball connection to John Marshall Law School: umpire Dan Bellino has a degree from the school.

No one understands him but his woman: French has three Topps cards (1969, 1970, 1971). He is in almost the exact same pose in all three cards.

(A word about the back): French appears to be harboring some tobacco in that photo.

no. 380 - ted williams

Who is the man: The Senators bottomed out in Ted Williams' second year managing the team. Washington finished dead last in the AL East in 1970 after going 86-76 in 1969.

Can ya dig it: I saw this card during my early collecting days and it stuck in my brain. When I started collecting the 1971 set, I thought it would be forever before I acquired it. I was practically giddy when I bought it at a small card show in town with no trouble at all.

Right on: This is quite a difference from the photo Topps used of Williams in the 1970 set.

You see that cat Williams is a bad mother: In his first year of managing, Williams led the Senators to their only winning season in their 11-year existence between 1961-71.

Shut your mouth: When Williams reported to his first big league camp in 1938, the veteran Red Sox players knew he was a hot prospect but made sure to make him miserable that first year. His outfield competition, Ben Chapman, Joe Vosmik and Doc Cramer, gave Williams a hard time in particular. When camp broke, Williams saw the list of who was headed to train with the big league club and he wasn't on it. Enraged, he yelled at the three outfielders: "I'll be back. And I'll make more money in this f---ing game than all three of you combined."

No one understands him but his woman: In "Ted Williams, My Father," a 2014 book written by Williams' daughter Claudia, she remembers a time as a girl when she plugged the toilet while her father was on the phone. As water began to drip from the ceiling, a furious Williams ripped the phone from the wall and threw it across the room before realizing he now could not call a plumber.

(A word about the back): So far, Williams and Lum Harris are the only managers in which Topps writes about their playing careers instead of their managing careers. In Williams' case, I guess I'll give it a pass.

no. 351 - jim shellenback

Who is the man: Jim Shellenback produced what would be his finest major league season in 1970, appearing in 39 games and posting a 6-7 mark and a 3.69 ERA.

Can ya dig it: Shellenback was no older than 27 when this photo was taken. I know. I didn't even believe that when I wrote it, but it's true.

Right on: That's a good look at the Major League Baseball logo on his left shoulder.

You see that cat Shellenback is a bad mother: Shellenback suffered a badly broken right leg in a car accident in 1967 and was told by doctors he would never play again. When his leg emerged from the cast, it was shorter than his left leg. He missed a year-and-a-half rehabilitating, but he would play through 1977.

Shut your mouth: Shellenback's uncle, Frank Shellenback, was a pitcher for the White Sox in 1918 and 1919. He also was the last remaining legal spitballer in professional baseball.

No one understands him but his woman: I missed posting this on Shellenback's 71st birthday by one lousy day.

(A word about the back): Can you imagine letting a rookie go 11 innings in his first start in a 1-1 game today? He'd be a folk hero.

no. 326 - richie scheinblum

Who is the man: Richie Scheinblum was a minor league player in 1970. He didn't appear in the majors at all. Yet, Topps was kind enough to give him a card.

Can ya dig it: Scheinblum was signed by the Indians and spent the first six years of his pro career with them. He's actually wearing an Indians jersey in this picture.

Right on: Sweaty and cap-less. Not a good combination.

You see this cat Scheinblum is a bad mother: Scheinblum led the American Association in batting when he hit .388 in 1971. It was the highest batting average in the AA in 20 years.

Shut your mouth: Scheinblum's mother was born in the Ukraine and related to Moe Berg, the former MLB catcher who worked as a spy during World War II.

No one understands him but his woman: Scheinblum moved on to play in Japan after his major league career ended. He played for the Hiroshima Carp and helped the team make the Japanese World Series. Scheinblum was Jewish and when Yom Kippur landed on the same day as a World Series game, he didn't play. The Japanese were fascinated by this. "Fifty Japanese reporters came to my apartment to watch me pray," Scheinblum said.

(A word about the back): I think this is the first card where 1970 is nothing but zeroes.

no. 307 - don wert

Who is the man: Don Wert was dealt to the Senators on Oct. 9, 1970 in the big deal that also sent Denny McLain to Washington and brought Ed Brinkman, Joe Coleman and Aurelio Rodriguez to Detroit.

Can ya dig it: The fact that Wert is capless (because he's wearing a Detroit Tigers jersey) makes him look a lot older than on his previous cards.

Right on: I'm trying to determine the guy behind Wert. I want to say the player is wearing the No. 4, but in 1970 that number belonged to Kevin Collins, who is not black. It's possible the number could be a 9, which was Ike Brown's number and he's black. Further investigation will have to come from a reader.

You see this cat Wert is a bad mother: Wert delivered the game-winning hit in the Tigers' pennant-clinching victory against the Yankees on Sept. 17, 1968. It was Detroit's first pennant since 1945.

Shut your mouth: Wert was nicknamed "Coyote" because his chatter in the infield was high-pitched and sounded like the "yip" of a coyote, teammates said.

No one understands him but his woman: Wert batted just .200 during the 1968 season, in which he played 150 games and was named an All-Star. He was struck in the helmet with a pitch in June and spent two days in the hospital. He batted just .179 for the rest of the season and never had a season where he hit higher than .225 for the rest of his career. At one point, the Tigers ordered tests on Wert to make sure there wasn't something wrong with him physically.

 

(A word about the back): That is one large script "W" airbrushed onto Wert's cap. He spent just 20 games with Washington and wouldn't play in the majors again.

no. 283 - dick such

Who is the man: Dick Such spent his only time in the major leagues in 1970, appearing in 21 games on the mound, including five starts. His career stats are 1-5 with a 7.56 ERA.

Can ya dig it: Such is wearing a wicked gum stain on his uniform that I didn't notice until scanning the card.

Right on: Rookie card! Only (solo) card!

You see this cat Such is a bad mother: Such would enjoy a much more memorable baseball career as a pitching coach, particularly with the Minnesota Twins. He was the Twins' pitching coach during their World Series champion years of 1987 and 1991, heading hurlers like Frank Viola, Jack Morris, Bert Blyleven, Rick Aguilera, Jeff Reardon and Steve Bedrosian.

Shut your mouth: Such, looking back on his career a few years ago, said: "If I knew then what I knew now, I might have hung around longer." Wouldn't we all, Dick. Wouldn't we all.

No one understands him but his woman: I see he signed his name "Richard Such." I'm sure that's what he would go by if he was starting his career today. Nobody's named "Dick" these days.

(A word about the back): That 1967 York team was a horrid hitting club. The collective team batting average was .217. Such suffered the worst from it with his 0-16 mark, but York also had another pitcher on the team, Rupe Toppin, who had a 1.94 ERA in 25 games (with a 7-7 mark). Doug Ritter posted a 2.85 ERA but was 4-11. The York White Roses averaged 2.54 runs a game and went 43-95.

no. 261 - darold knowles

Who is the man: Darold Knowles was on his way to the Oakland A's when this card was created. The Senators dealt him to Oakland in May of 1971, along with Mike Epstein, for Frank Fernandez, Paul Lindblad and Don Mincher.

Can ya dig it: I can always dig palm trees.

Right on: I can't get used to Knowles without his mustache. He was wearing it on the very first card I ever pulled out of a pack that I purchased.

You see this cat Knowles is a bad mother: Knowles appeared in all seven World Series games in 1973. That's something you'd never see today.

Shut your mouth: Phillies manager Gene Mauch said of a young rookie Knowles, "he's got the courage of a daylight burglar."

No one understands him but his woman: Knowles played one year for the Expos in 1978, but welcomed his free agent status, saying that taxes, language issues for his family and political unrest in Quebec were too much. He played for the Cardinals in 1979.

(A word about the back): Knowles' won-loss record should be plastered on every site that derides wins and losses as a way to evaluate pitchers. Knowles set career highs in appearances (71), saves (27) and registered a 2.04 ERA all while winning two games and losing 14.