AN AIRBRUSHING MASTERPIECE FOR JOHN D'ACQUISTO IN 1977

As mentioned recently on the blog when I posted my “missing 1978 John D’Acquisto card, his 1977 card showing him as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals was one of the better airbrush jobs Topps had during that era. Take a look:

Now that is some effort!
Just a great job with the action shot to have the uniform and cap just right. I have to say there is nothing cheesy about this!
D’Acquisto found himself in St. Louis after being traded as part of the deal that brought Willie Crawford out West.
But wouldn’t you know it, he would be on the move just about a month into the new season when he was traded over to San Diego for Butch Metzger on May 17th of ‘77,where he would be the next three and a half seasons.
By the time he hung up the cleats after the 1982 season, D’Acquisto finished with a record of 34-51 along with a 4.56 earned run average over 266 games and 779.2 innings pitched.

MISSING IN ACTION- 1978 JOHN D'ACQUISTO

You know, until recently I never realized that former pitcher John D’Acquisto was “missing” from the 1978 Topps set. Just one of those players from my childhood that seemed to be in all the late-70’s sets.
Anyway, though it was a lot harder to find than I thought it would be, I did find one suitable image to use to whip one up:

The San Diego, CA native found himself pitching for the Padres after being traded there by the St. Louis Cardinals in May of 1977.
Splitting his season between the Cardinals and Padres, D’Acquisto posted a 1-2 record along with a 6.54 earned run average over 20 appearances and 52.1 innings pitched.
He’d have a nice 1978 season mainly out of the bullpen, going 4-3 with a 2.13 E.R.A., 10 saves and 104 strikeouts in only 93 innings.
He would go on to pitch another four seasons in the big leagues, taking the mound for not only the Padres, but the Expos, Angels and A’s, for whom he would make his final 11 appearances in 1982.
Over his 10-year career D’Acquisto would finish 34-51, with a 4.56 E.R.A., 600 strikeouts and 15 saves over 266 games and 779.2 innings pitched.