Wanted! - 1978 Topps

Percent Completed: 99.7%

Red indicates pending trade...

#	Player		#	Player		#	Player
						479	Cardinals Team
						551	Braves Team

Cameo Cards - 1978 Topps Roy White

This is the seventh entry of Cameo Cards, which is a serial focusing on Hall of Fame players making cameo appearances on common cards...

Finding a Cameo Card is never easy.  Finding one on a Topps card prior to 1987 can be downright difficult, as Topps was pretty stingy with the Action Shots from 1971 to 1986.  Luckily, I was able to spot this one relatively quickly when fanning through the 1978 Topps set, and I was even luckier considering Roy White's card is #16.  One turn of a 9-pocket page, and I have post-gold.  Sweet.

Anyways, today's Cameo Card is courtesy of Roy White who has a Hall of Fame catcher lurking behind him.  Who is that masked man?  Why it's Carlton Fisk of the Boston Red Sox!

Let's take a look at this card in detail, and see what makes this an awesome Cameo Card:

1. A rivalry game between the Yanks and Red Sox on a 35 year old piece of cardboard.
2. Roy White is rocking the wrist bands.
3. Judging by both Roy and Carlton's eyes, Roy has blooped one to short right-center.  Ok, this is a total guess, but it's my story to tell.
4. Fisk is in all red gear, and has on the old washboard chest protector.
5. Faceless fans courtesy of the Topps Airbrushing Department.
6. A dugout full of Yanks.
7. Real stirrups!
8. The motion/placement of Roy's feet is almost anti-gravitational...   

So, all you Carlton Fisk collectors, go out and get yourself a 1978 Topps Roy White to round out your player collection.  Unless you're a diehard Red Sox fan, and would projectile vomit having a Yankee's card in your player collection...

Name the Game - 1978 Topps Len Randle

This Name the Game submission is courtesy of the 1978 Topps set and features a play at first between Gene Richards of the San Diego Padres and Len Randle of the New York Mets.  Review of the old box scores reveals that Len Randle played in four home games in 1977 against the Friars, which were the second half of a double dip on May 11th, and all three games of the July 29th through 31st series.

Further investigation revealed that the May 11th second game of the double header was at night, so that game has been eliminated.  As for the series at the end of July, both Gene Richards and Len Randle played in all three games, however, Gene Richards only played first base during the first six innings of the July 31st day game, and played outfield the remaining time.

So, we’ve identified the action on this card coming from the July 31st, 1977 game.  Now, let’s dig a little deeper and see if we can figure out what play is occurring! 

To me, it is obvious this is a pick-off play at first base.  Randle has dove back to the bag, soiling his white pinstripe uniform, knocking his helmet askew, and flashing his sparkling white teeth in a grimace.  If that wasn’t awesome enough, the pickoff throw has thrown Gene Richards off balance, and Gene braces himself by planting his left hand on Randle’s rear.  HOW COOL IS THIS CARD?  Add to it the bright green grass, contrasted with the infield dirt, the yellow bleachers, the yellow stirrups, Gene’s yellow batting glove, the yellow piping around the card, as well as Gene’s flip shades and this card achieves 70s greatness.

Phew, let me compose myself.  Ok, back to the actually play.  Review of the box score shows that Randle was on first base with Richards covering twice during the game.  Once in the bottom of the 3rd via a single to center and the other in the 4th on an E5.  In the bottom of the 4th, there was a runner on second, so the Padres wouldn’t have been attempting a pickoff maneuver, so let’s take a look at the bottom of the 3rd.

Here’s the official box score description, “Randle Picked off 1B, safe on E1; Randle to 3B.”  Randle was a speedster at the time, so with no one on second and a tied game, I bet the Pads were trying to keep Randle close to the bag.  Apparently, the Pads tried one too many times to pick him off and there was an errant throw by Dave Wehrmeister, which ended up with Randle on third.

Looking at the card, it’s hard to tell if this is the errant throw or not, but I don’t think it is.  I think it is a previous pickoff move because it looks like the ball is in Gene Richards’ first baseman glove judging by the bulge in the pocket.  Regardless, the play pictured came from the Bottom of the 3rd inning during the July 31, 1977 matchup between the San Diego Padres and New York Mets.

Topps Cards That Never Were: 1978 Brooks Robinson

It appears that I am on a roll, but appearances are deceiving. I am having trouble finding pictures of several HOFers in their final seasons (e.g., Perry with the Royals and Wilhelm with the Dodgers), so I guess I'm putting a call out to others to see if they can find pics of these players in those unis.

Anyways, I'm heading to Washington today, so I need to post early before I head out. Next up would be a card that Collective Troll should have had to collect. The 1978 set should have had a Brooks Robinson card besides the lame Topps attempt at highlighting a HOFer's final season.

Brooks, better known as the Vacuum Cleaner, is and probably always will be the best fielding third baseman in the history of baseball. Since his playing days ended, no one has ever come close to matching his fielding prowess. Third base now is a glorified 1st base position. All power and little substance.

Brooks owned the Gold Glove from 1960 until 1975 and earned every bit of a it. 2,697 put outs at third and a .971 fielding percentage. Hot corner awesomeness.

Brooks was also decent at the plate coming painfully shy of the 3,000 hit mark. Also, not many players begin their career at the young age of 18 anymore.

Not much time, so here is Brooks' 1978 Topps card...

Dig that Orange

Here are Brooks' stats from 1977:

YEAR	CLUB	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	AVG
1977	Orioles	24	47	3	7	2	0	1	4	.149