1970 2 Diego Segui

Diego Segui

Diego Segui has become known as the starting pitcher in the first ever games for both the Seattle Pilots in 1969 and the Seattle Mariners 8 years later.   Others have disputed this account, saying that he was not the starter for the Pilots that day, but was merely on the roster.  I am too lazy to look it up. Either way, having a career that spanned that amount of time (and much more) is noteworthy.  I remember Segui for being part of the A's dynasty not long after this card was issued. I also remember that I could not pronounce his name in the early 1970s.  

Segui is unique for being one of the Pilots of 1969.  The Pilots were virtually forgotten in the 1970's.  I do not think that I ever heard of them until 1980.  That year, I obtained my first 1969 card and it happened to be also my first Pilot (Mike Marshall). Today, the Pilots are discussed often among those who reminisce about the classic era of baseball.  There are Pilot films available on youtube. They were the subject of Jim Bouton's "Ball Four" - in which Segui was discussed.  Bouton came across as envious of Segui's spot in the starting rotation. From Segui's record, it appears as if Segui deserved his spot. 

As most fans now know, the Pilots left Seattle for Milwaukee in 1970.  They left too late for Topps to change their cards.  The entire set of 1970 Brewers was produced and sold in packs as 1970 Pilots. Collectors thus had 30 error cards to collect that year.  I did not have many cards from the 1970 set, so I never knew that the 1970 Brewers were labelled "Pilots" until about a year ago.  I have since learned that the Topps sets around that time were planned and set in stone during the early fall of the year before. This was true for at least the first few series each year.  Trades in December (maybe even November) and later would not be reflected in the upcoming set.  Sometimes the trade might be reflected in the final series of the set.  Earlier trades, releases and signings would show up as hatless or airbrushed players. 

Segui's card is noteworthy also for the references to the Pacific Coast League (PCL) on the back. I never noticed these references 40-50 years ago.  I became aware of the old PCL in a meaningful way only within the past year.  The PCL is probably the most noteworthy of the minor leagues.  It is the subject of several books, one of which I intend to read someday.   I have learned that it almost became a major league, had its own farm teams and lost some of its importance when the major league teams moved west. I now pay attention when "PCL" appears on the back of a card. 

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