Reliving the 1970's with Topps

Tim McCarver Tim McCarver was one of the few Phillies from 1970 that would end up making the playoffs with the team (after an interruption between 1972 and 1975) by the mid to late 1970's.  He was probably unhappy to leave the perennial contending Cardinals for the bottom dwelling Phillies. But I am sure he did not guess that he would play in multiple playoffs with the Phillies long before the Cardinals returned to the post-season. On October 7, 1969, he was included in the famous Flood, Allen, Rojas, etc. etc. etc. deal.  October 7 is apparently not soon enough for Topps to get a photo with a hat.  McCarver played about a quarter of the season in 1970.

Juan Rios This card is Juan Rios' second and last card. Rios did not play in the major leagues after 1969, although he would play in the minor and Mexican leagues through 1975.    I think the photo is unique.  I wonder if they posed him or if they happened to catch him as he was choosing a bat. Previous Post                                                                     Next Post First Post

Pilots Rookies Miguel Fuentes Dick Baney Dick Baney did not play in the majors in 1970.  In mid-season the Brewers traded him to the Orioles for Dave May (who years later would be the only major leaguer ever traded for Hank Aaron - the least among us can have the biggest impact). Baney appeared on only one more Topps card - a 1974 rookies card. He had played in 1969 for the Vancouver Mounties of the PCL.  In 1972 he would play on the Hawaii Islanders of the PCL.  Miguel Fuentes did not play in the majors or minors after 1969.  He never again appeared on a card. Previous Post                                                                               Next Post First Post  

Steve Renko This appears to be Renko's first Topps card. Steve Renko's ERA would be above 4 many times in his long career.  1970 was one of those years.  His lifetime IP/BB ratio was not bad.  In June 1969, Renko was part of the trade that brought Donn Clendenon from the Expos to the Mets. There would be more big trades in Renko's future.  Previous Post                                                                             Next Post First Post

Lum Harris Lum Harris was the only Braves manager that saw post-season action in the 1960's or 1970's.   He would be gone mid-way through 1972 because the Reds were on the rise and the Giants had one more playoff year in them.  Harris' last post-season appearance was in 1969. Much like their post-season 1969 opponents (the Mets), the Braves would be mostly silent through the remainder of the decade (except for some individual achievements). From the very beginning of the 1970s, the NL was very different than it had been in 1969. Previous Post                                                                                 Next Post First Post 

Max Alvis The 1970 card would be Max Alvis' last. The Indians traded him on April 4 to the Brewers, who released him in October. In 1970 he played the least amount since his rookie year.  Of course, he wasn't the only Brewer to be pictured with a different team in 1970 . The Salt Lake City Bees were affiliated with the Indians only for the two years that Max Alvis played for them. Their history began in 1911 as the "Skyscrapers."   (The definition of "skyscraper" was probably very different back then.) Previous Card                                                                        Next Card First Card  

Paul Casanova Why were the Indianapolis Clowns not considered "organized?" In 1970, Casanova split catching duties with Jim French (#617), John Roseboro (#655) and Dick Billings (no card that year).   He played four more years after 1970, but never again would he have as many games, AB, hits  or most other statistics (except HR) as he did in 1970.  Previous Post                                                              Next Post First Post     

Don Cardwell 1970 was Don Cardwell's last year in the major leagues.   In 1960, the Phillies traded him to the Cubs in the deal by which they acquired Tony Taylor.  In October 1962, the Cubs traded him to the Cardinals in the deal that brought Lindy McDaniel to the Cubs.  One month later, the Cardinals traded him to the Pirates in the deal that brought Dick Groat to the Cardinals. The Pirates traded Cardwell four years later to the Mets.  The Mets sold him in July 1970 to the Braves, who released him in December. This card was Cardwell's last.   Previous Card                                                                Next Card First Card  

Frank Fernandez Frank Fernandez did not play for the Yankees in 1970, as he was traded to the A's with Al Downing on December 5, 1969.  December 5 is thus too late for a player to be pictured with the correct team in the coming year.  Fernandez would have almost a season's worth of AB in his entire career. Previous Post                                                                                   Next Post   First Post 

Dave May In 1974, May would gain the distinction of being the only player ever traded for Hank Aaron.  In June, 1970, the Orioles traded May to the Milwaukee Brewers. He immediately got more playing time and put together some good years in Milwaukee.   His career timing was always a little off.  He missed the chance (by a few months) to play for the Orioles when they won the 1970 World Series. By getting traded to Milwaukee in mid-season instead of the previous off-season, he missed the chance to be one of the few players ever to appear on a Topps card as a Pilot .  In 1978, he was picked up by the Pirates for their unsuccessful pennant drive.  He was released after the season and missed the chance to play for the World Series winner in 1979.  The card is visually appealing. I do not remember many cards in which a player is holding his helmet. The effect adds more color and contrast than if he were holding a ball or mitt. Previous Post    ...

Don Kessinger In 1970, Kessinger had one of his better years. He achieved his third highest career batting average, his second highest run total (100), his second highest stolen base total and an off-the-chart highest career triple total (14).    Previous Post                                                                          Next Post First Post  

Clay Kirby Kirby had a no-hitter going into the 8th inning in one game in 1970, but was pulled for a pinch hitter by manager Preston Gomez.  The pinch hitter did nothing, the reliever surrendered runs and the Padres lost anyway. Kirby's record improved in 1970, but his ERA was higher and so was his IP/BB ratio. Kirby played for the Tulsa Oilers in 1968.  They were managed by Warren Spahn and were PCL champions that year.  They were affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals, from which the Padres drafted Kirby in the expansion draft on October 14, 1968.  1968 was the final year for Tulsa in the PCL.  Previous Post                                                                        Next Post First Post