#547 Cleveland Indians Team Card

Overall the franchise has a winning record…. but has had its ups and downs….In 1972 team was struggling since the formulation of the especially strong AL East….took another 20+ years to achieve winning consistency…. Best times started in 1995 to 2001 with winning records but two losing trips to the World Series….coinciding with the move to Jacob’s Field….this was also at that time when the franchise started to have a run as the best attendance in the AL….for many years the team split game between two stadiums, Cleveland Stadium and League Park… Old school records for an AL original dating back to 1901…new batting records set were Joe Carter’s 663 ABs in 1986…Al Rosen’s home run record has been passed twice by three players (Albert Belle, Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez)….A new team RBI mark was set by Manny in 1996…Pitching records…Tiant’s ERA record of 1.60 (1968) still stands but the Topps criteria of record appears to start 1911 so Addie Jost is Baseball Reference’s man at 1.16 in 1908…the same case is with Tiant’s loss record of 20, shown up by a mark set in 1901 by a man named Peter Dowling.…in today’s baseball Don McMahon’s appearance mark has been beat 16+ times over.

#548 Frank Reberger

Five year MLB seasons shifted between closer, starter, middle relief….most important season was rookie season with first year Padres….led team in appearances and was second in ERA… came out of Chicago Cubs system…pitched in 3 games 1968….picked 22^nd by Padres in expansion draft….escaped San Diego via trade to Giants before 1970 season….Took a greater role as starter in San Francisco as part their young arm movement….gamble lost; was not effective and wild…. his 7-8 record was indicative of being bailed out by SF bats more than anything else….never had a full season at the big league level afterward…split 1971-72 between SF and AAA Phoenix… comebacks attempts in Phoenix ended 1974. 

#549 Dave May

Oriole reserve outfielder sought by Milwaukee for more regular work….from then on his career path was one good year, one off year….1971 was a good year….best year was 1973 with .303 BA, 25 home runs, and 93 RBIs…lead AL in total bases…got an all star nod….Future looked good but 1974 presented a huge drop….only player ever to say he was traded for Hank Aaron 1975….OK numbers in limited role while being stationed in Atlanta…highlight of his Braves days were career best OPS….diminishing returns afterwards….one more season in ATL and then Texas….brief return to Milwaukee in 1978.….one of the more prominent players from Delaware….passed away in 2012.

#550 Brooks Robinson

Go to Baseball Reference and type B-R-O-O…Robinson’s name will be first on the first….Oriole legend in the field….appeared in 23 MLB seasons…was able to sneak in a couple of Oriole games in first professional season of 1955….shuffled between minor and Baltimore for 4 more seasons… true stardom started in 1960….starting an incredible string of awards; 14 and 15 straight years of all star game and gold gloves respectively…Voted in HOF far quicker than NL counterpart Ron Santo…won AL MVP in 1964…World Series MVP in 1970 leading the Oriole’s romp over the Reds…hit over .500 in post season play that year…in seemed to make the difficult play at the most critical time in the series and career in general…only career liabilities are a relatively slow start to stardom and stayed a bit too long .200 average in last 3 seasons….wonderful nicknames of the “human vacuum cleaner” and “Mr. Impossible”.

#551 Ollie Brown #552 In Action Ollie Brown

Beneficiary of expansion….a Padre original and 3 strong season for the upstarts…1^st Padre taken in expansion draft….Started in San Francisco after hitting a blistering .343 in the minors…was able to get a regular spot in 1967 and responded with 13 home runs….injured for the prime of 1968…left unprotected in draft…was second in offense next to Nate Colbert in first SD season….1970 was Ollie’s career season setting personal bests in doubles, home runs,  RBI’s,  total bases, and BA in a regular role….follow up season was able to maintain BA…Started slow in 1972 and was traded to Oakland in a basic  Padre fire sale….was quickly put on waivers and acquired by Milwaukee…was able to regain semblance of part time regular… after a short daunt to Houston settled in Philly from mid 1974-1977….fairly good hitter…brother of Brave Oscar Brown….passed away early 2015.

#553 Wilbur Wood #554 In Action Wilbur Wood

A transformation…and a man whose success was influenced by others....a few pitchers can go from starter to bullpen with no loss of effectiveness…stranger yet to go from the league’s most prominent fireman to starter….Move was the brainchild of pitching coach Johnny Sain who at that time oversaw at least one 20 game winner for every each team he coached…started a string 4 20+ win seasons…lead AL in several categories most significantly back to back 24 wins….games started, innings, and the downside losses….the journey started as a obscure off speed pitcher who couldn’t break in with the Red Sox and Pirates…was able to impress in the minors however and more importantly the White Sox brass…. knuckleball was refined by Hoyt Willhem…the rest is history…rapidly rose to ranks of the top and most used reliever in the majors…problem was the Chisox were winning very few games…his dramatic switchover to starter was found in very few careers….spent last few years in battling the effects of getting hit by a batted ball….last season went 10-10 for Chicago.

#555 Ron Santo #556 In Action Ron Santo

RIP…revered icon of north Chicago…consistent anchor on team that had rough years in early 60’s….Synonymous with Cubs franchise and third base…. was named to all star team 9 of 11 campaigns…One year he was excluded from all star team he finished 4th in MVP voting….hustling aggressive player....had a 5 year string of Gold Gloves….offensive skills were ability to get on base, great batting eye, and consistent power…Unfortunately for all his awards and accolades, no post season play…Left Cubs after 1973….Cross-town trade to White Sox was a disaster and his career was over after one season…Career stats 342 home runs, 1343 RBIs’, .277 BA…Career best home run season was 1965 with 33…best RBI’s was 123 in 1969…top average was .313 in 1964….instated into hall of fame 2012 two years after his death....one of few players who got along well with Leo Durocher.

#557 John Odom #558 In Action John Odom

Blue Moon…Mainstay of A’s organization…Started as a bit player in the franc hises waning days in Kansas City…. Prime time was 1968 and 1969 winning  a team leading 16 and 15 games respectively….incidentally all star years too…1970 was subpar year…. 1971 had a late start…lost notoriety to Vida Blue....bounced back nicely in 1972 winning going 15-6 identical to 1969….effectiveness dropped out in next season in 1973 with 4.49 ERA…was able to still able to appear in two WS games….lost starter status in 1974 and put in middle relief…was shelled at the start of 1975 and quickly traded to Indians and then Braves….Finished career with Chisox 1976…Last win of career threw no hitter against  A’s with Francisco Barrios….had run ins with teammates while playing and run in with the law afterwards.

#559 Pete Rose #560 In Action-Pete Rose

So much has been said, so much can be said…I’ll keep it short….All time hit leader…plus games, at bats, and plate appearances….hometown hero…seemingly could field any position…loved by the fans of teams he played for, hated by opposing fans…24 years....rarely injured so he was nearly always a starter…ROY of 1963….1 MVP….1 WS MVP....44 game hit streak….3 batting crowns…last great season was 1981 hitting .325….hit .321 in playoffs, 18 points better than his career average…1968 NL BA leader....followed up in 1969 when had career best in BA .348, 16 home runs, and 82 RBIs….17 time all star but collision with Ray Fosse may that game's most controversial image....Spent 10 years as a leadoff hitter 1968-78….intense to say the least...like the Joni Mitchell song goes he rambler, a gambler, and sweet  talking ladies man…married three time and fathered one child out wedlock….fate will be debated forever.