Taking the torch to spread the word about the Peter Max inspired 1972 Topps Baseball set...count down style.
Thursday, August 10, 2017
#295 Dick Dietz #296 Dick Dietz In Action
Another player like Clarence Gaston who’s high water mark was 1970.... mysteriously
short career....one theory is that he became problematic to front office
because of union activity....greatest strength getting on base with hits and
walks....biggest liability: defense....gradually brought up the Giants farm
system....broken in with 56 games in 1967....moved up to platooning with Jack
Hiatt getting about ½ playing time....with Hiatt’s departure Dick came into his
own 1970....107 RBIs and.300 BA....plus over 100 walks.....second best hitting
catcher next to Johnny Bench....appeared in all star game....hit home and NL
came back to win....1971 suffered a decline but was still considered one of
better hitting backstops....19 home runs....strange events thereafter....put on
waivers by Giants....picked up by Dodgers....Injured early on and never
recouped his stroke...sold to the Braves for 1973....tried out at 1st,
more than catcher....plate discipline resulted in .295 BA and .467 on base % in
139 at bats....was his limited still related to a blacklisting?...released
after the season ending his baseball career....not much else is known....passed
away in 2005....would have been interesting to get his perspective....read this
http://www.hardballtimes.com/the-blackballing-of-dick-dietz/
Labels:
Dick Dietz,
Giants
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Dick Dietz's rookie card (1967) shows him as an outfielder, although he only played catcher for the Giants, and for most of his time in the minors. He was an outfielder in '63-'64 and part of '65, but not afterwards. Topps was asleep at the switch.
ReplyDeleteHe was also named as the catcher on the Topps All-Rookie team in 1967.
Now That's a Action Card! Very Cool.
ReplyDeleteSure beats the Bob Barton "I'm standing next to a very old security guard" card
ReplyDelete