#70 Mike Cuellar

So good in his prime and unlikely success story....a true late developer aided greatly by the addition of a screwball to his pitching arsenal.....The Cuban born lefthander started in AAA Havana Sugar Kings then the Reds top affiliate....advanced employment was based on early press notices while he pitched for the President Batista Army club....one of the last players out of the country with the onset of the Castro regime, part of in 1960 AAA team forced to relocate mid season to Jersey City due to government travel restrictions  ....then majority of his 20’s were spent riding various buses of minor league teams (he was also loaned out to several other organizations)....strong stints in AAA Jacksonville gave Mike truncated service with the St. Louis Cardinals....exceeded rookie status in 1964 but excluded from WS play....Settled in with Houston 1965....put together decent years on the mound but mostly performed in obscurity.... high lights were finishing second in ERA 1966 and 16 wins good for 5^th circa 1967....Joining the Bird Hill Aces for 1969 was revelation to his career.....top notch coaching and excellent run support....Ascends as a Junior Circuit elite being the champion in 23 decisions and shares the Cy Young with Denny McClain.....Goes one win better in 1970 with 24......became the O’s workhorse....40 games started and 2 1/3 inning from 300....roll call of success goes as follows;  In 1971 collects 20 triumphs, 1972 and 73 twin 18 victories, 1974 a return to 20+ win status.....The Cuellar's career erosion starts in 1975 with 14 game tallies....completely empty in 1976 with 4-13 record complete with relegation to bullpen and a layoff for month of Sept....released; at age 40 tried a quick resurfacing as California Angel....shelled and immediately shelved after 3 innings.....Probably one of the most superstitious pitchers of all time....avoided stepping on the base line going into the Orioles dugout to name one....a more extensive list idiosyncrasies is in his SABR bio....second highest number of wins for left hander from 1969-74 falling one short to Fergy Jenkins.....settled in both Puerto Rico and Florida, continued with coaching and off the grid pitching appearances....passed away from stomach cancer in 2010.    

#130 Bob Gibson

An exceptional career....intimidation factor on the field incomparable, maybe only Don Drysdale came close in his class....Tour de force on the mound in the 60’s and the early 70's....So many strengths....A player you did want him on your side, not against you...he was a Cardinal red from beginning to end.....Three time postseason virtuoso regardless of series outcome....a 7-2 W-L record in 9 complete games over three fall classics....owns two WS MVP awards....a clean sweep eluded him via the Cardinal seventh game loss to the Tigers in 1968....the only setback capping a MVP and Cy Young winning year....the astonishing regular season ERA of 1.12.....incredibly logged 28 complete games in  34 starts along with 22 wins....seemingly a manager dared not to take him out of a game...a stat impossible by today’s standards even when it is compared to MLB yearly total....post game he was aloof and distant, Gibson’s passion and drive to win was put out on the ball yard...sometimes to the consternation of teammates and press...spent a 4 month stint with basketball Harlem Globetrotters before professional play.....signed by the St Louis Cardinals and conveniently assigned to AAA squad in his hometown of Omaha Nebraska....Career might have never took off if it wasn't for manager Johnny Keane....the helmsman in Omaha, Keane saw what Gibson could be....Career flourished when they were reunited under the Gateway Arch erasing Gibby's first two underwhelming seasons that were plagued by racial undertones....Keane left after the 1964 championship but Hoot didn’t miss a beat with successor Red Schoendienst in 1965....won at least 20 games five times under Red's command....in all likelihood would have vied for a 6 consecutive year stretch if not for an injury midseason 1967 leaving him with 13 win....made up for his absence in 1967 WS....1970 his last year of 20+ wins, awarded him with his second Cy Young award....slipped a bit in 1971 with a 16-13 record but was able to get his only no hitter of his career vs. the eventual World Champion Pirates....against age and time puts together his last great season in 1972 winning 19 contests and lowering his ERA by half a point.... Exited playing after 1975 season as his effectiveness diminished....logged 255 complete games, it would take an estimated 7 seven years for all of baseball to match that total....took 9 consecutive gold glove awards and four time league shutout leader....no slouch with a bat either...went yard 24 times in the regular season plus add two in the World Series...Well know in baseball circles for his hospitality off the field...HOF inductee in 1981....recently passed away in October 2020 succeeding teammate Lou Brock by a month.

 

#169-170 Vida Blue Vida Blue In Action

The Man of 1971....the lefthander was the talk of baseball not seen until the arrival of Mark Fydrich five years later...Born in Louisiana, drafted by the KC A’s in 1967....a raw talent....late season debut in 1969....showed tools but not knowledge...another year of seasoning and Vida gets a second call up....makes the most it by no hitting AL champion Minnesota Twins....Blue serves notice he will be a force to be reckoned with in the future....takes AL Cy Young and MVP honors based on 24 wins and ERA of 1.82....youngest to win an all star game....Sought a pay raise for 1972...Owner Charley Finley balked at the notion beginning a standoff....Blue agrees to terms in early May and doesn’t start until the end of the month....out of synch but his athletic side ekes out a 2.80 ERA and mundane 6-10 record....An alienating move to all....returned to approximate form 1973 winning 20....after a solid 17 wins in 1974, upswings to 22 wins 1975....best effort since 1971....the intended dismantlement of A’s in 1976, had Blue sold off to the Yankees midseason....deal was nixed by the commissioner....the whole affair cost starts.... Blue continued to serve sentence in Oakland for 1977 one of the few holdovers from a gutted team....takes the win in 14 games and league leading 19 losses.... History repeats itself in lesser known is Blue’s nixed trade to Cincinnati in the off season....fooled the 1978 edition of The Complete Handbook of Baseball... Vida finally gets his long sought walking papers via trade across the bay to San Francisco....responds with strong 18 win campaign....1979-80 wins 14 games each with vastly different ERA’s....Blue’s 1981 is highlighted by his second all star game win the only person to do so for different leagues overshadowing a 8-6 record in strike shortened year.....1982 Blue lands in KC, which eventually uncovered a darker side....on the field started well initially then faded badly with 0-5 record 1983....was arrested, did jail time, and suspended on drug charges for all of 1984...signed on with Giants was able to make a respectable showing 18-18 over two years...career and problems were similar to Dock Ellis....would be a candidate for hall of fame if his career had less delays, bumps, and drama....some not of his making.

#210 Denny McLain

What would have been a historic baseball career at the time in a free fall ..... and took his new found franchise with him..... So effective, superior at winning games in his prime....Despite a sometime awkwardly looking appearance McClain likened himself as baseball’s answer to Frank Sinatra, a power player, a singer, a free spender, an associate with gambling and the mob.... after two partial season came into limelight in 1965 with 16-6 record, followed by a 20 wins campaign....after a middling 1967 McClain became the superlative AL pitcher in the year of the, 1968...accrued a now unapproachable 31 wins....maybe the last person to so, hitting .400 may be more obtainable....accomplishment somewhat overshadowed by Bob Gibson’s 1.12 ERA.... McClain was the first pitcher to reach this plateau in 34 years....It was based on is mostly going deep into games, incredible endurance, and several late inning comebacks...AKA luck....Took MVP and Cy Young honors...Follows up with 24 wins becoming a co-winner of the Cy Young with Mike Cuellar...All is great until 1970....The 1971 blog:

http://topps1971.blogspot.com/2018/02/no-750-denny-mclain.html 

tells the series of unfortunate events best in the Who is the man section....with the long layoff is reduced effectiveness....Enter the Washington Senators looking for enhanced starting pitching plus gate appeal trade to Detroit the left side of their infield plus two pitcher for Denny...outcome: McClain's W-L record inverses to 10-22 mark...addition Senator's record and attendance degrades (Tiger become resurgent again and one pitcher Joe Coleman goes on to win 20-19-23 games in succession)....late in the year owner Bob Short gets the go-ahead to move to Texas...early in 1972 spring season is acquired by Oakland thinking he'd respond best by not having the pressure of being 1st starter...After one good outing is hit hard over 4 more games...McClain is bartered to Atlanta with no improvement....demotion and then outright release to minor league club squad did not result in a comeback...playing days were over before age 30....McClain has become a baseball pariah since this time with full conviction and imprisonments...released he now makes a living off appearances base on his past laurels al la Pete Rose...a shame.  

#220 Jim Perry

Hard work and perseverance rewarded by the Cy Young Award two years prior….extensive up and down career but owner of 240 wins…brother of Gaylord Perry....one of the greatest brother duos in the history of baseball, 529 win, 10 short of the Niekros....Jim, two years the elder, started 1959 Cleveland....quickly established himself in his second season by being tied for the AL top spots in Wins...1961 was not kind however as Perry had a 10-17 record and led the AL in earned runs surrendered....Jim spends one more full campaign in Cleveland with a 12-12 result....traded to the Twins early 1963....spends the next several season in a cornucopia of pitching roles....starter, spot starter, situational reliever, with limited results skippered by managers absent of the knowledge of how to fully utilize his talent....situation was so marginal that he was put on waivers with no takers in 1964...later on he was also turned down when left available for the 1968 expansion draft (not alone, Jim Palmer wasn’t taken either).....career salvation came in the form of Billy Martin....Returned Perry to a prime starter only....Perry paid out big time with 20 win season....Perry continues to roll without Martin in 1970 taking 24 contests.....Gaylord tallied 23 in the NL, the highest brother total....1971 was a fall, Perry goes .500 with 17-17 record....surrenders the most home runs and runs for that year....turned in a losing record in 1972 but was able to control the gopher ball and lower ERA....1973 traded to Detroit and then the following year united with his brother in Cleveland....together won 38 games, Jim tallying 17 ....1975 both brothers tail off and are traded midseason to different teams.....Jim finishes up season and career in Oakland....most interesting game in his career is a tie between winning two games in one day (vs Seattle 1969, closing 2 inning an unfinished contest and then a complete game) or going up against his brother in 1973....Son is a professional golfer....215 career wins.

#241 Rollie Fingers

HOF career with a trademark handlebar mustache...one of the early great releivers...wasn’t always so....started as promising hurler who was not settled on a role....Mostly relief in ’69, part time starter in ’70....after a handful of starts 1971, started full time bullpen beginning a historic run....solidify his status as the #1 A’s closer in 72 reaching over 20 saves for the first time....took on the burden of Oakland’s first WS.....saves two games in the A's victory.....improves further in 1973 but his saves are eclipsed by John Hiller’s outstanding season....consistent top tier work over the next years but also growing discontent with the Finley ownership....Did not talk to Finley for last two A’s seasons....Was part of a midseason fire sale to the Red Sox tin 1976 that was nullified by the baseball commissioner....Rollie wore the Red Sox uniform but never played....Once out of contract took the highest bidder the SD Padres....Proceeded to lead NL in saves for two years....faltered a bit in 1979.....was traded to St Louis in after 1980 only to be immediately turned to Milwaukee....embarked one of most perfect relief season in 1981....28 saves and 1.04 ERA in a strike shortened season....Brewers were able to make post season for first time....performance result Cy Young award....Fingers and the Brewers were able to take the AL east outright in 1982....Rollie’s season is strong with 29 saves one more than his Cy Young year but suffers a shoulder injury that knocks him out of playoffs and subsequent 1983 season....Rollie comes back with but the Brewers in 1984 but their winning ways were grossly eroded rendering his sub 2.00 ERA and 23 saves inconsequential....nothing left in the tank in 1985 with a +5.00 ERA ushered his release....HOF class of 1992

#255 Jim Lonborg

Essentially two careers….a rapid rise to stardom then demotion and tapered comeback….the centerpiece of the 1967 revival of the Boston Red Sox….Odyssey starts in 1965 and makes Red Sox roster…that year’s edition lost 100 games and he 17, but his presence represented youth coming out of the shadows of Ted Williams….improved to 10-10 in 1966…Jim and his surprising Bosox team jumped out of gate in 1967 to take the AL crown…earned 22 wins and Cy Young…held his own with a 2-1 WS record as the Red Sox fell to the Cardinals….all looked great until a ski accident in the off season…ligament damage surgery delayed 1968 start but faced further shoulder issues when pitching motion changed…end result was a frightful trial resulting in just 27 wins over the next four years including two demotions to the minors…his 10-7 record in 1971 did show promise…trade to Milwaukee for 1972 provided him with work and a higher pecking order in the rotation…responded with 14 wins…Nevertheless Milwaukee looking to steady their infield flipped Lonborg to Philly at the conclusion of the season….Lonborg stayed with Phillies for rest of career highlight being 17 and 18 win efforts in 1974 and 1976 respectively…playing days ended in 1979 but Lonborg showing a strong adherence to continuing education eventually becoming a dentist in New England after playing days were over…still involved with Red Sox chairities….fun fact childhood friend of pitcher/outfielder Mel Queen and married Mel’s sister.   

#259 Sparky Lyle

No player from 1971 I can think of is more influential to today’s game than he…I look at two phases come to light; first his early years with Boston averaging an inning each game he appears then in 1972  record setting number of saves with the Yankees…put together it’s possible Sparky’s first true closer…at the time the top reliever completed usually closer to two innings per outing….his acquisition by the Yankees was the first in a line of imports that eventually resulted in two WS wins….over the years Sparky holds court in the Yankee pen…1975 decidedly an off year with 6 saves….bounced  back with vengeance in 1976 leading the AL in saves with a somewhat small figure of 23….In 1977, Sparky was able add 3 more saves to his total but more importantly he’s the first reliever to win AL Cy Young…it was the end of his prominence as George Steinbremer imports Goose Gossage and Rawley Eastwick, effectively putting Lyle is a secondary role….a trade to Texas for 1979 resulted in moderate improvement but was becoming evidently clear time was catching up to him…his worst season to date came in 1980 with a 4.49 ERA….only redeemer was late trade to the Phillies…improved and appeared in two scoreless inning in the NLCS….continued to hang on in Philly for the most of two more seasons in middle relief….career ended with White Sox late 1982…career line was 238 saves…37^th on the all time list….has written two books on baseball both based on his Bronx Zoo time.  

#270 Jim Palmer

Great pitcher with male model like looks…a movie like life that could be described as American Dickens story…..born in NYC in 1945…adopted into a wealthy NYC family, then raised in California/Arizona after his father died….Jim’s mother married a movie actor by the name of Palmer hence Jim's last name…was high school athletic phemon in several sports….drew the notice of Baltimore front office…signed and assigned to Northern League for 1964…scaled up many rungs as Jim made the 1965 Orioles roster as a 19 year old…emphasis was learning not performance…paid off with 15-10 record as Orioles took the 1966 WS crown…Jim’s portion was a shut out win…Things were looking good for 1967 when Palmer felt a pinch in his shoulder…suffered indignities or being benched and demoted to AAA to be shelled (fun fact has AAA level career ERA over 12 runs per game) …repeated in 1968…So low that he was put on waivers and left available in expansion draft…no takers…carried on nevertheless…responded with 16-4 record….an amazing comeback…Starting in 1970 proceeds to win 20 games or more for 8 of 9 subsequent  seasons… the winningest pitcher of the decade despite a hard luck 7-12 record in 1974….in that stretch 3 Cy Young Awards…at age 30 started a 3 season run of most innings pitched…starting 1979 took a more secondary starter role but was still able to shine with 16-10 and 15-5 records in 1980 and 1982 respectively…limited work and 5-4 record in 1983 was offset by his last World Series win made in relief…that feat gave him one WS for 3 decades another record....went winless at the start of 1984…at age 45 attended Baltimore’s spring training…hamstring injury shut down his long shot comeback…In broadcasting and commercial endorsement namely Jockey Underwear…can sport 3 WS championship rings….HOF first ballot.

#285 Gaylord Perry

A mound craftsman and crafty character….HOF shrouded in the spitballer label….reporters went so far as to ask his 5 year old daughter if he threw a greaseball, without hesitation replies “it’s a hard slider”….The fun started in 1966 after an extensive development running four years….That year established as a starter went 21-8….then taking the win in 15, 16, 19, 23 contests in four seasons….the later being good for 2^nd in 1970 NL Cy Young….maybe felt a twinge of jealousy as brother Jim took the AL Cy Young with 25 victories….1971 his last SF year won 16 games....through his SF years the better his ERAs was the smaller his win total…That all changed after trade to Cleveland for 1972….proceeded to set the baseball world on its ear with 24 wins and the AL Cy Young award….Equally incredible was the record in light how bad Cleveland was at the time….A massive steal for Indians and Giant sunk quickly....Mystified AL audiences as to where he was hiding his grease…Neighbor of mine swore gunk was hidden in Craig Nettles shoe….had OK follow up in 73 with a 19-19 accompanied by a 3.44 ERA…note Nettles was gone….must of got someone to take the Nettle’s role in 74 when he reached 20 games for the fourth time….However ran into conflicts with new manager Frank Robinson in 1975….Traded to Texas…had good years but not the heights reached with Giants and Indians….a trade to San Diego another steal....Gaylord's last great season in an impressive career….at age 39, went 21-6 and took the 1978 NL Cy Young….Career thereafter was a continuation of a workhorse load but wins became more elusive….traveled often SD, Texas, NYY, Seattle, and KC were his homesteads….won 300^th game 1982 in a Mariners uniform….one of the most dominant pitchers to have played for both leagues….he and brother Jim are second in the all time win list by siblings to Joe and Phil Niekro.

#327 Steve Stone

An interesting man on three levels....Somewhat of a renaissance man, well educated and articulate, a poet.....Post baseball career a longer White Sox colorman....As a baseball player on its own one milestone standout....A long career in broadcasting and ne season in a otherwise up and down career with wider range between the points than most of his like peers....so good in 1980 racking up 25 wins and the AL Cy Young.....lows: was the immediate career ending injury and loss of effectiveness....rookie debut 1971 San Francisco Giants....not fully ingrained with the rotation....traded to White Sox for 1973 with lesser results....took cross town flight to Cubs 1973-6 with mixed results... a two time free agent first was the reacquisition by the pale sox brought his first 15 game win season in 1977...lower ERA in 1978 but won 3 less games victim of the Sox being bled white offensively....Second free agency landed Stone in Baltimore....OK at 11-7 as a fourth starter in 1979 but blossomed into a force 1980....25-7 record, best in AL with a Cy Young award on top...in a Faustian twist, an encore never materialized....developed arm trouble and never got untracked....retired from playing after 1981....A winning career line at 107-93 W-L, minus 1980 it would have been 82-86.  

#330 Jim Hunter

Known to all as “Catfish” because a myth made up by huckster owner Charlie O Finley....Hall of Famer a study in contrasts...Career spent with two clubs enshrouded in controversy....Joined the KC Athletics out of high school never played a day in the bush leagues....instantly pressed into rotation....wins were periodic as KC/Oakland collected prospects and Catfish was on a prolonged mend  from a teenage hunting accident to his foot....gave a glimpse of future dominance with a perfect game against Twins in 1968....Win totals doesn’t hit overdrive until 1970 logging 18....Joins the 20 win club in 1971 aiding himself with .350 BA....repeats 21 wins two more times ...Takes AL Cy Young with 25 wins as the A’s become three peat World Champs 1974....Bid farewell to the bay area as Hunter and the Players Union declared that Charlie O defaulted on Catfish’ two year contract by failing to pay promised insurance annuities....declared agent and wooed by nearly all teams....Donned Yankee pinstripes for 1975 by virtue of persuasion of the ex KC  then Yankee scout who got Catfish to sign as a teenager....The move spelled the end of A’s rule of baseball, next season many would follow by letting their contracts run out....Hunter took to NYY like a catfish to bayou water winning 23 games...No 2 in Cy Young voting....helped Yankees to WS in 1976 with 17 wins....contributed for two more years with a handful of wins as he lost out in the numbers game with new imported free agent arms....struggled thru a 2-9 record in 1979 which finished out his career at age of 33....In post season went 7-2 for Oakland,  2-4 with NYY....five consecutive year run of 20+ win seasons....sadly died from  complication of ALS at age 53.

#410 Ferguson Jenkins

Overpowering, workhorse Canadian….6 straight seasons of 20 game wins on the North side…easy ticket to the Hall of Fame….trade from Phillies may have the Cub’s best trade ever at a time when Chicago was famous for getting taken in the Lou Brock deal….has a 6’5” frame.... could also hit for power…13 home runs and twice was summoned to the plate in the DH era….NL Cy Young winner 1971 although award was somewhat overshadowed by the Vida Blue/Mickey Lolich duel for AL honors….many years Fergie surrendered league highs in home runs, but his  few walks minimizes the damage….if teamed with Sam McDowell could have been the intimidating stare down staff ever….20  game win streak busted by a subpar 1973, prompting a trade to Texas….new digs paid huge dividends…career high 25 wins…instrumental in the Ranger’s ascension from baseball worst team to 2^nd in the AL west in one years….one more year in the Lone Star State and then moved on to Boston….Stationed on the east coast his two stint could best be described as pedestrian… 1978:  strong in a second return to Texas by going 18-8….continued winning for another year and .500 record in the next…took a second return to Cubs where he had so much previous success for last three years ending in 1983….favorite story:  picked up a hitchhiker in route to Texas Spring Training so he wouldn’t drive alone….unfortunately there is no post season story whatsoever in Fergie’s storied career….awesome combo control and power resulting in an outstanding walk to strikeout ratio.

#420 Steve Carlton

Steve has no in action card but took his game to the next level in 1971….won 20 games for the first time a feat that would be repeated five more times….became a  Phillie for 1972…his first season there was legendary, one of most significant seasons ever....maybe the best  W-L record for a team in the standings basement….30 wins could have been in reach if not for early season shutdown and inept Phillie offense… Topps recognized the trade in card #751…despite 1971 and the historic 1972, the years of 1970 and 1973 were subpar….his real prime took place from years 1976 to 1982 when he was age 32 to 38….not done yet had a 13-7 record at age 40…. illustrious Phillie career with 241 wins….even 1-8 record in 1985, Steve had a better ERA than 1971....afterwards was rough....drawback of career was that he stayed in baseball 2-3 seasons too long, struggling in most outings….bounced along to SF, MN, CHISOX, and CLE….aloof and evasive with fame….best descriptor of his pitching style was from batterymate and caddy Tim McCraver…. "Carlton does not pitch to the hitter, he pitches through him. The batter hardly exists for Steve. He's playing an elevated game of catch." ….won Cy Young award four times, each time leading the NL in wins….once struck out 19 and lost…HOF all the way.

#445-446 Tom Seaver

Tom, to sum up his career one can use a word not used much anymore; Terrific.....A New York Met icon from the start....Unshaken, triumphed with grace under the scrutiny of the NYC media hyperbole....sometime called the Franchise, or specifically the man who changed a franchise....his list of awards are what most pitchers only can dream of ....ROY of year 1967... Almost invincible on his way to Cy Young in 1969...reclaimed the award in 1973 and then 1975....forte was winning 20+ games a feat which he did five times....the last time, in 1977, was memorable because he was traded to the Reds midseason....trade made national headlines and was mentioned on TV soap operas  (I can't prove this but I remember seeing this on TV).... never was quite as good in the Queen City but did have an outstanding strike shortened season in 1981...most likely would have won 20 had the strike not occurred... interesting times thereafter...injury plagued and ineffective in 1982....Return to Mets in ’83, result a record similar Mickey Lolich’s year in NY 1976....then a two strong season with the White Sox....two games stand out, 10 consecutive strikeouts vs Padres 1970 and pitching 8 1/3 perfect innings against Cubbies...five time strikeout leader, three time ERA....hung cleats up 1986....personable and mild mannered....mandatory admission to HOF with marks 311 wins and 3000 strikeouts....and married to same woman since 1966....named to All star team 12 times which spanned over three decades.

#505 Mike Marshall

An odyssey of a baseball journey wrapped in controversy...high highs, low lows....aloof...don’t ask him for an autograph, once  a friend called him the most difficult signature in the baseball...to others incredibly intelligent and revolutionary pitching philosophy....Start at the beginning, another mid 60’s product of the pitching rich Tigers....Did excellent work for Tigers in rookie season 1967....despite this was sent to minors for 1968...offered up in expansion draft and taken by Seattle....unwisely used as a starter going 3-10....In 1970 plays on 4 teams...Astros and OKC farm club,  traded to Expos for Don Bosch (steal) and works for Expos and their AAA club....pitches well enough for a second season responded with 23 saves and  the primary closer role...For next 3 years embarks on bullpen dominance...14 wins and 1.78 ERA 1972...another 14 wins and 31 saves and #2 in Cy Young voting in 1973...1974 trade to Dodgers enhanced career further by setting an appearance mark of 106 game which still stands and claiming the Cy Young...1975 was far less noteworthy and marked two lost years....Took to free agency and signed Twin 1978 who desperately need bullpen help ....revitalized and reestablished himself as a top reliever for 1978-79.....Most impressive was finishing 84 games in 1979 another MLB mark that stands....Finished up in 1981 with Mets, same year as  Mike Marshall the position player debuted.

#682 Mike McCormick

One last shot in his third return to the bay area….Not to be, never played again in big league ball*….A holdover the Giants days in New York…was a 50K bonus baby….went from high school to Polo grounds in a week…a start of a career of  two ascendancies…Gradually gained effectiveness peaking in 1960 by winning 15 games and ERA crown…After another season of 200+ innings arm troubles developed…Eventually a trade to Baltimore was made and Mike’s fortunes continued to wane even further resulting in a demotion to AAA Rochester…Traded to Washington for a low minor leaguer and cash…In two years with the Nats, Mike reestablishes himself as a starter albeit on bad teams…His return to the bay, Mike wins the Cy Young award in the sans Koufax year of 1967….His record of 22-8 outpitches future Hall of Famers Gaylord Perry and Juan Marichall…. In 1968 and 1969 McCormick returns to a more natural order in rotation as 3^rd or 4^th starter winning 23 games and losing 24…In 1970 Mike starts to show signs of age and his ERA balloons…mid season trade to NY did not change matters around…released by NY, he picked up by KC….Makes a few appearances in May then released in June…Signed for 1972 by Giants…*spent the year splitting time at AAA Phoenix (Giants) and Hawaii (Padres)….both franchises are baseball’s “I still want to play” retirement homes…went 14-9 combined…played one more year in PCL going 8-14...Career figures, 134 wins, 128 loses, 3.73 ERA with no post season play.