#81 Mike Hedlund

Texas native known for flaming red hair....along with freckled skin ....a Cleveland prospect initially....lead the Eastern League in losses in 1968 obscured his 2.30 ERA....also topped the circuit in strikeouts....picked by KC in expansion draft....in a mixed role the Rookie stayed with the big club all season....sported in 3-6 record....a poor start for KC in 1970 demoted Mike to AAA Omaha....downfall may have been the resulted contracting Hong Kong flu while playing winter ball in Venus....healthier and buoyed by a strong bullpen resulted in a career year in 1971....assisted the overachieving Royal to second place in AL with 15 wins....Fourth best ERA too....could not follow up in 1972 and Royals faltered accordingly.....registered 5 wins while losing 7 with surrendering more than two more runs in a game....turned out to be last MLB year....returned to Cleveland for 1973....remained in AAA....flipped to White Sox for 1974 faring no better....trade to Reds resulted in his retirement from baseball...hobbies were hunting, fishing, and automobiles.  

#159 John Boccabella

1^st year Expo backstop....Of Italian heritage from the San Francisco bay area.... defensive specialist,  whose value was more invested by intangibles such his handling of pitcher, clubhouse leadership, and strong team ethic rather batting box herorics....came up in Cubs organization...could put up strong minor league power numbers and show promise with some late season call ups but by in large could not gain significant playing time in  Chicagoland....did get brief  shot to replace Ernie Banks at 1st base but languished at .228 BA in 1966....left in minor league limbo until taken very late in the expansion draft by Expos....played sparingly in Montreal but stayed with the big club 1969....hit .105 (combined with his previous year with the Cubs went 10 for 100 at bats)....was able to raise BA to .269 in 1970 a personal best....next three Expo accumulates more playing time but BA lands in a lackluster .230 range....still was Expos #1 catcher in 1973 a year they flirted with NL East crown reaching personal heights in home runs (7) and RBIs (46) ....with the promising Barry Foote and Gary Carter in the wings Boccabella is traded to hometown San Francisco for 1974....ware and tear of catching seems to have caught with him and hit a meager .135....release after the season.....was known more unique last name and Expo PA Announcer’s extended pronunciation than baseball talents.... clean living chap.

#205 Dick Drago

Expansion workhorse....took his bumps with losing records as a starter aside from an excellent 17-11 record in 1971....nevertheless was usually ranked one or two in Royal victories until 1973....1974 found himself in Boston, going 50-50 on starts or relief....moved up to top bullpen specialist in AL championship year....oddly traded to Angels for 1976 (rumored to be a late payment for player to be named later for the early 1975 acquisition of Denny Doyle)....Drago spends a year and change with the Angels, then spends remainder of 1977 with Orioles....Is reunited with Red Sox 1978 pitches well for 3 years....offering support in the wake of the downfall of Bill Campbell.....sent to Mariners for 1982 with lesser results and the end of his career....had confrontations with the law after retirement.

#246 Tom Burgmeier

Lefthander from Central Minnesota quietly played for 17 years….sometimes as the closer sometimes in middle relief….worked his way up the Angel’s chain and got a September call up 1968….gets regular work via the expansion draft and first edition of the Kansas City Royals…his servitude to the Royals is mixed….one half of an excellent duo with Ted Abernathy….accounted for 17 of the team’s 44 saves to go along with a 1.74 ERA…posted a 6-2 record in 1972 with a decidedly inflated ERA….spent most of 1973 in minors….floundering was acquired by his home state team the Twin….regained regular MLB work….once again paired up with another reliever (this time Bill Campbell) made for a formidable tandem going 25-6….took to free agency for the Red Sox.. seemed to have an ability to win games (including a 7-0 and 3-0 marks) and known as a good fielder.

#276 Gene Mauch

 Stymied Manager…greek tragedy saga….two foiled, highly, documented endings snatched defeat from jaws of a World Series berth….nevertheless interesting and long career….as a player appeared in 9 separate campaigns from 1944 to 1957 strictly as a reserve….odd fact most used and had best production in last season….First taste on the helm one season 1953 was Atlanta Crackers player-manager…Started managerial life 1958 with Minneapolis Millers…Success led Millers to Little World Series again Havana Sugar Kings in series that defies description…The Millers lost but more aptly surrendered to baseball crazed revolutionaries…graduated to be the Phillies leader….rough going lost 107 games in 2^nd season 1961 his worst win %…significant turnaround in 1962 edging a winning record at 81-80 and 34 game improvement…team continued to improve and led the NL most of the 1964…then the infamous breakdown, losing out to Cards for the pennant….subsequent Phillie teams had winning records but could not break the NL top stop…shown the door mid 1968 (given the W-L records of future teams it may have been for the best….Moved on to the newly minted Montreal Expos…typical of first year team terrible at 52-110…vowed improvement  and 1970 the Spo’s won 73…trouble was Montreal would not reach 80 wins in the rest of Gene’s time there…let go after 1975…Took the reins at Minnesota in return to the Twin Cities…was able have two winning seasons but no AL west crown…remaining three years the Twins were crippled by free agent losses and bad front office practices…Ushered out in 1981….resurfaced to manage in his native California for the Angels…resume sported two playoff appearances both close but losing effort…particularly heartbreaking he and the Halos were one strike from WS berth in 1986…only to spoiled by obscure outfielder Dave Henderson…In shadow of the upsetting events the Angels were not the same in 1987…Gene was let go after a 75-87 season… passed away 2005.   

#332 Buck Martinez

A KC original...career extended to 17 seasons exceeding his 1969 expansionist teammates of Lou Pinella and Tom Burgmeier by two years and all the rest by a wide margin ...incredible longevity given he only shared catching duties at best and was a less than stellar hitter with a .225 BA....a testimony to the value of the Catcher position...not an expansion pick however rather traded to Royals by Astros....was #2 backstop for KC as a 20 year old rookie....Had trouble getting back to big club for entire campaigns until 1974 (8 hits in 55 at bats 1970-71, bypassed altogether relegated to minors 1972)....Took his reserve value to Milwaukee for three years, then Toronto for another six....played the outfield one game, DH for two, and pitched once....All other work in the field was as backstop.

#349 Al Fitzmorris

A KC original....1968 expansion draftee from the White Sox system....spent most of Royal’s initial year at AAA Omaha negotiating a considerable from Single A the year before....made opening day roster 1970....hung around for several years neither establishing himself as a starter nor reliever....took a demotion to AAA in 1973....it appeared to help however...came back with a new focus and established himself in the rotation...won 8 in the second half of 1973, then 12 in 1974...  #2 in Royals wins with 16 circa 1975....followed up with 15 victories next year the KC wins AL West....all this time as a starter however he butted heads with both Jack McKeon and Whitey Herzog....this was evident as Al was omitted from ALCS....to add insult to injury was exposed to the expansion and picked up by Toronto....immediately flipped to Cleveland....the tumultuous episode appeared to effect his play and was never the same....a very mediocre 6-10 record with a inflated ERA.....last season was 1978 with sparse work shared between Indians and Angels....was position player when started playing professional ball, as a result hit a respectable .242 at the plate.

#405 Ron Fairly

Be fair in an overview; a Canadian fixture and a veteran influence on both their fledgling teams...a talented hitter with good consistency....Started as Dodger fixture 1960’s...his offensive status enhanced by the team philosophy of pitch definitely, hit maybe....drove in six of L.A.’s 21 runs in the pitching heavy 1965 World Series....with the departure of Sandy K went into offensive funk for t he rest of his L.A. days....One theory, the Dodger infield grass was longer to slow up ground ball, problem was the home team lived or died via the line drive... Trade to Montreal allowed a new start and rejuvenation...Hit well despite cold northern air....Veteran presence and consistent home run and RBI numbers....was tops in many offensive categories along with Rusty Staub or Bob Bailey....With Staub’s departure takes over team hitting honors 1972...Road eventually led to St. Louis and late season acquisition to Oakland 1976... Trade to Toronto starts his second go round with a Canada expansion team...put up numbers that rival his best Dodger or Expo days....first Blue Jay all star rep....his last season 1978 finishes back in So Cal with the Angels....21 seasons in all

#455 Tommy Harper

Tough to figure out...very, very good at times, sometimes a disappointment....always changing....Small and light, sometimes speed was his game, sometimes power....was an original Seattle Pilot and swiped a league leading 73 bases....double his career SB mark to that time and very surprising in that he had only 11 for the Indians the year before....instantly changed next year to the Milwaukee Brewer’s first power threat, crushing 31 home runs, a season that is still talked about today with local...that year also maintained some of that 1969 speed with 37 stolen bases and a career best .287 BA....Spent first five full season with Reds starting 1963...Led NL in runs 1965 to compliment his 18 home runs....a trade to Boston for 1972 put him in the leadoff spot for two years...responded with second best season with 17, 71, and .281 numbers....was AL stolen base king for franchise not known for speed....a 44 point decline in BA in 1974 dropped his stock and trade....stole bases by wits rather than speed in later year...sold off to take detours to California, Oakland, and return to Boston in his last year and half...mostly an outfielder but dabbled with 2nd and 3rd base.

#473 Dan McGinn

All around athlete from Nebraska...excelled at football in high school...trade was Quarterback and punter, fought  over by home state Nebraska and Norte Dame.....Golden Domers won out but could not break starting line up.....also dabbled in baseball.... MLB employment came with expansion via Reds farm system...The left hander was invaluable during the Expo’s first year...was second in NL pitching appearances....was very impressive  at start of season  at the bat...hit the first Expos home run ever against Tom Seaver while he was the first Expo reliever ever...got the game winning hit in the Expos first home game and his first  career win...finished season with 3.96 ERA which was below team average...Returned for 1970 but lost effectiveness...finished with 7-10, record same as 1969, and a ballooned ERA...experiment with starting failed....1971 showed no improvement and lost playing time and had a stint in minors....Traded to the Chicago Cubs prior to 1972....found work but was winless in five decisions with ERA still near 6 runs a game....played one more year in the minors before retiring.

#479 Don Shaw

1971 was his career year 7-2 win loss and 2.65 ERA....otherwise an inconsistent reliever for 5 seasons.... started in Mets organization who drafted him 35^th in 1965....Never pitching regularly anywhere....wormed his way  to the 1967 Mets and held his own with a  2.98 ERA in 40 games....spent most of  1968 in minors, but only gave up one run in 12 innings for the Mets....offered up in expansion draft and picked by Montreal...Splitting time between minors and Montreal in inaugural year..... Played 1970 in the minors but what was noteable in that he was sold to Cards chain mid season...1971 see above.... 1972 poor start prompted a trade to Oakland..... one of the assembly of 47 players who played for the 1972 A’s....was roughed up there also and wasn’t on playoff roster however.

#504 Ed Spiezio

third baseman...beneficiary of expansion for a few years anyway.... from Joilet Illinois, Ed climbed up the Cardinal chain....assets were quick hands, positive attitude, strong work ethic, and some pop in his bat....got a call up from 1964.... Able to get a share of WS money that year...but never really caught on; the opportunity to replace an aging Ken Boyer was given to converted outfielder Mike Shannon...mostly rode the bench in 1967-68.....trade to expansion Padres gave him playing time...As a Padre hit .235 with 13 home runs first year out....On opening night had the first Padre hit and run with a solo home run....had his career year in 1970 hitting a healthy .285 and considerable improvement at OPS and slugging....regressed in 1971 between injuries and conflicts with the front office resulted in drop in power, playing time, and BA...woes continued into 1972 and was traded to White Sox to replace an injured Bill Melton...hit .238 which turned out be his career average....released in the post season....Son Scott exceeded his father baseball exploits,  playing for 12 years and on two World Series championship teams.

#769 Jack Aker Bonus Post ...or late depending on your view

In doing this blog I realize I make quite a few mistakes...writing style changes, editing, spelling errors...sometimes readers let me know ....in looking over old files I realized I had missed a card a while back...so sorry Jack...

#769 Jack Aker  The 1971 Yankee Team Co-Leader in Saves with….(4)Four.  That’s right two players, Aker and Lindsay McDaniel each had four saves each to lead the team....As a team the Yankees had 12 saves in 1971….Worst in the league and since the 1962 Mets but it wasn’t all that unusual saves were much more rare in the 60’s….That all changed next year with the Yankees early season trade for Sparky Lyle arguably the man who changed relief pitching to what it is today.... Aker’s 1971 was strange in that it looks statistically similar to the two preceding season in NY but the saves were few and far between….Started in KC A’s organization ….Best year was in 1966 and was fireman of the year….after two medicore seasons ended up as an original Seattle Pilot...was hammered hard early on but reestablished effectiveness upon arrival with Yankees....After NY ended up with the Cubs for the 1972…regained status as a closer with 17 saves....lost effectiveness  in 1973 as the Chicago northsiders started to age...finished out career in 1974 with short stints on Braves and Mets teams.

#532 Fred Kendall

Played for San Diego for 10 of the franchise’s first 12 years....first two years were in the team’s equally fledgling farm system...worked his way up from being a call up to regular in team’s first five year...hit his pinnacle in 1973 with 10 home runs, 59 RBI’s, and .282 BA....all career bests....followed up with a 8 HRs and 45 RBIs 1974....1975 was a lost year with no home runs and .199 BA....despite a modest come back in 1976 took his tools of ignorance to the AL for two years one in Cleveland then Boston... returned to Padres for two more season ending in 1980.... More successful was son Jason Kendall,  who was a 3 time all star at catcher.

#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. 

#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.

#569 Ed Kirkpatrick- #570 In Action - Ed Kirkpatrick

AKA “Spanky”…. Some ball players start as catcher and go to another position, a far fewer return to catcher…free agent signing at 17 by L.A. Angels….was youngest player in AL 1962 making 6 at bats…Put up impressive minor league numbers especially during 1963 when he was 18….turned it up when promoted to AAA hit .350 in a third of a season…never got a fair shake in LA and performance suffered….shuffled several years back and forth big club and minors….was able stay in Anaheim for 1966 but hit .197….improved a bit while avoiding the minors in1968….by them Halos surrendered him trade to the fledgling KC Royals….bulk of career was spent in KC, sometimes showing good power but inconsistent BA hounded him….1969 had his most balanced season while taking over an outfield spot…. Hit 14 home runs and had a career best slugging average….played every position except pitcher…As the Royal acquired Amos Otis, was bumped to Catcher for the years 1970 to 1972…Tired of defensive liability, Ed returns to the outfield for his last year as a Royal….Ed is traded to KC east, Pittsburgh for 1974…turns to infield-outfield utilityman or pinch hitter for work…Spent his last year 1977 with three clubs, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, and Texas….played at California AAA Salt Lake City club in 1978….passed away at age 66 in 2010.

#571 Nate Colbert #572 In Action - Nate Colbert

First and still is considered one of the Padre’s true sluggers…led team in home runs for first five years…while wearing the signature yellow and brown uniform, Nate’s slugged 38 home runs twice in his career which remain at #5-6 on the Padre all time list…..Never could fully break through Houston farm system despite being the Texas League home run champ in 1967…offered up the expansion draft…Turned out to be San Diego’s most significant expansion draft pick and relatively consistent player…. Three time all star starting in 1971-73…but not their first all star…still hold franchise record for most home runs with 163 a mark no where near to overtaken by a small market club…suffered a downfall in 1974 as ex nemesis Willie McCovey took over first…hit a sub par .207 and 14 home runs….spent some time in the outfield to get playing time, a very difficult transition…continued to decline after a 1975 trade to Detroit failing to get untracked as a Nate jumped from a 100 loss club to a 100 loss club…Montreal was his last real stop in 1976….Career highlight was hitting  5 home runs and driving in 13 runs in a double header in Atlanta August 1^st, 1972...still highly associated with San Diego.

#582 Expos Team

One of the expansionist visions of 1969 comes to life as Baseball moved to Canada….a bit of a rocky road for franchise had stadium trouble a throughout its existence in Montreal….Played in converted municipal ballpark, Jarry Field…A no frills facility that held 26 K seats… Achievements as of 1971:  The Expos were able to lift themselves from the basement of NL East despite losing two more games than 1970….problem with the season was 3-19 record in home games from June 11^th to July 24^th….One call of the franchise was to build a domed stadium…It occurred in 1977 but Olympic stadium was poorly suited for baseball and never very popular….The 37 years in Montreal was highlighted with one playoff appearance in 1981….Lost in deciding game 5 to Rick Monday’s home run….Montreal subsequently fielded good teams with 9 teams going over .500 in next 12 seasons…Arguable that 1994 team was the best baseball but the player Lock out nixed the playoff…In the 11 years that followed Montreal never had another winning record….Not making a profit, they moved to Washington for 2005….First season the Nationals were able to break even going 81-81….after multiple losing seasons the Nats finally were able to return to League division series in 2012 and 2014…First star and dominant stats leading of 1971:  Rusty Staub…Some pitching records still stand…Carl Morton’s hits surrended is still tops…his 18 wins is 8^th best in franchise history…Bill Stoneman’s 5 shutouts is a franchise best with four others…Note able players in the Expos uniform were, Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, Tim Raines, Tim Wallach, and Steve Rogers.

#584 Jerry McNertney

Claim to fame is that he was the #1 backstop for Seattle Pilots….First opening day starter for newly minted Milwaukee Brewers….Prior to Seattle/Milwaukee connection was a backup for the White Sox….drove in 55 runs in Seattle… Hit the same for the Brewers but lost playing time to Phil Roof….best year for average was while he was with St. Louis in 1971 with a .289 clip….Could not repeat in 1972 dropped to a .208….finish out career with handful of AB with Pirates in 1973…..Baseball Reference site is sponsored by Pat Kaduk who says “Jerry...thanks for four great seasons with the White Sox! Your piercing blue eyes lit up Comiskey Park on many of my favorite summer nights"….OK too much information Pat!