#402 Bob Heise

Reserve infielder never holding one position...well traveled with 7 teams over 11 seasons...light hitter in the Duane Kupier mode; one home run in a 1000+ at bats....last name pronounced Hi-see like the kid’s drink......Started with Mets, most of his work came in travels to San Francisco and Milwaukee, ….Did short stints with Cards, Red Sox, Angels and Royals…. at his best was 1972 when he hit in .266 in over 271 at bats…..nearly twenty points better than his career .247 mark....played 2^nd, 3^rd, and shortstop....able to keep a roster spot up to the 1977 season with KC…. after baseball worked in law enforcement…has battled Cancer and Parkinson’s disease.

#414 Bob Miller

Did not have a nickname but it could have been suitcase, vagabond, or traveling man…or threesome (see below)….One of three Bob Millers who played in the late 1950’s early 1960’s….this Bob Miller was the most successful of the group…Played on 10 different teams over 17 years, seven of which occurred over three seasons…it all started with the hometown boy makes Cardinal pitching staff…given up to expansion, landing in the Polo Grounds ....first pick by the infant Mets….rude awakening went 1-12 and 4.89 ERA….maybe found solace via a teammate Bob Gerald Miller….In 1963 was traded to LAD…initially a starter then reliever with good results…275 games later in Dodger Blue spent 2 years in Minnesota 1968-69….started the 3^rd game of ALCS playoff which was odd because he was mostly a reliever and ace Jim Kaat was available….Maybe Billy M or Cal G had money on losing the series….1970 starts in Cleveland, then White Sox, then finishing with crosstown Cubs….1971 is another tri fecta…Cubs, Padres, and Pirates….hidden in the many uniform changes in 1971 was possibly his finest season with a 1.45 ERA….stays with Pirates 1972 and released at the end despite a decent season…again embarks on his third trifecta in 1973…. Padres, Tigers, Mets….one more season with just one team; the Mets in 1974….a long, strange career....passed away in 1993.

#517 Ken Brett

Interesting life despite an up and down baseball career........first off one of four baseball playing brothers, the elder sibling to HOF George.... Started with Red Sox out of high school....pitched two inning in the 1967 regular season....by virtue of a pitching shortage was named to WS roster....took the mound in 8^th inning,  game 4 being youngest pitcher ever to appear in a WS.... a record that still stands...after WS excitement career was derailed by military service, injuries, and being the dog house...trade to Brewers for 1972 had mixed results but provided his regular in starting rotation....Next two years first as a Phillie, then as a Pirate were the best of his career winning 13 in each year....trade also allow him to avoid AL DH rule for Ken maybe was a better hitter than a pitcher... slugged  home runs in 4 consecutive games in 1973 and hit .310 in 1974...31 RBI in those two years... after one more year, 1975 with the Pirates became very well traveled going to Yankees, White Sox, Angels, Dodgers, and finally reuniting with brother George in KC...Funloving, humorous, and bachelor for much of his career

#579 Doyle Alexander

Extraordinarily well traveled….career would tank then he would resurface… In the beginning was a 6 game winner as 1^st year pitcher in Dodger blue…was the top prospect given in exchange in the Frank Robinson deal…Did the most career wise…equaled his win total with the Orioles in a mix of starts and relief…despite a 2.45 ERA (career best) he had a tough time breaking in Baltimore incumbent quartet of 20 game winners….got more starts in 1973 and 12 wins with the departure of Pat Dobson….did not develop as expected in next season and a half…Midseason trade to the Yankees in 1976 was first of four he would have….Experienced first success in Texas with a 17 wins: 1977…after two mediocre follow up seasons found himself in Atlanta, then SF, back to NYY (big time fail)….Resurfaced with Toronto and put back to back 17 win campaigns….Mid season trade to Atlanta resulted in a year’s worth of subpar pitching…While toiling for the Braves 1991 was shipped to Detroit where he enjoyed 9-0 regular season run pushing them in the playoffs....in hindsight the Tigers gave away HOF John Smoltz.…Invincibility was broken in post season by the Twins who shelled him…played two more seasons in Tigertown….Won a total of 194 games in 19 seasons but went 0-5 in playoffs…top salary while playing was 1 million a year…should have made more $ given he pitched well into the free agency age.

#724 AL Rookie Stars

Make that AL East Rookie Pitchers... John Curtis, Mickey Scott, Rich Hinton ....A three player mixed bag…One journeyman starter whose career went into the mid 80’s… Two obscure pitchers who were able to hang on into the later part of the 70’s….All slated to be part of the AL East Division

 Rich Hinton: Tucson native and AU drafted five times from the years 1965 to 1969…. Even though Topps perceived him as rookie 1971 Hinton already had a 3-4 record for the White Sox….The first of three separate occasions the incredibly well traveled (15 transactions) lefty played for the Southsiders….1971 also represented a career high in wins…acquired by Yankees for 72 …. pitched 16 innings for the bombers…but mostly played in AAA and then Texas….then a series of trades too numerous to list interspersed with minor league demotions …Last big club was Seattle in 1979…Finished career 9-17, 4.87 ERA

 John Duffield Curtis…bespectacled, literate fellow…came into 1972 with  2-2 record in Red Sox fall call up…In 1972, After a short time in AAA performance for Rouge Hose was above par, 11-5 a starter replacing hurlers like the aging Ray Culp and Gary Peters in the rotation…The his rookie debut along with Carlton Fisk and resurgence of Luis Tiant accounted largely for the Red Sox contention into the East  pennant race….Raised his win total to 13….plus ranked 4^th in AL shutouts…Traded to the Cards for the next season starting 9 years in the NL….later stops included 3 year stints for Giants, Padres, and Angels….Did not exceed 10 wins in mostly in 5^th or spot starter roles…Did compliment a few bullpen corps  but only had 11 career saves mostly in …finished with 89 wins and 3.97 ERA

 Mikey Scott ….Real name was Ralph Robert … Began pro ball in the Yankee organization as a starter…traded to White Sox for the 1970 season but wound up the season in Baltimore’s AAA Rochester club starting a exclusive relief role…Orioles must liked what they saw and obtained outright for 1971…His career was buoyed by a 9-1 record there and he was called up to the big club in 1972….a situational reliever at best….most active year was 1975 when he made 50 appearances for the Angels working as a mop up man in losing efforts...end of career was 8-7 3.72 ERA.  

Special note:  Just received a copy of the 1971 Complete Handbook of Baseball for a bargin $5 on Ebay...so I'll be mining some information from this source.