#35 Jerry Johnson #36 Jerry Johnson In Action

Journeyman righthander put together his career year in 1971....won 12 lost 9 with a 2.96 ERA.....all appearances were in relief....18 saves represented a sizeable portion of his MLB total.....Accrued two and half years in the bay area 1971 far and away the best....his longest tenure....otherwise a highly mobile bush league barnstormer.... began  in the Mets organization....as a third baseman but quickly converted to the mound.....drafted by the Phillies and called up after a highly impressive stint for the AAA San Diego Padres in 1968.... five other stops were journeyman worthy at best including a brief foray with the Cards, then aforementioned Giants, one year stops in Cleveland and Houston, two truncated years in San Diego....not to mention momentary time in the minors and Mexican league sprinkled in between.....finished off his MLB vocation with expansion Toronto Blue Jays....undistinguished work other than he won the franchise’s first game....tried his hand at the Senior Baseball league in 1989....notification of passing received  on 11/16/21

#37 Carl Yastrzemski #38 Carl Yastrzemski In Action

Legendry team company man....A Boston institution along with baked beans, Cheers, and Bunker Hill....HOF and career that fully spans 23 years....in the 3000 hit club....one of the most distinctive batting styles of the time arms and bat straight up....stance later modified as time went by to retain bat speed....The heir to the coveted LF position held by Ted Williams...immense shoes to fill at age 21....1961 an immediate replacement without prior MLB call up....decent debut but improved on all categories in 1962...captures his first AL batting crown in his junior year of "63....three more seasons add to Yaz’s career totals but the Red Sox sport a losing record at this point in the 1960's....things were to change with introduction of a young supporting cast started to bloom: AKA Smith, Scott, Conigliaro, Petrocelli, and Lonborg.....Fully supported Yaz steps up his game into the stratosphere sealing his legacy in 1967....a once in a lifetime rarity, the coveted Triple Crown....Red Sox ascent is from 9^th to a WS berth....the Cards take the classic in 7 games but Carl accounts for himself with .400 BA and 3 homers.....1967 year ushers in 4 year stint that supercharges him into superstar....Stats declined for all AL players in 1968 band Yaz is no exception but he defends his batting crown being the only AL regular to keep his BA above .300.....The last superstar year 1970 finds Yaz leading in runs and total bases and narrowly edged out a third straight BA crown....1971-72 are considered unremarkable and substandard years possibly....reestablished an improved production levels in 1973....For next eleven years ending in 1983, leadership, stability, and graceful aging ruled the day....overall hit .277 and twice exceeded 100 RBIs.BA zenith was .301 in 1974....like perennial plant was named to 18 all star games....intimately knew the nooks and dead areas of the Green Monster especially early in his career....parleyed into multiple gold glove award....most impressive was taking the fielding trophy as an outfielder at age 37....about 10^th year in moved to 1^st base occasionally to save on wear and tear....last game was 10/2/83 went one for three to bring his farewell BA to .266 was same as the first .266....left the field to triumphant run about Fenway's field perimeter was stirringly touching .....Well known as “Yaz” but also sported the nickname “Irish” pinned by Minneapolis Miller manager Gene Mauch because he attended Norte Dane University....Grandson is currently is a SF Giant.      

#39 Bob Barton #40 Bob Barton In Action?

Obscure backstop was given his greatest chance to prove himself in 1971....Inside sources stated he was a stopgap until #1 draft pick Mike Ivie was ready.....Product of the University of Kentucky....Started in the SF Giant chain....Marooned at AAA for several year.....once up to the show was mired as third stringer behind Dick Dietz and Jack Hiatt....his move down the California coast to the fledging Padres in 1970 gave him a majority of his MLB playing time....head and shoulder most prolific and substantial season was 1971....hit .250 that year....a pedestrian number but considerably better than the SD team average of .233....starts 1972 with the Friars....traded to Reds on June 11, 1972....understudy to Johnny Bench plus others, Barton put into the ultimate bench riding experience....does not play for the rest of the year....keeps a roster spot in 1973 but only has three games, two at bats of on field activity as a Redleg once he is released on 6/18/73....sits out the rest of the year but is able to resurface with Padres for 1974....stays for the year, sneaking 88 at bats hitting .173....released after the season.....died in 2018....A slight build facially resembling a cross between actors Dick York and John Cazale.  

About the in action:  Bob is a strange selection for the In Action shot card...the image is even stranger....Bob watching a long gone foul ball along stadium security officer?....location most likely Candelstick Park....doesn’t exactly draw ooohs and aaawws in the excitement department.

#41 Tommy Davis #42 Tommy Davis In Action

Always a good bat, sometimes great....A trailblazer in the new innovation of the Designated Hitter rule....Davis' story begins long before the 1973 AL innovation....a single at bat in a Dodger uniform establishes Davis’ debut in the 1950’s after being PCL batting champ 1959....Was able to share either Center or Right Field in 1960....replaced an aging Duke Snider or an injured Don Demeter.....Gains playing time in 1961 setting him for his career year of 1962....the normally offensively Dodgers challenged are led by Davis’ NL leading in runs (230), BA (.347), and RBI (153)....highest RBI total in NL for 47 year period....a personal high of 27 homers may have led critics to perceive him as a power hitter....decent follow up in 1963 whereas he successfully defended the NL batting crown....plus gained his only WS ring....descended along with his  team in season long funk in 1964 as Dodgers faltered in their WS encore to fall below .500....Injured most of 1965 left his career in question....While his BA resurrected to .313 in 1966 his play is held back, take second fiddle to his understudy and late career hero Lou Johnson....Traded to Mets, which begins a 4 year period of team musical chairs....a bizarre era aka a rolling stone traveling to the White Sox, then Seattle Pilots, Astros, A’s, Cubs...paradoxically he was at or near the top player on each squad....added insult released by the Cubs....rumors has it was an orchestrated to allow a 1971 return to the A’s....that year brought an excellent albeit part time .342 BA and season long residential stability....true to Charles Finley form, was released prior to 1972 season (see Mudcat Grant).... sits out half the year....signed by Cubs essentially a pinch hitter then flipped to Orioles who were desperate for a hot bat after the normally reliable and their normally solid batting corps went limp....After season Davis is at an impasse, he is highly limited in the field and looks to be an exclusive pinch hitter....enter the new provision deus ex machina the DH.....allows Davis to return to batting numbers accustomed a decade earlier....extends full time status by three years....Considered the best DH in 1974.....going with new blood for 1976 Orioles release him....but is able to spend that last season with the Angels and Royals....Known to be cool, calm, and sometimes aloof but delivered under pressure....final line is a formidable .294 batting average based on 2,121 hits....probably should have been MVP in 1962 over teammate Maury Wills.....died on April 3, 2022  

#43 Rick Wise #44 Rick Wise In Action

Good pitcher with extra positives.....effective starter, good hitter, and fielder.....But labeled the lesser in a trade with St Louis in a direct swap for Steve Carlton prior to 1972....Performed par or better work for the Cards but Steve turns in a historic season in 1972 and eventually is ushered on to the HOF...but again was engaged in contract negotiations and was the Phillie player representative....a perfect storm to be trade bait....Wise was raised in the Phillies system and was one of the few prospects to make a significant mark with the Big Club at the time.....wunderkind MLB debut at 18, his first win was in a finale of doubleheader coming on the heels of Jim Bunning’s perfect game in 1964.....around 1967 gradually tallied up innings and wins in alternating years, gaining ground as the Phillies staff ace....220 innings were turned into 15 wins in 1969....improved to 17-14 in 1971 over 272 innings....season’s zenith was a no hitter in which he hit two home runs vs Reds, only player to do that ....Wise repeated the twin home run effort on 8/27/71 also the only pitcher to do so....A feat that Ohtani has yet to achieve....1974 St. Louis flips Wise to Bosox....an injury shatters his first AL season but returns like a Phoenix in 1975 with a career high 19 wins....a major contributor to a capture of the AL East crown....Winner of game 3 in ALCS.....rocked in a game 3 loss but bounced back with a 12^th inning relief win in the historic game 6.....Wise stays in Beantown for two more years with solid years but rouge hose are eclipsed by the NY Yankees ...took flight to the second division Cleveland Indians in 1978....leads the league in losses but lowers his ERA from year prior.....bounces back for his last significant season in 1979, taking 15 favorable decisions for the Erie Warriors at age 33.....buoyed by sudden youth takes flight via free agency.....results were highly diminished managing 10 win and 16 losses over mostly two seasons...1982 only pitched in one game for 2 innings....kept getting a paycheck through 1984....Long time coach after playing....Started and won for the NL 1973 All star game....grand totals were 188 victories over 455 starts....sometimes wore glasses.

#45 Glenn Beckert #46 Glenn Beckert In Action

Star 2^nd baseman working his trade on Chicago’s north side...part of a very static infield of mainstays Kessinger and Santo for the latter half of the 60’s and a portion of the 70’s....fast tracked from the short season Northwestern League to AAA to be groomed as the heir apparent to spot left by the tragic death of Ken Hubbs.....debuted in 1965 and held to near everyday status.....hit .239 feeling out the new level of competition.... racked up several near .300 seasons and earned recognition in all star games as the Cubby youth movement jells.....in 1971 Beckert becomes exceptional reaching undiscovered heights hitting a dizzying .342.....career mark good for 3^rd in the circuit....downgrades to a .270 mark the next year but is named to all star team for 4^th time....another lackluster season and the Cubs decide to go on a youth movement....traded to San Diego who were in search for experienced veterans.....very limited returns as Beckert hits .266 in 188 at bats in two years hindered by arthritis.... line drive  contact hitter spraying the ball.....only sprayed the ball over the fence 22 times in 5208 at bats.....in his prime nearly impossible to strike out and had the best SO to AB ratio 5 seasons running....after playing took a non baseball career, getting into futures trading in Chicago....passed away in 2020....About In Action shot.....looks like a on deck swing.

#47 John Ellis #48 John Ellis In Action

Big John....In Cleveland was known as Moose....played with zeal and desire....a happy warrior..... Started in the bigs starting 1970 based on an excellent spring training campaign.....Slated to compete with the legendary Thurmond Munson to backstop vacancy never truly addressed since the departure of Elston Howard ....but Munson's ironman presence as the iconic backstop left Ellis searching for another position....In his career Ellis never really settled in any one position on any team....often split catcher, 1^st base, and later the designated hitter titles...  After being acquired by the Tribe for 1973, put together a solid body of work at the plate establishing the pattern of the more he played the better his yield.....injuries set him back starting in 1975 onward as Ellis moved on to Texas.....lost for most of 1976 putting his sparkling .412 start to naught....wasn’t able to reach 300 at bats until 1979 when he was mostly a DH....was able to hang on a part time basis until 1981, his last season....In the mid-1970s, Ellis joined the Spalding Sporting Goods Advisory Staff and .....In 1987 he founded the Connecticut Sports Foundation Against Cancer....passed away April 7, 2022

#49 Willie Mays #50 Willie Mays In Action

What to say?  GOAT and Say Hey.....Maybe the best of best.....So many milestones past on the way to first ballot HOF.....Last name nearly symbolic with the position of Centerfield.....The marquee name carried along as baseball moved to the west coast circa 1958…. The legend spans over 23 seasons....Plucked from the Birmingham Black Barons.... After a storied slow start in 1951 caught fire enough to earn ROY honors in the Giant’s NL Pennant winning drive.... After a hiatus for military service for the most of two years, Mays comes back with a vengeance and become a icon of NY lore along with Mantle and Duke Snyder...... a Centerfielder roamed  large tracks of the  483 feet from home plate to dead center at New York’s Polo Grounds…..used almost every inch of that distance to catch Vic Wertz drive in the 1954 World Series….iconic moment was considered “the greatest catch” of all time….effectively stonewalled the juggernaut Cleveland Indian into swept away mortals….......The patron saint of the five tool players everywhere.....named to all star games 20 straight times although it could be argued that the last two he was grandfathered in....within that space of time 12 consecutive Gold Gloves....and 2 MVP awards with a multitude of runner up positions in the voting..... Rare was an offensive category that Mays did not take top honors (never led the NL in doubles)....Took or tied for the top spot in 23 out of a possible 276 positive offensive categories while playing ….Was considered the frontrunner to take over Babe Ruth’s HR record but home runs became more rare after 1966...didn’t stop the press from pressing the issues  for several years after.... Even though by the 1971 year his superstar days were well gone was able to lead the NL in on base % and walks in 1971...but had trouble catching up to pitches resulting in career high 123 Ks ....much like Harmon Killebrew.....Would have been a one team player but traded to NY Mets in his twilight days of 1972.....did get his first Met HR against the Giants but Mays remaining skills eroded....Did stay another year and had his last at bat in game 3 of the 1973 Fall Classic.....tallied 660 home runs but amazing struck out very little for such as high total.

#51 Harmon Killebrew #52 Harmon Killebrew In Action

A Minnesota icon.....while not originally from Minnesota nevertheless he  fit perfectly into the state's personality of quiet reserve, politeness, and gentlemanly niceness.... was shy too but came out of shell enough to host a pre game show for a local Twin City television station....franchise player stood head and broad shoulders, the power leader based on 8  40+ home run campaigns starting in the late 50’s...only Babe Ruth had more....reached or exceeded that mark 8 times, 6 times leading the AL circuit....terminus accumulated 573 home runs for a ticket to the HOF...his HR total is presently 12^th best all time....his at bat to HR ratio is 7^th all time (3^rd all time if post PED era players are removed).....Know for mammoth clouts causing Future Home Run Champion Hank Aaron to quip "When I hit a home run its in row 2, 3, or 4.  When Harmon hits a home run you need a telescope to find it!......one home run was the longest ever at Metropolitan Stadium which is currently memorialized by a single stadium chair mounted high on wall at Mall of America......only thing that stopped the Killer was injuries....subpar seasons started in 1972 with his lowest BA as an everyday player....lost for most of 1973 and suffered a steady decline thereafter....released by the Twins and picked up by KC Royals in 1975 alienating faithful Twins fans with management....at age 33 was the 1969 AL MVP with his best career numbers; 49 HR, 149 RBIs, .427 OBP.....Also finished second, third {twice} and fourth in MVP votes....Eleven time all star and mysteriously passed over in 1962 when he led the AL in HRs and runs driven in.....in second half of career numbers were augmented by leading his circuit in walks.....Parlayed his TV show  experience into going into the broadcast booth for Twins, A’s, and Angels.....Harmon died of cancer in 2011....Recent player Jim Thome was often compared to Harmon in style of play and personality.... MLB career almost didn’t happen.... Grew up in Idaho off the road from traditional baseball breeding grounds.....only introduced by an appeal of Idaho’s Senator to Washington’s owner Cal Griffith to give him a look....impressed the franchise.....adding to the Killebrew folklore.....never the less needed five cups of coffee starting in 1954 to become a starter.....good thing for the patience paid off....tallied 573 times going yard.   

#53 Bud Harrelson #54 Bud Harrelson In Action

Cast a wispy shadow but was highly combative...especially when provoked....just ask Pete Rose....Prior to Harrelson the NYM shortstop position was an assortment of well past prime veterans or undistinguished cast offs....Harrelson started out in development during the Mets sophomore year  mid-1963.....a great glove man, any hitting above .240 was pure profit in his stock and trade....was able to snatch all star honors twice.....a nadir of power, notoriously so, went over 1000 at bats between home runs....went yard 7 times in over 5,500 plate appearances.....resume reads two cups of coffee 1965 and 66, taking over full time in 1967.... won the gold glove in 1971.....reached a career high of 42 runs batted in 1970, his runner up number was 32 the following year....Injuries periodically interrupted performance....called up to stay in 1966 despite only hitting .221 in AAA that year....play declined 1974 and beyond eventually becoming a bit player with Phillies and then Texas.....Hit well in limited actions during his brief stays....With his longstanding relationship with Mets, returned to coach and manage in both minor and then with the parent club 1990-91....Sadly has been diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease a few years ago.