#411 Bob Montgomery

A testimonial to the longevity of a reserve…if you are a catcher…a rarity for non starter; one team for his entire career almost perfectly spanning the 1970’s….mostly under the shadow on one Carlton Fisk…sometime Carlton dominated all the playing time 1972, sometimes they formed into an awesome pair like 1973 teaming for 33 home runs and 97 RBIs.... got the #1 position when Carlton got hurt in third and fourth seasons of 1974 and 1975....played sparingly thereafter average 22-23 games and 8 RBIs per season in his remaining four years.

#412 Dick Kelly

An 1969 expansion original still hanging on….short lived however refused assignment to AA ball and was released by the Padres….tough road at times….1970 season consisted of pitching on 1 game 4 innings in AAA ball…Started as a Milwaukee Braves…got call ups in 1964 and 65…pitched very well for AAA Atlanta in the later year…stayed in town as the parent Braves moved south for 1966….responded with most productive season 7-5 record and 3.15 ERA….hung on as a small time bit player….his Padres represented an opportunity to play more….reached personal bests in innings, starts, strikeouts, and lead team in ERA with 3.57….birthing pains of the expansion were evident in a 4-8 record…Finished with 2-3 record out of the bullpen….passed away in 1991.

#413 White Sox Rookie Card

The card shows two short timers….Don Eddy and Dave Lemonds; non descript hurlers that were both done with the majors in 1971 and 1972 respectively…. Eddy never got out of rookie status….had two great minor league seasons to his resume…an 18-3 record in Class A ball 1969…In characteristic White Sox fashion (see Rich Gossage) makes the 1970 White Sox team….returned to minors and a had 1.06 ERA in AAA….prompted another opening day roster in 1971 stayed with the club the first three months … returned to minors and had a 6.84 AAA ERA…. Given this probably didn’t deserve spot on a rookie card…Time with the White Sox decent in a limited role 2.36 ERA…Lemonds' claim to fame is one at bat, one hit 1.000 BA….Dave stayed with the club for duration of 1972…relief initially leading to spot starts....4-7 plus a 2.95 ERA…general assumption is injured in 1973 because he pitched 8 innings total in AAA....failed in comeback 1974 toiling in the White Sox then Cubs farm clubs....in summary minor league body of work was run of the mill…first worked in the Cubs system and was a pitcher of record in 1969.

#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.

#415 Cookie Rojas

Initially a jack of all trades, later the Royal first significant 2^nd baseman... tough to strikeout, excellent fielder and double play pivot man, a do whatever it takes player…Author of a strong  comeback….in 1970 was batting barely over .100 for the St Louis Cardinals….this coming on the heels of two subpar seasons with his longstanding Phillies….a .260 BA for the Sophomore Royals was promising sign….steps up his game with a .300 BA in 1971 as the Royals exceeded expectations….provided KC fans with 3 more strong seasons getting an all star nod in each….production exceeding his Philadelphia years of 1964 to 1967….eventually gave away playing time to prospect Frank White as Cookie was nearing age 40….. started out in the Reds organization was one of the last player out of his native Havana as Fidel Castro threaten to nationalize AAA affiliate Sugar Kings….stayed in baseball as a coach, scout, broadcast booth and manager of three MLB teams for one season each.

#416 Johnny Edwards

14 year veteran who was more proficient in the first third of his career than the remainder….Principle backstop for the Reds team of the early 60’s….good power and fair average augmented with all star berths and Gold Gloves…hit a wall in 1966….lost #1 status, sharing catching duties with Don Pavelich…1968 trade to Cards relegated him to backup to Tim McCarver….time in St. Louis was short lived and was traded to Astros who were cleaning house at catcher….regains bountiful playing time in the Lone Star State and is reestablished as Edwards as first string….considered by some as one the best defensive catchers ever but playing in the relative obscurity of Houston clouds such evaluations….neither hit as well for power or average in Houston when compared to the early years with the Reds….Personal best in a Astro uniform he hit .268 with 5 home runs and 40 RBIs…lost playing time thereafter….out of baseball after 1974....3rd Johnny profiled so far, all catchers.

#417 Tom Hall

"The Blade" for his slender profile….6 foot tall, weighed at 150-160....talented but never established himself as either a full starter or full reliever….in 10 years, only one losing season 1971  his last one with the Twins….finished with a career 52-33 mark buoyed by 10-1 1972…. Started out with the Twins after tearing up the competition in the farm system….good call up 1968 and improvement in the next two successive years with a possible move to full time starter….1971 plans were offset by the Twins bullpen breakdown….after a few starts was pressed into service as bullpen specialist for majority of season….Traded to Reds and their rebound to contenders status….excellent 10-1 record….outstanding post season to boot....Played two more full seasons in the Queen city…. Career path eventually led to NYM and KC in undistinguished seasons….left the game in 1977

#418 Tom Shopay

Diminutive reserve  mostly for the Orange birds….known for good speed usually asked to pinch run…..MLB time spanned 1967 to 1977….Started out with the Yankees...Impressive call up 19667 hitting .296 and slugging 2 of his 3 career home runs.... For the most part a AAA minor league farm hand….at that level a capable hitter finishing pro ball time in 1978 with .284 BA….Career MLB BA was a modest .201….Most at bats in major league season was 74 in 1971….got in five games and four at bats in that year’s world series…went hitless but in proportion to regular season work it did represent a huge increase in playing time…seamheads.com sums his career up best:  Tom the pleasure and the misfortune to play for either veteran or very good major league teams during his career. It allowed him to have some great teammates and experience a winning environment, but it also invariably meant that he never got much of an opportunity to establish himself as an everyday player.

#419 Jim Spencer

Good glove man…at the bat his career .250 BA was indicative of good to fair offensive skills…sometimes an up and down career...started in Angels system….an organization who was not known for its hitting….1969 part timer in rookie season, worked his way to starter in 1970 highlighted by a .278 BA…suffered a decline in BA the next two years (although he hit a then career 18 home runs in 1971)…appear on his way to his third downer when a trade to Texas rejuvenated his batting stroke….was familiar with the Texas Stadium confines from his Texas League days...regained better power numbers in a two year White Sox stint during 1976-77…. Spent 1978 with NYY but struggled…In an exceptional rebound in 1979 had career bests in home runs and batting hitting 23 and .288 respectively in a DH platoon gig ...had best slugging AVG and home run per at bat on the team which included Reggie Jackson…playing and number diminished thereafter….if Jim played enough in a season he was a top contender for a Gold Glove which he won twice….passed away in 2002.

#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.