The Pale Hose

This team was in the middle of a an 88-season championship drought as this card was issued:

(No Number) -- Chicago White Sox Checklist

It was slightly longer than the celebrated "Curse of the Bambino" that was lifted the year before, but shorter that the one that the other baseball team in Chicago is still enduring. And for all of the celebrated "Crosstown Series" that have been held between the Yankees and their N.L. counterparts over the years, it was old hat to Chicagoans, who hosted the first cross-town Series in 1906, 15 years before the Yanks ever got into the Fall Classic.

And...sorry, Cub fans, the White Sox won that series in 6 games. They were one of the powerhouse teams of the American League's early years, but an association with gamblers in 1919 earned the team a black eye that lasted for years. It would take 40 years before the team was once again competitive, but the Yankees were the powerhouse then and perennially kept them in second. The one year they did beat the Yankees (1959), the Dodgers were ready to deliver a smackdown of their own. By the time the 1970s rolled around, the team was back in their regular doldrums.

The names on the front of this card have a full outfield (Kelly, Jeter, May), Ed Herrmann at catcher, Dick Allen at first, Mike Edwards Andrews at second and Bill Melton at third...but no one at shortstop. So, this card won't show a full "game-ready" lineup. The pitchers are Wood, Bahnsen, Acosta, Forster and Gossage.

Sweet Lou

Here's a guy who was well-known for throwing hissy fits in the dugout after getting called out:

Card #140 -- Lou Piniella, Kansas City Royals

At the time, we should have realized that the top temper tantrum-thrower in baseball was practicing for the time he could direct his anger at the umpires as a manager.

Collectors remember Lou Piniella for having three multi-player rookie cards: in 1964, with the Senators (he actually played with Baltimore for four games that year), in 1968 with the Indians and in 1969 with the Pilots (who traded him to the Royals in the spring). In 1969, Piniella was still carrying "rookie" status despite playing in 1964 and 1968 and was an immediate hit in Kansas City, where he went 4-for-5 the first day they played and ended up winning the Rookie of the Year award. His 1970 Topps card had an All-Star Rookie trophy, which seemed to be odd for collectors who found him on all those "rookie" cards of the past.

Piniella remained in Kansas City through 1973 as one of the team's biggest early stars. He was named to the All-Star team in 1972 and though he wasn't speedy or powerful and didn't draw walks, he was able to hit for a .300 average. After the '73 season, he was traded to the Yankees, where he would become an unmistakeable part of the "Bronx Zoo" during his 11 years as a player there. As a fixture in the outfield or at DH, he was able to contribute to the team's 1976-'81 "dynasty" that saw five division titles, four pennants and two World Series titles.

By the early 1980s, Piniella's playing time was limited as his skills declined, but he was kept on the Yankees as a part-timer who also helped as a veteran presence. In short, he was transitioning to become a coach, and that became permanent once he retired in 1984. Beginning as a hitting coach, Piniella was inserted into the revolving door of managers that George Steinbrenner used, twice being named the team's skipper between 1986 and '88. He also served as the Yankees' GM in the interim.

When he moved over to the Reds in 1990, Piniella led his team to the World Series title. He stayed at the helm there through 1992, and then managed the Mariners from 1993-'02, the Devil Rays from 2003 to '05 and the Cubs from 2006-'10. He was generally successful; the Mariners years were often the most productive in the franchise's history (even tying the all-time record for most wins in 2001). There were six more playoff trips, but no more appearances in the World Series.

The Red Rooster

This player's nickname (as well as his other one, "Rojo") came from his red hair, which isn't really evident on this card:

Card #76 -- Doug Rader, Houston Astros

However, don't let the fact that he looks like he's taking his position at the county fair fool you...Doug Rader was one of the best defensive third basemen at the time. He was the reigning Gold Glove winner at his position, winning the award for five straight years from 1970-'74. His career batting average of .251 makes him look like a one-tool player, but he was unfortunate to play most of his career in the Astrodome. The vast expanses of that stadium killed many player's averages and masked the fact that Rader possessed some power. He hit more than 20 homers three times (and 155 overall) in an era not known for its long balls.

Sadly, Rader's skills were in decline when he finally escaped that cavernous stadium. In 1976, he went to the Padres, who then traded him to Toronto midway through the '77 season. In the spring of '78, the Blue Jays cut him, along with some other veterans who didn't figure in their long-term plans. Rather than try to catch on with a new team, Rader retired.

He became a manager after his playing career was over, beginning in the PCL in 1980. In 1983, he took the reigns of the Texas Rangers. Despite the belief that he was well-suited to lead a winning team, none of his squads were able to stay in contention. He remained at Texas until 1985, was an interim skipper with the White Sox in 1986, and led the Angels from 1989-'91.  

"Mom Always Liked YOU Best!"

Here's a guy who's airbrushed in a Phillies uniform but never played an official game for the team:

Card #454 -- Tom Haller, Philadelphia Phillies

Tom Haller spent 1972 in Detroit, where he served as the catcher on July 14, in the same game where his older brother Bill was the home plate umpire. That's one of those situations where insulting the other guy's mother after a bad call is counterproductive.

Haller -- a former Fighting Illini quarterback -- came up to the Giants in 1961, where he and Ed Bailey platooned behind the plate. The next year, the two helped the team to a World Series that went right to the ninth inning of the seventh game, but they were on the losing end to the Yankees. The platoon continued through 1963, when Bailey was traded and Haller became the undisputed starter. He took the spot behind the plate for four seasons, directing several 20-game winners and a Cy Young award winner (Mike McCormack, 1967). However, the Giants always seemed to come up in second place behind either the Dodgers or Cardinals, so he was made expendable and traded to the Dodgers after the '67 season was over.

The trade was the first made between the Dodgers and Giants since their move to the West Coast a decade earlier. Rather than focus on the fact that the two teams are bitter enemies (enough to see Juan Marichal take a bat to John Roseboro's head once), Haller spent four years behind the plate as the Dodgers' catcher and earned his third straight All-Star berth the first year he spent with the team. After the '71 season, Haller was traded to the Tigers, where he settled in as a backup to Bill Freehan. He spent one year with the Tigers and opted to retire after being traded to the Phillies.

After his retirement, Haller returned to the Giants. He was a coach from 1977-'79, the team's farm director from 1980-'81 and them served as the team's GM through 1985. He was the manager of the Birmingham Barons and then the assistant GM for the White Sox in '86.

Sadly, Tom Haller died in 2004 after suffering from what was called a "long illness."

Waiting...

This guy looks like he's in the middle of nowhere, waiting for something to happen:

Card #106 -- Terry Humphrey, Montreal Expos

Actually, several of the Expos in the 1973 Topps set are pictured in this seemingly remote location. Really, check it out...you can simply scroll down the right side of this page and click on the label for "Montreal Expos" and see. Go ahead, this blog can use the additional traffic.

Terry Humphrey's career lasted from 1971-'79, where he mainly appeared as a backup catcher. He came up with Montreal, where he worked as a #2 catcher behind John Bateman, Tim McCarver, John Boccabella and Barry Foote. By 1975, a new kid named Gary Carter was being converted from the outfield to a backstop, so Humphries was traded to Detroit. However, the Tigers already had their own regular catcher, and Bill Freehan wasn't ready to give it up yet. So, Humphries got traded again when the 1975 season ended; this time, he went to the Astros. Since the Astros had three dependable catchers (Ed Herrmann, Skip Jutze and occasionally Cliff  Johnson), Humphries was sent down to the minors.

Halfway through the 1976 season, Humphries was traded to the California Angels. Andy Etchebarren was their regular catcher, but his age was rapidly catching up with him. Finally, Humphries was able to become an everyday catcher and was "The Man" through 1977. Unfortunately, his age was also beginning to catch up with him. By 1978, Brian Downing was the Angels' regular catcher and Humphries was done in '79.

Speaking of age, his birthday was a couple of days ago...so we wish him a belated happy one.

Movin' On

This player spent 13 years in the majors but never more than two seasons for any team:

Card #425 -- Alex Johnson, Cleveland Indians

As a talented hitter who didn't have similar fielding abilities, the introduction of the designated hitter in 1973 should have helped Alex Johnson. Unfortunately, his surly demeanor and sometimes lackadaisical attitude hastened him to another team even as the 1973 season was beginning.

Johnson first came up to the majors in 1964 with the Phillies, a team that also counted future malcontent Dick Allen. After two years with them, he spent another two in St. Louis and two more with Cincinnati. Two more years followed in California, where Johnson won the 1970 batting title but was involved in incidents throughout '71. A year in Cleveland followed in 1972. Traded to the Rangers during the Spring of '73, he went to the Yankees the next year and the Tigers in 1976.

After a year in Mexico, he returned home to Arkansas, There, he took over his father's truck repair and leasing service.

Makeover, 70s Style

As a young collector, I picked up this guy's 1976 Topps card in a trade with a friend's older brother:

Card #197 -- Ed Goodson, San Francisco Giants

On that card, Ed Goodson looked a lot different than he does here. On that 1976 card, Goodson rocks a righteous perm and is smiling. You can credit the laid-back L.A.atmosphere, but it's an airbrushed photo so he hadn't gone to Southern California yet. Here, he has a scowl and looks like he's taking it personally that he's batting (or that the photographer told him to pose). Really, you can't get much farther on the spectrum of human emotion than these two pictures.

Goodson played with the Giants from 1970 through 1975, when he was traded to Atlanta. He played for te Dodgers in 1976 and '77. In his final plate appearance, he struck out in the World Series. After the Dodgers released him in the Spring of '78, he signed with the Indians but was unable to make the parent club.

After retiring, Goodson returned home to Pulaski, Virginia, where he eventually became a high school baseball coach.