Look...Up in the Sky!

It's hard to tell for sure, but I'm guessing the picture on this card is another airbrush job:

Card #622 -- Larry Hisle, Minnesota Twins

In fact, I'm pretty certain of it. Larry Hisle spent the entire 1972 season in the minors and was traded to the Twins well after the season had ended. He had last come up with the Phillies in 1971, and had gone from Philadelphia to the Dodgers and then the Cardinals in the meantime. However, he was an excellent hitter in the minors, never hitting below .300. It was only a matter of time before he found a team that could use him.

He found that home in Minnesota. Showing his unique blend of power, speed and a patient bating eye, he was a threat...even if few noticed it at the time because of his small-market team. By 1977, he was named to his first All-Star team and led the league in RBIs. However, he decided to test the free-agent market and went to Milwaukee the next year. After a promisng first season with the Brewers that saw him drive in 115 runs and make another All-Star team, he tore a rotator cuff early in '79 and wasn't the same player after that. He was limited mainly to a part-time DH from then until 1982.

After he retired, Hisle became a hitting coach. During his tenure with teh Blue Jays, he was part of two World Championship teams and helped his batters John Olerud, Paul Molitor and Roberto Alomar finish 1-2-3 as the league's best batters in 1993.

Waiting For the Ruling...

This is a great game-action shot. Darrell Chaney has slid into third home, with the ball arriving at the same time and the tag applied. As the umpire prepares to make his call (and since his hand looks like it's making a fist, I'm willing to bet Chaney isn't going to like it), you can see the hopeful look that he's giving, hoping the umpire didn't see the tag applied:

Card #507 -- Darrel Chaney, Cincinnati Reds

Chaney had come up with the Reds in 1969 and was mostly used as a backup for Dave Concepcion at short. He stayed around long enough to get a World Series ring in 1975, and then was traded to Atlanta. Since Concepcion wasn't going anywhere, Chaney was given a chance to become an everyday player with the Braves, and he responded by posting the best year of his career.

Unfortunately, he wasn't able to hold on to the job for long. Another one of the many prototypical good-glove/no-bat middle infielders of his era, he eventually lost out among competition from two younger players and was released in 1979. After his playing days, he was an announcer on TV and radio for the Braves.

A Moment of Levity

Candid shots are cool. Pictures that show the way players seem to be enjoying themselves before focusing on the game situation are cool. The ivy covering the Wrigley walls is cool. Here's a picture that shows all three:

Card #440 -- Glenn Beckert, Chicago Cubs

The catcher is Duke Sims, before he was traded away from the Dodgers. Since he only played in Wrigley for two games that season, this photo was taken either June 5 or 6, 1972. 1972 was the last of four straight years Beckert was named to the All-Star team, so at the time of this photo, he had every reason to be happy...at least until that umpire makes a questionable call.

Beckert's time in Chicago was predicated by a tragedy. When Ken Hubbs was killed in a plane crash in 1964, Beckert's minor league development was sped up. He finally came up in 1965 and was quickly made into the Cubs' starting second baseman. In all, he spent nine seasons at that position for the Cubs. He was a decent hitter and a very tough player to strike out. In fact, he led the league for the fewest strikeouts five times and was in the top three every year between 1966 and '72.

1973 would be his last season in Chicago. When Topps issued Beckert's card in 1974, he was still wearing his (non-airbrushed) Cubs uniform, but was one of the players who were available as either San Diego Padres or Washington N.L. He became a utility player for San Diego, hanging it up when he was released early in the '75 season.

After his playing days, he became a commodities trader. He's still well-regarded by the Wrigley faithful.

A Dune Buggy...

Despite his exploits as a reliever, Danny Frisella will probably be remembered for an unfortunate accident that ended his life:

Card #432 -- Dan Frisella, Atlanta Braves

The photo on this card was obviously picked for maximum effect, as Topps didn't have a picture of Frisella in a Braves uniform. He had been traded by the Mets (where he had played his entire career) after the 1972 season. However, the low-angle shot obscured his hat to the point an airbrush artist would not be needed to "correct" the logo or even the cap color.

Frisella had come up with the Mets in 1967 but struggled as a starter and spot reliever. In 1969, he would spend most of the season in the minors and missed the team's miraculous Series win that year. In 1970, he finally earned a spot in the bullpen. After spending two seasons with the Braves, he pitched for the Padres in '75 and split '76 between St. Louis and Milwaukee.

On New Year's Day 1977, Frisella was driving a dune buggy on a county road outside Phoenix. He lost control of the vehicle and it turned over. The accident killed him. He was only 30 years old, leaving a wife and 3-year old son.

A Missing Trophy

Wherever he went, his teams were often in contention. In fact, his final three years ended with trips to the World Series with three different teams:

Card # 384 -- Don Baylor, Baltimore Orioles

Here's Don Baylor taking a cut at the plate. Since he's wearing a home uniform, I'm going to guess he's at the old Memorial Stadium in Baltimore rather than at Spring Training.

1972 was Baylor's first full season in the majors, and he was named as a member of the '72 Topps All-Star team. It even says so on the back of this card. However, Topps never bothered to put a trophy on the front.

He became known as a person who got plunked a lot. When he was playing, he was given the credit as teh player who had the highest all-time hit by pitches mark (despite the fact that two 19th century players had more; some statisticians like to point out that the game was "different" then and use that to discount most pre-1900 records except for Cy Young's wins). Craig Biggio eventually passed his mark in 2006. Baylor led his league in the category eight times.

We was also named the A.L. MVP in 1979 after leading the California Angels to the first postseason series in franchise history. He came to the Angels as a free agent in 1977 after spending '76 in Oakland (he was one of the players traded there for Reggie Jackson). He would remain with the Angels through 1982 and another ALCS before becoming a free agent again. This time, he landed with the New York Yankees, a team that was loaded with talent but didn't seem to know how to stay in contention once September rolled around. That wasn't Baylor's fault -- he would hit over .300 for the only time in his career that first year in pinstripes -- but those weren't great years to be a Yankees fan.
In 1986, he was traded to Boston and finally managed to get into a World Series. He went one groundball to Bill Buckner away from a ring, but got another chance the next year when Boston traded him to Minnesota during their late-season stretch. This time, he won his ring when the Twins won the Series in dramatic fashion over the Cardinals. In 1988, he went to the Oakland A's and once again went to the Series to finish out his career.

After retiring, Baylor became a hitting coach. In 1993, he was tagged to be the very first manager for the Colorado Rockies. When he took that team to the playoffs in 1995, it was the first time an expansion franchise had ever made the postseason in its third year. He held that position until 1998 and was the Cubs' manager from 2000 through 2002. He has continued to coach since his dismissal.

Utility Man Extraordinaire

Relegated to a "part-time" role because he wasn't effective against left-handed pitching, this player notched a few highlights but never really stood out:

Card #327 -- John Lowenstein, Cleveland Indians

That is, with the Indians and later the Rangers. When Texas left John Lowenstein unprotected in 1978, it appeared his days as a weak-hitting utility man were over.

He was picked up from the waiver wire by the Baltimore Orioles before the 1979 season and became a very important cog in Earl Weaver's machine. While he was anemic against southpaws, he would totally destroy right-handers, and that made him perfect for Weaver's platoon system. In the process, Lowenstein helped the team win two pennants and one World Series title. He would remain with the team until early in the '85 season.

There are a few interesting facts about Lowenstein. First, he was picked up by the Blue Jays in the draft but never managed to play for the team. He was eventually traded back to Cleveland. He also holds a share for the all-time record for the number of positions played while hitting a home run (Rex Hudler is the other record holder, and I'm willing to bet most fans couldn't come up with either of those names if asked). He hit a home run at nine different positions, including DH and pinch hitter.

Finally, Lowenstein was hit in the neck in 1980 while on the basepath by a thrown ball and had to be carried off the field in a stretcher. As he reached the dugout, he suddenly sat up and pumped his fists for the fans. Lowenstein was well-known as a free spirit, whose quotes were sometimes memorable for their creativity: when asked about how a designated hitter keeps in shape, he quipped, "I flush the john between innings to keep my wrists strong."

The Final Nail...

A few weeks ago, I opened an email from Tony Gillen, who runs another blog on the 1973 Topps set, 1973 Topps Baseball Set Builder. His blog is a little different than mine; while I like to focus on the sometimes goofy stuff that happens on the fronts of these cards, he shows the backs as well. Shortly after I began this blog, I discovered Tony's and hoped I wouldn't step on his toes or somehow overshadow what he does. Anyway, his blog is listed as part of my Blogroll and since there's a pretty good chance you're here because you enjoy the '73 Topps set, I say you need to check his out as well. Really. Check it out, I'll still be here when you're done.

Tony read something I posted a little while back saying I only needed one last checklist card to fill in the final slot in my binder.

Last week, this card arrived in a puffy envelope:

(No Number) Milwaukee Brewers Team Checklist

That said, Tony is awarded "Hero" status as the collector who sent along the last card I needed to finish off the set. Since only one person can ever give a final card, it's only appropriate I let my readers know about it.

The blue-bordered Brewers checklist is another one that fails to present a full lineup among the signatures on the front. George Scott is at first, Rick Auerbach is at short and Don Money takes third. Dave May, Joe Lahoud and Johnny Briggs take the outfield. Ellie Rodriguez takes his position at catcher and the rotation consists of Lockwood, Bell, Colborn,Slaton and Parsons. However, nobody seems to be covering second.

I guess Pedro Garcia had an appointment that day.