#276 Tom Veryzer

Who is this player?
Tom Veryzer, shortstop, Cleveland Indians
In what would be his last full season as a regular shortstop, Tom Veryzer of the Cleveland Indians posted one of the best batting averages of his career (.271). He missed over a month of playing time due to tendinitis in his shoulder, a condition that would ultimately lead to the end of his career. Despite the injury, Tom was fourth among AL shortstops in fielding percentage A likely highlight of the 1980 season came in May when the righthanded batting Veryzer rapped out three hits and drove home two in an Indians 5-3 win over the Seattle Mariners.

The son of a Manhattan College basketball star, the Port Jefferson, New York native was a #1 selection by the Detroit Tigers in the 1971 amateur draft. He immediately showed promise when he was named MVP of the Appalachian League later that summer. He helped lead Double-A Montgomery to a league championship the following season and made his major league debut in 1973. He only appeared in a handful of games for the Tigers in 1973 and 1974 but nonetheless impressed the Detroit brass. The Tigers were so confident in Veryzer that they traded sure handed veteran Eddie Brinkman, clearing Tom's path to the major leagues.

He was the Tigers' Opening Day shortstop in 1975 and began the season slowly at the bat. Veryzer had a hot streak after the All-Star break, hitting .313 the final seven weeks of the campaign and earning a spot on the Topps All Rookie Team. He finished seventh in the league with a .960 fielding mark but it was his powerful throwing arm that impressed. It appeared that Tom would be the shortstop of the future in Detroit. Tiger hitting instructor Wayne Blackburn went so far to claim Veryzer was "the best hitting shortstop since Honus Wagner."

Unfortunately, it was not to be. Veryzer gained weight and was dogged by the Detroit press for having a pot belly. He slumped in 1976 and was even worse in 1977 when he batted a meager .197. With the emergence of Alan Trammell, Tiger management traded Veryzer to the Cleveland Indians on December 9, 1977. He found a fresh start in Cleveland, choked up on the bat and lost weight. He resulted in the best batting average of his career in 1978. He led the Tribe in games played and sacrifice hits the following season, but his batting average dropped 50 points.

By 1981, Tom's inconsistency at the plate and suspect arm saw him reduced to a part-time player for the first time. Cleveland traded him to the New York Mets in 1982 and New York shipped him off to the Chicago Cubs the following year. In his 12th and final season (1984), Veryzer appeared in the post-season as a member of the NL East Champion Cubs. He played in three games and the final game he ever appeared in was the decisive Game 5 that the Cubs lost 6-3. Veryzer returned to his native New York, where he works today for the Miller Place School District. Veryzer coaches high school athletics, where he led his squad to a league championship in 2009.

Why I love this card
I never understood why the older kids liked Tom Veryzer. Sure he used to be a Tiger, but that didn't mean much to me. Things changed, however, when I traded this card for a 1977 Veryzer. Seeing the same guy in the hometown uniform on a card that was three years old turned me into a trader. Suddenly, I had a Tommy John with the Dodgers and Rod Carew with the Twins. Ah, to return to the days when trades had no regard to condition or value.

Something else....
In his rookie year, Veryzer broke up a Ken Holtzman no-hitter in the ninth inning. Had Holtzman accomplished the feat, it would have the third of his career. Only Sandy Koufax and Nolan Ryan would have had more. Also, check out the 1980 card of Veryzer's teammate Dave Rosello. I would have thought that they were the same:


On this date in 1980:
St. Louis Cardinals' infielder Felipe Lopez was born on this date in 1980. Lopez was a 2005 National League All-Star as a member of the Cincinnati Reds.

#275 Jerry Koosman

Who is this player?

Jerry Koosman, starting pitcher, Minnesota Twins
After many seasons as a New York Met, Jerry Koosman was beginning his second season as ace of the Minnesota Twins' pitching staff in 1980. At 37 years old, Koosman began to show some signs of wear. Although he was still very durable (243 IP, 8 CG) his ERA for the season finished over 4.00 for the first time in eight years. Koosman was a popular player for the Twins who seemed to be trading away nearly anyone of value during this era. His most memorable game of 1980 is likely a masterful 10-inning, 3-hit win over the eventual AL East champion New York Yankees.

Born Jerome Martin Koosman, Jerry is a proud native of Appleton, Minnesota and graduate of West Central School of Agriculture. He was essentially discovered during his time in the army at Ft. Bliss, Texas. The son of an usher at the Polo Grounds told his father about Koosman who was on his army baseball team. The father told the Mets about Koosman, and he was signed upon his discharge in 1964. When he struggled initially in the minors, the Mets were about the release him when the farm director requested Koosman be retained at least until his first payday as he owed the Mets money they had wired him after his car broke down en-route to spring training.

It was the break that saved Koosman's career. He jumped from Single-A to Triple-A in one season and led the International League in strikeouts in 1967. He was inserted into the Mets rotation in 1968 and began the season with consecutive shutouts. In that rookie year, he won 19 games, was named an All-Star, fashioned a 2.08 ERA, finished fifth in complete games and tenth in strikeouts. Yet Koosman was not named Rookie of the Year. He was edged out for the award by future Hall of Famer, Johnny Bench. "The Kooz" was the oft-forgotten third man in the triumvirate of young hurlers (Tom Seaver/Nolan Ryan) who came up with the Mets in the 1960s.

Yet Koosman was one of the keys to the Miracle Mets of 1969. Again an All-Star, Koosman won two games in the World Series, including the clincher in Game 5. His heroics on the mound would place him on the cover of Life magazine. He also won two games in the 1973 postseason, Game 3 of the NLCS that featured the Bud Harrleson-Pete Rose fight as well as Game 5 of the World Series. As the Mets fell from the heights of pennant contender, Koosman was particularly effected, as he was 11-35 over a two year span.

This led Koosman to request a trade and he was sent to his hometown Twins. The Twins promptly traded him to the White Sox during the 1981 season and he appeared in the postseason again with Chicago in 1983. He returned to the National League with the Phillies for two seasons (1984-1985) before retiring at the age of 42 after 19 major league seasons. Currently, Koosman is in the Duluth Federal Prison in Minnesota for tax evasion. Court records show Koosman failed to pay Federal income taxes for 2002, 2003 and 2004. In September 2009, he was sentenced and he is scheduled to be released in June 2010.

Why I love this card
Koosman was the starting pitcher for the Twins at the first game I ever saw live. I went with my Dad, my buddy Looie and his father. Looie's family had just moved onto the block 18 months prior from Flushing, New York and were huge Mets fans. All I heard about was how great Koosman was. It was the first time I had ever heard about the Miracle Mets and 1969. When I got this card later that summer, I knew that I had to keep it.

Something else....
Koosman and Nolan Ryan share the same rookie card in the 1968 Topps set. I still rue the day I didn't buy that card in 1989 for $50. It was in my hands!! Koosman also gave up Pete Rose's 4000th hit when Rose was with the Montreal Expos (remember that?). Finally, Koosman had a 1980 Burger King card that is very similar to the 1980 base set card, except that this photo shows more of the background.





On this date in 1980:
Mobster Henry Hill is arrested for drug possession. His story is told in the movie "Goodfellas." You can watch the scene here.

#274 Dale Murphy

Who is this player?
Dale Murphy, outfielder, Atlanta Braves
While the position flag on Dale Murphy's card says "C-1B" the experiment of Murphy behind the plate was over in 1980. Moved to the centerfield exclusively for the first time, Murphy blossomed into an All-Star, clubbing 33 home runs and driving in 89. Although he would lead the league with 133 strikeouts, the season would prove to be a harbinger of things to come as Murphy was poised to become on of the more memorable players of the decade.

Dale Murphy was a prep all-star and eventually the best high school talent in Portland, OR. The Phillies initially showed interest in Murphy but the Braves chose Murphy in the first round of the 1974 amateur draft. He quickly climbed through the Braves minor league system and reached the majors in his third professional season. The Braves had drafted Murphy for his defensive abilities and athletic skills and had expected him to be a catcher. However, trouble with his throwing arm prevented him from becoming an everyday player and threatened to derail his career. He struggled mightily in his early years and it was only through the intervention of owner Ted Turner that prevented Murphy from quitting baseball entirely.

After Murphy's breakout 1980 season, he became one of the best all-around players in the game. The Braves won 13 straight games to start the 1982 season and Murphy led them to the playoffs. He also led the league in RBI, was named an All-Star and won the first of five consecutive Gold Gloves. He was rewarded with the NL MVP Award. "Murph" was even better in 1983, raising his batting average over 20 points and again leading the league in RBI. He also stole 30 bases, played in all 162 games and led the league in slugging average. At that particular moment, there weren't many in the game who were better.

He established a reputation as one of the game's all-around "good guys" and went to great lengths to put forward a positive image. One writer, determined to find "dirt" on Murphy was only able to come up with one speeding ticket that Dale received when he was running late for a speech at a nearby church. On the diamond, he continued to produce league-leading numbers and started the All Star game for the National League five seasons in a row (1982-1986). His 1987 season is largely overlooked, despite a .295 average, 115 runs scored and a career-high 44 home runs.

After the 1987 season, Dale began to slip offensively and he never regained the dominance that he displayed earlier in the decade. In a shocking move, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies during the 1990 season. The change of scenery did little to improve his numbers and he was traded again, to the Colorado Rockies in their inaugural 1993 season. After 26 games with the Rockies, Murphy decided to retire and bring a close to his 18-year career.

Today, Murphy involves himself in several charitable causes, including Cystic Fibrosis, and is very active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His number was retired by the Braves in 1994 and he recently started a nonprofit organization called the iWontCheat foundation. The purpose of the foundation is to promote ethics in youth athletics and deter steroid use and cheating. His son Shawn, is an NFL offensive lineman, formerly with the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Why I love this card
Like most kids in my neighborhood, I was a major Murphy fan. It was likely because of our ability to watch WTBS in our early days of cable. At one point, I wouldn't trade a Murphy card for anybody and I actually hid this card from my friends because I knew that the others didn't have it and I wanted to avoid trade discussions at all costs.

Something else....
I was such a Murphy fan that I even had this poster.

Roughly around the time Murphy stopped making the All-Star team this poster got replaced by one of Belinda Carlisle. The Braves didn't make a great trade for Murphy and neither did I.

On this date in 1980:
Murphy was 1-5 with a double and a run scored as the Houston Astros nudged the Braves 3-2 in 11 innings at Fulton County Stadium.

The Tenth 25 - A Roster

A brief look back in team form at the last 25 player cards in the 1980 set (#247 through #273) as if constructing a fantasy league team.

Manager - Joe Torre

1B - Bill Robinson
2B - Rafael Landestoy
SS - Robin Yount
3B - Mike Schmidt
OF - Dusty Baker
OF - Al Oliver
OF - Larry Herndon
C - Jamie Quirk
DH - Ralph Garr

Hard to knock a lineup that has two of most dominant players of the 1980s, both Hall of Famers. Add Oliver and Baker and that is a lethal middle of the order. The remainder of the lineup has guys with extensive major league experience and were solid players.

Bench: Bernie Carbo, Benny Ayala, Dave Chalk, Paul Dade, Ted Cox

Carbo and Ayala both made their careers by coming off the bench and provide potent bats. Cox can give a little punch and play multiple positions. Chalk provides defense for late inning situations and Dade gives some speed. Would be nice to have a backup catcher for Quirk, the only significant omission on the bench.

Rotation:
Jim Clancy
Roger Erickson
Dan Schatzeder
Paul Moskau
Jim Kaat

I guess here is where you pay the price for having such a solid lineup. Clancy is the best of the bunch, due to his long career. Same can be said for Schatzeder, who was a starting pitcher at this point. Erickson and Moskau had potential but it never panned out. Kaat was nearly done by this stage of his career and is in the rotation by default, although other guys (Rodriguez, Drago) can fit this role too. I see a lot of 9-8 games with this squad.

Bullpen: Eduardo Rodriguez, Dick Drago, Dave Tobik, Kip Young, Dave LaRoche, John Montague

Better than the rotation. Drago was an exceptional closer and LaRoche was an All-Star in that role. Rodriguez showed some ability in relief as well and can be used as a swingman. The remainder of the bullpen is versatile but questionably effective.

OVERALL: I wonder what Joe Torre would do with this squad? Very little pitching but this team can really hit. I would put this lineup against any team we have seen so far, but the lack of a workhorse in the rotation is glaring. That usually is the difference between the contenders and also-rans over the course of a long season.

GRADE: B

#273 Eduardo Rodriguez

Who is this player?
Eduardo Rodriguez, relief pitcher, Kansas City Royals
Just days before the start of the 1980 season, Eduardo Rodriguez was released by the Kansas City Royals. He did not catch on with another major league team and he did not play in the minor leagues. His seven-year career was over as this card was being pulled from packs that summer.

"Volanta," as he was known in baseball, the righthanded Rodriguez was originally from the Puerto Rico. As a youth, he was a high school star in baseball and volleyball and was one of the top pitchers in the tournaments of Antesalistas of Cataño and Athenian of Manatee. This earned the attention of major league scouts and he was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers as an amateur free agent in 1971.

He was called up to the Brewers in June of 1973 and pitched mostly out of the bullpen. Eduardo was one of only two pitchers on the team to post a winning record and he had the best ERA of all Brewer relievers that season. He also hit a triple in what would be the first and only plate appearance of his career, something that no player had ever done (it has since been done twice more). Despite splitting time between the bullpen and rotation, Rodriguez managed a winning record in six season in Milwaukee, while the Brewers never finished over .500 in that span.

Rodriguez was undefeated coming out of the bullpen in 1975 (7-0) and pitched very well for Milwaukee as a reliever. Yet Eduardo would periodically incur the wrath of managers and teammates for inexplicably changing his pitching style. He had a herky-jerky delivery reminiscent of Luis Tiant and coaches were forever attempting to streamline his delivery. This tendency earned him the derogatory nickname "Edweirdo" and is likely one of the reasons of his departure from Milwaukee. Another was that the Brewers never decided whether he was a full-time starter or reliever, which frustrated Rodriguez. He was traded to the Royals and spent one final season in Kansas City in 1979, going 4-1 with two saves.

Eduardo returned to his native Puerto Rico after his playing days. He had a heart attack and passed away on his birthday in 2009. He was 57 years old.

Why I love this card
The background in this photo jumped out at me then. The ramshackle bleachers and chain link fence in the background look similar to every little league or school field that I played at when I was a kid. I know now that this was likely taken during Spring Training but back then it reinforced the impression that major leaguers weren't all that much different than ordinary adults.

Something else....
Sad week with the passings of Ernie Harwell and Hall of Famer Robin Roberts and now noting the passing of Rodriguez in this post. That brings the total up to 13 so far featured in this set, roughly 5%.

On this date in 1980:
35 people were killed when the Sunshine Skyway bridge in Tampa, Florida collapsed. The accident involved a Greyhound bus, six cars and one pickup truck that plummeted from the bridge when it collapsed. Only one person who went over survived. But Wesley MacIntire, the driver of the pickup, died nine years later. The most famous photograph from the disaster shows a yellow Buick driven by Richard Hornbuckle of St. Petersburg stopped 14 inches short of the bridge's edge. Hornbuckle and his three passengers escaped.

#272 Ralph Garr

Who is this player?
Ralph Garr, utility, Chicago White Sox
Famously known as "Roadrunner," the 13-year career of Ralph Garr was over by the summer of 1980. Appearing in only a handful of games for the California Angels, Garr was released on June 6th. The 34-year old Garr was a career .306 hitter that was batting .190 at the time of his release and didn't catch on with another team. This upset Garr, who said:

I can’t understand it. I never complained. They (the Angels) weren’t fair with me. They’re giving guys $1 million a year today that couldn’t hold my jock.

Garr first attracted national attention when he batted .582 at Grambling College in 1967. This earned the Ruston, Louisiana native a mention in the "Faces in the Crowd" section of Sports Illustrated. The Atlanta Braves selected him that summer in the amateur draft and he batted .324 over four minor league seasons, including an International League record .386 in 1970. His bat earned him looks by the Braves three straight years (1968-1970) but his glovework was of concern to Atlanta and his time at the major league level was brief.

Ralph earned a break in 1971 when he replaced the injured Rico Carty as the Braves leftfielder. He responded with 219 hits, 101 runs scored and 30 stolen bases. His .343 average was good for second in the National League. The Braves, eager to capitalize on the recognition of their new star, reached an agreement with Warner Brothers Inc., for exclusive rights to formally nickname Garr Road Runner II. Yes, as in The Second. To his peers, however, Garr most often responded to Gator, in honor of his Louisiana heritage.

Garr would bat .317 over the next five seasons as a Brave regular, including a league-leading .353 in 1974. In what would be his career year, Garr was selected to the All-Star team en route to a circuit topping 214 hits and 17 triples. He became the Braves highest paid player through arbitration in February 1975, a bitter process for both sides. Garr was the subject of trade rumors all year and slumped, batting under .300 for the first time as a regular. Predictably, Atlanta traded him to the Chicago White Sox.

In Chicago, Garr was a solid everyday player, batting .300 twice. However, he never quite returned to All-Star status and didn't lead the league again in any offensive categories. He was one of the "South Side Hitmen" in 1977, typically batting out of the leadoff position. He was sold to the California Angels in 1979 as insurance for the stretch drive. The Angels went on to the playoffs, but Garr hit only .125 and did not make the postseason roster.

Since his retirement, Garr has been with the Braves organization since 1985 working as an area scout. He has also been honored by being inducted into Halls of Fame for the Atlanta Braves, the International League, the Louisiana Sports, and Grambling State. In 2009, he was inducted into the College Baseball Foundation’s Hall of Fame.

Why I love this card
Garr's flip shades were something that I wanted for probably five years. Nothing said "baseball player" more than the flips, they were ultra cool.

Something else....
I don't understand Topps' decision-making process. Garr was sold to the Angels in September of 1979 yet he is pictured here with the White Sox. Topps even acknowledges the transaction on the back of Garr's card. This is not without precedent as Topps did something similar with Dock Ellis' card. On the other hand, they airbrushed John Montague's card to reflect the new team. Don't get me wrong, I really like the photo used on this card and I'm not really a fan of airbrushing, but it would be nice to know the back story on why some cards were and some were not. Below is the 1980 OPC card that has the correct team indicated.



On this date in 1980:
The Toronto Blue Jays moved into first place in the AL East by way of their 9-2 win over the California Angels. It was the first time in team history the Jays (15-9) were in first place this late into the season. They would finish the 1980 season in last place at 67-95.

#271 Dick Drago

Who is this player?
Dick Drago, relief pitcher, Boston Red Sox
As the 1980 season began, Drago was poised to be the top fireman out of the Red Sox bullpen. He surrendered a game-winning grand slam to the Brewers' Sixto Lezcano on Opening Day, setting the tone for a frustrating season. With his ERA hovering around 5.00 at the All-Star break, he was replaced as Red Sox closer with Bob Stanley. Drago was moved into the starting rotation near the end of the season and he won his first three decisions. He finished the year 7-7, with 3 saves and a 4.14 ERA.

A Detroit Tiger fan growing up in Toledo, Ohio, Dick Drago lettered in three high school sports and earned a baseball scholarship to the University of Detroit. After his freshman year, he was signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent in 1964. He slowly worked his way through the minor league chain and was considered a strong prospect as the decade came to a close. However, his career path changed when he was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 1968 expansion draft.

With the Royals, he became the team's first ace pitcher. He won 11 games in Kansas City's inaugural season, leading the team with 10 complete games. His best season as a Royal came in 1971 when he won 17 games and earned minor Cy Young consideration. He crafted a 2.98 ERA, tossed four shutouts and had 15 complete games. When Jack McKeon took over as manager in 1974, it effected Drago's performance and he had the worst season of his career. He was traded to the Boston Red Sox in October of 1973.

His first year in Boston, he was used as a swingman but was markedly more effective in relief. This performance moved him to the bullpen full time for 1975 and he helped lead the Red Sox to the American League Championship. Largely unheralded Drago saved 15 games that season and two more in Boston's ALCS sweep over the Oakland A's. He lost Game 2 of the World Series, but his three scoreless innings in the famous Game Six allowed Boston to get back in the game. Unfortunately, the Red Sox would lose the World Series and Drago would never again get a crack at the postseason.

He moved to the Angels in 1976 and the Baltimore Orioles in 1977 before returning to Beantown as a free agent prior to the 1978 season. He spent the next three years on teams that were never quite good enough to get into the postseason, including the famous 1978 collapse. During these three years he appeared in 133 games, primarily in relief, saving 23. Just before the 1981 season began, Drago was dealt to the Seattle Mariners for Manny Sarmiento. The deal upset Drago, who blasted the Red Sox for not releasing him so he could become a free agent. He pitched poorly with the Mariners, the final year of his 13-year big league career.

Drago struggled away from the diamond as well. Shortly after his retirement he had serious tax and financial issues. He was arrested in 1992 and faced charges of failure to pay child support. Despite claims that he was being made an example of because he was a former ballplayer, he posted bond and was released. A settlement was reached and he returned to his home in Florida. Today, like most of us, Drago apparently has a Facebook page. He seems to really like Mafia Wars.

Why I love this card
I will refrain from the obvious immature, juvenile remarks when it comes to this particular card. However, Johnny Rashid, Ricky Carnaghi and Tom Benvenuti, wherever you are....thank you for aiding to my delinquency by teaching me about the beauty of double entendre.

Something else....
Drago allowed Henry Aaron's 755th and final home run. He was also quite the accomplished bowler. He holds a sanctioned 700 series and his highest sanctioned game was a 279. He still competes in charity tournaments, typically sanctioned throuhg MLB Alumni.

On this date in 1980:
Drago pitched 3.1 scoreless innings against the Texas Rangers earning the victory in Boston's 7-4 triumph at Arlington Stadium.

#270 Mike Schmidt

Who is this player?
Mike Schmidt, third baseman, Philadelphia Phillies
Hall of Fame, 1995
Quite simply, Mike Schmidt owned the 1980 season. The two are synonymous. In leading the Philadelphia Phillies to their first World Championship, Schmidt clubbed a career high 48 home runs, the most ever for a third baseman. He authored the season's most crucial home run when his 11th-inning blast essentially clinched the division on the second-to-last day of the year. Schmidt followed that with an MVP performance in the World Series, batting .381 with two home runs and seven RBI. He was the unanimous selection for league MVP, the leader in several categories. He was also named a Gold Glove winner. At the moment this card fell into the hands of this nine-year old, there weren't many players better.

Mike Schmidt's Hall of Fame biography describes him as "(a)n unprecedented combination of power and defense." Never has one sentence been so accurate yet so understated. Today, it is a given that a third baseman will provide both power and stellar defense. Schmidt's performance throughout the his 18-year career went a long way into cementing that perception. He was one of the most prolific sluggers of his era, leading all players in home runs during the 1980s.

The Dayton, Ohio native played in the College World Series in 1970 and was selected by the Phillies in 1971. He made his major league debut late in the 1972 season but success did not come easily for Schmidt. He struggled throughout the 1973, batting .196 and striking out 136 times. Mike had a breakout season the following year and led the NL in home runs the first of eight times. His rise coincided with the Phillies dominance in the National League East as Philadelphia won the division three years in a row (1976-1978). During that era, Schmidt hit four home runs in a game at Chicago but was often a target of the harsh Philadelphia fans.

During the 1980s, Schmidt led the Phillies to the World Series twice and won three MVP awards. In 1983, in celebration of the team's 100th anniversary, Schmidt was voted by fans the greatest player in the history of the franchise. He was moved to first base for most of the 1985 season but returned to third in 1986 and won his final MVP award. A torn rotator cuff caused him to miss most of the 1988 season and when he was unable to return, he announced his retirement in May of 1989. In tribute, fan still voted him to start the All-Star game that July.

Schmidt helped broadcast the 1989 NLCS for NBC and he also broadcast for the Phillies. When he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995, he garnered the 4th highest percentage of the vote (96.52%). He was also honored by the team by having his number retired and a statue erected in his honor at Citizen's Bank Park. Lately, he has been very vocal in support of Pete Rose's Hall of Fame candidacy and is involved in several charitable endeavors. He served as third base coach for Team USA in the 2009 World Baseball Classic and even managed in the Phillies minor league system.

Why I love this card
It's Mike Schmidt. It was 1980. If you didn't freak out when you got this card you either didn't like baseball or didn't have a pulse. Or maybe a girl (sorry, that was during my 'you have cooties' phase).

Something else....
I can't find it on the web, but if you can somehow find the Christmas episode of "Always Sunny in Philadelphia" who will know why it is mentioned in a Schmidt post. Hilarious. On June 10, 1974, Schmidt hit a pitch into a public address speaker suspended 117 feet above and 329 feet away from home plate in the Astrodome. The ball then fell to the field, where, by the Astrodome's ground rules, it remained in play. Since he had already started his slow home run trot, he was held to a single - the only 500 foot single in history.

Below here is also Schmidt's 1980 Super Card:



On this date in 1980:
Schmidt was 2 for 5 with 4 RBI as the Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves 10 to 5 at Veterans Stadium. Schmidt had a double and his first triple of the season.

Another Piece of My Childhood is Gone.....

As the years pass, different parts of my youth are ceasing to be. My grandparents and my Uncle Frank have all died. My former elementary school closed in 2003 and many of the local neighborhood hangouts are not what they were. All of the places where I bought baseball cards have been gone for ages.

Even the place where I learned to love the game, Tiger Stadium, is gone. Even some of the people connected to my childhood through baseball are gone too. Mark Fidrych. George Kell. Kirby Puckett. Things change, I get that.

Yesterday, Ernie Harwell died.

Harwell was the longtime Tigers broadcaster and subconscoiously for me, one of the reasons behind this blog. The pictures of the ballplayers and teams on these cards are the sights, but Harwell was one of the sounds. For me and millions of kids like me, he is the voice of baseball.

That may sound like hyberbole but if you grew up in Michigan, you can identify. And everything that has been written about what kind of man he was is accurate, not just something kind to say now he has passed. I had the pleasure of meeting him a half dozen times or so and he was nothing short of a classy gentlemen to anyone he met.

Whenever I think of Ernie Harwell, I think of other things other than baseball. I think of my Uncle's garage, my Dad's old Buick and my first radio. I think of the life-long friends I have made that have the same feelings that I do today. How Ernie is one of our common bonds. I think of Tiger Stadium and my personal connection to that old ballpark. And I think of my children, who will never know a finer broadcaster.

If somehow, we would all make the same impression on each other that Ernie Harwell has made on us, the world would truly be a better place.

#269 Dave Tobik

Who is this player?
Dave Tobik, relief pitcher, Detroit Tigers
Ineffective out of the bullpen for the first two months of the 1980 season, Dave Tobik found himself in Triple-A Evansville for most of the summer. Given the role of long reliever, Tobik was scored upon in his first eight appearances and had a 6.04 ERA at the time of his demotion. He returned to the parent club in September and posted a 2.20 ERA in seven appearances. He made his first start the final weekend of the season against the division champion New York Yankees and earned the victory. Tobik's performance likely saved his Tiger career and earned strong consideration for 1981.

A collegiate standout at Ohio University, Tobik was an All-Mid-American Conference pitcher from 1971-74. He tied for the national college pitching title in 1974 when he recorded an 0.84 earned-run average and was selected by the Detroit Tigers in 1975. Groomed mainly as a relief pitcher, Tobik worked his way through the Tiger organization relying mainly on a forkball and palmball. After a successful season at Evansville in 1978, Tobik earned a look with Detroit near the end of the season. After a poor Spring Training in 1979, he began the season in the minor leagues but was recalled in late-May.

He was given an opportunity to finish games with the Tigers occasionally earning a save along the way. Dave turned in a decent season as a setup man to closer Aurelio Lopez and was a pleasant surprise in 1981 in that role with a 2.69 ERA in 27 appearances. When injuries decimated the Tiger bullpen in 1982, Tobik was thrust into the role of closer with mixed results. His manager, Sparky Anderson, fumed to the press after Tobik turned in a poor Spring Training in 1983 and he was traded to the Texas Rangers for outfielder Johnny Grubb.

Tobik pitched two seasons in Arlington appearing in 51 games; all in relief. He saved 14 games over two seasons with the Rangers who finished last in the AL West in 1984. As the Rangers began to rebuild, Tobik was granted free agency and he caught on with the Seattle Mariners in 1985. He pitched poorly in eight games and spent the majority of the year with Triple-A Calgary. It would be the last season of Tobik's career, eight in all.

He was inducted into the Ohio University Hall of Fame in 1989 and spent time working in management for Five Star Temporaries in St. Louis. His wife works for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and his son was a top baseball recruit for the University of Tennessee at Martin. Tobik today lives in a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri.

Why I love this card
The Tigers team set was a difficult one for me to nail down during 1980. Mark Wagner, especially was a hard one to come by (go figure), but I had no such problem with Tobik. I had three Tobiks; one for the team set and one for the top and bottom of pile of 1980 Tiger cards. Invariably, the other two would catch the wrath of rubber bands and other general wear and it is one of those cards that you see here.

Something else....
Tobik allowed Wade Boggs' first career home run. Apparently, he is also responsible for this. Had Tobik not allowed a game-winning home run to Doug DeCinces, it is likely that this song would never have seen the light of day.

On this date in 1980:
Two future Hall of Famers have memorable days:
Ferguson Jenkins of the Texas Rangers becomes the fourth pitcher in major league history to win 100 or more games in each league. Jenkins joins Cy Young, Jim Bunning and Gaylord Perry in the exclusive club.
Willie McCovey of the San Francisco Giants hits his 521th and final career home run against the Montreal Expos, helping the Giants to a 3 - 2 win. His shot ties him with Ted Williams on the all-time list.

#268 Rafael Landestoy

Who is this player?
Rafael Landestoy, reserve infielder, Houston Astros
It really isn't fair to classify Rafael Landestoy as a reserve infielder for the 1980 NL West Champions, as he appeared in 149 games. Often spelling Joe Morgan at second and Craig Reynolds at shortstop, Landestoy often provided a steady and reliable glove. Never really an offensive threat, Landestoy achieved career highs in many offensive categories in 1980 and appeared in all five game of the classic 1980 NLCS against the Phillies. Although his clutch hit kept a rally going for Houston in Game 5, Landestoy's replacement of Joe Morgan helped convince the future Hall of Famer that he could not get along with manager Bill Virdon and Morgan left the club after the season.

Rafael Landestoy made his major league debut in 1977 as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He had shown promise in his minor league career, leading leagues in double plays and stolen bases. He appeared in the World Series that season, but he was unlikely to break the Dodger lineup with their historic infield of the 1970s. Landestoy was traded to the Houston Astros along with Jeff Leonard for catcher Joe Ferguson in July 1978.

He earned the only regular playing time of his career in Houston, appearing as the starting second baseman for the Astros in 1979. He batted .270 in 129 games as the Astros seriously challenged for the NL West for the first time. He lost his position when Houston signed Joe Morgan to provide veteran leadership. When Morgan left, Landestoy reclaimed his position, but he struggled mightily, batting .149 and was traded to the Cincinnati Reds.

For the final four seasons of his eight year career, Landestoy played for three teams (Houston, Cincinnati, Los Angeles) and batted only .172 during that span. He was almost exclusively used as a defensive replacement, occasionally receiving a opportunity to pinch-hit. He was a member of the 1983 NL West Champion Dodgers and had two plate appearances in that series. Landestoy appeared in his final major league game in 1984.

Landestoy was a manager in the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets systems and was a first base coach for the Montreal Expos from 1989-1991. He played in the Senior Professional Baseball League and returned to his native Dominican Republic to manage the Licey Tigers, where he won a pennant in 2005-06.

Why I love this card
The helmet. This was an era where the ear flaps shown were not customary. Think about it: Willie Stargell, Reggie Jackson, Johnny Bench, Rod Carew, Pete Rose - none of them had the ear flaps. They wore the old style and it seemed for a time that you could not be a star player wearing a helmet like the one shown here. Add to the impression that these made you look like the Great Gazoo and you could see why a kid would think these were strange.

Something else....
One of the followers of this blog pointed out a while ago that the write ups on the backs of these cards almost never mention the 1979 season, but something that happened in 1978. Here it is again with the Landestoy card and it was on the Schatzeder card too. I wonder how far in advance Topps had the backs of these cards planned out?

On this date in 1980:
Although, they manage only two hits, Rick Wise and the San Diego Padres edge Ray Burris and the New York Mets 1-0. Ellis Valentine's single in the bottom of the ninth wins the game for the Montreal Expos 4-3 over the San Francisco Giants. Future Hall of Famers Andre Dawson, Mike Schmidt and Reggie Jackson all homer, Phil Neikro and Bruce Sutter each earn victories.

1980 Topps Baseball Post

A couple of days ago, another poster had a nice rundown of the 1980 set that you can read here. One post summarized what this set/blog has been about for the past year or so.

I definately went about this all wrong :-)

#267 Dan Schatzeder

Who is this player?
Dan Schatzeder, starting pitcher, Montreal Expos
As the 1980 season began, Dan Schatzeder was no longer wearing the colors of the Montreal Expos. Having been traded to the Detroit for Ron LeFlore during the off-season, the Tiger hopeful were counting on Schatzeder to be the #2 pitcher in the rotation. Dan lost his first three decisions of 1980 and looked unimpressive in doing so. He went on the disabled list and struggled to get his record to .500. Dan hit a groove late in the season, winning five and completing six.

Fresh off the campus of the University of Denver, Dan Schatzeder was considered one of the Montreal Expos' top pitching prospects after he signed with them in 1976. Within a year, the lefthander had made his major league debut, embarking on a 15-year career that saw him spend time with nine different major league clubs. His rise to the majors coincided with the Expos challenge in the NL East and he was a major contributor to the club in 1979. He won 10 games with a 2.83 ERA as the Expos were narrowly edged by the Pirates on the final weekend. Montreal reluctantly parted with Dan in exchange for LeFlore, a former All-Star, in a move they thought would lead them to the post-season.

Schatzeder struggled again with the Tigers in 1981 and he was traded to the Giants. Used mainly in relief, Dan found a role that he would settle into for the remainder of his career. A reliable and durable pitcher, Dan adapted to many relief roles, as spot starter, setup man and occasional closer. An excellent athlete, Schatzeder would also be called upon to pinch-hit. In 1986, he banged out six pinch-hits, the most by a pitcher in nearly 30 years.

He reached the pinnacle of his career in 1987 as a member of the Minnesota Twins. As the Cinderella Twins reached the postseason, Schatzeder was part of an effective, if unheralded bullpen corps. He was unscored upon in two ALCS appearances against his former team the Tigers, and earned a victory in Game 6 of the World Series against the Cardinals. Minnesota would win the Series in seven games.

After winning the World Series, Schatzeder bounced around during the last four seasons of his career, playing for five different teams. In retirement, he was a pitching coach for Aurora University in Illinois and had a bobble head made in his likeness on the 20th anniversary of the Twins World Series win
Schatzeder is now a physical fitness teacher and football coach at Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois.

Why I love this card
In 1980, I liked Schatzeder when he was with the Tigers. To put it more accurately, I felt sorry for Schatzeder when he was with the Tigers. Ron LeFlore was a popular player and I always thought it was unfair that the fans somehow blamed him for Ron's departure. The kids at school made fun of his name (I seem to remember Shitzeder as a popular derivative) but I was too intimated to say anything. I would like to say that when the Twins beat the Tigers in the '87 ALCS, I respected Schatzeder enough to soften the blow of defeat. I would be lying. I'm still not over that ALCS, Schatzeder or not.

Something else....
Below is a photo of Schatzeder's OPC card from 1980 with the Tigers flag at the bottom. I would have freaked had I saw this card then and it would have been a popular card in the neighborhood, Ron LeFlore or not.



On this date in 1980:
Bill Madlock of the Pittsburgh Pirates receives a 15-game suspension and a $5,000 fine for hitting umpire Jerry Crawford in the face with his glove during a recent game. Madlock will appeal the suspension and continue playing until June 6, when he decides to withdraw his protest.

Computer Viruses Really, Really Stink

Over the last two weeks, I have been recovering after being struck with the PC Defender computer virus. It incapacitated my computer and attempted to steal my identity (unsuccessfully).

It was a real wake up call to how screwed you can be if you lose your on-line part of your life, this blog notwithstanding. I lost all ability to stay ahead of the curve at work, been missing out on the kid's school stuff (since it's all on line too) and just general entertainment.

My initial estimates for repair ranged from 200-300 bucks and there was no way I was going to spend that much. I began looking for a new computer until a co-worker from the tech department offered to help. Since I was on his time (and for free), I had to take what I could get. I just got the box back yesterday evening.

I am in the process of repopulating all the files that were able to be saved and uncorrupted. I am reloading all of the old programs that had to go as a result of the restart. I'm also in the middle of baseball practice, Cub Scouts, doctor's appointments, school conferences, parent organizations and not to mention family time.

I hope to resume posting again shortly. Thanks for your patience.

#266 Bernie Carbo

Who was this player?
Bernie Carbo, reserve outfielder, St. Louis Cardinals
By the time the 1980 season had ended, Bernie Carbo had completed a very interesting season. The lefthand hitting veteran began the season with the St. Louis Cardinals, appeared in only 14 games and was released on May 28th after batting just .182. When he failed to land a job with another major league club, he became a hairstylist in his native Detroit. The Pittsburgh Pirates signed him for the stretch drive, and he appeared in seven September games, batting .333. When the Pirates released him on October 8, his seven year major league career had come to an end.

As a highly touted prospect, Carbo was selected on the first round of the 1965 amatuer draft by the Cincinnati Reds, ahead of longtime Royal Hal McRae and future Hall of Famer Johnny Bench. He was with the Reds by 1970 and posted career highs in several offensive categories. Carbo helped lead the Reds to the World Series and was selected Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News. He was involved in one of the more controversial plays in Series history, when he was called out at home plate by umpire Ken Burkhart as Burkhart had his back to the play.

However, Carbo was unable to maintain the momentum of his strong rookie campaign. In recent years, he has claimed that he initially became addicted to speed in Cincinnati and that invariably led to other drugs. In Carbo's words:

I was introduced to cocaine in 1973. So from 1973-80, I was taking Dexedrine, Benzedrine, Darvons, sleeping pills, smoking dope, drinking beer, doing cocaine, and chasing women, and I never played a day without it.

He never again fully achieved full-time playing status and moved to several teams throughout his 12-year career: Cincinnati, St. Louis, Boston, Milwaukee, Cleveland, St. Louis and Pittsburgh. It was with the Red Sox, though, where Carbo achieved his greatest fame and made his deepest connection with fans. His pinch-hit home runs in the 1975 World Series endeared him across New England and when he was shipped out of Beantown in 1978, it was seen as a dramatic blow to the team's psyche.

After retiring, Carbo became a born-again Christian and stopped using drugs and alcohol. In 1993, he founded Diamond Club Ministry in an effort to aid and instruct youth. He was the manager of the independent Pensacola Pelicans for three years (2003-05) and was elected to the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2004. He is also currently active with the Red Sox Alumni Association.

Why I love this card
In 1980, I knew nothing of Carbo's pinch-hit homers, his drug use or the play at the plate in the 1970 Series. All I knew was that Bernie Carbo had one awesome afro. My Mom thought that he looked like Art Garfunkel. Yes, I knew who Bernie Carbo was before I knew who Art Garfunkel was.

Something else....
I thought that it was ironic that the Carbo story made the rounds this week with a post on him upcoming. At first, I thought it was an April Fool's joke making the rounds on the internet, but apparently Carbo has been quite open about his addiction for some time. I still wish I could find more information about his time as a hairdresser.

On this date in 1980:
The Grateful Dead appeared on Saturday Night Live. You can watch a snippet of the show here. There's a brief mention of the Pirates in there and the start of the 1980 season.