#195 John Montefusco

Who is this player?
John Montefusco, starting pitcher, San Francisco Giants
By the time this card was being pulled from packs in 1980, John Montefusco was no longer seen as the colorful eccentric ace of the San Francisco Giants. "The Count" began the season inconsistently and drew the wrath of manager Dave Bristol when he missed a start in May to a sore throat. He was sent to the bullpen for a month and later got into a fight with Bristol after a game in June. He went on the disabled list with a cracked rib and missed more than a month of action. He finished 1980 with only four wins and was traded to Atlanta in December for Doyle Alexander.

Discovered by Giants scouts while playing in a New Jersey industrial league, the righthanded Montefusco was signed as a free agent in 1972. He quickly became known for his predictions, boldly stating he would make the Giants staff in two years. True to his word, he was given a September look in 1974. That performance earned him a spot in the starting rotation for the 1975 season, which would ultimately become his most memorable.

Starting the season 5-0, the brash righthander taunted opposing players, specifically the Los Angeles Dodgers, reigniting the legendary feud between the two teams. He predicted that he would shutout teams and strike out star players. As his win total increased, he also began to openly campaign for the Rookie of the Year award. He finished the year with 15 wins and was seventh in the league with a 2.88 ERA. At season's end, he did indeed win the Rookie of the Year and was even fourth in the Cy Young voting. At 25, it seemed that "The Count's" best years were ahead of him.

John picked up where he left off in 1976, predicting that he would win 20 games and the Cy Young Award. He was selected to the All-Star Game that season and pitched two innings of scoreless relief. The highlight of the season came on his last start of the season, where he pitched a no-hitter against the Atlanta Braves. In all, John won 16 games in 1976 and led the league with 6 shutouts. The injury bug hit Montefusco in 1977 and it effected every following season John spent in San Francisco. His injuries reduced him to an average pitcher and he never regained the status that he enjoyed in 1975-76.

Traded to Atlanta for the 1981 season, Montefusco became somewhat of a journeyman, with stops in San Diego and then to the New York Yankees. He made an effort to change his image as a free-spirit, likely due to his final days in San Francisco. He became a swingman for the remaining years of his career. When the Yankees released him in May of 1986, his 13-year career had come to and end. He was the manager and pitching coach of the independent Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League in the early 2000s. Today, Montefusco is enjoying retirement in his his native New Jersey.

Why I love this card
This was one of the names that we had a lot of fun of as a kid. We alternated between "Monte-FUSS-ko" and "Monte-FOOS-ko." Amazing how much time we spent arguing that point. And after going on about the pickoff picture on Dave Goltz, low and behold, here's another one.

Something else....
In recent years, Montefusco has had significant domestic issues that even led to his brief inprisonment. More about that can be read here. He even sued ESPN during this period because they referred to him in a similar vein to O.J. Simpson.

#194 Mike Easler

Who is this player?
Mike Easler, leftfielder, Pittsburgh Pirates
Always a good hitter, Mike Easler had difficulty cracking the lineup of the Pittsburgh Pirates. When the injury bug bit the Buccos, the lefthand hitting Easler took full advantage of his opportunity to play every day. Inserted in leftfield in mid-May, his batting average rose over .400 in early June and he hit for the cycle. "The Hit Man" did just that, and his average remained over .350 for most of the summer. While he did not garner enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title, Easler finished the year at .338 and established himself as a fixture in the Pittsburgh lineup.

Mike Easler was drafted out of high school by the Houston Astros in 1969 and signed in return for a $500 tuition payment at Cleveland State University. He would be a batting champion and All-Star in the minors, but would spend the next 10 years struggling to make the major leagues with five organizations. He was given brief looks by the Houston Astros, California Angels and Pittsburgh Pirates and was nearly released by the Pirates in 1979. He saved his job with game-winning home run and the Pirates went on to win the World Championship.

He was named a National League All-Star in 1981, walking an scoring a run in the NL's victory in Cleveland. Easler was a .302 hitter during his days in Pittsburgh, averaging 13 HR and 56 RBI a season. Since Easler was a poor defensive player, he would often be replaced in the later innings. When the team decided in 1984 to rebuild around speed, defense and pitching they traded Easler to the Boston Red Sox for pitcher John Tudor.

Stationed as the Red Sox designated hitter, he appeared in career-high 156 games and had one of his best seasons, batting .313 with 27 HR and 91 RBI. His production slipped the following year and he was traded to the New York Yankees for fellow DH Don Baylor. He spent a season in New York, but was unhappy and demanded to be traded. The Yankees granted his wish and traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies, where he appeared in 33 games before he was traded back to the Yankees to finish the 1987 season. It would be the last in his 14-year major league career.

After his playing days, Easler spent many years as a hitting instructor and manager at the minor league level. He has also served as hitting coach for four major league teams, most recently the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008. He replaced the recently-named Don Mattingly as coach when Mattingly left the team for family reasons. When Mattingly returned, Easler was demoted within the organization. He filed a grievance against the Dodgers in 2009 something he also did when let go by the Red Sox (in 1995) and Cardinals (in 2001).

Why I love this card
As a kid, we went to a Tiger game once or twice a year. It was a pretty big deal and it would be on the calendar for weeks. My Dad allowed me one souvenir and I always chose one of those plastic replica batting helmets. In 1980, my collection was thin. I got a Tiger one at my first ever game and a Pirate one at my second game in May 1980. This Easler card reminds me of my Dad getting me started on those helmets. In time, several of them broke or were lost, but I still have my Pirate one.

Something else....
Easler is married to the sister of contemporary major leaguer Cliff Johnson, who played 15 years with seven different teams, most notably the Blue Jays.

#193 Dave Goltz

Who is this player?
Dave Goltz, starting pitcher, Minnesota Twins
After averaging 14 victories for the six straight seasons, Dave Goltz signed a huge $3-million dollar contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 1980 season. While Goltz was in demand, the six-year deal raised eyebrows around the league. He threw two complete-game shutouts in April, but lost five decisions in a row and didn't earn another victory until August. By then, his contract was being openly questioned and Goltz finished the season with a 7-11 record. He was given the ball for the one-game NL West playoff with the Houston Astros, but Goltz and the Dodgers lost 7-1.

The righthanded Goltz was the first native Minnesotan signed by the Twins to reach their major league roster. He was selected by the Twins after a scout discovered him throwing in his backyard the previous year. His rise to the major leagues was deterred by some arm trouble in the minors and a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1969. He did, however, rebound to fire a no-hitter during a 14-win 1971 campaign split between two Single-A clubs. He made his major league debut in 1972 against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

In his eight years with the Twins, Goltz became the fourth winningest pitcher in club history, never having a losing season. He established himself the ace of the staff in 1977 when he led the league with 20 wins and logged 303 innings pitched. He also led the league in games started and finished six in the AL Cy Young Voting. Goltz was also a notorious slow starter, having never won a game in April until 1979. Despite that, his 96 wins in a Twins uniform established him as a workhorse and one of the better pitchers in the league at that time.

Moved to the bullpen in 1981, Goltz made his first appearance in the postseason as the Dodgers advanced to the World Series. Dave pitched in two Series games as Los Angeles won their first World Championship in 16 years. When he started poorly to start the 1982 season, he was released by the Dodgers. The California Angels quickly signed him and he went 8-5 as the Angels went on to win the AL West. Goltz again pitched in the postseason, but California fell to the Milwaukee Brewers in five games. An 0-6 start, in addition to a torn rotator cuff, ended his 1983 season in June and would also end Goltz' 12-year major league career.

In retirement, Goltz has made a recent living making personal appearances and motivational speaking. Our friends over at Project Baseball 1976 even found that he did some work as an umpire for high school baseball games.

Why I love this card
This is a great action shot of Goltz. For years, I thought that he was delivering to home plate in this shot, but it is fairly obvious that he was attempting a pickoff throw. We've been through 193 cards and this is the first to feature any a guy attempting a pickoff. Sweet.

Something else....
Since the Save became an official statistic, Goltz holds the record for the most runs in a saved game. On June 6 1973, in Cleveland, he was charged with 8 runs in a 3 inning save; he helped to turn a 9-1 lead into a 13-9 win.

#192 Bobby Cox Atlanta Braves Team Card

What is this card?
Team Card, Atlanta Braves, Bobby Cox Manager

After a last place finish in 1979, the Braves made several changes to their roster for the 1980 season. Atlanta had the worst ERA and fielding percentage in the National League and they attempted address both issues. First, they signed Al Hrabosky to add depth to the bullpen. They then traded for catcher Bill Nahorodny. The Braves made two big moves at the Winter Meetings by traded for Chris Chambliss and Luis Gomez from the Toronto Blue Jays and Doyle Alexander from the Texas Rangers.

The Braves had two of baseball's most promising young sluggers, Dale Murphy and Bob Horner. Murphy would be the team's lone representative in the All-Star Game. Right fielder Gary Matthews would combine with Murphy, Horner and Chambliss to form a solid middle of the lineup. Glenn Hubbard earned the second base job, which he would hold for the next eight years. However, some moves didn't work. Eddie Miller was the Opening Day centerfielder but disappeared after only 11 games.

On the mound, the Braves ahad a future Hall of Famer in pitcher Phil Niekro won was a 20 game winner (and loser) in 1979. Niekro would lead the league in games started as well as losses in 1980. Alexander was a valuable addition, winning 14 games. And while Hrabosky struggled, Rick Camp and Gene Garber combined to stabilize the back of Atlanta's bullpen. The rest of the starting rotation was reliable but unspectacular.

Atlanta struggled to start the season and as Spring turned into Summer, the team seemed in dissarray and Cox's job was in jeopardy. Horner feuded with the front office over his contract and the release of catcher Joe Nolan shook team morale. However, Cox was able to rally the troops and the team played well down the stretch to finish 81-80 and in fourth place.

The 1980 Braves were 11-1 against the defending World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates and finished with a .625 winning percentage at home (50-30). However, several years of poor finishes did not sway the Atlanta fans as they finished last in the National League in attendance. Atlanta's strong suit was the longball at the fabeled "Launching Pad" at Fulton County Stadium. They finished second in the league with 144 home runs. By contrast that total would today place them 13th in the league.

Why I love this card
The wigwam in the background. The scan of this card is not great, but Chief Nocahoma's teepee made this stand out for me. I thought it was cool that Atlanta's mascot was a real guy, not a someone in a suit.

Something else....
This card represents the only manager still in uniform with the team he is depicted with in 1980. Granted, Cox had a stint in Toronto, but still. Earlier this week, Terry Crowley was featured and he was in uniform with the Orioles in 2009. Is anyone aware of any other coach that is with the team he was also with in 1980?

#191 Ted Martinez

Who is this player?
Ted Martinez, utility infielder, Los Angeles Dodgers
When the 1980 season opened, Ted Martinez was not on the Dodgers major league roster. He spent the entire season at Triple-A Albuquerque in the Pacific Coast League. Playing primarily shortstop, he struggled at the plate, hitting only .234 and was not recalled for the Dodgers NL West stretch drive. Martinez would not return to the major leagues, ending a nine-year major league career.

Born Teodoro Noel Encarnacion Martinez in Barahona, Dominican Republic, Teddy Martinez was a signed as a free agent by the New York Mets in 1966. A solid minor league hitter, Martinez was groomed as a shortstop, but found his path to the majors blocked by Bud Harrelson. He made his debut in 1970 and eventually worked his way onto the Mets roster as a valuable defender.

Martinez was a valuable addition as a versatile player that could play three infield and all outfield positions. As part of the eventual 1973 NL East champions, Teddy had a 4-RBI game against the Phillies that included a home run off of Hall of Famer Steve Carlton (Martinez hit only seven HR in his career). This game would be part of a furious Mets rally that saw them win the pennant and storm into the World Series, only to fall to the Oakland A's in seven games. Martinez saw action in that Series, twice appearing as a pinch runner.

Traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1975, he split the season between St. Louis and Oakland, with whom he would again appear in the postseason. Martinez saw action in all three games of the ALCS, but the A's were swept by the Boston Red Sox. He was released by the A's in early 1976 and signed on with the Reds. Martinez spent that year in the minors as the Big Red Machine rolled to their second straight championship.

The final three years of his career were spent in Los Angeles, primarily as a reserve to the great Dodger infield of the 1970s. Martinez was a .280 hitter during his time in LA, 40 points higher than his career mark. Los Angeles twice went to the World Series during Martinez time with the Dodgers, but he did not appear in the postseason either year. In retirement, Martinez was a coach around the globe, most recently as a Dodgers representative in Taiwan as teams have expanded their search for major league talent.

Why I love this card
In addition to these cards, Saturday morning cartoons were a huge part of my childhood. Challenge of the Superfriends, Hong Kong Phooey, Scooby-Doo, Richie Rich, it was predictable where I was on Saturday's between 8 and 10 AM. One of my favorites was the Bugs Bunny & Road Runner Show. What does this have to do with Martinez? Part Bugs Bunny, part Wile E. Coyote. Remember, this is a nine year old mind at work here.

Something else....
This card would be the last card of Martinez's active career.

#190 Buddy Bell

Who is this player?
Buddy Bell, third baseman, Texas Rangers
Due mainly to the outstanding season by George Brett, the season put forth by Buddy Bell in 1980 went largely unnoticed. However, there was little doubt that when the year ended, Buddy Bell was one of the finest third basemen in the game. He was recognized as an All-Star and was the AL's Gold Glove winner at third. His batting average was among the league leaders for the entire year and he finished with a career high .329 average. When Pat Corrales was fired as Rangers manager, Bell asked to be traded.

Born the son of major leaguer Gus Bell, young Buddy had the pedigree for baseball stardom. He was a multi-sport star in high school and led his team to a baseball league championship. The Indians drafted him in 1969 and he was in the major leagues within three years. He was voted to the Topps rookie team in 1972 and was the Indians' representative in the 1973 All Star Game, where he had a triple in his only appearance.

The righthand hitting Bell spent seven seasons in Cleveland, where he established himself as a solid fan favorite. He consistently led his teams in several offensive categories, yet was overlooked due to the poor performance of the Indians during this time. He was traded to Texas for Toby Harrah in December 1978 in an unpopular move in Cleveland. It was in Arlington that Bell elevated his game. He won six consecutive Gold Gloves, batted .290 or better five times and was the Silver Slugger winner in 1984.

In the middle of the 1985 season, Bell was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, where his father also had been a fan favorite in the late 1950s. This was a very popular addition with Reds fans, and Buddy responded with two more solid years. In 1988, he began to fade, and was traded to the Houston Astros. Bell was released in December and returned with the Rangers for the 1989 season, his 18th and final season.

After several seasons as a major league coach, Bell was given his first managerial position in 1996 with the Detroit Tigers, and was later named manager of the Colorado Rockies and Kansas City Royals. Bell took a medical leave of absence in 2006 when a lump was discovered on his tonsils. He retired from managing after the 2007 season to spend more time with his family, primarily due to his cancer diagnosis.

Why I love this card
Way before "Field of Dreams" the cartoon on Bell's card struck a cord with me. Playing catch with my Dad was always a big deal, and the cartoon is what I thought things would be like when I grew up. Of course, I would be in the major leagues and still playing catch with my Dad. I never got to be in the majors, but did play "Running Bases" catch with Dad this summer with my son in the middle. No matter what, an awesome memory.

Something else....
For the longest time, Bell's 1979 season was the only time a major leaguer had 200 hits in a season and did not bat .300 for the year. Since then, though, Bell has been joined by Jimmy Rollins in this unique category when Rollins had 212 hits and batted .296 in 2007.

#189 Kevin Kobel

Who is this player?
Kevin Kobel, relief pitcher, New York Mets
When the 1980 season opened, Kevin Kobel had earned a spot in the New York Mets' bullpen after being "on the bubble" during Spring Training. He walked three of the eight batters he faced in his first outing and things didn't improve for him. After four appearances, Kobel's ERA swelled to 9.00. He continued to struggle and was used infrequently. In June, he was traded to the Kansas City Royals and Kobel spent the remainder of 1980 at Triple-A Omaha. It would prove to be the last of six major league campaigns for Kobel.

Originally from Buffalo, New York, the lefthanded Kobel was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers shortly after his high school graduation in 1971. He earned a brief look by the parent club in late-1973 but was unimpressive in two games against division rivals Boston and New York. The following season, however, Kobel earned a spot in the Milwaukee rotation. Although he was 6-14, he achieved career bests in innings pitched, shutouts and complete games. A highlight came on May 27th when he out dueled future Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan.

Kobel developed arm trouble in 1975, pitching only four innings over the next three seasons, missing the entire '75 and 1977 campaigns. Uncertain that he could return to the majors, Milwaukee sold him to the New York Mets in December of 1977. Determination and hard work earned him a spot on the pitching staff and Kobel responded with an outstanding effort in 1978. In 32 games, he posted a 2.91 ERA with five victories.

He resumed a similar role with the Mets in 1979 but injuries pushed Kobel into New York's starting rotation. He had three starts go into the eighth inning without allowing a run, but only earned one victory. In June, he threw a three hit shutout against Atlanta, but was primarily a .500 pitcher the remainder of the way. His ledger at the end of the year was a 6-8 record with a 3.54 ERA.

Kobel pitched in the minor leagues through 1982 before retiring for good. In retirement, he moved to Arizona and became an active member of the Arizona Major League Alumni Association which travels the state giving lecture and instruction to Little League and high school players.

Why I love this card
Sunday, August 24, 1980. My grandpa had been sick for some time and died that day. I had just bought a pack at the 7-11 and was sitting on the curb with some buddies and this card was inside. My dad and uncle came around the corner in my dad's huge 1978 Buick and gave me the "better get home" look. There are a handful of cards from this pack that I associate with that day and Kobel is one. Sorry to be so morbid, but Kevin Kobel reminds me of Grandpa today.

Something else....
Nice to see a break from the head shots that have been on a roll lately, but Kobel looks like he is at a tennis court. And is that guy in the background with his back to the camera taking a leak? On the other hand, never mind.

#188 Terry Crowley

Who is this player?
Terry Crowley, designated hitter, Baltimore Orioles
At this point in his career, Terry Crowley had already established that he was a major league hitter. The lefthanded batter earned a daily spot in the lineup in 1980 and was most often used as a DH, while also providing clutch pinch hits off the bench. His average hovered over .300 for most of the season and he had three hits in a game on six different occasions. He finished with a career high 12 home runs and 50 RBI but the Orioles failed to repeat as AL East champions despite winning 100 games.

Terry attended Long Island University, where he was named All-American and All-Met Conference in baseball. He attracted the attention of major league scouts and was selected by the Orioles in the 11th round of the 1966 draft and made his debut three years later. The following season, Crowley spent the entire season with the Orioles and appeared in the World Series as the Birds won their second championship in five seasons.

In 1973, Crowley became the Orioles first-ever designated hitter but at the end of the season he was sold to the Texas Rangers. He spent only one season in Arlington and was sold again, this time to the Cincinnati Reds. Crowley again had the opportunity to appear in the World Series in 1975, again finding himself on the winning side when the Reds captured the championship. He was on the move again though, being traded to the Braves in 1976, his third team in four years.

He only appeared in seven games for the Braves and returned to the Orioles where he spent 12 of his 15 major league campaigns. He and the Orioles returned to the World Series in 1979 and his pinch-hit double helped break open a Game 4 win for Baltimore and a 3-1 Series lead. Unfortunately, the Orioles lost the Series in seven games. Terry's final season was in 1983 as a member of the Montreal Expos. He retired with 108 career pinch hits, good for sixth on the all-time list (now 13th).

Upon his retirement, he immediately went into coaching, spending four years (1985-1988) with the Orioles as their hitting coach. He moved on to the Minnesota Twins in 1991 where he spent eight seasons as hitting coach including the 1991 World Championship season. He returned to the Orioles in 1999 and has since become a fixture in Baltimore. Crowley is signed to return to the Birds for his 12th consecutive season in 2010 surviving five different managers.

Why I love this card
One of the things I remember doing during the summer of 1980 was learning how to keep score. I would eventually do it to games on television and I can remember having these cards out during Tigers-Orioles games, trying to keep up. Crowley, John Lowenstein and Gary Roenicke always seemed to kill the Tigers and I always spelled their names wrong when the cards weren't there. Crowley was "Crowly" and this card helped me make sure I didn't repeat my mistake.

Something else.....
The entire time I watched "The Shield" I would think of this Crowley before that Crowley. However, no mention of Crowley would be complete without a "Manager's Corner" reference. I wonder what Alice Sweet is doing these days?

#187 Alan Ashby

Who is this player?
Alan Ashby, catcher, Houston Astros
As the everyday receiver of the 1980 NL West champions, Alan Ashby was responsible for handling one of the best pitching staffs in the game. Although he often batted in the bottom third of the order, the switch-hitting Ashby was adept with the bat as well. With Houston fighting off the challenge of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ashby batted .429 the final week of the season. Ashby was involved in a collision with Dodger Joe Ferguson that injured a rib and caused him to miss most of the NLCS against the Phillies. He had a clutch single in the deciding Game 5 to tie the game but Houston fell to Philly in ten innings.

A graduate of San Pedro High School in Los Angeles, Ashby was a high school teammate of Phillies' outfielder Garry Maddox. Ashby was originally a third round selection of the Cleveland Indians in the 1969 amateur draft. He received a September look in both 1973 and 1974, but essentially toiled in the bush leagues for six seasons. Alan made the Indians club in 1975 but was a reserve in Cleveland. He had the distinction of being the first ever player acquired via trade for the Toronto Blue Jays when he was traded from Cleveland to Toronto on November 5, 1976 in a package deal.

He was the first everyday catcher for the Blue Jays, appearing in 124 games. With the emergence of Rick Cerone and Ernie Whitt, Ashby was traded again, this time to the Houston Astros in 1979, where he gained his greatest fame. In addition to helping lead the Astros to their first playoff appearance, Ashby was also a key reason they returned to the playoffs in 1981. He won the opening game of the NLDS against the Dodgers with a home run, but again the Astros dropped the postseason series.

In 1982, Alan became the first Astro to ever homer from both sides of the plate in a September game against San Diego. Ashby tied an NL record by catching three no-hitters during his career, the third being Mike Scott's 1986 division title clincher. In the NLCS against the Mets, Ashby continued his timely post-season hitting, with another home run that won Game Four, tying the Series. Again though, the Astros lost the NLCS, this time in six games. Ashby played 11 years in Houston and became one of the teams' most recognizable faces. In 1989, Ashby was released by the Astros in May. Rather than go to the Pirates in a trade, he retired, ending his 17 year major league career.

Since his playing days, Ashby worked as a sports anchor in the Houston market, managed for several years in the minor leagues and even served a stint as Astros bench coach. At closing ceremonies for the Astrodome, he was named the club's greatest catcher. He became the Astros radio voice in 1998, a position he held for eight seasons. Today, he is on the radio with another one of his old teams, the Toronto Blue Jays.

Why I love this card
I have to imagine that Topps purposely didn't center this photo of Ashby. Somehow, I think if they did, this card wouldn't be so memorable for me. There seems to be perfect symmetry between the photo and Ashby's signature. I still think of this card as as reference point when I see Ashby's name somewhere.

Something else....
Ashby and Astro teammate Phil Garner did a Burger King commercial sometime in the early 1980s. Everything about this screams 1980s Here's a still:
You can watch the entire commercial here.

The Seventh 25 - A Roster

A brief look back in team form at the last 25 player cards in the 1980 set (#162 through #186) as if constructing a fantasy league team.

Manager - No Card

1B - Warren Cromartie
2B - Fernando Gonzalez
SS - Luis Gomez
3B - Ray Knight
OF - Champ Summers
OF - Omar Moreno
OF - Jack Clark
C - Ron Hodges/Steve Swisher
DH - Hal McRae

Overall, an intriguing lineup. Moreno is a flyer at the top of the order that played in 162 games in 1980. He is followed by a solid group in the middle of the order (Cromartie-McRae-Clark-Knight-Summers). The remainder of the order is filled with interchangeable parts at the second base, shortstop and catching positions. I wouldn't call this lineup Punch-N-Judy but it is similar to a mid-1980s Cardinals team.

Bench: Junior Moore, Jim Anderson, Tim McCarver, Ken Reitz, Greg Pryor, Bob Randall

An unspectacular bunch with no outfield depth. Randall could possibly start over Gonzalez, both there's nothing substantially gained. McCarver is all but done and would only pinch-hit. Reitz would like start on most teams, here he is a defensive replacement because Knight's bat needs to be in the lineup.


Rotation:
Rick Reuschel
Moose Haas
Burt Hooton
Rick Waits
Steve Renko

A nice rotation here, not flashy but productive. You won't find Cy Young winners here, but there a group of durable arms that can hold up over a long season. This group would eat a lot of innings, which is needed due to a shortage in the bullpen.

Bullpen
Ron Davis, Dave Heaverlo, John Henry Johnson, Glenn Abbott

A little thin, with Davis emerging as the closer. Heaverlo, Johnson and Abbott all have experience coming out the bullpen either in short relief or as a swingman. Like the starters, not a flashy group but serviceable major league pitchers.

OVERALL: Not as good as this time around. There are no Hall of Famers in this group and Knight is the only 1980 All-Star. There are concerns at three positions up the middle as all the players are very light hitters. There are also serious depth issues in the outfield and the bullpen. Of all the teams put together so far, this would be one that would definately struggle.

GRADE: C

#186 Junior Moore

Who is this player?
Junior Moore, utility player, Chicago White Sox
On the final day of Spring Training in 1980, Junior Moore failed to make the Chicago White Sox roster and was optioned to Triple-A Iowa to begin the season. After a month, he was back in Chicago and given an opportunity to win the third base position. He performed well in his brief trial, batting .256 but was another victim of a numbers game in the White Sox infield and was again sent to the minors. He received another recall in September but played in only four games. 1980 would be the final season of his five year career.

Born Alvin Earl Moore, the righthanded hitting Junior was originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1971. He began in the Braves chain as an outfielder but was eventually converted to an infielder as a faster path to the majors. A line drive hitter with good speed, Moore hit .300 in four of six minor league seasons and was a multiple-time minor league All-Star. He made his major league debut in 1976 when he was given a brief September look.

The following season, he earned the Braves starting third base job and he batted .260 with 5 home runs and 34 RBI. After his rookie year, a unique clause in his contract allowed him to leave the Braves and he signed on with the Chicago White Sox in November of 1977.

With the White Sox, he spent the next three years primarily as a utility player, appearing at six different positions. Moore was also a very popular player and manager in the Mexican minor leagues after completing his big league career. He later coached later coached college baseball at both Patten University in Oakland and Bethany College in Scotts Valley, California.

Why I love this card
I always liked the way that Moore signed "Jr." instead of the full "Junior." Looking at this card today, the look on Junior's face suggests that he knows his playing days are coming to an end. You don't often see a worried look on a major leaguer's baseball card, but I see it here.

Something else...
Moore was a client of Abdul-Jalil and Superstar Management, who negotiated his contract with Ted Turner with the Braves. His website is here, and you can read more about Junior's contract about halfway down the page.

#185 Hal McRae

Who is this player?
Hal McRae, Designated Hitter, Kansas City Royals
As one of the first players to make a career as a designated hitter, Hal McRae was a significant part of the attack of the AL Champion Royals in 1980. Typically the team's cleanup hitter, he tore a calf muscle early in the season and missed most of May. He rebounded to hit .297 with 83 RBI, a highlight being a five-hit game in August. He batted .375 in the World Series against the Phillies, but the Royals fell to Philadelphia in six games. At the end of the season, Hal was recognized as Designated Hitter of the Year.

The first major leaguer to hail from Florida A&M, McRae was a sixth round selection of the Cincinnati Reds in 1965. While McRae always showed an ability to hit, a broken leg in 1969 limited his fielding abilities and prevented him from becoming a full-time player. Nevertheless, Hal made his debut with the Reds in 1968 and twice played in the World Series with the Big Red Machine. In the break that would define his career, McRae was traded to the Royals in December, 1972.

McRae struggled in his first season in Kansas City, but rebounded to hit .316 over the next three seasons (1974-1976) and the Royals won the AL West for the first time. Hal was an MVP candidate and recognized as an All-Star in 1975 and 1976. He was among the leaders in batting and finished second in a close race with teammate George Brett in 1976. In an ugly incident, McRae charged racism when Brett narrowly edged out McRae on the final day.

He developed a well-earned reputation as a hard-nosed, intense player that came to signify the Royals of that era. Still among the franchise leaders in many offensive categories, McRae twice led the league in doubles and was the AL RBI champion in 1982. The Royals qualified for the postseason in 1981, 1984 and in 1985 the team won their first World Championship. McRae played in nine post-season series with the Royals and was a .294 hitter in the playoffs. His last season was 1987 after 19 seasons in the major leagues.

Following his playing retirement, McRae managed the Royals (1991–94) and Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2001–02). He also served as hitting coach for the Cinncinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, and St. Louis Cardinals. Recently, McRae was in the news as he was fired as Cardinals hitting coach and replaced by Mark McGwire.

Why I love this card
The older kids in the neighborhood could always get the little kids to believe anything based solely on the fact that they were older. In 1980, I was on the receiving end of this spectrum and Hal McRae reminds me of this. While I am not certain of McRae's ancestry, the older kids had me convinced that he was of Irish decent because "anyone with 'Mc' in front of their name" is "definately" Irish. I think that my parents let me figure that one out for myself.

Something else....
No matter what, whenever I think of Hal McRae, I will always think of this. If it's not the best tirade ever, I would like to see the one that is.

#184 Steve Renko

Who is this player?
Steve Renko, starting pitcher, Boston Red Sox
Originally sent to the bullpen when the 1980 season began, Steve Renko was inserted into the Red Sox rotation in late May when Dennis Eckersley was injured. In his first start, he pitched a complete game victory and the 35-year old righthander went on to win nine games (second on the club). Renko was a reliable, yet unspectacular starting pitcher that pitched 5 or more innings 18 times in 1980.

A three-sport athlete at the University of Kansas, Steve Renko was the quarterback on the Jayhawk team that featured NFL Hall of Famer Gale Sayers. He was drafted by both the Oakland Raiders and New York Mets and chose a baseball career in 1965. The Mets left him unprotected in the National League expansion draft and Renko became one of the original members of the Montreal Expos.

Renko was part of the Expos' rotation for part of eight seasons, where his 68 victories still place him fifth on the franchise's all-time list. Additionally, he is fourth in games started and innings pitched; seventh in strikeouts. He was the Expos Opening Day starter in 1974 following arguably his best season in 1973. In addition to winning 15 games, he was seventh in the league in ERA (2.81) and was the team leader in nearly every pitching category.

He became somewhat of a journeyman pitcher in the mid-to-late 1970s, pitching with the Cubs, White Sox, A's and Red Sox during the last four seasons of the decade. He had a losing record during this span, pitching mainly for bad teams. A highlight came in 1979, where he pitched a one-hitter that was broken up by Rickey Henderson in the ninth inning. In all, Renko fired five one-hitters during his career.

After the 1980 season, he was part of the Fred Lynn trade and was an important part of the 1982 AL West champions, winning 11 games. The final season of his 15-year career was the 1983 campaign that he spent with the Kansas City Royals. He spent many years as a minor league pitching coach most recently with the Charleston River Dogs.

Why I love this card
In 1980, I don't think the word "unibrow" was invented but even back then I was intimidated by Renko. Whether it be the glare/snarl he's apparently giving the camera or connection of his eyebrows, this card gave me the willies. Until right now, I don't think I've looked at this card since it originally went into my set.

Something else....
Renko's card is another one of the double printed versions.

#183 Jim Anderson

Who is this player?
Jim Anderson, utility player, California Angels
The Player To Be Named Later. When the Angles acquired pitcher John Montague from the Seattle Mariners for the stretch drive in 1979, Jim Anderson was cast out in December. Anderson played five different positions with the 1980 Mariners, primarily as a third baseman and shortstop. Providing much-needed depth from the bench, Anderson even appeared behind the plate in a game for Seattle. He achieved career highs in nearly every offensive category and appeared in 116 games.

A high school standout at Kennedy in Granada Hills, California, Anderson played in the state championship game in just his sophomore year. He earned the attention of the local Angels, who drafted him on the second round of the 1975 draft. He worked his way up the minor league ladder, earning a reputation as a good defensive player. He eventually landed in Anaheim in July of 1978 and remained on the Angels' roster for the remainder of the season, usually as a substitute. He saw action as a late inning sub but struggled hit over .200.

In 1979, he was with the Angels for the entire season, culminating in the Angels' first post-season appearance. He had a four-hit game in July to lead an Angel rout against the Kansas City Royals and when the Angels clinched the AL West, Anderson poured champagne over the head of President Richard Nixon. The deposed former President had adopted the Angels as his favorite team and was a fixture at many of their games during the season.

Anderson spent only one more season in Seattle (1981) and was waived shortly before the start of the 1982 season. He spent the entire 1982 campaign with the Texas Rangers' Triple-A club in Denver and earned a spot on the major league roster in 1983. In limited action in two years with the Rangers, Anderson batted only .181. He was traded to the Montreal Expos with Bob Sebra for the rights to Pete Incaviglia in November, 1985 but he never again appeared in a major league game, ending a six year career.

In recent years, Anderson has become an active member of the Angels Alumni Association and makes numerous appearances each month at various activities throughout the Greater Los Angeles region. He also entered the real estate industry after his playing days is helping to lead the cause of deregulation of public utilities and telecommunications.

Why I love this card
This card reminds me of our third grade school pictures. I know that the blue background here is likely the Spring Training sky, but it looks exactly like the tarp that they would set up when they would take our photo. I half expect to see "Jim '80" embossed in gold in the bottom right hand corner. No way Sr. Kathleen would have let us get away with looking away like Mr. Anderson is doing here.

Something else....
Anderson's card is another one of the DP cards sprinkled throughout the set. Like most of these, if I opened three packs, I would get this card (it seemed). In one of my more destructive moments, I set this card up in the path of the lawnmower, "just to see what it would do." The results were predictable.

#182 Ken Reitz

Who is this player?
Ken Reitz, third baseman, St. Louis Cardinals.
A slick-fielding defensive whiz, Ken Reitz set a record for third basemen in 1980 committing eight errors all season. He began the season at a torrid pace at the plate, among the league leaders in hitting and batting over .400 until the middle of May. Reitz earned his first All-Star selection that July and when Mike Schmidt was unable to start the game, Reitz took his place as the National League starter. His average cooled during the summer but he still finished a respectable .270. His days as a Cardinal were numbered when Whitey Herzog took over and he was traded to the Chicago Cubs in a package for relief ace Bruce Sutter in December.

Called "The Zamboni Machine," for his fielding prowess, Reitz was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals on the 31st round of the 1969 draft. He made his debut in 1972 and in his first two full seasons, he led all NL third basemen in fielding percentage (.974 in 1973 and '74), but the Gold Glove eluded him. He captured his first and only Gold Glove in 1975, curiously, the year he committed his most errors. With most of his career in the shadow of Schmidt, Reitz never received the recognition that his fielding deserved.

He was traded to the San Francisco Giants prior to the 1976 season but he only spent one season by the Bay and returned to the Cardinals in 1977. In addition to his glove, Reitz was also known for his slow foot speed. He was consistently among the league leaders in grounding into double plays and it was the primary reason that Whitey Herzog gave in trading him to the Chicago Cubs in 1981.

Reitz was a fan favorite in St. Louis. He was not a flashy hitter, but he was a consistent one, his hitting improving during his first few seasons. After batting .235 during his rookie season, he batted below .250 only once over the next seven. He was also known for his temper, he tore up a St. Louis airport after too many beers and too long a wait in 1979 and refused to show up to the Chicago Cubs after he was traded (he relented after the Cubs threw in $150K).

In Chicago, Reitz became addicted to amphetamines and it significantly reduced the length of his career. He was traded to the Pirates the following year and his 11-year career ended in 1982. He was accused of passing bad checks in the mid 1980s and played with the Senior Professional Baseball League. Today, he is part of the Celebrity Players Golf Tour and makes personal appearances on behalf of the Cardinals about 20 times a year.

Why I love this card
When the All Star Game rolled around and Reitz was named the starter, I scrambled to get this card. 1980 began my tradition of trying to get as many All Stars as possible to lay out during the game. In short, I overpayed for this card. It cost me a Carl Yastrzemski and Steve Kemp (remember I'm in Detroit) in one of my worst trades ever. But I didn't feel that way at the time.

Something else....
I've mentioned this before, but the Cardinals (and possibly the A's) have the prettiest looking cards in the 1980 set. The color combination with the pennants and the team's primary colors just make every one of the cards look good. It's a nice contrast to the browns, purples and oranges dotted here and there throughout the set.