1977 Topps Baseball #136 - Jerry Mumphrey

• Jerry  Mumphrey was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971. After playing in the minors from 1971-1974, Jerry had a September call-up in 1974 and was 0 for 2 with two runs scored in five games.
• In 1976 Mumphrey started in the minors but the Cardinals brought him up in May after he started out batting .338 for AAA Tulsa. Jerry was the fourth outfielder and batted .258 in 112 games.
• Mumphrey became the starting center fielder late in 1977 and batted .287 with 10 triples in 144 games.
• In 1978 Jerry spent time in all three outfield positions and batted .262 in 125 games.
• Mumphrey was a fourth outfielder again in 1979. Jerry batted .295 in 124 games. After the 1979 season Mumphrey was traded with John Denny to the Cleveland Indians for Bobby Bonds. Two months later Jerry was traded to the San Diego Padres for Bob Owchinko and Jim Wilhelm.
• Jerry was given an opportunity to be the regular center fielder in 1980 and he came through, batting .298 and stealing a career-high 52 bases.
• At the end of spring training in 1981, Mumphrey was traded (with John Pacella) to the New York Yankees for Ruppert Jones, Joe Lefebvre, Tim Lollar, and Chris Welsh. During the strike-shortened 1981 season Jerry batted .307 in 80 games as the Yankees' starting center fielder. Mumphrey batted .095 (2 for 21) in five games in the ALDS, .500 (6 for 12) in the ALCS, and .200 (3 for 15) in the World Series.
• Jerry batted .300 in 123 games in 1982. 
• In 1983 Mumphrey split the season between the Yankees and the Houston Astros. Jerry was batting .262 in 83 games on August 10 when he was traded to the Houston Astros for Omar Moreno. Jerry was happy to get back to the National League with its astroturf fields. Mumphrey batted .336 in 44 games with Houston to finish the 1983 season with a flourish.
• Mumphrey was an NL All Star in 1984 (he struck out as a pinch hitter). He batted .290 with 83 RBI in 151 games in '84.
• Jerry moved from center field to right field in 1985. He tailed off just a bit, batting .277 in 130 games. After the 1985 season Mumphrey was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Billy Hatcher and a player to be named later (Steve Engel went to the Astros in July 1986).
• Jerry spent the next two seasons as the fourth outfielder and a pinch hitter for the Cubs. In 1986 he batted .304 in 111 games and in 1987 he batted .333 in 118 games. 
• Mumphrey tailed off badly in 1988. He was used almost exclusively as a pinch hitter and batted only .136 in 66 at bats. Jerry was released after the 1988 season.
• 
  
• 1977 Stats: .287, 73 runs scored, 23 stolen bases in 144 games
• 1977 Highlights: 
• May 14 - Homered in the 5th inning to contribute to a 7-6 St. Louis win over the Atlanta Braves.
• May 30 - Went 3 for 4 with two RBI and three runs scored as the Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 14-0. Jerry didn't even start in the game -- he entered the game in the fourth inning.
• Aug 3 - Went 4 for 5 with 3 runs scored in the Cardinals' 5-1 victory over the Braves
• 
  
• Other card blogs: 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988