1977 Topps Baseball #183 - St. Louis Cardinals / Vern Rapp

• The St. Louis Cardinals were an average club with some good players (Garry Templeton, Ted Simmons, Lou Brock), but they didn't have enough to challenge for the NL East crown. They didn't hit for much power and their starting pitching had some weaknesses.
• Vern Rapp played and managed in the minor leauges for a long time before becoming the manager of the Cardinals in 1977. Rapp played in the minors from 1946-1960 (except for two years of military service) and became a manager in 1961. Vern was quite successful as a minor league manager, amassing 1300 career wins.
• After the 1976 season the Cardinals dismissed long-time manager Red Schoendienst and hired Rapp to manage the club. It was felt that the club needed a disciplinarian type of manager. Rapp instituted a dress code that was unpopular with several players. 
• The Cardinals went from 72 wins in 1976 to 83 wins in 1977. But the club started slowly in 1978 (6-11) and Vern was fired on April 25.
• Rapp coached for the Montreal Expos for five seasons. He was named manager of the Cincinnati Reds after the 1983 season.
• The Reds didn't improve much over their previous two last-place seasons (51-70, 5th in NL West) in 1984 and Vern was replaced by player-manager Pete Rose on August 16.
• Baseball by the Letters, September 2010
• • Team Highlights:
  • May 23 - Al Hrabosky returned to the club after serving a two day suspension for insubordination. Hrabosky had some disagreements with Rapp about the team dress code.
  • Aug 29 - Lou Brock broke Ty Cobb's all-time stolen base record by stealing his 893rd career base.
  • • Record: 83-79, 3rd in NL East, 18 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies
    • Attendance:  1,659,287 (4th in NL)
    • Team Batting: .270 (4th in NL)
    • Team HR: 96 (11th in NL)
    • Team Stolen Bases: 134 (5th in NL)
    • Team ERA: 3.81 (7th in NL)
    • Team Fielding: .978 (5th in NL)
    • All Stars: Ted Simmons (C), Garry Templeton (SS)
    • Awards: none
    • NL Leaders: 
    • Garry Templeton - triples (18), singles (155), caught stealing (24)
    • Lou Brock - caught stealing (24)
    • Ted Simmons - intentional walks (25)
    • Batting Leader: Garry Templeton (.322)
    • Home Run Leader:  Ted Simmons (21)
    • RBI Leader: Ted Simmons (95)
    • Stolen Base Leader: Lou Brock (35)
    • Victories Leader: Bob Forsch (20)
    • Losses Leader: Eric Rasmussen (17)
    • Strikeout Leader: Eric Rasmussen (120)
    • Saves Leader: Al Hrabosky (10)
    • ERA Leader (starters): Bob Forsch (3.48)
    • ERA Leader (relievers): Barney Schultz (2.32)
    • Players who could have had Cardinals cards in 1977 (batters with over 100 AB, pitchers with over 40 innings) : 
    • Buddy Schultz 6-1, 2.32 ERA in 40 games
    • John Urrea - 7-6, 4 saves, 3.16 ERA in 41 games (12 starts)
    • Tom Underwood - P - got a card with the Philadelphia Phillies
    • Clay Carroll - P - got a card with the Chicago White Sox
    • Butch Metzger - P - got a card with the San Diego Padres
    • Tony Scott - OF - .291 in 95 games