1977 Topps Baseball #474 - Rookie Shortstops - Bob Bailor, Kiko Garcia, Craig Reynolds, Alex Taveras

• Bob Bailor
• Debut: September 6, 1975
• 1977 Stats: .310, 5 HR, 32 RBI in 122 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• July 15 - Hit a game-winning 2-run home run in the bottom of the 13th inning to lift the Blue Jays to an 8-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.
• Sept 28 - Singled in what would be the winning run in the 7th inning of Toronto's 3-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox. 
• Other card blogs: 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986
• Bob Bailor was signed by the Baltimore Orioles in 1969.
• Bob played in the minors from 1970-1976, spending the last four of those seasons in AAA Rochester. He had two  brief trials with the Orioles in 1975 (1 for 7 in 5 games) and in 1976 (2 for 6 in 9 games)
• Bailor was the first player picked by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1976 expansion draft.
• In 1977 Bailor didn't have a regular position, but he led the Blue Jays in hits, stolen bases, and runs scored. Bob actually appeared in more games as an outfielder than he did as a shortstop.
• For the next two seasons Bailor was the main starter in right field. In 1978 he batted .264 in 154 games and in 1979 Bob batted .229 in 130 games.
• Bailor lost his starting right fielder job to Lloyd Moseby in 1980 and was used as a fourth outfielder and a utility man. He batted .236 in 117 games. After the 1980 season Bob was traded to the New York Mets for Roy Lee Jackson.
• Bob played five different positions for the Mets in each of the three seasons he spent there. In 1981 Bob batted .284 in 51 games. Bailor batted .277 in 110 games in 1982 and in 1983 he batted .250 in 118 games.
• After the 1983 season Bailor was traded (with Carlos Diaz) to the New York Mets for Sid Fernandez and Ross Jones.
• Bailor spent his last two season with the Dodgers. In 1984 Bob batted .275 in 65 games and in 1985 he batted .246 in 74 games. Bailor missed the first month of the 1984 season with a shoulder injury and he had knee surgery in August that shelved him for the rest of the year.
• Bailor was released during spring training in 1986. After his retirement Bob coached and managed in the minors for a few years. Bailor coached with the Blue Jays from 1992-1995.
• Kiko Garcia
• Debut: September 11, 1976
• 1977 Stats: .221, 2 HR in 65 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• Aug 1 - Homered in the third inning to help the Orioles beat the Oakland A's 5-1.
• Aug 12 - Singled in two runs in Baltimore's 6-1 victory over Oakland.
• Other card blogs: 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985
• Kiko Garcia was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1971. He played in the minors from 1971-1976. Kiko was called up in September 1976 and batted .219 in 11 games.
• In 1977 (.221 in 65 games) and in 1978 (.263 in 79 games) Garcia backed up Mark Belanger at shortstop.
• Kiko won the starting shortstop job in 1979 and batted .247 in 126 games. Garcia batted .273 (3 for 11) in the AL Championship Series and batted .400 (8 for 20) in the World Series.
• Garcia split time with Belanger at shortstop in 1980. His offensive numbers slipped -- Kiko batted .199 in 111 games.
• During spring training in 1981 the Orioles traded Kiko to the Houston Astros for Chris Bourjos and cash. Garcia was a utility infielder for the Astros in 1981 (.272 in 48 games) and in 1982 (.211 in 34 games).
• After the 1982 season Kiko became a free agent. He signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies' AAA Portland club during spring training in 1983. After Garcia batted .345 in 35 games, the Phillies bought his contract in mid-May. Kiko played well for the Phillies as a utility man (.288 in 84 games) but he didn't appear in the post season.
• Garcia batted .233 in 57 games in 1984. 
• Kiko was released and then re-signed in early April 1985. He wasn't used much (0 for 3 in four games) and he was released again in mid-May.
• After his retirement Garcia went into coaching high school and travel baseball teams in California. He is now the president of KG Hitters.
• Craig Reynolds
• Debut: August 1, 1975
• 1977 Stats: .248, 4 HR, 28 RBI in 135 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• Aug 26 - Singled in the go-ahead run in the 9th inning of Seattle's 4-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
• Sept 16 - Appeared as a pinch hitter and snapped a 1-1 tie with a run-scoring single. Seattle beat the Kansas City Royals 4-1.
• Other card blogs: 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988
• Craig Reynolds actually played for the Seattle Mariners in 1977. Craig was traded (with Jimmy Sexton) to the Mariners for Grant Jackson in December 1976.
• Reynolds was given a chance to play for the expansion Mariners and was their starting shortstop.
• Alex Taveras
• Debut: September 9, 1976
• 1977 Stats: 
• Columbus Astros (AA) - .216 in 49 games
• Charleston Charlies (AAA) - .149 in 47 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• Other card blogs: none
• Alex Taveras was signed by the Houston Astros from the Dominican Republic in 1974. Taveras played in the minors from 1974-1976 and then batted .217 in 14 games as a September call-up in 1976.
• Taveras split the 1977 season between AA and AAA. He didn't hit well at either level and was traded (with Bob Detherage) to the LA Dodgers  for Danny Walton
• Alex spent the next seven seasons (1978-1984) shuttling between AA San Antonio and AAA Albuquerque. Taveras had brief stints with the Dodgers in 1982 (1 for 3 in 11 games) and in 1983 (0 for 4 in 10 games).
• In 1985 Alex played for AAA  Buffalo (Chicago White Sox organization). Taveras batted .218 in 109 games and retired after the season.
• Alex currently coaches for Aguilas Cibaenas of the Dominican Winter League.