1977 Topps Baseball #478 - Rookie Pitchers - Jim Gideon / Leon Hooten / Dave Johnson / Mark Lemongello

• Jim Gideon
• Debut: September 14, 1975 (his only major league game)
• 1977 Stats:
• Tacoma Twins (AAA): 2-3, 9.80 ERA in 11 games (9 starts)
• Visailia Oaks (A): 0-2, 13.50 ERA in 2 games (1 start)
• Other card blogs: none
• Jim Gideon was drafted by the Texas Rangers in 1975. Gideon (6'4" tall, 200 lbs) was a promising fastballer and got a large signing bonus. He was 17-0 with the University of Texas and helped them to a National Championship in 1975. Jim pitched two games at the Rookie League level and dominated. He was jumped all the way to AAA and struggled. Gideon was called up to the Rangers on September 1. He was given a start on September 14 and allowed five runs in 5 2/3 innings.
• Gideon started the 1976 season in AAA. He was traded (with Mike Cubbage, Bill Singer, Roy Smalley, and $250,000) to the Minnesota Twins for Bert Blyleven and Danny Thompson on June 1. 
• Jim spent the 1976 season in AAA. Gideon had control problems as he walked at least twice as many batters as he struck out for most of his career. In 1977 Jim split the season between AAA and class A. Gideon didn't pitch in 1978 and was in 7 games (6 starts) in 1979. 
• Before the 1980 season Jim was released by the Twins. He took the next two seasons off and then attempted a comeback in 1982. Jim had a 6.35 ERA in 25 games at the AA level and retired after the 1982 season.
• Jim was named to the University of Texas Hall of Fame in 1992.
• Leon Hooten
• Debut: April 13, 1974
• 1977 Stats: none (retired after the 1976 season)
• Other card blogs: none
• Leon Hooten was drafted from the University of Arizona in 1971. Hooten pitched in the minors from 1971-1973. He made the Oakand A's staff in 1974. Hooten pitched in six games in April and May 1974 (0-0, 3.24 ERA) and then was sent back to the minors. That was his only major league experience.
• Since Hooten pitched for the UofA Wildcats, he must have been a popular guy from 1973-1976 when he pitched for AAA Tucson.
• Dave Johnson
• Debut: July 2, 1974
• 1977 Stats:
• San Jose Missions (AAA): 2-0, 1 save, 0.60 ERA in 8 games
• Minnesota Twins: 2-5, 4.58 ERA in 30 games (6 starts)
• 1977 Highlights:
• July 31 - Allowed three runs in six innings and earned the win as the Twins beat the Cleveland Indians 9-4.
• Other card blogs: none
• Dave Johnson was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1967. The Orioles had a lot of good young pitchers in their system. Although Johnson had some good years in the minors he didn't get to the AA level until his sixth season (1972). 
• Johnson finally got his first opportunity to pitch in the majors in July 1974. Dave appeared in 11 games and was 2-2 with a 2.93 ERA.
• In 1975 Johnson split time between AAA Rochester and the Orioles. Dave went 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA for the Orioles in 1975.
• Dave spent the 1976 season in Rochester. After the 1976 season he was sold to the expansion Seattle Mariners. 
• Johnson never appeared in a regular season game for the Mariners. He pitched in eight games for AAA San Jose (Oakland A's organization). The Mariners must not have had a AAA team yet. On May 2, 1977 Dave was sold to the Minnesota Twins. Johnson stayed with the Twins for the rest of the 1977 season, going 2-5 with a 4.58 ERA in 30 games (6 starts).
• Dave started the 1978 season with the Twins. He made six appearances (1 start) and went 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA. Johnson was sent to AAA Toledo to make room for newly signed Mike Marshall and then retired after making four appearances for the Mud Hens.
• Mark Lemongello
• Debut: September 14, 1976
• 1977 Stats: 9-14, 3.48 ERA in 34 games (30 starts)
• 1977 Highlights:
• July 17 - Allowed one run in six innings and earned the win as the Astros beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-1.
• Sept 28 - Won his last start of the season by pitching a complete game in Houston's 2-1 win over the Atlanta Braves. Mark knocked in the winning run.
• Other card blogs: 1979
• Mark Lemongello was signed by the Detroit Tigers in 1973. After the 1975 season Mark was traded with three other players to the Houston Astros for three players. Lemongello pitched in AAA in 1976 and earned a September call-up with the Astros. Mark impressed a lot of people, going 3-1 with a 2.79 ERA in four starts.
• Lemongello was with the Astros for the entire 1977 season. Mark started 1-10 but he came on strong in the second half and finished with a 9-14 record.
• Mark was known for violent behavior and a bad temper. He slapped himself after bad innings and destroyed locker room equipment after bad games.
• In 1978 Lemongello had the same 9-14 record but his ERA climbed to 3.94 (high for someone pitching in the Astrodome). After the 1978 season Mark was traded with two other players to the Toronto Blue Jays for catcher Alan Ashby.
• Lemongello wasn't happy about being traded to Toronto. He had a rough year in 1979, going 1-9 with a 6.29 ERA in 18 games (10 starts) before being sent to AAA after a screaming match with manager Roy Hartsfield. When he was informed about his demotion Mark threw an ashtray at GM Peter Bavasi and barely missed him. Lemongello pitched well for Syracuse (3-0, 1.80 ERA in 4 games).
• At the end of spring training in 1980 Mark was purchased by the Chicago Cubs. Lemongello pitched in AAA in 1980 but never got back to the major leagues.
• In 1982 Mark and a former minor league teammate kidnapped his cousins (singer Peter Lemongello and pro bowler Mike Lemongello) and robbed them of $50,000. Mark got seven years of probation for the incident.
• An online sketch of Mark's life is here.