1977 Topps Baseball #491 - Rookie Pitchers - Mike Dupree / Denny Martinez / Craig Mitchell / Bob Sykes
- Mike Dupree
- Debut: April 13, 1976
- 1977 Stats:
- Hawaii Islanders: 3-5, 5 saves, 4.27 ERA in 36 games (3 starts); .352 average in 70 games (108 at bats)
- 1977 Highlights:
- Aug 29- As a DH he went 2 for 3 with a run scored and a run batted in to help Hawaii beat Spokane 5-3.
- Other card blogs: none
- Mike Dupree was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 1973. He was an outfielder and a first baseman in the minors from 1973-1975. Mike tried out pitching in AA in 1975 and was 5-0 with a 2.18 ERA in 14 games.
- Dupree made the San Diego club in 1976, but he didn't have much success in the majors. Mike spent one month with the Padres and had a 9.19 ERA in 12 games. Dupree was sent back to AAA in mid-May.
- Dupree pitched for the AAA Hawaii Islanders from 1976 through the 1979 season. He spent more time in the outfield and at DH than he did on the mound.
- In 1980 Dupree played in Japan. That was it for his professional baseball career.
- Denny Martinez
- Debut: September 14, 1976
- 1977 Stats: 14-7, 4 saves, 4.10 ERA in 42 games (13 starts)
- 1977 Highlights:
- May 25 - Allowed two runs (one unearned) in a complete game 4-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
- June 14 - Pitched the 10th and 11th innings and allowed one unearned run to earn the win as Baltimore beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-5.
- Other card blogs: 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988
- Dennis Martinez enjoyed a 23-year career as a major league pitcher. Martinez was signed by the Baltimore Orioles from his native Nicaraugua in 1973. Dennis rose quickly through the crowded Baltimore farm system. He had a brief trial in 1976 (1-2, 2.60 ERA in 4 games/2 starts) and then joined the Oriole staff full time in 1977.
- Martinez had several good seasons with the Orioles, especially in 1979 (AL leader in complete games) and in 1981 (AL leader in wins)
- Dennis had some injury problems in 1980 (missed about 2 months with tendonitits). He wasn't as effective in his final few seasons in Baltimore. After the 1983 season Martinez underwent an 8-week treatment program for alcoholsim. During the 1986 season Dennis was traded with John Stenfro to the Montreal Expos for Rene Gonzalez.
- In 1987 Martinez had a huge revival as a pitcher. Dennis had six good years with the Expos from 1987-1992, including three All Star selections and an ERA title in 1991. On July 28, 1991 Martinez pitched a perfect game against the LA Dodgers.
- Dennis' stats fell off a bit in 1993. After the 1993 season Martinez became a free agent and signed with the Cleveland Indians. Dennis pitched for the Indians from 1993-1996. He had some injury problems in 1996 and after the season he became a free agent and signed with the Seattle Mariners. After struggling with the Mariners in 1997, Dennis retired after being released in June. The next season Martinez signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves. Dennis won a job with the Braves, broke the record for the all-time winningest Latin-American pitcher, then retired at the age of 44 with 245 career victories.
- Dennis is now the bullpen coach for the Houston Astros.
- Craig Mitchell
- Debut: September 25, 1975
- 1977 Stats:
- San Jose Missions (AAA): 10-11, 1 save, 4.48 ERA in 32 games (30 starts)
- Oakland A's: 0-1, 7.94 ERA in 3 games (1 start)
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1976.
- Craig Mitchell was drafted by the Oakland A's in 1973. He spent most of his career in the minors. Mitchell had brief stints with the A's in 1975 (0-1, 12.27 ERA in 1 start), 1976 (2.70 ERA in 1 game) and in 1977 (0-1, 7.94 ERA in 3 games).
- Mitchell pitched in AAA through the 1979 season.
- Bob Sykes
- Debut: April 9, 1977
- 1977 Stats: 5-7, 4.41 ERA in 32 games (20 starts)
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1979, 1980
- Bob Sykes was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 1974. Bob was 11-0 in Rookie League ball in 1974. He pitched in the minors in 1975 and in 1976.
- Sykes made the Detroit roster in 1977 because Mark Fidrych was to start the season on the disabled list. Bob managed to stay with the Tigers for the entire season. Bob split time between the bullpen and the starting rotation, going 5-7 with a 4.41 ERA in 32 games (20 starts).
- Bob spent the first month of the 1978 season in AAA Evansville. He was brought up to the Tigers after winning all four of his starts in Evansville (4-0, 1.41 ERA). Sykes was a spot starter and a long man for Detroit in 1978 (6-6, 2 saves, 3.94 ERA in 22 games /10 starts).
- After the 1978 season Sykes was traded with a minor leaguer to the St. Louis Cardinals for Jerry Morales and Aurelio Lopez.
- Sykes had a tough time for the Cardinals in 1979. Bob was in the starting rotation until mid-June, but he went down with a blood clot in his shoulder. Bob rehabbed in the minors and then came back to the Cardinals to pitch in two games in September. Overall Bob was 4-3 with a 6.18 ERA in 13 games (11 starts).
- Bob stayed with the Cardinals for all of 1980 (6-10, 4.64 ERA in 27 games/19 starts) and 1981 (2-0, 4.58 ERA in 22 games/1 start). Sykes was the Cardinals' player rep in 1981 during the strike.
- After the 1981 season Sykes was traded to the New York Yankees for Willie McGee. It was thought to be a minor deal at the time, but McGee paid big dividends for the Cardinals in their World Championship season in 1982. Bob spent the 1982 season on the disabled list and in the minors. Sykes retired after the 1982 season.
No comments:
Post a Comment