- Andres Mora was one of the greatest sluggers in Mexican League history. Mora played for a few years in the United States, but he always preferred to play in his native Mexico.
- Mora was signed by the Montreal Expos in 1973. He played briefly in Class A West Palm Beach, but was hitless in 21 at bats. Andres was released during spring training in 1974 and played in Mexico for the next two years.
- Andres was purchased by the Baltimore Orioles late in the 1975 season. Mora didn't see any action in the U.S. in 1975, but in 1976 the Orioles assigned him to AAA Rochester. Mora batted .328 in 18 games and was called up to the majors in June. Mora was 21 years old in 1976 and was used as the right-handed designated hitter for much of the season. Mora was getting used to major league pitching and batted .218 with 6 HR and 25 RBI in 73 games.
- Mora had his best year for the Orioles in 1977. He was still a platoon player and manager Earl Weaver was having a hard time finding him playing time. Andres batted .245 with 13 HR and 44 RBI in 1977.
- In 1978 Mora started the season in Rochester and then was brought up in May. Andres was a backup outfielder and DH and batted .214 with 8 HR and 14 RBI.
- Andres was optioned to Rochester to start the 1979 season. Rochester then optioned Mora to Saltillo in the Mexican League.
- After the 1979 season Mora was taken by the Cleveland Indians in the Rule 5 draft. Unfortunately for Mora, "Super Joe" Charboneau emerged and eventually was the AL Rookie of the Year. Andres played in only nine games for the Indians (2 for 18, .111 ). Mora was going to be sent down to AAA in May but instead he decided to play in Mexico.
- Mora had a lot of success in the Mexican League and was second all-time in home runs (419) by the time he retired in 1997. Andres has been managing and coaching in the Mexican League for most of the time since his retirement.
- Andres Mora's SABR biography
- 1977 Stats: .245, 13 HR, 44 RBI
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1979
- Lee May (1965-1982)
- Lifetime Stats:
- .267 batting average
- 354 HR
- 1244 RBI
- 2071 games
- 3-time All Star
- Carlos May (1968-1977)
- Lifetime Stats:
- .274 batting average
- 90 HR
- 536 RBI
- 1165 games
- 2-time All Star
- Except for Al Bumbry's Rookie of the Year season in 1973 and his All Star season in 1980, 1977 was his best offensive season.
- 1977 Stats: .317, 4 HR, 41 RBI in 133 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986, Cardboard Gods
- Jim Palmer led the AL in victories for the third straight year in 1977. Palmer also led the league in starts, complete games, and innings pitched. Jim finished second to Sparky Lyle in Cy Young Award voting. During his career Palmer won three Cy Young awards and was second in the voting twice.
- Jim Palmer's SABR biography
- 1977 Stats: 20-11, 2.91 ERA in 39 starts
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1976, 1976 Hostess, 1978, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1982, 1983
- Ross Grimsley was playing out his option in 1977. Although he started 34 games and pitched 218 innings, Ross struck out only 53 batters. After the season Grimsley signed a six-year contract with the Montreal Expos.
- Grimsley is now the pitching coach for the AA Richmond Flying Squirrels.
- An interview with Ross during spring training in 2012
- 1977 Stats: 14-10, 3.96 ERA in 34 starts
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, Cardboard Gods, Number 5 Collection
- Earl Weaver never played in the major leagues. He was a minor league player in the Browns, Pirates, and Orioles organizations from 1948-1960. Except for part of a season in 1958, Earl never made it past the AA level as a player. Weaver was a player/manager from 1956-1959.
- In 1961 Weaver started his full time minor league managerial career in Class B Fox Cities at the age of 30. The Orioles had been building a strong farm system. Weaver was very successful as a manager as he moved up the Orioles system, although GM Paul Richards had warned Weaver about how his fiery temper and frequent ejections were interfering with his ability to teach.
- In 1968 Earl was brought up to the Orioles as a coach. Manager Hank Bauer was in trouble and most observers thought it was just a matter of time before Earl would become Baltimore's manager. At the All Star break Bauer was fired and Weaver became the manager of the Orioles. At the time the team was struggling at 43-37. After the break the Orioles went 48-34 and moved up to second place in the AL.
- The Orioles won three straight AL East titles from 1969-1971. They won the ALCS in each of those years, but they won only one World Championship (1970).
- The Orioles slumped to a third place finish in the AL East in 1972. They then won the division in 1973 and in 1974. They were beat by the Oakland A's in the ALCS in both of those seasons. Weaver was named the AL Manager of the Year in 1973.
- In each of the next three seasons (1975-1977) the Orioles finished second in the AL East.
- Here is an article from the August 8, 1977 Sports Illustrated about the Orioles and their surprise run at the AL East title.
- On September 15 Weaver pulled his team off of the field and forfieted a game to the Toronto Blue Jays due to a dispute about the maintenance of the two bullpens.
- Weaver was the overwhelming choice for AL Manager of the Year in 1977.
- In 1978 the Orioles slipped to 4th in the AL East, even though they won 90 games.
- The Orioles won the AL East with 102 victories in 1979. They beat the California Angels in the ALCS and then lost the World Series to the "We Are Family" Pittsburgh Pirates in seven games. Earl won his third Manager of the Year award in 1979. It was the last year that Earl would take the team to the playoffs.
- For the next three seasons (1980-1982) the Orioles finished second in the AL East. Earl was arrested for drunk driving on August 31, 1981. In 1982 the Orioles trailed the Milwaukee Brewers by three games with four to play. Baltimore needed to sweep the four game series with the Brewers to win the division. The Orioles won the first three games to force a winner-take-all final game. Future Hall of Famers Jim Palmer and Don Sutton were matched up in the game. Both starters struggled, but the Brewers prevailed to win the game and the division.
- After the 1982 season Weaver decided to step down as manager of the Orioles. The team would win its last (to date) World Championship the next year (1983).
- Earl was a part-time announcer for ABC from 1983-1985. The Orioles were struggling in June 1985 and the team dangled a $500,000 salary for Weaver to come back. He accepted the offer and managed the Orioles for the rest of the 1985 season and the 1986 season.
- Weaver had the Orioles contending for the AL East as late as early August, but the team collapsed (14-42) the rest of the way and Weaver had his first losing record (and last place finish) as a manager. Earl retired after the season and this time he didn't come back.
- Weaver was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1996
- Weaver died while he was on a team fantasy Caribbean cruise on January 19, 2013 of an apparent heart attack.
- Here is Earl Weaver's SABR biography
- Record: 97-64, .602, 2nd in AL East, 2.5 games behind New York Yankees
- Attendance: 1,195,769 (10th in AL)
- Team Batting: .261 (9th in AL)
- Team HR: 148 (5th in AL)
- Team Stolen Bases: 90 (8th in AL)
- Team ERA: 3.74 (5th in AL)
- Team Fielding: .983 (1st in AL)
- All Stars: Jim Palmer (starting pitcher); Ken Singleton (OF)
- Awards: Jim Palmer (Gold Glove); Mark Belanger (Gold Glove); Eddie Murray (Rookie of the Year)
- AL Leaders: Jim Palmer (wins-20; innings pitched - 319; starts - 39; complete games - 22)
- Batting Leader: Ken Singleton - .328
- Home Run Leader: Eddie Murray / Lee May - 27
- RBI Leader: Ken Singleton / Lee May - 99
- Stolen Base Leader: Pat Kelly - 25
- Victories Leader: Jim Palmer - 20
- Losses Leader: Rudy May - 14
- Strikeout Leader: Jim Palmer - 193
- Saves Leader: Tippy Martinez - 9
- ERA Leader (starters): Jim Palmer - 2.91
- ERA Leader (relievers): Tippy Martinez - 2.70
- Players who could have had Orioles cards in 1977 (batters with over 100 AB, pitchers with over 40 innings) :
- Billy Smith (2B) - .215 in 109 games
- Dave Skaggs (C) - .287 in 80 games
- Elliott Maddox (OF) - .262 in 49 games
- 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.
- Doug Ault
- Debut: September 9, 1976
- 1977 Stats: .245, 11 HR, 64 RBI in 129 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1979, Cardboard Gods
- Doug Ault was signed by the Texas Rangers in 1973. He was 6'3" tall and weighed 200 pounds. Doug started his playing career at the age of 23. He played in the minors from 1973-1976 and had a good year with AAA Sacramento (.313, 25 HR) in 1976. Ault had a brief stint in Texas at the end of the 1976 season and batted .300 in 9 games.
- Ault was chosen by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1976 expansion draft. Doug started at first base for most of the 1977 season and batted .245 with 11 HR in 129 games. Ault hit the first home run in Toronto Blue Jays history in the first game of the 1977 season.
- In 1978 Doug backed up at 1B and OF and was a pinch hitter. He batted .240 in 45 games.
- Ault was back in the minors in 1979. He started the 1980 season in AAA and was recalled in June. Doug batted .194 in 64 games. That was it for his major league career.
- Ault played in Japan in 1981. He played for AAA Syracuse and also in the Mexican League in 1982. Doug retired after the 1982 season.
- After his playing career Ault was a coach and a manager in the minor leagues in the 1980s and 1990s. His coaching/managing career was derailed by an addiction to pain killers that he took for a chronically sore shoulder.
- In the 2000s Doug was a car salesman.
- Doug died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on December 22, 2004. He and his second wife had been having financial and other problems -- she was a obstetrician-gynecologist but she had lost her medical license in Florida in 2002 due mainly to a drug and alcohol addiction.
- Rich Dauer
- Debut: September 11, 1976
- 1977 Stats: .243, 5 HR, 25 RBI in 96 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986
- Rich Dauer first appeared on the baseball scene with the USC Trojans. He helped them to two College World Series victories in 1973 and in 1974. Dauer was the #1 draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles in 1974. He spent some time in the minors from 1974-1976 and had a great year for AAA Rochester in 1976 (.336 in 132 games). Rich earned a September call-up in 1976 (.103 in 11 games).
- In 1977 Dauer split time with Billy Smith at second base. Rich had a bit more offense (.243 to Smith's .215). The two players were used similarly in the next two seasons, but Dauer started to get larger and larger shares of the playing time. Rich batted .264 in 133 games in 1978 and .257 in 142 games in 1979. Dauer batted .182 (2 for 11) in the 1979 AL Championship Series and .294 (5 for 17) in the World Series. Rich holds the record for consecutive errorless games at second base (82 in 1978).
- Rich became the full-time second baseman for the Orioles in 1980. Dauer batted .284 in 152 games in 1980 and .263 in 96 games in the strike-shortened 1981 season.
- Dauer had his best season in 1982, batting .280 with a career-high 8 home runs.
- Rich slumped to .235 in 1983. He went 0 for 14 in the AL Championship Series and batted .211 (4 for 19) in the World Series.
- Dauer's last year as a full-time player was in 1984. He batted .257 in 127 games.
- Rich lost his 2B job to Alan Wiggins toward the end of the 1985 season. Dauer batted .202 in 85 games and became a free agent at the end of the season.
- After his playing career Rich was a coach and a manager in the minor leagues. He was a coach for four major league teams as well. Dauer is now the manager of the AA San Antonio Missions (San Diego Padres affiliate).
- Orlando Gonzalez
- Debut: June 7, 1976
- 1977 Stats:
- Toledo Mud Hens (AAA): .306, 1 HR, 43 RBI
- Other card blogs: none
- Orlando Gonzalez was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1974. He spent most of his career in the minors. Gonzalez put up good numbers in the minors -- his lowest average was .279 in 1974. He didn't have power, but he had good batting averages and was a pretty good base stealer.
- Orlando had a brief look at the end of the 1976 season and batted .250 in 28 games.
- Gonzalez was not satisfied with his contract offer for the 1977 season and was a holdout. Indians owner Phil Seghi renewed Orlando's (and several other player's) contract at a 20% pay cut in early March. He spent the 1977 season in AAA Toledo and batted .306 with 28 stolen bases.
- After the 1977 season Gonzalez became a free agent and signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. He played in AAA Oklahoma City until mid-July and then was called up to the Phillies. Orlando was mostly used as an outfield defensive replacement and a pinch hitter. Gonzalez batted .192 in 26 games and struck out in his only at bat in the NL Championship Series.
- Orlando was in Oklahoma City for the entire 1979 season. In 1980 Gonzalez was in Oklahoma City until July 25, when the Phillies sold him to the Oakland A's. The A's brought Orlando up to the majors and he batted .243 in 25 games.
- Gonzalez was released by the A's at the end of spring training in 1981.
- Phil Mankowski
- Debut: August 30, 1976
- 1977 Stats: .276, 3 HR, 27 RBI in 94 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1979, 1980, Cardboard Gods
- Phil Mankowski was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 1970. Phil spent six seasons (1971-1976) in the minors before coming up at the end of the 1976 season. In 1976 Mankowski started at third base for the Tigers for about a month and batted .271 in 24 games.
- Mankowski backed up at 3B and 2B for the Tigers in 1977, batting .276 in 94 games.
- Phil had a similar role in 1978 (.275 in 88 games) and in 1979 (.222 in 42 games). After the 1979 season Mankowski was traded (with Jerry Morales) to the New York Mets for Richie Hebner.
- Mankowski was hurt for much of the 1980 season. He had tendonitis in his right shoulder and missed May, June, and much of July. The Mets sent Phil to their AAA Tidewater club in July on a rehab assignment. Phil was reactivated in late September. He batted .167 in eight games in 1980.
- Phil didn't make the Mets in 1981 and was assigned to Tidewater. He played in only 55 games in 1981. I'm not sure, but I think that may have been due to the major league strike.
- Mankowski started the 1982 season in Tidewater. He had a brief stint with the Mets in June/July and batted .229 in 13 games. Phil retired after the 1982 season.
- In 1984 The Natural was filmed in Phil's hometown of Buffalo, NY. Phil was in the movie -- his major scene was when he gazing in the stands at an attractive female and a ball hit him below the belt.
- Mankowski was named to the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
- Chris Batton
- Debut: September 19, 1976
- 1977 Stats:
- Shreveport Captains (AA): 6-5, 3.14 ERA in 14 starts
- Columbus Clippers: 1-3, 7.91 ERA in 8 starts
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: none
- Chris Batton was drafted out of high school by the Oakland A's in 1972. Chris pitched in the minors from 1972-1976.
- Batton was called up in September 1976 and pitched in two games. He allowed no runs in two innings in a relief appearance and then allowed two runs in two innings in a start against the California Angels.
- On March 15, 1977 Chris was traded (with Phil Garner and Tommy Helms) to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Doc Medich, Dave Giusti, Mitchell Page, Tony Armas, Rick Langford, and Doug Bair. Chris split the season between AA (where he pitched well) and AAA (where he struggled).
- Batton didn't pitch in 1978. He pitched for two non-affiliated teams in 1979 - Class A Bakersfield (1-3, 7.67 in 5 starts) and the Santo Domingo Azucareos of the Inter-American League (7-4, 2.40 ERA in 15 games). That was it for Batton's career.
- Rick Camp
- Debut: September 15, 1976
- 1977 Stats: 6-3, 10 saves, 4.00 ERA in 54 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1979, 1983, 1985, 1986, Cardboard Gods
- Rick Camp was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1974. After playing in the minors from 1974-1976 Camp was called up for a look in September 1976. He went 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA in 5 games (1 start).
- Camp's first full season was in 1977. Rick appeared in 54 games and was 6-3 with 10 saves with a 4.00 ERA.
- In 1978 Camp was mostly a middle reliever. He made four starts in June and July. Rick was 2-4 with a 3.75 ERA in 42 appearances.
- Camp was sent to AAA Richmond during spring training in 1979. Rick made 22 appearances for the Richmond Braves before having season-ending arm surgery.
- Rick bounced back in 1980 to have a great season. He made 77 appearances and had a 6-4 record with 22 saves and had a 1.91 ERA. Camp was named NL player of the week for saving three games in one week late in September.
- Camp had a similar season in 1981. He saved 17 games and went 9-3 with a 1.78 ERA in 48 appearances.
- In 1982 Camp started the season as a reliever. He was moved into the starting rotation in June. Rick went 11-13 with 5 saves and had a 3.65 ERA in 51 games (21 starts). Camp started game 3 of the NL Championship Series but allowed four runs in one inning plus of work as the St. Louis Cardinals eliminated the Braves.
- Rick was a starter for the first couple of months of the 1983 season before being used as a swingman from June to the end of the season. Camp went 10-9 and had a 3.79 ERA in 40 games (16 starts)
- In 1984 Rick was a swingman for the first part of the season and then went to the bullpen for the second half of the season. Camp went 8-6 and had a 3.27 ERA in 31 games (12 starts).
- In his last season (1985) Rick hit one of the most improbable home runs in history. With the Braves behind 11-10 in the bottom of the 18th inning Camp homered to tie the game. In the 19th inning Camp struck out to finally end the game. Rick made 66 appearances (2 starts) and was 4-6 with 3 saves and had a 3.95 ERA.
- Rick was cut at the end of spring training in 1986. There was a 24-man roster in effect in 1986 and Camp may have been a victim of this roster reduction. He received his guaranteed salary of $600,000 and retired from baseball.
- In 2005 Camp was convicted of conspiring to steal over $2 million from a mental health agency. He was a lobbyist at the time. Rick was sentenced to three years in federal prison.
- Scott McGregor
- Debut: September 19, 1976
- 1977 Stats: 3-5, 4 saves, 4.42 ERA in 29 games (5 saves)
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1975, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988
- Scott McGregor was the New York Yankees' first round draft pick in 1972. McGregor progressed through the Yankees system from 1972-1976. On June 15 Scott was traded (with Rick Dempsey, Dave Pagan, Rudy May, and Tippy Martinez) to the Baltimore Orioles for Doyle Alexander, Jimmy Freeman, Ellie Hendricks, Ken Holtzman, and Grant Jackson. Scott stayed in AAA until the end of the 1976 season. He was called up in September and went 0-1 with a 3.68 ERA in 3 games (2 starts).
- In 1977 McGregor spent most of the time in the bullpen. Scott had five starts out of his 29 appearances.
- Scott was mostly a starting pitcher for the rest of his major league career. He was known for his control -- McGregor's career average was 2.2 walks per nine innings. Scott also didn't strike out many batters (only one year of more than 100 strikeouts). McGregor had good years when he had good defenses behind him, but was average to below average when he was pitching for poorer clubs.
- In 1978 McGregor was 15-13 with a 3.32 ERA. He followed that year up with a 13-6, 3.35 ERA in 1979. Scott had a complete game 8-0 shutout in game 4 of the AL Championship Series and was 1-1 (won game 3, lost game 7) with a 3.18 ERA in the World Series.
- Scott's best season was probably 1980. He was a 20 game winner for the only time in his career (20-8, 3.32 ERA) and finished 6th in AL Cy Young Award voting.
- McGregor was an AL All Star in 1981, but he didn't get in the game. Scott went 13-5 with a 3.26 ERA.
- In 1982 McGregor had his first off year (14-12, 4.61 ERA). Scott bounced back with a good season in 1983 (18-7, 3.18 ERA, 6th in Cy Young voting). McGregor lost his only start in the AL Championship Series despite giving up only two runs in 6 2/3 innings. Scott was 1-1 with a 1.06 ERA in the World Series. He took the loss in game 1 of the Series and pitched a shutout in game 5.
- Scott's ERA climbed in the next few seasons. He was 15-12 with a 3.94 ERA in 1984 and was 14-14 with a 4.81 ERA in 1985.
- The 1986 season was Scott's last full season as a starter. He slipped to 11-15 and had a 4.52 ERA.
- Scott struggled in 1987. On July 7 McGregor was 2-7 with a 6.64 ERA when he was sent to AAA Rochester. He didn't return to the Orioles for the rest of the season.
- McGregor came back in 1988 but was released on May 2 after going 0-3 with an 8.83 ERA in four starts.
- After his retirement McGregor was a pastor in Baltimore and in Dover, Deleware from 1988-2001.
- Scott has been working for the Orioles as a coach for the last several years. In 2012 he went to Florida to work with Baltimore's injured and rehabbing pitchers.
- Manny Sarmiento
- Debut: July 30, 1976
- 1977 Stats:
- Cincinnati Reds: 0-0, 1 save, 2.45 ERA in 24 games
- Indianapolis Indians (AAA): 3-4, 5 saves, 6.69 ERA in 25 games (1 start)
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1979, 1980, 1983
- Manny Sarmiento was signed by the Cincinnati Reds out of Venezuela in 1972 at the age of 16. He pitched in the minors from 1972-1976 before getting a chance in late July 1976 with the Reds. Sarmiento had a good two months of the season, going 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA in 22 games. Manny appeared in one game in the NL Championship Series and allowed two runs in one inning.
- Sarmiento started the 1977 season in AAA Indianapolis The original plan was to have Manny with the Reds, but Champ Summers had a good spring and manager Sparky Anderson decided to keep him and send down Sarmiento. He was recalled on July 20 and finished the season with the Reds. Manny put up better numbers with the Reds (2.45 ERA in 24 games) than he did in the minors (6.69 ERA in 25 games).
- Manny was mostly a middle reliever and setup man for the Reds in 1978 (9-7, 5 saves, 4.38 ERA in 63 games / 4 starts) and in 1979 (0-4, 4.66 ERA in 23 games / 1 start). Manny's 1979 season was broken up by a couple of stints in Indianapolis.
- Sarmiento was released toward the end of spring training in 1980. In mid April he signed with the Seattle Mariners. He pitched for the AAA Spokane Indians for most of the 1980 season. Manny was brought up to Seattle in September and was 0-1 with one save and had a 3.68 ERA in 9 games.
- Manny was traded to the Boston Red Sox on April 8, 1981 for Dick Drago. Sarmiento spent the entire 1981 season pitching for AAA Pawtucket.
- After the 1981 season Sarmineto was sold to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He started the 1982 season in AAA and was brought up in May. Manny was used as a swingman by the Pirates and had a good year (9-4, 1 save, 3.39 ERA in 35 games / 17 starts).
- Manny pitched well for the Pirates again in 1983. He went 3-5 with 4 saves and had a 2.99 ERA in 52 appearances.
- In April 1984 Sarmiento underwent surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow. It was thought he would be out for six weeks, but he ended up not pitching all year.
- Manny tried to come back in 1985 but was one of the Pirates' last cuts in spring training. He was sent to AAA Hawaii. He pitched well in Hawaii but wasn't brought back to Pittsburgh. At the end of the 1985 season Sarmiento was one of the players caught up in the Pittsburgh drug scandal. Although Manny wasn't suspended or fined, the testimony given by other players during the drug trial may have been the reason why he never pitched again after the 1985 season.
- Bob Bailor
- Debut: September 6, 1975
- 1977 Stats: .310, 5 HR, 32 RBI in 122 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- 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:
- 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:
- 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.
- Pat Kelly was acquired by the Baltimore Orioles in November 1976. They gave up catcher Dave Duncan to get him.
- This was Pat's last season as a starting player. Kelly started 94 games in the outfield in 1977. After this season Pat became a valuable role player for the Orioles.
- 1977 Stats: .256, 10 HR, 49 RBI in 120 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- May 1 - Homered twice, including a 10th inning game-winner, to lift the Orioles to a 3-2 win over the California Angels.
- May 8 - Hit a grand slam to lead the Orioles to a 6-4 win over the Seattle Mariners. After starting the season batting .087 in April, Kelly got on a hot streak in May and was 10 for 20 at one point. Five of those hits were home runs.
- June 14 - Hit a 3-run homer in the top of the 11th inning as the Orioles beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-5.
- Other card blogs: 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980
- This was the only season in Fred Holdsworth's career (1972-1980) that he spent the entire year in the majors. Fred started the season with the Orioles and was traded to the Montreal Expos for Dennis Blair in mid July.
- Fred spent some time on the disabled list in late May and in June. Holdsworth was a reliever for most of the season. He became a starter in mid-August and started six games for the Expos late in the season.
- 1977 Stats:
- Baltimore Orioles: 0-1, 6.28 ERA in 12 games
- Montreal Expos: 3-3, 3.19 ERA in 14 games (6 starts)
- TOTAL: 3-4, 3.97 ERA in 26 games (6 starts)
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1974, 1975
- Ken Singleton had one of his best seasons in 1977. Ken batted .328 (a career high) was an AL All Star (he was hit by a Rick Reuschel pitch in the 8th inning), and finished third in AL MVP voting.
- 1977 Stats: .328, 24 HR, 99 RBI
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1976 Kellogg's, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985
- Tommy Harper was released by the Baltimore Orioles in December 1976. Harper tried out for the Oakland A's in 1977, but he was released during spring training.
- Other card blogs: 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1974, 1975, 1976
- This
was Lee May’s last season as a starting first baseman. Rookie Eddie Murray
was the DH for most of 1977. May and Murray traded positions in 1978.
-
- 1977
Stats: .253, 27 HR, 99 RBI
- 1977
Highlights:
- Other
card blogs: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1983
