In December 1976 I was unable to wrap my ten-year-old head around the deal that sent Tony Perez to the Montreal Expos (Perez and Will McEnaney for Dale Murray and Woodie Fryman). In October 2013 I still have a very hard time wrapping my 47-year-old head around the trade.
Perez played well for the Expos in 1977, but his time as an All Star was over. Tony helped the Expos as they became a contender in the late 1970s.
It's funny -- Tony's 1973, 1974, and 1975 cards have virtually identical poses
Santo Alcala pitched in his last major league season in 1977. Alcala wasn't being used very much by the Reds and on May 21 he was traded to the Montreal Expos for two players (Shane Rawley and Angel Torres) to be named later. Santo was placed in the rotation when he first got to the Expos, but was moved to the bullpen after going 2-5 in eight starts.
Alcala pitched in the minors from 1978-1982.
1977 Stats:
Cincinnati Reds - 1-1, 5.74 ERA in 7 games (2 starts)
Montreal Expos - 2-6, 2 saves, 4.69 ERA in 31 games (10 starts)
1977 Highlights:
June 13 - Pitched seven innings and earned the win as the Expos beat the Houston Astros 3-2.
Aug 19 - Pitched four shutout innings to earn the save in Montreal's 7-2 win over the Atlanta Braves.
Mike Lum had his worst offensive season in 1977. Lum was a pinch hitter and occasional outfielder and first baseman for the Reds. Mike didn't get his first start until May 14 and he started only two games through the end of June. Lum started 14 games altogether.
Pedro Borbon had a solid year as a Reds' reliever, which was a rare thing for the struggling pitching staff. Pedro was a middle reliever at the beginning of the season and was used as the Reds' closer in June and again from early August through the end of the season.
Dave Concepcion won his fourth straight Gold Glove in 1977. Dave's offense dropped a bit in 1977, but he was an All Star for the NL for the fourth time. In his career Concepcion would be on the NL All Star team nine times.
1977 Stats: .271, 8 HR, 64 RBI in 156 games
1977 Highlights:
March 14 - Agreed to terms with the Reds on a five-year, $1 million contract. It was the longest contract in team history.
Joel Youngblood was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 1970. Youngblood spent six seasons (1970-1975) in the minors before finally getting into the majors in 1976. Joel played several positions (OF, 3B, SS, and 2B) during his time in the minors.
Youngblood finally made it to the majors in 1976. He didn't play much for the powerhouse Reds that year. Joel played six different positions and got into 55 games, but he had only 57 at bats. Youngblood batted .193 during the 1976 season and was not included on the postseason roster.
On March 30, 1977 Youngblood was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for reliever Bill Caudill. Joel didn't get much playing time in St. Louis (.185 in 27 at bats) and on June 15 he was traded to the New York Mets for Mike Phillips. Youngblood got more playing time for the Mets and batted .253 in 70 games.
Joel played six different positions in 1978 and batted .252 in 113 games.
In 1979 Youngblood became the Mets' starting right fielder. He had his best season to date, batting .275 with 16 HR and 60 RBI in 158 games.
Joel had a similar year in 1980, except the home run total was lower. He batted .276 with 8 HR and 69 RBI in 146 games.
Youngblood made the NL All Star team in 1981. He was leading the league with a .359 average at the time of the strike in June. On June 8 (three days before the strike) Youngblood sprained his knee and was placed on the disabled list. When play resumed in August, Joel was on the All Star team (he appeared as a pinch hitter and fouled out in the 2nd inning), but he would play in only five more games after that. He reinjured his knee ligaments on August 14 and was out for the rest of the year.
In 1982 Joel started the season with the Mets. His offense was down from previous years (.257 in 80 games). On August 4, Youngblood made history by playing for two different clubs on the same day. After he got the game-winning hit (a home run in the third inning) for the Mets, Joel found out he was traded to the Montreal Expos. He got on a plane and played for the Expos on the same day. Joel batted .200 in 40 games for the Expos to finish the 1982 season.
Youngblood became a free agent after the 1982 season and signed with the San Francisco Giants. Joel became a valuable role player for the Giants during their wilderness years (1983-1985) and during their resurgence later in the 1980s. He had his best year with the Giants in 1983, batting .292 with 17 home runs and 53 RBI.
Joel's playing time decreased later in the 1980s. In 1986 Youngblood filed a grievance against the Giants after they tried to insert a drug-testing clause into his contract offer at the last minute. The Giants withdrew the offer. The Giants were later forced to honor the offer, but the clause remained in the contract (the players union contested this clause in a grievance).
Youngblood was mostly a pinch hitter and an occasional outfielder in 1987 and 1988.
After the 1988 season Youngblood was not offered a contract by the Giants. He signed with the Reds and played one season with them in 1989. The Reds let Joel become a free agent after the 1989 season. He went to spring training with the Houston Astros in 1990, but the Astros cut him at the end of spring training.
Youngblood coached in several organizations from 1992-1999. He then left baseball to work for a computer company. Joel returned to baseball in 2007 in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. He now serves as the minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator.
1977 Stats:
St. Louis Cardinals - .185 in 27 at bats
New York Mets - .253 in 70 games
1977 Highlights:
Aug 1 - Appeared as a pinch hitter in the 12th inning and singled in the winning run to lead the Mets to an 8-7 win over the LA Dodgers.
Oct 2 - Went 3 for 4, including a 2-run triple that was the eventual game winner, as the Mets beat the Cardinals 6-4 in the final game of the season.
Cesar Geronimo fell off a bit offensively in 1977. He hit more home runs, but just about all of his other offensive stats were down from his 1976 season. Cesar won the last of his four consecutive Gold Glove awards in 1977.
1977 Stats: .266, 10 HR, 52 RBI in 149 games
1977 Highlights:
Apr 6 - His 2-run homer in the 4th inning broke a 2-2 tie and helped the Reds to a 5-3 opening day victory over the San Diego Padres.
Jack Billingham started to tail off in 1977. After several good seasons as one of the Reds' main starters, Jack slipped to 10-10 and his ERA jumped to 5.23. Billingham was in the starting rotation until July 3. After that Jack made only six starts and made 13 relief appearances.
During spring training the following season Billingham was traded to the Detroit Tigers.
1977 Stats: 10-10, 5.23 ERA in 36 games (23 starts)
June 17 - Pitched 7 1/3 innings and allowed four runs. Jack earned the win as the Reds beat the Montreal Expos 9-4. It was the high point for Billingham's W-L record as the win made him 8-3.
Larry Anderson never pitched for the Blue Jays. He was sent to the Chicago White Sox as the player to be named later in an earlier deal for Phil Roof. Larry pitched for AAA Wichita for most of the 1977 season. He spent most of June with the White Sox but went back to Wichita after having some rough outings (9.35 ERA in 6 games). In August Larry was sent (with cash) to the Chicago Cubs for Steve Renko. He finished the season pitching for AAA Iowa.
Debut: September 5, 1974
1977 Stats:
Iowa Oaks (AAA) / Wichita Aeros (AAA): 5-2, 3.36 ERA, 3 saves in 42 games (6 starts)
The Detroit Tigers signed Ed Glynn as a free agent in 1971. Ed pitched in the minors from 1972-1975 and earned a September call-up in 1975 after going 11-7 with a 2.96 ERA for two minor league teams. Glynn pitched in three games (1 start) for the Tigers in 1975 and was 0-2 with a 4.30 ERA.
Glynn spent most of the 1976 and 1977 seasons in AAA Evansville. He had September call-ups in 1976 (1-3, 6.08 ERA in 5 games/4 starts) and in 1977 (2-1, 5.27 ERA in 8 games/3 starts).
Ed started the 1978 season in Evansville but was called up in July. Glynn had a 3.07 ERA in 10 games for the Tigers.
During spring training in 1979 Glynn was traded to the New York Mets for Mardie Cornejo. Ed spent the first two months of the 1979 season in AAA Tidewater. He was brought up in June. Ed was 1-4 with 7 saves and had a 3.00 ERA in 46 games.
Glynn stayed in the majors for the entire 1980 season. He had a 3-3 record and a 4.13 ERA in 38 games.
Just before the 1981 season Glynn was traded to the Cleveland Indians for a minor leaguer. Ed spent the season in AAA Charleston. The Indians called him up in September and he had a 1.17 ERA in 4 games.
Ed was in Charleston for the first six weeks of the 1982 season and then was with Cleveland for the rest of the year (5-2, 4 saves, 4.17 ERA in 47 games).
Glynn started the 1983 season in Cleveland but was sent back to Charleston in May after having a 5.84 ERA in 11 games.
In 1984 Ed split the season between Charleston and Tidewater. The Mets purchased Glynn in June.
Glynn was sold to the Boston Red Sox before the 1985 season. He pitched for AAA Pawtucket until May 1, when he was sent to the Montreal Expos as part of a conditional deal. Ed made three appearances for the Expos and had a 19.29 ERA. He pitched for AAA Indianapolis for the rest of the season.
Ed became a free agent at the end of the 1985 season. He pitched for Tidewater in 1986 and in 1987 but never made it back to the majors. Glynn tried a brief comeback for Tidewater in 1990 but it lasted only one game.
Indianapolis Indians (AAA): 5-5, 5.23 ERA in 29 games
Other card blogs: none
Joe Henderson was drafted by the California Angels in 1965. Henderson pitched in the minors for the Angels from 1965-1970, except in 1967 (possibly due to military service). Joe was released by the Angels at the end of spring training in 1971. He went to the Mexican League and then was acquired in a trade with the Chicago White Sox for a minor leaguer.
Henderson was in AAA from 1972-1974. He had two good seasons (1973 and 1974) and finally got the call to the majors in June 1974. Joe had a 1-0 record with an 8.40 ERA in 5 games (3 starts) for the White Sox in '74 and went back to the minors at the end of June.
The Cincinnati Reds purchased Henderson from the White Sox after the 1974 season.
Joe pitched for AAA Indianapolis for most of the next three seasons. Henderson was converted to a reliever and had good years in 1975 and in 1976. He was the ERA champion of the American Association in 1976. Joe had two brief stints in Cincinnati in 1976 (2-0, 0.00 ERA in 4 games) and in 1977 (0-2, 12.00 ERA in 7 games).
After the 1977 season Henderson was sold to the Toronto Blue Jays. He didn't make the club in 1978 and was released. Joe pitched in the Mexican League from 1978-1981.
Greg Terlecky
Debut: June 12, 1975
1977 Stats:
Iowa Oaks (AAA): 0-1, 3.75 ERA in 5 games (1 start)
Columbus Clippers (AAA): 8-5, 4.88 ERA in 19 games (16 starts)
Other card blogs: none
Greg Terlecky was a 6'3" 200 lb pitcher who was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1970. Greg put up good numbers in AA in 1971 (3-2, 2.71 ERA in 15 games/12 starts). That would be the best season of his career. Terlecky spent 3 1/2 seasons in AAA (1972-1975) before being called up in the middle of the 1975 season. Terlecky appeared in 20 games for the Cardinals and had an 0-1 record with a 4.45 ERA.
Terlecky was traded (with Buddy Bradford) to the Chicago White Sox for Lee Richard after the 1975 season. Greg spent the 1976 season with AAA Iowa. He started the 1977 season with Iowa but then moved to the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and pitched for AAA Columbus.
Greg was back in the Cardinals' organization in 1978 and spent the next two seasons in AAA Springfield. Terlecky didn't get the call back to the majors. He finished his career with two seasons (1980 and 1981) in the Mexican League.
After his playing career Greg became a financial planner. He is now the managing director for The Principle Financial Group in San Diego.
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:
April 15 - Allowed no runs in 2 1/3 innings pitched and earned his second save of the season as the Braves beat the Houston Astros 4-3.
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)
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.
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)
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.
Pete Rose's cards were probably the ones I looked forward to the most in the 1970s. He was my favorite player, and it took a long time for me to forgive the Reds for letting him go as a free agent after the 1978 season. Some of the luster of Pete's cards was lost when Topps double printed his card in 1978.
Sept 28 - Had two hits as the Reds beat the San Diego Padres 8-0. Pete got his 200th hit and tied Ty Cobb for the most 200-hit seasons (9). Rose would get his tenth 200-hit season in 1979 to pass Cobb.
When I looked at the back of this card I thought to myself, "The Reds used only nine non-pitchers?" I figured there would at least be one or two at bats by other guys. After checking baseball-reference.com I realized that this card is correct.
The Reds really did a number on the Yankees in their four game sweep. Pete Rose and Ken Griffey were the only guys who didn't do much. Johnny Bench was named the World Series MVP.
This was the last set in which George Foster didn't get a "0" or "5" number. After his monster year in 1977 George got the honored numbers until the end of his career.
I wonder where Foster's 1977 season ranks in terms of the best seasons of the decade. Aside from the great hitting stats, George also led the NL in fielding at left field.
Sparky Anderson spent most of his playing career (1953-1963) in the minor leagues. He spent one sesaon (1959) as the starting second baseman with the Philadelphia Phillies and batted .218 in 152 games.
In 1964 at the age of 30, Anderson decided to become a manager. He managed in A and AA ball from 1964-1968 and was successful -- he had only one season below .500 and he had four straight pennant winning ballclubs.
The Reds were just starting their great run as "The Big Red Machine." The team won the NL West in 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, and 1976. They lost in the World Series in 1970 and 1972, but they were World Champions in 1975 and 1976.
After two straight second place finishes, the Reds fired Sparky after the 1978 season. This (along with the Tony Perez trade and the free agency of Pete Rose) caused me to switch my favorite team. After Rose signed with the Philadelphia Phillies I rooted for them (along with the Giants). Anderson later said that the Reds had decided to fire him at the end of the 1978 season but didn't do the deed until late November
At the time of his retirement Sparky was third all-time in managerial victories behind Connie Mack and John McGraw. Anderson has been passed by Tony LaRussa, Bobby Cox, and Joe Torre.
The Cincinnati Reds had (for them) a tough year. After two straight World Championships the team fell to second place in the NL West in 1977. They traded future HOFer Tony Perez to the Montreal Expos before the season. The pitching was a problem all season and the addition of Tom Seaver in June wasn't enough to solve the problems. Several players were dissatisfied with their contracts and the ballclub wasn't interested in negotiating better contracts or signing free agents.
Dec 10 - Traded for Oakand pitcher Vida Blue for minor leaguer Dave Revering and at least $1 million. The trade was later invalidated by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn
Record: 88-74, 2nd in NL West, 10 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers
Attendance: 2,519,670 (2nd in NL)
Team Batting: .274 (2nd in NL)
Team HR: 181 (3rd in NL)
Team Stolen Bases: 170 (3rd in NL)
Team ERA: 4.21 (10th in NL)
Team Fielding: .984 (1st in NL)
All Stars: Johnny Bench (starting C), Joe Morgan (starting 2B), Dave Concepcion (starting SS), George Foster (starting OF), Ken Griffey (OF), Pete Rose (3B), Tom Seaver (P)
Awards: George Foster (NL MVP), Joe Morgan (Gold Glove 2B), Dave Concepcion (Gold Glove SS), Cesar Geronimo (Gold Glove OF)
NL Leaders: George Foster (slugging .631; runs 124; home runs 52; RBI 149); Pete Rose (games - 162; at bats - 655)
Batting Leader: George Foster (.320)
Home Run Leader: George Foster (52)
RBI Leader: George Foster (149)
Stolen Base Leader: Joe Morgan (49)
Victories Leader: Fred Norman / Tom Seaver (14)
Losses Leader: Fred Norman (13)
Strikeout Leader: Fred Norman (160)
Saves Leader: Pedro Borbon (18)
ERA Leader (starters): Tom Seaver (2.34)
ERA Leader (relievers): Pedro Borbon (3.19)
Players who could have had Reds cards in 1977 (batters with over 100 AB, pitchers with over 40 innings) :
Tom Hume (3-3, 7.12 ERA in 14 games - 5 starts)
Mario Soto (2-6, 5.34 ERA in 12 games - 10 starts)
Woodie Fryman (pictured with Expos) (5-5, 1 save, 5.38 ERA in 17 games - 12 starts)
Dale Murray (pictured with Expos) (7-2, 4 saves, 4.94 ERA in 61 games - 1 start)
Doug Capilla (7-8, 4.23 ERA in 22 games - 16 starts)
Paul Moskau (6-6, 4.00 ERA in 20 games - 19 starts)
Here is another card that was highly sought after by our little group of collectors. It shows the classic action pose (except for sliding headfirst) of Pete Rose. His helmet had flown off and his hair was flying all over the place.
There was no NLCS MVP award in 1976 -- the first one would be given to Dusty Baker in 1977. A strong case could be made for Mr. Rose to be named the MVP in the 1976 NLCS.
Bob Bailey was mainly a pinch hitter for the Reds in 1977. Bailey was placed on waivers and claimed by the Boston Red Sox on September 19. The Reds ended up getting a minor leaguer and cash for Bob.
This was Bill Plummer's last season as a member of the Cincinnati Reds. Bill was released by the Reds during spring training in 1978. Plummer played one season (1978) with the Seattle Mariners and played in the minors in 1979 before moving on to coaching and managing.
1977 Stats: .137, 1 HR, 7 RBI in 56 games
1977 Highlights:
April 6 - Got the start in the Reds' first game of the season and went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Plummer's run proved to be the winning run in the Reds' 5-3 win over the San Diego Padres
Doug Flynn was part of the big Tom Seaver trade on June 15. Doug couldn't have been too happy going from a contender to a rebuilding team, but at least he got some playing time for a few years.
