- During the first part of the 1977 season Marty Pattin had a tough time. On June 5 Marty was 0-2 and had an 8.25 ERA in 11 games. Pattin started to pitch better in June and made some spot starts from June-August. Marty made several starts in September and ended up 5-1 as a starter.
- Pattin was the butt of many practical jokes by his teammates.
- Marty recalls his career in an article from 2011. Pattin tells a story about striking out Mickey Mantle in his rookie season and how nervous he was when the count was 3-2. It looks like the story was about Marty's first major league game, but it actually happened on August 13, 1968. It's still a cool story.
- 1977 Stats:
- Regular season: 10-3, 3.58 ERA in 31 games (10 starts)
- AL Championship Series: 0-0, 1.50 ERA in 1 game
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980
- George Brett (1973-1993)
- Lifetime stats:
- .305 average
- 2707 games played
- 3154 hits
- 317 HR
- 1596 RBI
- 13 All Star games
- AL MVP 1980
- 3 Silver Slugger awards
- Hall of Fame 1999
- Ken Brett (1967-1981)
- Lifetime stats:
- 83-85 record
- 3.93 ERA
- 349 games (184 starts)
- Before the 1977 season Jim Wohlford was traded (with Jamie Quirk and Bob McClure) to the Milwaukee Brewers for Jim Colburn and Darrell Porter. Jim started in left field most of the time for the Brewers. Wohlford managed only a .285 on base percentage and a .320 slugging percentage. It was Jim's last season as a starting player. He was more effective coming off of the bench in future years.
- 1977 Stats: .248, 2 HR, 36 RBI in 129 games.
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, Cardboard Gods
- Andy Hassler did a competent job in the back end of the Kansas City starting rotation. Andy missed a month of the season with a knee injury. He was hit by a line drive off the bat of the Texas Rangers' Ken Henderson on April 26.
- Hassler took the loss in game 2 of the AL Championship Series. Hassler allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings as the Royals lost 6-2.
- 1977 Stats:
- Regular Season - 9-6, 4.20 ERA in 29 games (29 starts)
- AL Championship Series - 0-1, 4.76 ERA in 1 start
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983
- George Brett enjoyed another good season in 1977. He didn't lead the league in any offensive categories, but he was a big part of Kansas City's success.
- 1977 Stats:
- Regular season: .312, 22 HR, 88 RBI, 105 runs in 139 games
- AL Championship Series: .300 (6 for 20) in 5 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- May 5 - Hit two doubles off of his brother Ken. The second double knocked in the eventual winning run as the Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 6-5.
- July 6 - Was hospitalized for four days for treatment of an infected left elbow. Brett got out of the hospital on July 6 and hit a pinch RBI single in the 9th inning to lead the Royals to an 8-7 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.
- Oct 9 - Got into a scuffle with Yankee 3B Graig Nettles. Brett hit a triple and they got tangled up as Brett was going into third base.
- Other card blogs: 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1993
- For much of the 1977 season Doug Bird was a setup man and sometime closer for the Kansas City Royals. Doug was used as a starter for a few weeks in late May and early June. He was roughed up in his four starts during that time, giving up 21 earned runs in 17 innings. Bird was moved to the closer's role in August and all 14 of his saves were in the final two months of the season.
- 1977 Stats:
- Regular season: 11-4, 14 saves, 3.88 ERA in 53 games (5 starts)
- AL Championship Series: 0-0, 0.00 ERA in 3 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Aug 20 - Pitched three scoreless innings and got the save in Kansas City's 5-2 win over the Boston Red Sox.
- Sept 2 - Saved the game for starter Andy Hassler by pitching two shutout innings as the Royals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1.
- Other card blogs: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983
- Paul Splittorff was an important part of the Kansas City pitching staffs in the 1970s and early 1980s. Paul won 16 games for the Royals in 1977 and won another game in the AL Championship Series.
- 1977 Stats:
- Regular season: 16-6, 3.69 ERA in 37 starts
- AL Championship Series: 1-0, 2.40 ERA in 2 starts
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983
- Here is another card of a player in his last season. At this point in his career Cookie Rojas was a backup at third base and at second base.
- 1977 Stats:
- Regular season: .250 in 64 games
- AL Championship Series: .250 (1 for 4) in 1 game
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976
- Don Aase
- Debut: 26 July 1977
- 1977 record:
- Pawtucket (AAA): 6-6, 5.04 ERA in 18 starts
- Boston Red Sox: 6-2, 3.12 ERA in 13 starts
- 1977 Highlights:
- Don Aase was signed by the Boston Red Sox in 1972. He had a rough time in his first two seasons in the minors. Don was 0-10 with a 5.81 ERA in 1972 and he led the Florida State League in losses (15) in 1973. Aase turned things around in 1974 and moved up the Boston Red Sox system for the next few years.
- Aase was brought up to the majors on July 24, 1977 to shore up Boston's starting pitching. The 22-year-old Aase paid immediate dividends by winning his first three starts. Don ended up pitching much better for the Red Sox than he did in AAA.
- After the 1977 season Don was traded (with Rick Miller) to the California Angels for second baseman Jerry Remy. The Red Sox really needed the middle infield help, but they hated to part with Aase.
- Don was a starting pitcher in 1978 (11-8, 4.03 ERA in 29 starts). Aase was a starter for most of the 1979 season (9-10, 4.81 ERA in 37 games/28 starts), but he went to the bullpen in mid August after having some trouble with the wear and tear of starting every fourth day. Don appeared in two games for the Angels in the 1979 AL Championship Series and was 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in 5 innings.
- In 1980 (8-13, 4.06 ERA in 40 games/21 starts) Don was a starter through the end of July and then was moved to the bullpen. Aase ended up being a reliever for the rest of his career.
- Aase had a good year as a reliever in 1981 (4-4, 2.34 ERA, 11 saves in 39 games).
- Don had injury problems in 1982 (3-3, 3.46 ERA, 4 saves in 24 games). He was on the disabled list for much of June and then went out for the remainder of the season in mid-July. Aase had elbow surgery in October 1982 and missed all of the 1983 season.
- After a rehab assignment in the minors, Don came back to the Angels in June 1984. Aase had a good year, going 4-1 with a 1.62 ERA in 23 games. After the 1984 season Don signed with the Baltimore Orioles as a free agent. The Orioles made a much better offer (4 years, $2.4 million guaranteed) than the Angels did (2 years, $475,000 per year, only one of the years guaranteed).
- For two seasons Aase was able to be a dependable pitcher from the bullpen. He was 10-6 with 14 saves and had a 3.78 ERA in 54 games in 1985.
- Don was an AL All Star for the only time in his career in 1986. Don got Chris Brown to hit into a game-ending double play and earned the save in the AL's 3-2 win. Aase was 6-7 with 34 saves and had a 2.98 ERA in 66 games in 1986.
- Aase had an injury-riddled 1987 season (1-0, 2.25 ERA, 2 saves in 7 games). He was placed on the disabled list in April with tendinitis in his right shoulder. Don came back in May but was shut down at the end of May when the tendinitis came back. Don had shoulder surgery in July and missed the rest of the season.
- Aase came back in May 1988. He was bombed in his first game back -- he allowed four runs without retiring a batter. But as the year went on Don's ERA steadily decreased. He ended up with a 0-0 record and had a 4.05 ERA in 35 games.
- Don was released after the 1988 season. Aase tried out with the New York Mets in 1989 and made the team. He was used mostly as a setup man in 1989 and was 1-5 with 2 saves and had an ERA of 3.94 in 49 games.
- After the 1989 season Aase became a free agent and signed with the LA Dodgers. In 1990 Don was 3-1 with 3 saves and had a 4.97 ERA in 32 games. He spent six weeks on the disabled list in July and August. After the 1990 season Don became a free agent rather than report to the Dodgers' AAA club in Albuquerque. After due consideration Don decided to retire.
- Bob McClure
- Debut: August 13, 1975
- 1977 Stats: 2-1, 6 saves, 2.52 ERA in 68 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988
- This was Bob McClure's first full season in the majors. Bob was sent from the Kansas City Royals to the Milwaukee Brewers as the player to be named later in a trade made in December 1976.
- I remember Bob McClure as one of those left-handed relievers who would come in to face 1-2 batters. Bob was actually a starting pitcher for a few years in the 1980s.
- McClure had a 19-year pitching career, pitching from 1975-1993. Except for a few years in the early 1980s, Bob was a reliever for his entire career.
- Bob was a pitching coach in the minors and majors for several clubs from 1999-2012.
- McClure was the pitching coach for the Boston Red Sox in 2012, but he and manager Bobby Valentine clashed. Bob took a two-week leave of absence to tend to a child's medical emergency. McClure was let go as pitching coach in mid-August.
- Gil Patterson
- Debut: April 19, 1977
- 1977 Stats:
- New York Yankees: 1-2, 1 save, 5.40 ERA in 10 games (6 starts)
- Syracuse Chiefs (AAA): 2-1, 4.82 ERA in 7 starts
- 1977 Highlights:
- May 25: Allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings and earned his only major league victory as the Yankees beat the Texas Rangers (and starter Bert Blyleven) 3-2.
- Other card blogs: none
- Gil Patterson was drafted by the New York Yankees in the first round of the 1975 draft. Gil had two good seasons in the minor leagues and was brought up to the Yankees in 1977.
- Patterson pitched sparingly for the Yankees in 1977. He spent some time in AAA Syracuse in the middle of the season.
- Gil was injured and missed the entire 1978 and 1979 seasons. He tried to come back a few times from 1980-1982, but never again rose above Class A level.
- Patterson has spent time as a coach and as a minor league pitching coordinator for several years after his playing career. Here is an interview with Gil from 2012.
- Dave Wehrmeister
- Debut: April 16, 1976
- 1977 Stats:
- San Diego Padres: 1-3, 6.07 ERA in 30 games (6 starts)
- Hawaii Islanders (AAA): 2-2, 2.54 ERA in 5 starts
- 1977 Highlights:
- May 30: Allowed one run in 1 2/3 innings and earned the win in San Diego's 9-8 win over the San Francisco Giants.
- Other card blogs: none
- Dave Wehrmeister pitched for 14 seasons, mostly at the AAA level. Dave was drafted in the first round (3rd overall) by the San Diego Padres in 1973. Wehrmeister made the San Diego ballclub in 1976, but was sent back down in late May after going 0-4 with a 7.45 ERA in seven games.
- Dave started the 1977 season in AAA and was brought up in late May. Wehrmeister saw the most major league action of his career in 1977, appearing in 30 games (1-3, 6.07 ERA).
- In 1978 Wehrmeister started the season with the Padres but was sent down in late April after only four appearances (0-1, 6.14 ERA).
- Dave started the 1979 season in AAA Hawaii. On June 15 he was traded to the New York Yankees for Jay Johnstone. Wehrmeister stayed in the minors (AAA Columbus) for the rest of the 1979 season and for the entire 1980 season.
- After the 1980 season Wehrmeister was taken by the Kansas City Royals in the Rule 5 draft. Dave was returned to the Yankees in April 1981. He spent most of the 1981 season in Columbus, but he made five appearances for the Yankees (0-0, 5.14 ERA) in August after the strike.
- Wehrmeister pitched in Columbus for the entire 1982 season. He started the 1983 season in Columbus but was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies on June 17 for two minor leaguers. Dave finished the 1983 season in AAA Portland.
- In 1984 Wehrmeister mostly pitched in Portland. He was brought up to Philadelphia for about a month in June and July (0-0, 7.20 ERA in 7 games). A 1984 Topps Traded card was created for him by Jim at The Phillies Room.
- Dave became a free agent after the 1984 season and signed with the Chicago White Sox. He pitched for AAA Buffalo for the first four months of the season. Dave was brought up to the White Sox in August and was 2-2 with 2 saves and had a 3.43 ERA in 20 games.
- Wehrmeister was in Buffalo again in 1986 and then retired after the season.
- Jamie Quirk played for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1977. After the 1976 season Quirk was traded (with Bob McClure and Jim Wohlford) to the Brewers for Darrell Porter and Jim Colborn.
- Quirk spent most of the 1978 season in the minors. He was sent back to the Royals in August 1978 for a minor leaguer and cash.
- 1977 Stats: .217, 3 HR, 13 RBI in 93 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1988
- Freddie Patek led the AL with 53 stolen bases in 1977. Patek had a good AL Championship Series, batting .389 in five games.
- Article: Who Says Freddie Patek is Small?
- Here is a famous picture of Freddie Patek after the Royals lost the 1977 AL Championship Series
- 1977 Stats:
- Regular Season - .262, 5 HR, 60 RBI in 154 games
- AL Championship Series - .389 (7 for 18), 5 RBI in 5 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980
- Gotta love the discolored printing on the front of the card.
- Whitey Herzog was signed by the New York Yankees in 1949. He never made the team, but he learned a lot from manager Casey Stengel during several spring training seasons.
- Herzog played in the Yankees system from 1949-1955 (except for 1953-1954 due to military service). He moved on to the Washington Senators in 1956 and played for them from 1956-1958.
- Whitey spent three seasons (1958-1960) with the Kansas City A's, two seasons with the Baltimore Orioles (1961-1962), and one year with the Detroit Tigers (1963). He played outfield and first base and had a lifetime .257 batting average in eight seasons.
- Whitey worked for the A's as a scout in 1964 and as a coach in 1965.
- From 1966-1972 Herzog worked for the New York Mets as a coach in 1966 and as a special scout and director of player development from 1967-1972. When Mets' manager Gil Hodges died of a heart attack before the 1972 season Herzog was passed over to manage the club in favor of Yogi Berra.
- In 1973 Whitey was hired to manage the Texas Rangers. The Rangers had lost 100 games in 1972. He didn't get through the season as the Rangers continued to perform poorly. Herzog was let go as manager on September 7 when Billy Martin became available to manage the team.
- Whitey managed the California Angels on an interim basis for four games in 1974 after Bobby Winkles was fired. Dick Williams eventually was hired to manage the team.
- In July 1975 Whitey was hired to manage the Kansas City Royals. The Royals fired Jack McKeon because of an inability to relate to the players.
- The Royals were 41-25 (.621) during the remainder of the 1975 season but they couldn't catch the Oakland A's and finished second in the AL West.
- Herzog managed the Royals to three straight AL West titles from 1976-1978 but they lost to the New York Yankees in the AL Championship Series in all three of those seasons.
- The Royals finished second in the AL West in 1979 and after the season Herzog was fired.
- Whitey was hired to manage the St. Louis Cardinals in June of 1980. He moved up to the General Manager's post in August and then after the 1980 season Whitey assumed the dual duties of General Manager and field manager.
- The Cardinals were successful during Herzog's tenure. They went to the World Series three times (1982, 1985, 1987) and they won the world championship in 1982.
- Whitey resigned as the Cardinals manager in July 1990 after he was "embarrassed" by the team's performance.
- Herzog worked for the California Angels in various positions (including General Manager from 1993-1994) after his tenure with the Cardinals.
- Herzog was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.
- Team Highlights:
- Record: 102-60, 1st in AL West, 8 games ahead of Texas
- Attendance: 1,852,603 (3rd in AL)
- Team Batting: .277 (5th in AL)
- Team HR: 146 (6th in AL)
- Team Stolen Bases: 170 (2nd in AL)
- Team ERA: 3.52 (1st in AL)
- Team Fielding: .978 (4th in AL)
- All Stars: George Brett (starting 3B)
- Awards: Frank White (Gold Glove 2B); Al Cowens (Gold Glove OF)
- AL Leaders: Hal McRae (doubles - 54, hit by pitch - 13); Freddie Patek (stolen bases - 53); Dennis Leonard (victories - 20); Jim Colborn (hit by pitch - 13)
- Batting Leader: George Brett / Al Cowens (.312)
- Home Run Leader: Al Cowens / John Mayberry (23)
- RBI Leader: Al Cowens (112)
- Stolen Base Leader: Freddie Patek (53)
- Victories Leader: Dennis Leonard (20)
- Losses Leader: Jim Colborn (14)
- Strikeout Leader: Dennis Leonard (244)
- Saves Leader: Doug Bird (14)
- ERA Leader (starters): Dennis Leonard (3.14)
- ERA Leader (relievers): Steve Mingori (3.09)
- Players who could have had Royals cards in 1977 (batters with over 100 AB, pitchers with over 40 innings) :
- Pete LaCock (UT) - .303, 3 HR, 29 RBI in 88 games
- Joe Zdeb (OF) - .297, 2 HR, 23 RBI in 105 games
- Jim Colborn (P) - pictured with Milwaukee Brewers
- Tommy Davis was already retired when this card came out. Davis was released from the Royals on 16 January 1977 and he decided to retire rather than try to catch on with another team.
- Boy are those stats small.
- Tommy Davis SABR biography
- Other card blogs: 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976
- Hal McRae had a nice year as the Royals' DH in 1977. He led the AL in games played (162), doubles (54), and hit by pitch (13). McRae also had career highs in home runs and RBI.
- 1977 Stats:
- Regular season: .298, 21 HR, 92 RBI
- AL Championship Series: .444 (6 for 21), 1 HR, 6 runs scored in 5 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986
- Steve Mingori had a good year as a left-handed setup man and occasional closer in 1977. He was part of a deep Kansas City bullpen.
- 1977 Stats:
- Regular season: 2-4, 4 saves, 3.09 ERA in 43 games
- AL Championship Series: 0-0, 0.00 ERA in 3 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1969, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, Cardboard Gods
.
- The 1977 season was a bit of a downer for Amos Otis. It was bookended by two seasons in which he would finish in the top ten of AL MVP voting.
- Amos Otis SABR biography
- Baseball History podcast
- 1977 Stats:
- Regular season: .251, 17 HR, 78 RBI
- AL Championship Series: .125 (2 for 16) in 5 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983, Cardboard Gods
- The 1977 season was Al Cowens' career year. He finished second to Rod Carew in AL MVP voting and won his only Gold Glove.
- 1977 Stats:
- Regular season - .312, 23 HR, 112 RBI
- AL Championship Series - .263 (5 for 19), 1 HR, 5 RBI in 5 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986
- This was the last year of John Mayberry's run as the starting first baseman for the Kansas City Royals. He had an off year in 1977. The year didn't start off well when Mayberry got in an argument with a rental car clerk and was arrested for disorderly conduct. John arrived late for game 4 of the 1977 ALCS and played poorly. John was benched for game 5 and manager Whitey Herzog later demanded that he be traded, so he was sold to the Toronto Blue Jays at the end of spring training in 1978.
- 1977 Stats:
- Regular Season: .230, 21 HR, 82 RBI
- ALCS: .167 (2 for 12), 1 HR, 3 RBI
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1976, 1976, 1976 Kellogg's, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983
- I liked the "Highlights" and "Record Breaker" subsets. They were good for educating collectors about the game's history.
- It's been a while since a Hall of Famer has been featured (although at the time it seemed like Fred Lynn and Vida Blue were on their way to the HOF).
- Mr. Brett still holds this record. The players who have come the closest to breaking this record are Magglio Ordonez and Cody Ross in 2008.
- Brett was 18 for 26 during this six game streak.
- The card doesn't mention it, but Ted Sizemore also had five consecutive 3-hit games in 1970.
- Rod Carew was 15 for 18 with 4 HR during his five game streak in 1975.
- John Wathan was the Kansas City Royals' first round pick (4th overall) in the 1971 draft. He performed well in the minor leagues, but injuries to his wrist and shoulder slowed his progress in the Royals' system.
- The Royals finally brought Wathan up to the majors in May 1976. John was the third catcher and didn't get a whole lot of playing time. Wathan batted .286 (12 for 42) in 27 games during the regular season. John got into one game in the 1976 AL Championship Series but he didn't come to the plate.
- The 1977 season was Wathan's first full season. He batted .328 in 55 games during the regular season and was 0 for 6 with three strikeouts in the 1977 ALCS
- Wathan split time between first base and catcher in 1978. He played in 67 games and batted .300 with 2 HR and 28 RBI. John went 0 for 3 in the only game (game 4) he played in the 1978 ALCS.
- John had a rough time in 1979. Not only did his team not play well, but his mother was murdered by his stepbrother on June 10. Wathen ended up batting .206 in 90 games.
- In 1980 John split time with Darrell Porter behind the plate and also played in the outfield and at first base. Wathan had a nice bounceback year, batting .305 with 6 HR and 58 RBI. John also stole 17 bases, the first of four straight years of double figures in that category. During the ALCS Wathan was 0 for 6 in three games and in the World Series he batted .286 (2 for 7).
- Porter was traded after the 1980 season and Wathan became the starting catcher. John batted .252 with 1 HR and 19 RBI in 89 games in 1981. He batted .300 (3 for 10) in three games in the AL Divisional Series.
- In 1982 Wathan broke a record set by Ray Schalk in 1916 for stolen bases by a catcher by stealing 36 bases. He batted .270 in 121 games.
- John's last season as a full-time player was in 1983. Wathan batted .245 in 128 games.
- Wathan became a backup in 1984 and batted .181 in 171 at bats. He was 0 for 1 in the 1984 ALCS.
- John got a ring in his last season. Wathan batted .234 in 60 games during the 1985 season. John wasn't used in the ALCS and he was 0 for 1 in two games in the 1985 World Series.
- Wathan retired during spring training in 1986 and was hired as an assistant coach by the Royals. He was in that position in 1986 and in 1987. John was hired as the Royals' manager on August 28, 1987. Wathan managed the club to two second place finished in the AL West (1988 and 1989). He continued to manage the Royals until May 22,1991 when he was fired after the club started 15-22.
- Wathan was hired by the California Angels as the third base coach in 1992. When manager Buck Rogers was seriously injured in a team bus crash on May 21, John managed the team on an interim basis for the remainder of the season. The club had a 39-50 record under Wathan.
- John worked in various coaching and announcing jobs from 1994-2006. He was named as a special assistant by the Royals in 2008.
- John's SABR biography
- 1977 Stats:
- Regular season: .328, 2 HR, 21 RBI in 55 games
- AL Championship Series: .000 (0 for 6) in four games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988
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