- After the 1976 season Dave Cash became a free agent and signed with the Montreal Expos. The signing was early enough for Topps to make an airbrushed version of Dave's 1977 card. Cash was an all star during all three of his seasons in Philadelphia (1974-1976). Dave wasn't an all star in 1977, but he still had a pretty good year.
- The card is correct about Dave being a good contact hitter. Cash played from 1969-1980 and never struck out more than 36 times.
- 1977 Stats: .289, 0 HR, 43 RBI, 91 runs in 153 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1976 Kellogg's, 1979, 1980
- Dick Williams started his playing career in the Brooklyn Dodgers organization in 1947. Williams got his first call to the majors in 1951. During the next five seasons Williams split time between the Dodgers and the minor leagues. Dick wasn't going to crack the talented Dodgers' lineup so he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 1956.
- Williams moved around a lot (4 teams in 8 years) during the rest of his career. Dick batted only .159 in 1964. He was given the opportunity to be a player-coach for the AAA team of the Boston Red Sox. Williams took the job and was promoted to manager when the Red Sox moved their affiliation from Seattle to Toronto and the previous manager didn't want to move. Dick won two straight Governor's Cups in 1965 and 1966.
- Dick was hired to manage the Red Sox after the 1966 season. The club had been struggling for years and Williams decided to adopt a strict disciplinarian approach to the team. Boston unexpectedly won the AL pennant in 1967 and took the St. Louis Cardinals to seven games in the World Series before bowing out. Williams was named the Manager of the Year. Dick signed a new three-year contract but was fired in September 1969 when the Red Sox were unable to repeat the success of 1967.
- Williams was the third base coach of the Montreal Expos in 1970 and then was hired to manage the Oakland A's in 1971. The A's won the AL West under Williams in 1971 and then were the World Champions in 1972 and in 1973. Dick grew tired of the antics of owner Charlie Finley and resigned after the 1973 World Series. Williams was immediately hired by George Steinbrenner of the New York Yankees, but Finley protested and the Yankees ended up hiring Bill Virdon instead.
- During the 1974 season the California Angels received permission to talk to Williams and he was hired to manage the club in mid-season. The club didn't respond well to Dick's strict style and didn't play well. Williams was fired in July 1976.
- Dick was hired by the Montreal Expos for the 1977 season. The club finished below .500 in 1977 and in 1978, but by 1979 it was ready to contend. The Expos played well in 1979 and in 1980 but fell short of the division title both times. After the team started slowly in 1981 Williams was fired in September.
- After the 1981 season Williams was hired to manage the San Diego Padres. The Padres improved steadily and in 1984 they made it to the World Series for the first time in club history. Williams managed the Padres from 1982-1985 and resigned in the midst of a power struggle between club officials during spring training in 1986.
- Dick became the manager of the Seattle Mariners in May 1986. The team improved, but the improvement wasn't enough for Williams to keep his job. He was fired in June 1988. It looked like his style wasn't a good fit for modern ballplayers.
- In 1989 Williams managed the West Palm Beach Tropics in the Senior Professional Baseball Association. Dick's last job in baseball was as a special consultant for Steinbrenner.
- In 2000 Williams pleaded no contest to an indecent exposure charge (he was walking naked on a hotel balcony). The arrest probably cost him election to the Hall of Fame at that time -- the vote was taken a week after the arrest.
- Dick was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee in 2007. Williams passed away in 2011.
- Record: 75-87, 5th in NL East, 26 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies
- Attendance: 1,433,757, 6th in NL
- Team Batting: .260, 7th in NL
- Team HR: 138, 5th in NL
- Team Stolen Bases: 88, 10th in NL
- Team ERA: 4.01, 8th in NL
- Team Fielding: .980, 4th in NL
- All Stars: Ellis Valentine (OF)
- Awards: Andre Dawson (NL Rookie of the Year)
- NL Leaders: none
- Batting Leader: Ellis Valentine (.293)
- Home Run Leader: Gary Carter (31)
- RBI Leader: Tony Perez (91)
- Stolen Base Leader: Andre Dawson, Dave Cash (21)
- Victories Leader: Steve Rogers (17)
- Losses Leader: Steve Rogers (16)
- Strikeout Leader: Steve Rogers (206)
- Saves Leader: Joe Kerrigan (11)
- ERA Leader (starters): Steve Rogers (3.10)
- ERA Leader (relievers): Joe Kerrigan (3.22)
- Players who could have had Expos cards in 1977 (batters with over 100 AB, pitchers with over 40 innings) :
- Fred Holdsworth (3-3, 3.19 ERA in 14 games / 6 starts)
- Bill Atkinson (7-2, 7 saves, 3.35 ERA in 55 games)
- Will McEnaney (P) (pictured with Cincinnati Reds) 3-5, 3 saves, 3.95 ERA in 69 games
- Santo Alcala (P) (pictured with Cincinnati Reds) - 2-6, 2 saves, 4.69 ERA in 31 games / 10 starts
- Jackie Brown (P) (pictured with Cleveland Indians) - 9-12, 4.51 ERA in 42 games / 25 starts
- Stan Bahnsen (P) (pictured with Oakland A's) - 8-9, 4.81 ERA in 23 games / 22 starts
- Wayne Twitchell (P) (pictured with Philadelphia Phillies) - 6-5, 4.21 ERA in 22 starts
- Warren Cromartie (OF) - .282, 5 HR, 50 RBI in 155 games
- Tony Perez (1B) (pictured with Cincinnati Reds) - .283, 19 HR, 91 RBI in 154 games
- Chris Speier (SS) (pictured with San Francisco Giants) - .235, 5 HR, 38 RBI in 139 games
- Barry Foote lost to Gary Carter in the competition for the starting Montreal catching job. On June 15 Barry was traded (with Dan Warthen) to the Philadelphia Phillies for Tim Blackwell and Wayne Twitchell. On both teams Foote was a backup behind a very durable catcher (Carter in Montreal, Bob Boone in Philadelphia). He played in only 30 games during the entire 1977 season.
- 1977 Stats:
- Montreal Expos: .245, 2 HR, 8 RBI in 15 games
- Philadelphia Phillies: .219, 1 HR, 3 RBI in 15 games
- TOTAL: .235, 3 HR, 11 RBI in 30 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983, Cardboard Gods
- Dennis Blair was in AAA for the entire 1977 season. In mid-July Blair was sent to the Rochester Red Wings (Baltimore Orioles organization) for pitcher Fred Holdsworth. Blair wouldn't make it back to the majors until 1980.
- 1977 Stats:
- Denver Bears (AAA) - 5-4, 5.09 ERA in 15 games (11 starts)
- Rochester Red Wings (AAA) - 4-3, 3.63 ERA in 9 starts
- Other card blogs: 1975, 1976
- Don Carrithers was purchased by the Minnesota Twins on April 6, 1977. Don was involved in a car accident on April 25, breaking his leg and fracturing his wrist. After pitching in two games in April, Don didn't pitch again until late July. Carrithers only pitched in seven games in 1977.
- Carrithers was released during spring training in 1978. He pitched two seasons for the AAA Phoenix Giants and retired after the 1979 season.
- 1977 Stats: 0-1, 6.91 ERA in 7 games
- Other card blogs: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976
- Jerry White spent the 1977 season in AAA Denver. White was recalled in September and spent the rest of the year in Montreal. He was used primarily as a pinch hitter.
- 1977 Stats:
- Montreal Expos: .190 (4 for 21) in 16 games
- Denver Bears (AAA): .313, 14 HR, 57 RBI in 123 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983
- Larry Parrish was in his third season as the starting 3B for the Expos. Larry hadn't developed his power yet -- he was still only 23 years old. His fielding at third base was still below average. After the 1977 season Parrish played winter ball and worked on his hitting and his fielding. The work paid dividends in 1978 and beyond.
- Larry's SABR biography
- 1977 Stats: .246, 11 HR, 46 RBI in 123 games.
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988
- Brian Asselstine
- Debut: September 14, 1976
- 1977 Stats:
- Richmond Braves (AAA): .276 in 27 games
- Atlanta Braves: .210 in 83 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1979, Cardboard Gods
- Brian Asselstine was the first round pick of the Atlanta Braves in 1973. Brian worked his way up the ladder from 1973-1976. Asselstine was called up in September 1976 after batting .293 in 122 games for AAA Richmond. Brian batted .212 in 11 games for the Atlanta Braves in 1976.
- Asselstine started the 1977 season with the Braves, but he struggled at the plate. Brian was demoted to Richmond at the end of May and spent the entire month of June there.
- Brian was starting regularly in either CF or RF for the Braves for the first two months of the 1978 season. On May 31 Brian lost a battle with the outfield fence while trying to rob Mike Lum of a home run. Brian broke a bone in his leg and dislocated his ankle. Asselstine was out for the rest of the year. Brian batted .272 in 45 games.
- Asselstine had a hard time coming back in 1979. He played in only 8 games for the Braves (1 for 10) and in 27 games (.276) for Richmond.
- In 1980 Brian was a reserve outfielder and a pinch hitter. Brian batted .284 in 87 games. Asselstine had a similar role in 1981 and batted .256 in 56 games.
- Brian didn't make the Atlanta ballclub in 1982. He was released in late March and took the year off. In 1983 Asselstine tried to come back with the San Francisco Giants. He played for AAA Phoenix and batted .313 in 116 games. But the call to the majors never came and Brian retired after the season.
- Brian is now a contractor in Santa Ynez, CA.
- Wayne Gross
- Debut: August 21, 1976
- 1977 Stats: .233, 22 HR, 63 RBI in 146 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1978, 1980
- Wayne Gross was drafted by the Oakland A's in 1973. He played in the minors from 1973-1976 and batted .222 in 10 games in a late 1976 call-up.
- Gross became the starting third baseman for a depleted Oakland ballclub in 1977. The A's had to send someone to the All Star game (pitcher Vida Blue was injured), so Wayne was selected to his only All Star team. Gross was the team leader in home runs (22) but batted only .233 on the season.
- In 1978 Wayne split time between 3B and 1B. He hit seven home runs and batted .200 in 118 games. He spent a few weeks in the minors during the season.
- Wayne's numbers rebounded a bit in 1979 (.224, 14 HR, 50 RBI in 138 games). He had his best year in 1980, batting .281 with 14 HR and 61 RBI in 113 games.
- Gross slipped to .204 with 10 HR and 31 RBI in 1981. Wayne's home run led the A's to a win in game 1 of the AL Divisional Series. Wayne was 2 for 5 in the ALDS and went 0 for 5 in the AL Championship Series.
- Wayne had slightly better years in 1982 (.251, 9 HR, 41 RBI) and in 1983 (.233, 12 HR, 44 RBI).
- After the 1983 season Wayne was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for pitcher Tim Stoddard. Gross started at 3B for the Orioles in 1984 and had one of his better years (.216, 22 HR, 64 RBI). In 1985 Wayne backed up at 3B and 1B and batted .235 with 11 HR and 18 RBI.
- The Orioles released Gross at the end of spring training in 1986. Wayne signed with the A's and played for AAA Tacoma for most of the season. Gross was recalled to Oakland in September but was hitless in three pinch hitting appearances. Wayne was released after the season.
- Sam Mejias
- Debut: September 6, 1976 (my 10th birthday)
- 1977 Stats: .228 in 74 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- June 5 - Knocked in the go-ahead run in the 7th by hitting a pinch homer as the Expos beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-5.
- July 4 - Had three hits (a double, a triple, and a home run) to lead the Expos to a 7-6 win over the Chicago Cubs.
- In June 1976 Sam was the player to be named later in a trade with the Montreal Expos for Danny Frisella. He batted .323 for AAA Tulsa during the remainder of the 1976 season and then batted .143 in 18 games for the Cardinals in September.
- After the 1976 season Sam was traded to the Montreal Expos in a multi-player deal. Mejias was used as a pinch hitter and backup outfielder in 1977. He appeared in 74 games but only had 104 plate appearances (.228, 3 HR, 8 RBI).
- Sam's 1978 season resembled his 1977 season, but he played less (.232 in 67 games, 59 plate appearances).
- Mejias was traded to the Chicago Cubs after the 1978 season for Rodney Scott and Jerry White. Sam played in 31 games for the Cubs but only got to the plate 14 times (2 for 11, .182). On July 4 Sam was sold to the Cincinnati Reds. He was assigned to Cincinnati's AAA Indianapolis club but was brought back to the majors in late August (1 for 2 in 7 games).
- The next two seasons followed the pattern Sam had in Montreal. In 1981 he batted .278 in 71 games (117 plate appearances) and in 1982 he batted .286 in 66 games (56 plate appearances).
- The Reds released Mejias during spring training in 1982. Sam played in the Mexican League in 1982 and retired after the season.
- Other card blogs: 1979
- Alvis Woods
- Debut: April 7, 1977
- 1977 Stats: .284, 6 HR, 35 RBI in 122 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1979, 1980, 1983, Cardboard Gods
- Alvis Woods was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 1972. He spent the next several seasons in the minors and was picked by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1976 expansion draft.
- Woods made the Blue Jays squad in 1977 and homered in his first major league at bat (which also happened to be Toronto's first game). Alvis was the regular in left field and batted .284 with 6 HR and 35 RBI in 122 games.
- Alvis got off to a rough start in 1978 and was sent to AAA Syracuse for a couple of months. The assignment did Woods some good and he hit better when he came back in July. Alvis batted .241 in 62 games for the Blue Jays in 1978.
- Woods got his starting LF job back in 1979. He batted .278 with 5 HR and 36 RBI in 132 games.
- Alvis had his best offensive year in 1980, batting .300 with 15 HR in 109 games. Woods played in only 8 games in April but he regained his starting job in May.
- The 1981 season was Woods' last one as a starter. He slumped to .247 in 85 games. Woods was the fourth outfielder in 1982 and batted .234 in 85 games. After the 1982 season the Blue Jays traded Woods to the Oakland A's for Cliff Johnson. Alvis was released during spring training in 1983 and signed a minor league contract with the Blue Jays.
- Alvis spent the 1983 and 1984 seasons in Syracuse. Woods was released in 1984. He signed with the Twins and played for AAA Toledo in 1985 and in 1986. Alvis had a couple of short stints with the Twins in 1986 (.321 in 23 games). He retired after the 1986 season.
- Alvis now does appearances for Sports Celebrity Marketing.
- Andre Dawson
- Debut: September 11, 1976
- 1977 Stats: .282, 19 HR, 65 RBI in 139 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1988
- Andre Dawson was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1977.
- Dawson had a great career. It would have been better, but the artificial turf in Montreal really took a toll on his knees.
- Andre won eight Gold Gloves and was an eight-time All Star
- Dawson was the NL MVP in 1987. He finished second twice (1981 and 1983)
- He played for the Montreal Expos (1976-1986), the Chicago Cubs (1987-1992), the Boston Red Sox (1993-1994), and the Florida Marlins (1995-1996)
- Dawson was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2010.
- Gene Richards
- Debut: April 6, 1977
- 1977 Stats: .290, 5 HR, 32 RBI, 56 stolen bases in 146 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985
- Gene Richards was the first player selected in the 1975 draft. Gene batted .381 for Class A Reno in 1975 and .331 for AAA Hawaii in 1976.
- Richards became the starting left fielder for the San Diego Padres in 1977. He finished third (behind Dawson and Steve Henderson) in NL Rookie of the Year voting. Gene batted .290 in 146 games and stole 56 bases.
- I used to think Gene had some cool APBA cards in the 1970s and 1980s. He had several 11's on his cards, which meant he would automatically steal second base after a single when that number came up.
- Although he didn't steal as many bases, Richards had a better season in 1978. Gene batted .308 with 4 HR and 45 RBI and had 37 stolen bases in 1978.
- Gene dropped off a little bit in 1979, batting .279 with 24 stolen bases in 150 games.
- Richards had a bouneeback year in 1980. He batted .301, scored 91 runs, and stole 61 bases.
- In the strike-shortened 1981 season Richards led the NL with 12 triples and batted .288 in 104 games.
- In 1982 Richards was still a starting outfielder, but he started to lose playing time. He batted .286 in 132 games.
- Gene's last year with the Padres was in 1983. He played in only 95 games and batted .275. After the 1983 season Richards was granted free agency but went unsigned.
- Richards tried out for the San Francisco Giants in 1984. He was signed to a one year contract at the end of spring training. The Giants used Gene as a backup outfielder and a pinch hitter. After August 14 Gene made 23 appearances, all as a pinch hitter or a pinch runner. Richards batted .252 in 87 games.
- Gene became a free agent after the 1984 season but he went unsigned. Gene retired at the age of 31.
- John Scott
- Debut: September 7, 1974
- 1977 Stats: .240, 2 HR, 15 RBI in 79 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: none
- John Scott was the first round (#2 overall) of the San Diego Padres in 1970. Scott played in the minors from 1970-1974. John got a September call up in 1974 and batted .067 (1 for 15) in 14 games.
- Scott was used as a pinch runner for much of the beginning of the 1975 season. He appeared in 25 games but batted only nine times and went 0 for 6. John was sent to AAA in late June and stayed there for the rest of the 1975 season and for the entire 1976 season.
- Scott was purchased by the Toronto Blue Jays after the 1976 season. John stayed in the majors for the entire 1977 season and batted .240 in 79 games. After the 1977 season Scott was traded (with Pete Vuckovich) to the St. Louis Cardinals for Victor Cruz and Tom Underwood.
- Scott played in AAA for the entire 1978 season. John then went to Japan and played for the Yakult Swallows from 1979-1981.
- Scott played in the Mexican League in 1982 and then retired.
- Denny Walling
- Debut: September 7, 1975
- 1977 Stats:
- Minor Leagues (2 teams): .343, 4 HR, 18 RBI in 32 games
- Houston Astros: .286 (6 for 21) in 6 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988
- Denny Walling was the first player drafted in the secondary phase of the 1975 draft. Denny went 1 for 8 in six games at the end of the 1975 season and then played in the minors in 1976. Walling got in three games for the A's (3 for 11, .273) at the end of the 1976 season.
- Walling was injured for much of the 1977 season. He played in three minor league games for AAA San Jose and then was traded to the Houston Astros for Willie Crawford on June 15. Denny played for AAA Tucson for most of the rest of the season and then was called up in September (6 for 21, .286 in 6 games).
- In 1978 Walling was in the majors to stay. He was used as a fourth outfielder and a pinch hitter and batted .251 with 3 HR and 36 RBI in 120 games.
- Walling had a similar role for his entire career. He played for the Astros until 1988. Denny's best year with the Astros was in 1986. He batted .312 with 13 HR and 58 RBI in 130 games.
- On August 31, 1988 Walling was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Bob Forsch. The Cardinals wanted Denny's bat for their pennant drive (which came up short). Walling played for the Cardinals through the 1990 season and then finished up his career with the Texas Rangers (1991) and back with the Astros (1992).
- After his playing career Walling was a hitting coach for various major and minor league teams. Denny is now a roving hitting instructor for the Baltimore Orioles.
- Del Unser backed up at all three OF positions and at 1B for the Montreal Expos in 1977. Del had to get used to being in a backup role. But the Expos had a good young outfield in the late 70s - LF Warren Cromartie, CF Andre Dawson, and RF Ellis Valentine.
- 1977 Stats: .273, 12 HR, 40 RBI in 113 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1980
- Wayne Garrett was originally slated to split time at 3B with young Larry Parrish and Pete Mackanin. Wayne started slowly (a low point of .133 on June 26), but he started hitting at the end of June and brought his average up to .270.
- Garrett's season came to an end on August 10 when he suffered ligament damage sliding into second base.
- Wayne Garrett's SABR biography
- 1977 Stats: .270, 2 HR, 22 RBI in 68 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979
- Dan Warthen started the 1977 season with the Montreal Expos. On June 15 Dan was traded (with Barry Foote) to the Philadelphia Phillies for Tim Blackwell and Wayne Twitchell.
- Warthen pitched in one game for the Phillies in June and then was sent to AAA Oklahoma City until September. Dan pitched in two more September games for the Phillies.
- 1977 Stats:
- Montreal Expos: 2-3, 7.97 ERA in 12 games (6 starts)
- Philadelphia Phillies: 0-1, 0.00 ERA in 3 games
- Oklahoma City 89ers (AAA): 1-1, 9.00 ERA in 7 games (4 starts)
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1976
- Mike Jorgensen didn't get much playing time for the Expos in the beginning of the season. The Expos had acquired Tony Perez to play first base, which made Mike the odd man out. On May 22 he was traded to the Oakland A's for pitcher Stan Bahnsen. Mike played all three outfield positions and some first base for the A's for the remainder of the 1977 season.
- 1977 Stats:
- Montreal Expos: .200 (4 for 20) in 19 games
- Oakland A's: .246, 8 HR, 32 RBI in 66 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986
- Joe Kerrigan was drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1974. Kerrigan was a big guy -- he was 6'5" and weighed 205 lbs during his playing days. Joe had a less than stellar record as a starter in 1974 and was converted to a reliever. He put up good stats in the minors in 1975 and in 1976.
- Joe was called up to the Expos in July 1976. He appeared in 38 games (all in relief) and was 3-6 with one save and had a 3.81 ERA.
- Kerrigan had his best year in 1977. He and Don Stanhouse alternated between the setup role and the closer's role. Joe led the Expos with 11 saves.
- After the 1977 season Joe was traded (with Gary Roenicke and Stanhouse) to the Baltimore Orioles for Rudy May, Randy Miller, and Bryn Smith.
- In 1978 Kerrigan appeared in 26 games (2 starts) for the Orioles. He was 3-1 with two saves and had an ERA of 4.77.
- Joe played for AAA Rochester in 1979.
- Kerrigan started the 1980 season with the Orioles but made only one appearance before being sent back to Rochester. That appearance on April 13 (2.1 innings, 1 run allowed) was the last major league game of his career.
- After the 1980 season Joe was traded with a minor leaguer to the Cincinnati Reds for Mike Grace and John Hale. Kerrigan spent the 1981 season with AAA Indianapolis. After the 1981 season Joe was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for a minor leauger.
- In 1982 Joe pitched in AAA for the Phillies and Rangers organizations, but he had a 5.38 ERA and retired after the season.
- Kerrigan started a long coaching career in 1983 when he was named the bullpen coach for the Expos. Joe was a pitching coach in the Expos system from 1987-1991 and became the pitching coach for the major league club in 1992.
- Joe went with Jimy Williams to the Boston Red Sox in 1997 and was the pitching coach from 1997-2001. When Williams was fired in 2001 Kerrigan finished the season as the Red Sox manager. The Red Sox went 17-26 during Kerrigan's tenure and he was replaced by Grady Little in 2002.
- Kerrigan later served as the pitching coach for the Philadelphia Phillies, the bullpen coach for the New York Yankees, and the pitching coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates (2008-2010).
- 1977 Stats: 3-5, 11 saves, 3.22 ERA in 66 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1979
- Although Steve Rogers was becoming the Montreal ace, he did not yet rate a "0" or "5" numbered card. Rogers started 40 games in 1977 but he didn't lead the NL in starts!
- Rogers finished his career with a nice 3.17 lifetime ERA.
- 1977 Stats: 17-16, 3.10 ERA in 40 starts
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985
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- Gary Carter had his first big year in 1977. Although he wasn't on the NL All Star team, Carter led his team with 31 home runs and had a .525 slugging percentage.
- 1977 Stats: .284, 31 HR, 84 RBI in 154 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1975, 1976, 1976 Kellogg's, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988
- Don "Stan the Man Unusual" Stanhouse was drafted in the first round by the Oakland A's in 1969. Don pitched in the Oakland system from 1969-1971 but he wasn't going to break into the great Oakland pitching staff. During spring training in 1972 Stanhouse was traded (with Jim Panther) to the Texas Rangers for Denny McLain.
- Stanhouse went back and forth between AAA Denver and the Rangers in 1972. He was a fifth starter and occasional reliever for the Rangers and went 2-9 with a 3.78 ERA in 24 games (16 starts).
- In 1973 Stanhouse struggled. He started the season with the Rangers and was sent to the minors in early July. Don was 1-7 with a 4.76 ERA for Texas and was 3-5 with a 7.36 ERA for AAA Spokane.
- Don didn't get a Topps card in 1974, probably because he finished the 1973 season in the minors. Stanhouse started the season in Spokane and was brought up to the Rangers in late May after going 4-5 with a 2.44 ERA. He was used exclusively as a reliever by the Rangers and went 1-1 with a 4.80 ERA in 18 games. After the 1974 season Stanhouse was traded (with Pete Mackanin) to the Montreal Expos for Willie Davis. The Expos were planning to go with all youngsters for the 1975 season and traded Davis even though he was their best offensive player in '74.
- Don spent the first part of the 1975 season in AAA Memphis. He pitched well for the Blues, going 6-5 with a 1.91 ERA in 13 games (12 starts). Don also got his walks per 9 innings down to 3.4. This was rare for Stanhouse -- he usually walked over five batters per nine innings. Stanhouse was brought up in mid June but he wasn't successful in four games (0-0, 8.31 ERA). He didn't pitch after July 1, so there may have been an injury.
- Stanhouse didn't get a Topps card in 1976 either. The 1976 season was the first one that Don spent entirely in the majors. Don was mostly a starter and went 9-12 with 1 save and had a 3.77 ERA in 34 games (26 starts).
- Don was a starter for the first two months of the 1977 season. He had a tough time (3-7, 4.79 ERA through May) and was moved to the bullpen. Don made a few more spot starts in 1977, but he was more successful pitching out of the bullpen. Altogether Stanhouse was 10-10 with 10 saves and had a 3.41 ERA in 47 games (16 starts).
- After the 1977 season Don was traded (with Joe Kerrigan and Gary Roenicke) to the Baltimore Orioles for Rudy May, Randy Miller, and Bryn Smith. Baltimore manager Earl Weaver was angered by the trade because he wasn't consulted beforehand. Earl didn't like losing May, who won 16 games for the Orioles in 1977.
- Stanhouse had his two best seasons for the Orioles in 1978 and in 1979. In 1978 Don pitched in 56 games and was 6-9 with 24 saves and had a 2.89 ERA.
- Don's best season was in 1979. Stanhouse was named to the AL All Star team but he didn't get in the game. Don went 7-3 with 21 saves in 52 games and had a 2.85 ERA. Don picked up the nickname "Fullpack" after Weaver mentioned to a reporter that he went through a full pack of cigarettes during a Stanhouse outing. In the AL Championship Series Stanhouse was 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in three games. Don had a rough time in the World Series -- he was 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA in two games. Stanhouse had a back injury during the World Series that he didn't disclose until after Game 5 .
- After the 1979 season Stanhouse became a free agent. He signed a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers that paid him $340,000 a season with a $400,000 signing bonus.
- Don had a back injury in 1980 and struggled. Stanhouse was 2-2 with 7 saves and had a 5.04 ERA in 21 games. The injuries to Stanhouse and Terry Forster opened the way for young Steve Howe to become the Dodger closer and become the team's second straight Rookie of the Year.
- Don continued to struggle during spring training in 1981 and was beaten out by rookie Dave Stewart. He was "designated for assignment" on April 8 and was released on April 17. The Dodgers ended up paying the remaining $1.36 million on Don's contract.
- Stanhouse was invited to spring training by the Orioles in 1982. Don made the team but he struggled. He was 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA for the Orioles in 1982. Stanhouse also had a stint in AAA and was 2-3 with a 4.12 ERA in 15 games (10 starts). Don was released on July 15, was resigned on July 23, and then released again after the season.
- The Pittsburgh Pirates signed Stanhouse to a minor league contract in 1983. Don was 4-2 with 3 saves and had a 3.15 ERA in 39 games for AAA Hawaii, but he never made it back to the majors.
- Don is now a successful businessman.
- Catching up with Don Stanhouse - 2009
- Where Are They Now article - 2011.
- 1977 Stats: 10-10, 10 saves, 3.41 ERA in 47 games (16 starts)
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1973, 1975, 1979, 1980, Cardboard Gods, another Cardboard Gods
- Dale Murray came to the Cincinnati Reds as part of the Tony Perez trade after the 1976 season. It must have been hard for Murray to pitch for the Reds after being part of an unpopular trade. His ERA jumped from 3.26 in 1976 to 4.94 in 1977.
- 1977 Stats: 7-2, 4 saves, 4.94 ERA in 61 games (1 start)
- 1977 Highlights:
- May 30 - Pitched two shutout innings and was credited with the win as the Reds beat the Atlanta Braves 7-3.
- May 31 - Gave a repeat of the previous day's performance and got the same results -- two shutout innings and a 5-3 win over the Braves
- July 28 - Made the only start of his major league career. Murray was roughed up, allowing six runs in one inning. Murray wasn't the only one hammered -- the final score was Cubs 16, Reds 15.
- Other card blogs: 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985
