1977 Topps Baseball #627 - Bob Myrick

• Bob Myrick was drafted by the New York Mets in 1974. Bob advanced quickly through the Mets' farm system and was called up to the majors in May 1976.
• Myrick was used mostly as a left handed middle reliever. In 1976 Bob was 1-1 with a 3.25 ERA in 21 games (1 start).
• Bob stayed with the Mets for the entire 1977 season. He was a middle reliever and a spot starter.  Myrick had a decent season, especially considering how depleted and demoralized the Mets were that year. Bob was 2-2 with 2 saves and had a 3.61 ERA in 44 games (4 starts). Myrick had a stint on the disabled list in July due to a rib cage injury.
• Myrick struggled with his confidence at the beginning of the 1978 season. He had a 3.25 ERA in 17 games, but he was also 0-3. On May 18, manager Joe Torre wanted to get Myrick some more confidence so he sent Bob to AAA Tidewater. No one knew it at the time, but Bob would not make it back to the majors.
• Bob started the 1979 season on the disabled list due to tendonitis in his pitching shoulder. In mid-June Myrick was traded (with a minor leaguer) to the Texas Rangers for Dock Ellis. Bob spent the rest of the 1979 season with the AAA Tucson Toros. Myrick struggled in Tucson and was released after the season.
• The Mets resigned Myrick for the 1980 season and sent him to Tidewater. In mid-June Bob was traded to the Chicago Cubs for a minor leaguer. Myrick spent the rest of the 1980 season in AAA Wichita and pitched well. It looked like he would have a good shot at making the Cubs roster in 1981.
• Bob's shoulder problems flared up again in 1981. He spent some time in Wichita, but he struggled and was released. Myrick retired and went back to Mississipi to work in the family business (Economy Supply). 
• Myrick continued with Economy Supply until he retired from the business in 2012. On August 23 , 2012 Myrick died of a heart attack.
• Bob Myrick's SABR  biography
• 1977 Stats: 2-2, 2 saves, 3.61 ERA in 44 games (4 starts)
• 1977 Highlights:
• Aug 5 - Earned the win in the Mets' 3-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants. Bob shut out the Giants in the final 1 1/3 innings and the Mets rallied in the 8th inning for the win.
• Sept 18 - Combined with Craig Swan on a 4-hitter as the Mets beat the Chicago Cubs 6-0. Bob got the save by pitching 2 1/3 innings of hitless ball.
• Other card blogs: none

1977 Topps Baseball #605 - Felix Millan

• Felix Millan was the starting second baseman for the Mets in 1977 until early May when the Mets acquired Lenny Randle. Felix became the starter again in June when Randle was moved to 3B.
• On August 12 the Braves played the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ed Ott slid hard into second base to break up a double play. Felix tagged Ott hard in the face with the ball. Ott then picked Millan up and body slammed him to the turf. Millan sustained a shoulder injury and never played in the majors again.
• Millan played in Japan from 1978-1980 and he also played in the Mexican League in 1981. Felix batted .346 in 1979 and won the batting title.
• Here is a "where are they now" article from 2011.
• 1977 Stats: .248, 2 HR, 21 RBI in 91 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• July 29 - Hit a 2-run single with the bases loaded in the 7th inning to help the Mets to a 4-1 win over the San Diego Padres.
• Other card blogs: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1976 Kellogg's

1977 Topps Baseball #587 - Rick Baldwin

• At the beginning of the 1977 season Rick Baldwin was in AAA Tidewater. He was the last player cut by the Mets in spring training. Baldwin put up some good numbers as a reliever in AAA, so the Mets brought him up in May. Rick didn't have as much success with the Mets.
• After the 1977 season Baldwin was taken by the Seattle Mariners in the Rule 5 draft. He spent the 1978 season in AAA and retired after the season. Rick is now involved in a baseball ministry and is an Elementary Chapel Instructor at Modesto Christian School.
• It's funny how we often watch things on tiny screens today, kind of like the one shown on this cartoon.
• 1977 Stats:
• New York Mets: 1-2, 1 save, 4.45 ERA in 40 games
• Tidewater Tides (AAA): 4-1, 3 saves, 2.75 ERA in 12 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• June 21 - Pitched a scoreless top of the 11th inning, striking out two batters. The Mets scored three runs in the bottom of the 11th to beat the Atlanta Braves 5-2. Baldwin got credit for the win, which was the last of his major league career.
• Other card blogs: 1976

1977 Topps Baseball #565 - Mickey Lolich

• Mickey Lolich decided to retire after the 1976 season because he didn't want to be away from his family in Detroit and in order to get out of his contract with the Mets. In 1978 Mickey signed with the San Diego Padres and pitched for two more years.
• Mickey Lolich's SABR biography
• 1977 Stats: did not play
• Other card blogs: 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1971, 1972, 1972, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1976, 1979, 1980

1977 Topps Baseball #552 - Pepe Mangual

• Pepe Mangual was in AAA for almost all of the 1977 season. He had a nice year for Tidewater, but it probably wasn't noticed as much then as it would be now. It's hard to walk 126 times in a season, but Pepe managed to do it.
• Mangual was brought up to the Mets as a September call-up. The eight games he appeared in were the last games of his major league career. Pepe continued to play in the minors from 1978-1984 without making it back to the majors.
• 1977 Stats:
• Tidewater Tides (AAA) - .252, 20 HR, 62 RBI, 126 BB, 40 SB in 140 games
• New York Mets - .143 (1 for 7) in 8 games
• Other card blogs: 1975, 1976

1977 Topps Baseball #500 - Dave Kingman

• If Topps would have done a traded set, they would have had a lot of fun keeping up with Mr. Kingman in 1977. Dave played for four different teams in 1977, one in each division.
• On June 15 Kingman was traded from the Mets to the San Diego Padres for Paul Siebert and Bobby Valentine. Dave was waived on September 6 and selected by the California Angels. Kingman was unsigned for 1977 and the Padres wanted to at least get something for him (they ended up getting the waiver price of $20,000). Nine days later Dave was sent to the New York Yankees for Randy Stein and cash. 
• After the 1977 season Kingman became a free agent and signed with the Chicago Cubs.
• 1977 Stats:
• TOTAL: .221, 26 HR, 78 RBI in 132 games
• New York Mets: .209, 9 HR, 28 RBI in 58 games
• San Diego Padres: .238, 11 HR, 39 RBI in 56 games
• California Angels: .194, 2 HR, 4 RBI in 10 games
• New York Yankees: .250, 4 HR, 7 RBI in 8 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• Aug 5 - Hit two home runs (including a grand slam) and had 7 RBI as the Padres beat the Chicago Cubs 11-8.
• Sept 18 - Hit his second home run in two days to help the Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers 6-5.
• Other card blogs: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986

1977 Topps Baseball #488 - Rookie Outfielders - Jack Clark / Ruppert Jones / Lee Mazzilli / Dan Thomas

• Jack Clark
• Debut: September 12, 1975
• 1977 Stats: .252, 13 HR, 51 RBI in 136 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• June 8: Homered and doubled to lead the Giants to a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• Aug 23 - Scored the winning run in the 13th inning as the Giants beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3.
• Other card blogs: 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1988
• Jack Clark (nickname: "Jack the Ripper") was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1973. Jack spent four years in the minors, working his way from Rookie ball in 1973 to AAA in 1976. He had a great year for the AAA Phoenix Giants in 1976 (.323, 17 HR, 16 triples, 86 RBI). Clark had brief September call-ups in 1975 (.235 in 17 AB) and in 1976 (.225 in 26 games).
• Clark became the regular right fielder for the Giants in 1977. He would hold that position from 1977-1983. His rookie season in 1977 wasn't particularly special (.252, 13 HR, 51 RBI in 136 games), but he came into his own in 1978 (.306, 25 HR, 98 RBI). Jack made his first All Star team in 1978 (he struck out in his only at bat) and finished 5th in NL MVP voting.
• Jack was an All Star again in 1979 (0 for 1) and he batted .273 with 26 HR and 86 RBI.  Clark had a similar year in 1980 (.284, 22 HR, 82 RBI).
• Clark had a bit of a drop-off in 1981 (.268, 17 HR, 53 RBI), but he bounced back in 1982 to bat .274 with 27 HR and 103 RBI as the Giants were contenders for the NL West until the final week of the season. Jack finished 7th in NL MVP voting in 1982.
• Jack had a decent season in 1983 (.268, 20 HR, 66 RBI), but it was an off year by his standards. In 1984 Clark was having a fine season (.320, 11 HR, 44 RBI), but it was cut short by an injury in late June. Jack feuded with manager Frank Robinson and with some members of the Giants' front office. After the 1984 season the Giants traded Clark to the St. Louis Cardinals for David Green, Dave LaPoint, Gary Rajisch, and Jose Uribe.
• Clark was moved to first base to reduce the risk of injury. Jack bounced back in 1985 to have an All Star season (0 for 1 with a walk). He batted .281 with 22 HR and 87 RBI and helped the Cardinals to the NL East title. His home run in game 6 of the NL Championship Series clinched the pennant for the Cardinals. Jack didn't do as well in the World Series as the Kansas City Royals beat the Cards in seven games.
• Jack was injured again in late June of 1986 and missed the remainder of the season. He had his poorest season to date, batting .237 with 9 HR in 65 games.
• Clark had his best season in 1987. He batted .286 with 35 HR and 106 RBI. He also led the NL with 136 walks. Jack was an All Star for the fourth and final time of his career (0 for 3 with two strikeouts) and finished third in NL MVP voting. Unfortunately for the Cardinals Clark was injured during the postseason and batted only once in the NL Championship Series. He didn't play in the World Series as the Cardinals lost to the Minnesota Twins in seven games.
• After the 1987 season Clark became a free agent and signed with the New York Yankees. The Yankees already had Don Mattingly at first base so Clark became the designated hitter. He led the Yankees with 27 home runs and batted .242 with 93 RBI. Jack got along well with manager Billy Martin, but he clashed with Lou Piniella, who replaced Martin in the middle of the season. After the 1988 season Jack was traded (with Pat Clements) to the San Diego Padres for Lance McCullers, Jimmy Jones, and Stan Jefferson.
• Clark spent the next two seasons with the Padres as their starting first baseman. He led the NL in walks in both 1989 and in 1990. Jack had a pretty good year in 1989 (.242, 26 HR, 94 RBI), but his season in 1990 was shortened by injuries (.266, 25 HR, 62 RBI in 115 games). Jack clashed with Padres superstar Tony Gwynn during his time in San Diego.
• After the 1990 season Clark became a free agent and signed a big contract with the Boston Red Sox. Jack had a good year in 1991, batting .249 with 28 HR and 87 RBI. 
•  This Is The Life That Jack Built - July 22, 1991 Sports Illustrated
• Clark's stats had a big drop-off in 1992. He was only a part-time player, batting .210 with 5 HR in 81 games. 
• Clark filed for bankruptcy in 1992. He had acquired 18 automobiles and as his lawyer put it "had some expensive hobbies."
• The Red Sox waived Clark in February 1993. He signed with the Montreal Expos during spring training in 1993. Jack had gained some weight and made an effort to lose the excess pounds. A lot of personal matters weighed on Clark and he asked for his release in June. 
• After his playing career Clark was bilked out of a lot of his money by a lawyer and a financial advisor. He also had a near-fatal motorcycle accident in 2003. As of 2009 Clark was doing some color commentary for the St. Louis Cardinals and was also managing a team in the amateur Prospect League.
• Here is a "where are they now" article from 2009.
• In 2010 Clark called the Cardinals quitters on a radio show. He was also critical of the club for hiring Mark McGwire as hitting coach.
• Ruppert Jones
• Debut: August 1, 1976
• 1977 Stats: .263, 24 HR, 76 RBI in 160 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• June 3: Spoiled Dennis Eckersley's bid for a second consecutive no-hitter by homering with two out in the 6th inning. It was the only hit the Mariners had in the game. In Eckersley's previous start he no-hit the Kansas City Royals and in the start before that he didn't allow a hit to the Mariners for the final 7 2/3 innings.
• June 12: Hit two 2-out singles to help the Mariners to a 5-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
• Other card blogs: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986
• Ruppert Jones was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1973. He played in the  minors from 1973-1975 and for most of the 1976 season. The Royals brought Ruppert up in August 1976 and he batted .216 in 28 games. Jones was considered to be a good outfield prospect for the Royals but they didn't have room for him on the big club.
• Ruppert was the first player chosen by the Seattle Mariners in the 1976 expansion draft. Jones was an All Star for the Mariners in 1977 and batted .263 with 24 HR and 76 RBI.
• Jones had an appendectomy in June 1978 and missed five weeks. He batted .235 with 6 HR and 46 RBI.
• Ruppert bounced back in 1979. Jones batted .267 with 21 HR and 78 RBI while playing in all 162 games. After the 1979 season Ruppert was traded (with Jim Lewis) to the New York Yankees for Rick Anderson, Jim Beattie, Juan Beniquez, and Jerry Narron.
• Jones was a backup center fielder for the Yankees in 1980. He played in 83 games and batted .223 with 9 HR and 42 RBI. 
• At the end of spring training in 1981 Jones was traded with three other players to the San Diego Padres for Jerry Mumphrey and John Pacella. Ruppert spent the next three seasons (1981-1983) with the Padres. Jones batted .246 in 105 games in the strike-shortened 1981 season. In 1982 Ruppert made the NL All Star team (he batted for Steve Rogers in the 3rd inning, tripled, and scored the NL's first run). Ruppert spent some time on the disabled list in August 1982 but ended up batting .283 with 12 HR and 61 RBI.
• Jones slipped to .233 in 1983. He became a free agent at the end of the season. 
• Jones signed with the Detroit Tigers in April 1984. Jones started the season in AAA Evansville and was brought up in June after batting .313 for Evansville. He was able to be a part of that special 1984 Tiger ballclub that won it all. Ruppert was a backup outfielder and batted .284 with 12 HR and 37 RBI in 79 games. After the 1984 season Jones became a free agent again and signed with the California Angels.
• Jones spent the last three seasons with the Angels. He batted .231 with 21 HR in 1985, .229 with 17 HR in 1986, and .245 with 8 HR in 1987.
• Ruppert tried out with the Milwaukee Brewers but was dropped at the end of March. Jones spent some time in Japan and in AAA in 1988. Ruppert tried to come back in 1989 but retired after 27 games in AAA due to a rotator cuff injury.
• Ruppert now lives in the San Diego area and works with the Boon Group, which sells employee benefits to government contractors. He and former pitcher Dave Stewart coach a travel baseball team for 13 and 14 year olds.
• Here is a chat Ruppert did with the Seattle Times in 2012 on the occasion of the Mariners' 35th anniversary.
• Lee Mazzilli
• Debut: September 7, 1976
• 1977 Stats: .250, 6 HR, 46 RBI in 159 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• June 2: Hit a 2-run home run (his first of the season) and had another RBI to help the Mets beat the Montreal Expos 7-4.
• Other card blogs: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986
• Lee Mazzilli's SABR biography
• Lee Mazzilli was an athletic ballplayer from Brooklyn, NY. Lee was drafted by the New York Mets in the first round in 1973. Mazzilli worked his way up the Mets' system and by 1976 was judged to be ready for a September call-up. Lee batted only .195 in 24 games, but there was still a lot of enthusiasm for Mazzilli to be a full-timer with the Mets in 1977.
• Lee played CF for the Mets for several seasons (1977-1981). The Mets tried him at 1B for a while in an effort to hide his below average arm. 
• Mazilli was on the NL All Star team in 1979. He hit a game-tying home run in the 8th inning and then walked and  scored what would prove to be the winning run in the 9th inning.
• Joe Torre was Lee's mentor during his first tour of duty as a Met. When Torre was let go as manager at the end of the 1981 season Lee probably knew his days were numbered in New York. Before the 1982 season Mazzilli was traded to the Texas Rangers for Ron Darling and Walt Terrell.
• Mazzilli did some bouncing around at this stage of his career, playing for Texas (1982), the New York Yankees (1982) and for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1983-1986).
• On July 23, 1986 Lee was released by the Pirates. The Mets picked Mazzilli up on August 3 and he became a valuable pinch hitter during the Mets' stretch drive. 
• Mazzilli was used as a reserve outfielder and first baseman by the Mets. He had a good year in 1987 but in 1988 injuries started to take their toll on Lee. He was sent to the Toronto Blue Jays in a waiver deal in 1989. Mazzilli didn't fare very well with the Blue Jays and retired after the 1989 season.
• Lee had a few announcing and acting jobs after his playing career. He managed the Baltimore Orioles for 1 1/2 seasons and also did some coaching in the Yankees' system. Lee was the first base coach for Torre's Yankees for a few years in the early 2000s and was Torre's bench coach in 2006.
• A good summary of Lee's career is found on his SABR biography linked above.
• Dan Thomas
• Debut: September 2, 1976
• 1977 Stats:
• Milwaukee Brewers: .271, 2 HR, 11 RBI in 22 games
• Spokane Indians (AAA): .237, 1 HR, 19 RBI in 38 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• April 5 - Hit a home run to help the Brewers beat the Minnesota Twins 18-6 in an exhibition game.
• Other card blogs: none
• Dan Thomas was a tragic figure in baseball. He was known as "the Sundown Kid" because of his refusal to play from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. He did this for religious reasons starting in the 1977 season.
• Thomas was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the first round in 1972. He played in the minors from 1972-1976. Dan had a good year for the AA Berkshire Brewers (.325, 29 HR, 83 RBI) in 1976 and was named the Eastern League MVP. Thomas batted .276 with 4 HR and 15 RBI in 32 games for the Brewers in September 1976.
• Dan  made the Brewers ballclub in 1977. He announced that he wouldn't play on his church's (The Worldwide Church of God) Sabbath Day. Thomas played in 22 games and batted .271, but the Brewers tired of having a player who wouldn't be available two days out of the week. In mid-May Dan was sent to AAA Spokane. Thomas and the Brewers continued to be at odds over his availability and he had his pay docked for each day he was unavailable.
• In early August the Brewers assigned Thomas to the AA Holyoke Millers. Dan refused to report and retired from the game.
• Dan tried to return to baseball in 1978 and in 1979 but wasn't very successful. He had a history of mental problems. Thomas lived in the Spokane area and tried to hold down various odd jobs, but he had a hard time staying employed for very long.
• In 1980 Thomas moved with his wife and two children to Alabama. He was arrested and charged with the rape of a twelve year old girl. While he was awaiting trial Dan hung himself in his jail cell. His wife was unable to afford to move Dan's body back to her family's home in Illinois or to the Northwest. He was buried in a potter's field in Alabama.

1977 Topps Baseball #458 - Leo Foster

• Leo Foster split time between the Mets and AAA Tidewater in 1977. He was with the Mets in late April and for most of May before being sent down on May 22 for a few months. Leo came back to the Mets on August 14 and played for them for the remainder of the season. This was Foster's final season in the majors.
• Foster made the news in early April when his errant throw during infield practice hit a photographer in the head. The photographer was hospitalized.
• 1977 Stats:
• New York Mets: .227, 0 HR, 6 RBI in 36 games
• Tidewater Tides (AAA): .274, 1 HR, 24 RBI in 46 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• Aug 23 - Scored the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning as Len Randle singled through a drawn in infield. The Mets beat the Houston Astros 2-1.
• Other card blogs: 1974, 1975

1977 Topps Baseball #440 - Jon Matlack

• Jon Matlack was not happy in 1977. The Mets were only a shell of the club of a few years ago, and players feuded with owner M. Donald Grant and GM Joe McDonald. Matlack asked to be traded during the season.
• Matlack struggled with shoulder problems in the last part of the season. He was out for a couple of weeks in late July and early August and only pitched once in September.
• After the 1977 season Jon was dealt to the Texas Rangers in that big 4-team trade.
• 1977 Stats: 7-15, 4.21 ERA in 26 starts
• 1977 Highlights:
• July 12 - Snapped a personal seven game losing streak by allowing 2 runs in 8 1/3 innings in the Mets' 4-2 win over the Chicago Cubs.
• July 22 - Pitched a 5-0 shutout against the San Diego Padres.
• Other card blogs: 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1976 Kellogg's, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983

1977 Topps Baseball #425 - Joe Torre

• Holy miscut, Batman!
• Joe Torre wasn't doing a lot with the Mets in 1977. When manager Joe Frazier was fired on May 31, Torre was tapped to be the player-manager for the Mets. Joe made two pinch hitting appearances in June and played in his final game on June 17.
• The Mets went 6-1 in Torre's first seven games as manager, but after the trades of Tom Seaver and Dave Kingman they tailed off quickly.
• 1977 Stats: .176 (9 for 51) in 26 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• April 9 - Hit a pinch double in the 9th inning that scored the tying and eventual winning runs. The Mets beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2.
• Other card blogs: 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976. 1983, Cardboard Gods

1977 Topps Baseball #399 - Bruce Boisclair

• Bruce Boisclair was drafted by the New York Mets in 1970 at the age of 17. 
• Boisclair played in the minors for five seasons (1970-1974) before getting a September call-up in 1974 (3 for 12 in 7 games).
• Bruce played for AAA Tidewater again in 1975 and batted .278 in 127 games.
• Boisclair was with the Mets for the entire 1976 season and batted .287 in 110 games.
• The 1977 season was Bruce Boisclair's best year. He was the fourth outfielder for the Mets and batted .293 in 127 games.
• In 1978 Boisclair tailed off considerably -- he batted .224 in 107 games. Bruce fared even worse in 1979, batting .184 in 59 games.
• Boisclair was released by the Mets at the end of spring training in 1980. Bruce played in Japan in 1980 and retired after the season.
• 1977 Stats: .293, 4 HR, 44 RBI in 127 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• June 15 - Hit a 2-run homer and scored the eventual winning run in the 8th inning as the Mets beat the Atlanta Braves 6-5
• Aug 30 - Had four hits in the Mets' 6-2 loss to the Houston Astros.
• Other card blogs: 1979, 1980, Cardboard Gods

1977 Topps Baseball #376 - Nino Espinosa

• Nino Espinosa was signed at the age of 17 by the New York Mets from the Dominican Republic in 1970. Nino played in the minors from 1970-1974 before getting a September call-up in 1974. He was 0-0 with a 5.00 ERA in 2 games (1 start)
• Espinosa started the 1975 season in AAA Tidewater. He pitched for the Mets for a short time in July and was 0-1 with an ERA of 18.00 in two games.
• Nino spent the first three months of the 1976 season in Tidewater. He was called up in July and was used as a swingman for the rest of the year. Espinosa went 4-4  with a 3.67 ERA in 12 games (5 starts).
• In 1977 Espinosa was given a chance to be a regular member of the Mets rotation. He pitched pretty well for an awful Mets team, going 10-13 with a 3.42 ERA in 29 starts.
• Nino didn't do as well in 1978. His ERA went up to 4.73 and he was 11-15 in 32 starts. Espinosa led the NL in earned runs allowed with 107.
• During spring training in 1979 Espinosa was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for Richie Hebner and Jose Moreno. The Phillies had signed Pete Rose as a free agent, which made Hebner expendable. Nino had his best year in 1979, going 14-12 with a 3.65 ERA in 33 starts.
• Espinosa started the 1980 season on the disabled list due to arm problems. He was ready to pitch in June and was assigned to the Class A Spartanburg Traders. In July Espinosa came back to the Phillies and went 3-5 with a 3.77 ERA in 12 starts. Nino was left off of the postseason roster in a controversial move in favor of rookie Marty Bystrom.
• Nino struggled with arm problems again in 1981. Espinosa was 2-5 with a 6.11 ERA in 14 starts when he was released on August 31. Nino was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays and allowed one run in one inning pitched in his only appearance with the Blue Jays. It would be his last major league appearance.
• The Blue Jays cut Espinosa during spring training in 1982, and he spent the season pitching in the Mexican League. Nino signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1983, but the Pirates released him during spring training.
• In 1987, at the age of 34, Nino Espinosa died of a heart attack on Christmas Eve.
• 1977 Stats: 10-13, 3.42 ERA in 32 games (29 starts)
• 1977 Highlights:
• July 15 - Allowed one unearned run in a complete game 6-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• Aug 9 - Pitched his third complete game of the season and the Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1.
• Sept 14 - Pitched a three-hit shutout and knocked in the only run of the game as the Mets beat Steve Carlton and the Philadelphia Phillies 1-0.
• Other card blogs: 1979, 1980, Cardboard Gods

1977 Topps Baseball #352 - Mike Phillips

• Mike Phillips started the 1977 season with the New York Mets. On June 15 he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Joel Youngblood.
• 1977 Stats:
• New York Mets - .209 in 38 games
• St. Louis Cardinals - .241 in 48 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• May 22 - Singled in Dave Kingman in the 11th inning to win the game. The Mets beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2.
• June 11 - Went 3 for 4 in the Mets' 4-1 loss to the Houston Astros.
• Other card blogs: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980

1977 Topps Baseball #329 - Ron Hodges

• Ron Hodges was a pinch hitter and occasional catcher for the New York Mets in 1977. Hodges appeared in a total of 66 games, but was behind the plate in only 27 of those games.
• 1977 Stats: .265 in 66 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• Aug 28 - Went 3 for 4 in a 6-4 loss to the Atlanta Braves.
• Sept 3 - Was 2 for 3 with a run scored as the Mets beat the Braves 9-1.
• Other card blogs: 1974, 1975, 1980, 1983,1985

1977 Topps Baseball #300 - Jerry Koosman

• Jerry Koosman's record did an about face in 1977. After going 21-10 and finishing second in NL Cy Young Award voting in 1976, Koosman led the NL with 20 losses in 1977. Jerry did lead the NL in strikeout rate (7.6 per 9 innings).
• Jerry Koosman's SABR biography
• 1977 Stats: 8-20, 3.49 ERA in 32 starts.
• 1977 Highlights:
• May 17 - Pitched a 4-hitter and hit a home run as the Mets beat the San Francisco Giants 8-1.
• Sept 21 - Suffered his 20th loss of the season as the Pittsburgh Pirates shut out the Mets 4-0 in front of 5,044 fans at Shea Stadium.
• Other card blogs: 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986

1977 Topps Baseball #281 - Roy Staiger

• Roy Staiger spent the first two months or so of the 1977 season with the Mets. Roy was sent to AAA in June and stayed there until the September callups.
• After the 1977 season Staiger was traded to the New York Yankees for shortstop Sergio Ferrer.
• 1977 Stats:
• New York Mets: .252, 2 HR, 11 RBI in 40 games
• Tidewater Tides (AAA): .287, 15 HR, 57 RBI in 72 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• May 1 - Doubled and homered and had 2 RBI in the Mets' 8-2 win over the San Diego Padres.
• May 27 - Doubled three times and had three RBI but it wasn't enough as the Mets lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4.
• Other card blogs: 1976

1977 Topps Baseball #259 - New York Mets / Joe Frazier

• Joe Frazier played briefly for the Cleveland Indians in 1947 (.071 in 14 at bats) and for three other teams from 1954-1956. He had a .241 lifetime batting average in 217 major league games.
• Frazier played four more years in the minors (1957-1960) and then became a coach and a manager in the  minors.
• Joe was a successful manager in the minors. During his years in the New York  Mets system (1969-1975) Frazier had only one sub-.500 season.
• After winning the International League championship with the Tidewater Tides in 1975 Frazier was hired to manage the Mets. The club did well in 1976, going 86-76 and finishing in third place.
• The Mets were racked with turmoil and dissension in 1977. Frazier clashed with Dave Kingman, who wanted to play out his option and become a free agent. Tom Seaver wanted to be traded, and Jon Matlack was also unhappy with management for not doing enough to improve the club. After the team started 15-30, Frazier was relieved of his managerial duties on May 31.
• In 1982 Frazier managed the Louisville Redbirds to a first place finish in the American Association.
• Joe Frazier passed away in 2011 at the age of 88.
• It must have been a really tough time to be a New York Mets fan in 1977. It can be argued that this was the most tumultuous season in franchise history. The Mets finished last in the NL East and only the hapless Atlanta Braves kept the Mets from having the worst record in the league.
• Team Highlights
• March 1 - Kicked Topps' Sy Berger out of the clubhouse during spring training. The MLB Promotions Corporation was in a dispute with Topps over royalty payments at the time.
• March 17 - Sued the New York Jets to prevent them from playing two of their scheduled home games in Giants Stadium in New Jersey instead of Shea Stadium. The Jets had been in a conflict with the Mets and New York City about the use of Shea Stadium and provisions for rainouts during the baseball season.
• April 26 - Traded for troubled Texas infielder Lenny Randle. Randle had been suspended for punching his manager.
• May 11 - Jon Matlack is the latest Met to demand to be traded. On the same day a judge rules that the football Jets have to play all of their games in Shea Stadium in 1977;.
• May 31 - The Mets fired manager Joe Frazier after they started off 15-30 and made Joe Torre the player/manager.
• June 15 - The Mets made two big trades, trading Tom Seaver to the Cincinnati Reds and Dave Kingman to the San Diego Padres.
• June 17 - Joe Torre put himself in as a pinch hitter and flied out. Torre retired as a player after the game.
• July 13 - A big blackout in New York City forced the suspension of the Mets' game against the Chicago Cubs
• Aug 14 - Secondbaseman Felix Millan has surgery for a separated right shoulder. Millan was injured during a fight with Pittsburgh catcher Ed Ott on August 12. Millan threw the first punch after a hard slide by Ott, but Ott finished it by bodyslamming Millan to the ground. It would end up being the final major league game for Millan.
• Sept 21 - Jerry Koosman loses his 20th game of the season. Koosman was 21-10 in 1976 and finished second in NL Cy Young Award voting, but he went 8-20 in 1977/
• Record: 64-98, 6th in NL East, 37 games behind Philadelphia
• Joe Frazier: 15-30
• Joe Torre: 49-68
• Attendance:  1,066,825 (10th in NL)
• Team Batting: .244 (12th in NL)
• Team HR: 88 (12th in NL)
• Team Stolen Bases: 98 (8th in NL)
• Team ERA: 3.77 (6th in NL)
• Team Fielding: .978 (4th in NL)
• All Stars: John Stearns (C)
• Awards: none
• NL Leaders: Jerry Koosman (Losses - 20)  
• Batting Leader: Lenny Randle (.304)
• Home Run Leader: John Stearns / John Milner / Steve Henderson (12)
• RBI Leader: Steve Henderson (65)
• Stolen Base Leader: Lenny Randle (33)
• Victories Leader: Nino Espinosa (10)
• Losses Leader: Jerry Koosman (20)
• Strikeout Leader: Jerry Koosman (192)
• Saves Leader: Skip Lockwood (20)
• ERA Leader (starters): Nino Espinosa (3.42) - Tom Seaver not included since he was traded in mid season
• ERA Leader (relievers): Skip Lockwood (3.38)
• Players who could have had Mets cards in 1977 (batters with over 100 AB, pitchers with over 40 innings) : 
• Steve Henderson OF (acquired in Seaver trade) - .297, 12 HR, 65 RBI in 99 games
• Lenny Randle 3B (acquired in a trade) - .304, 5 HR, 27 RBI in 136 games
• Doug Flynn IF (acquired in Seaver trade) - .191, 0 HR, 14 RBI in 90 games
• Joel Youngblood 2B - .253, 0 HR, 11 RBI in 70 games
• Jerry Grote C - .270 in 42 games
• Jackson Todd P - 3-6, 4.77 ERA in 19 games (10 starts)
• Bob Myrick - 2-2, 2 saves, 3.61 ERA in 44 games (4 starts)
• Pat Zachry P (acquired in Seaver trade) - 7-6, 3.76 ERA in 19 starts

1977 Topps Baseball #246 - Mike Vail

• Mike Vail was a fourth outfielder and pinch hitter for the  Mets in 1977. He had a tough time in the stolen base department -- he had seven attempts and was caught all seven times. Mike was the starting right fielder for most of the month of July.
• 1977 Stats: .262, 8 HR, 35 RBI in 108 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• June 30 - Appeared as a pinch hitter and bounced into a fielder's choice that scored the go-ahead run in the 9th inning of New York's 4-3 win over the Montreal Expos.
• July 10 - Doubled in both runs in the Mets' 2-1 win over the Expos.
• Other card blogs: 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, Cardboard Gods

1977 Topps Baseball #225 - Bob Apodaca

• This would be Bob Apodaca's final major league season. Bob was injured and never pitched in the majors again after the injury. Apodaca tore ligaments in his pitching elbow during spring training in 1978 and missed the whole season. He tried a couple of comebacks in the minors in 1979 and in 1981.
• 1977 Stats: 4-8, 5 saves, 3.43 ERA in 59 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• June 5 - Caused some confusion in the 9th inning of a game when he was calling for who to catch a fly ball. John Stearns and John Milner were both in the vicinity and Apodaca called out, "John! John!" The ball dropped to the ground and Philadelphia's Ted Sizemore was safe at first base. Pinch runner Terry Harmon was caught stealing second base so the play didn't have any bearing on the outcome of the game (the Mets won 6-5 in ten innings).
• June 30 - Pitched 2 2/3 innings and earned the win as the  Mets beat the Montreal Expos 4-3.
• Sept 18 - Left the game with an injury with two out in the 9th inning while facing Chicago's Larry Biittner. It ended up being Bob's final major league game.
• Other card blogs: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980

1977 Topps Baseball #201 - Ed Kranepool

• Ed Kranepool had a pretty good year as a backup first baseman and outfielder. This was the last year that Kranepool would appear in more than 100 games.
• Ed Kranepool's SABR biography
• 1977 Stats: .281, 10 HR, 40 RBI in 108 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• June 21 - Went 2 for 5 with a home run in New York's 5-2 win over the Atlanta Braves
• Aug 23 - Appeared as a pinch hitter and doubled in the tying run as the Mets beat the Houston Astros 2-1.
• Other card blogs: 1980, 1979, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1973, 1972, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965, Cardboard Gods

Clip of several Mets in 1975

2012 BAT dinner interview