- Tom Walker pitched in his final season in 1977. Tom was cut from the St. Louis Cardinals during spring training and picked up by the Montreal Expos. Walker started the season in AAA Denver. After going 7-0 with a 1.97 ERA in 20 games, Tom was recalled to Montreal in early June. Tom didn't do a whole lot with the Expos and was sold to the California Angels on July 13. Walker pitched in one game for the Angels and then was sent to AAA Salt Lake City.
- Tom Walker's SABR biography
- 1977 Stats: 1-1, 5.14 ERA in 12 games
- Montreal Expos: 1-1, 4.74 ERA in 11 games
- California Angels: 0-0, 9.00 ERA in 1 game
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976
- Bob Forsch (1974-1989)
- Lifetime record:
- 168-136
- 3.76 ERA
- 498 games (422 starts)
- 2 Silver Slugger awards
- Ken Forsch (1970-1986)
- Lifetime record:
- 114-113
- 3.37 ERA
- 51 saves
- 521 games (241 starts)
- 2 time All Star
- Hector Cruz somehow was third in NL Rookie of the Year voting even though he batted .228 (I guess the 17 HR impressed the voters). Cruz had a slightly better batting average in 1977, but his power numbers were way down. Hector was the starting 3B for the Cardinals during the 1976 season, but when the Cardinals got Ken Reitz back Cruz became an outfielder. Hector played five more seasons after 1977, but he was a backup player for the rest of his career.
- Hector wasn't happy with his playing time in June and suggested that if he couldn't play every day in St. Louis that he should be traded. At the time he was batting .293, but the Cardinals had a surplus of outfielders and he wasn't able to play as much as he would have liked.
- 1977 Stats: .236, 6 HR, 42 RBI in 118 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980
- Mike Tyson moved to second base in 1977 when Garry Templeton came up to play shortstop. Mike's fielding was slightly above average, but he had only a .299 on base percentage.
- 1977 Stats: .246, 7 HR, 57 RBI in 138 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1982, Cardboard Gods
- Joe Ferguson was the starting catcher for the Houston Astros in 1977. After the 1976 season the St. Louis Cardinals traded Ferguson to the Astros for Larry Dierker. Joe was probably glad for the trade since he wasn't getting much playing time with the Cardinals, who had Ted Simmons behind the plate.
- Ferguson was a league-average fielder and had a slightly higher caught stealing percentage than average in 1977. He had a good on base percentage and his 16 home runs were third on the team behind Bob Watson and Jose Cruz.
- 1977 Stats: .275, 16 HR, 61 RBI, 85 walks in 132 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983
- John Denny had a tough year in 1977. He injured his hamstring on May 2 and missed two weeks. Denny had a hot start -- he was 7-0 at the end of May. But John missed five more weeks in June and July with another hamstring injury and struggled after he came back. John's ERA rose by nearly two runs from his league-leading 2.52 of a year ago.
- 1977 Stats: 8-8, 4.51 ERA in 26 starts
- 1977 Highlights:
- May 21 - Singled in two runs and earned the victory in the Cardinals' 8-5 win over the San Francisco Giants.
- May 31 - Won his seventh game without a loss by shutting out the Chicago Cubs 6-0 on five hits.
- June 11 - Hit Reggie Smith in the back with a pitch after allowing seven runs in 1 1/3 innings. Smith charged the mound and punches were exchanged between John and Reggie. Neither Smith or Denny were ejected, but Denny was pulled from the game by St. Louis manager Vern Rapp after the brawl. The Cardinals lost the game to the LA Dodgers 9-8.
- Other card blogs: 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986
- Bake McBride started the 1977 season with the Cardinals. On June 15 Bake was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. McBride had a great half season with the Phillies and was a vital part of the team's offensive attack through the 1981 season.
- 1977 Stats:
- St. Louis Cardinals: .262, 4 HR, 20 RBI in 43 games
- Philadelphia Phillies: .339, 11 HR, 41 RBI, 27 SB in 85 games
- TOTAL: .316, 15 HR, 61 RBI, 36 stolen bases in 128 games
- NL Championship Series: .222 (4 for 18) in 4 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1974, 1975, 1975 Hostess, 1976, 1976 Hostess, 1979, 1980, 1983, Cardboard Gods
- Al Hrabosky wasn't as effective in 1977 as he was in previous seasons. Al lost a lot of his aura when new Cardinals manager Vern Rapp made him shave his Fu Manchu mustache and cut his hair.
- Al was suspended for insubordination in May. The Cardinals relaxed the facial hair rule in July. Al went 4-1 with 2 saves and had a 4.05 ERA after the rule was relaxed.
- 1977 Stats: 6-5, 10 saves, 4.38 ERA in 65 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- May 6 - Pitched two innings and allowed one run to gain the save in the Cardinals' 4-1 win over the Houston Astros. A brawl got started in the 9th inning when Al hit Cesar Cedeno with a pitch. Cedeno charged the mound and the benches emptied. Neither Cedeno or Hrabosky were ejected, but two others were tossed.
- Aug 8 - Pitched two innings and earned the save as the Cardinals beat the New York Mets 4-2.
- Other card blogs: 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1976, 1976 Kellogg's, 1979, 1980
- Ted Simmons had a big workload in the 1970s. He played in 150 or more games in seven straight seasons (1972-1979). Although Ted occasionally played some outfield and first base, this workload may have contributed to the dropoff in his hitting stats later in his career. Ted would be a surefire Hall of Famer if the decline phase of his career would have been better.
- 1977 Stats: .318, 21 HR, 95 RBI in 150 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1976, 1976 Hostess, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988
- Although he is pictured as a Cardinal, Mike Caldwell never pitched for the team. On October 20, 1976 Mike was traded (with Dave Rader and John D'Aquisto) to the St. Louis Cardinals for Willie Crawford, John Curtis, and Vic Harris. During spring training in 1977 Caldwell was traded from the Cardinals to the Cincinnati Reds for Pat Darcy. Caldwell pitched well against the Reds in a spring training game on March 22, so the Reds may have seen something they liked.
- Mike pitched in 14 games for the Reds, but he wasn't being used very much. On June 15 Caldwell was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for two minor leaguers. Mike pitched out of the bullpen for the rest of June, then he was used as a starter and occasional long reliever from July until the end of the 1977 season.
- 1977 Stats:
- Cincinnati Reds - 0-0, 1 save, 4.01 ERA in 14 games
- Milwaukee Brewers - 5-8, 4.58 ERA in 21 games (12 starts)
- TOTAL: 5-8, 4.46 ERA in 35 games (12 starts)
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985
- Dave Rader came over from the Giants after the 1976 season. The trade was early enough for Topps to get an airbrush job done on Dave's picture.
- Rader backed up Ted Simmons behind the plate in 1977. Dave started only 23 games at catcher. Simmons had a streak of seven straight seasons (1972-1978) of 150 or more games.
- Rader was traded to the Chicago Cubs in December 1977.
- 1977 Stats: .263, 1 HR, 16 RBI in 66 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1973, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1976 Hostess, 1979, 1980
- This was probably Eric Rasmussen's best year. He had career highs in starts, innings pitched, and strikeouts. He had a decent 3.48 ERA, but was only 11-17 (.393).
- 1977 Stats: 11-17, 3.48 ERA in 34 starts
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983
- Bob Forsch had his best season in 1977. He had career highs in wins (20), starts (35), and winning percentage (.741).
- 1977 stats: 20-7, 3.48 ERA in 35 starts
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988
- Lou Brock started to slow down in 1977. He stole 35 bases, his lowest total since 1963. Lou was caught stealing 24 times, leading the National League.
- After Frank Robinson was fired from his post as the manager of the Cleveland Indians, Brock said that he had no interest in ever becoming a manager. He said it would be too difficult to please everyone.
- 1977 Stats: .272, 2 HR, 46 RBI, 35 stolen bases
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1980, 1979, 1978, 1978, 1976, 1976, 1976 Hostess, 1975, 1975, 1975, 1974, 1974, 1973, 1972, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965
- Don Kessinger started the 1977 season with the St. Louis Cardinals. The emergence of Garry Templeton made Kessinger expendable, so he was traded to the Chicago White Sox for a minor leaguer on August 20.
- 1977 Stats:
- St. Louis Cardinals: .239 in 59 games
- Chicago White Sox: .235 in 39 games
- Total: .237 in 98 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 Hostess, 1976, 1979
- Pete Falcone had a rough year in 1977. Falcone was a starter until late July, then he was sent to the minors for five weeks.. When Pete came back in September, he was used as a reliever for the rest of the season.
- 1977 Stats:
- Cardinals: 4-8, 5.44 ERA, 1 save in 27 games (22 starts)
- New Orleans Pelicans (AAA): 2-5, 4.91 ERA in 7 starts
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1976, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985
- The St. Louis Cardinals were an average club with some good players (Garry Templeton, Ted Simmons, Lou Brock), but they didn't have enough to challenge for the NL East crown. They didn't hit for much power and their starting pitching had some weaknesses.
- Vern Rapp played and managed in the minor leauges for a long time before becoming the manager of the Cardinals in 1977. Rapp played in the minors from 1946-1960 (except for two years of military service) and became a manager in 1961. Vern was quite successful as a minor league manager, amassing 1300 career wins.
- After the 1976 season the Cardinals dismissed long-time manager Red Schoendienst and hired Rapp to manage the club. It was felt that the club needed a disciplinarian type of manager. Rapp instituted a dress code that was unpopular with several players.
- The Cardinals went from 72 wins in 1976 to 83 wins in 1977. But the club started slowly in 1978 (6-11) and Vern was fired on April 25.
- Rapp coached for the Montreal Expos for five seasons. He was named manager of the Cincinnati Reds after the 1983 season.
- The Reds didn't improve much over their previous two last-place seasons (51-70, 5th in NL West) in 1984 and Vern was replaced by player-manager Pete Rose on August 16.
- Baseball by the Letters, September 2010
- Team Highlights:
- Record: 83-79, 3rd in NL East, 18 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies
- Attendance: 1,659,287 (4th in NL)
- Team Batting: .270 (4th in NL)
- Team HR: 96 (11th in NL)
- Team Stolen Bases: 134 (5th in NL)
- Team ERA: 3.81 (7th in NL)
- Team Fielding: .978 (5th in NL)
- All Stars: Ted Simmons (C), Garry Templeton (SS)
- Awards: none
- NL Leaders:
- Garry Templeton - triples (18), singles (155), caught stealing (24)
- Lou Brock - caught stealing (24)
- Ted Simmons - intentional walks (25)
- Batting Leader: Garry Templeton (.322)
- Home Run Leader: Ted Simmons (21)
- RBI Leader: Ted Simmons (95)
- Stolen Base Leader: Lou Brock (35)
- Victories Leader: Bob Forsch (20)
- Losses Leader: Eric Rasmussen (17)
- Strikeout Leader: Eric Rasmussen (120)
- Saves Leader: Al Hrabosky (10)
- ERA Leader (starters): Bob Forsch (3.48)
- ERA Leader (relievers): Barney Schultz (2.32)
- Players who could have had Cardinals cards in 1977 (batters with over 100 AB, pitchers with over 40 innings) :
- Buddy Schultz 6-1, 2.32 ERA in 40 games
- John Urrea - 7-6, 4 saves, 3.16 ERA in 41 games (12 starts)
- Tom Underwood - P - got a card with the Philadelphia Phillies
- Clay Carroll - P - got a card with the Chicago White Sox
- Butch Metzger - P - got a card with the San Diego Padres
- Tony Scott - OF - .291 in 95 games
- Garry Templeton was the St. Louis Cardinals' first round draft choice in 1974. Templeton moved through the Cardinals' system quickly and was brought up in August 1976. Garry became the starting shortstop for the Cardinals and batted .291 in 53 games.
- In 1977 Templeton was selected to the All Star Game (he doubled and scored a run), finished 12th in NL MVP voting, and batted .322 in 153 games. Garry led the NL in triples (18) and in caught stealing (24).
- Garry Templeton: His Horizons Are Unlimited! - September 1977 Baseball Digest
- In 1978 Garry had a bit of a drop-off. His batting averaged dipped to .280, although he still led the NL with 13 triples.
- Garry Templeton: The Cards' Talented Young Shortstop - June 1978 Baseball Digest
- Templeton had his best year in 1979. Before the season he said that he was displeased with Cardinals management. Garry set a record by getting over 100 hits from both the left and right sides of the plate. Garry got his last six hits as a right-hander batting against right-handed pitching. Templeton led the NL in hits (211) and triples (19). He did all of this in spite of suffering a wrist injury on May 12 that kept him from batting for several games.
- Garry made news by refusing to go to the All Star Game after he was named to the team as a reserve. Templeton was quoted as saying, "If I ain't startin', I ain't departin'." This quote may be apocryphal (a Cardinals announcer may have actually said it), but it is a famous part of Garry's story.
- Before the 1980 season Templeton signed a six-year contract worth more than $4 million.
- Templeton got the first Silver Slugger award for shortstops in 1980. He played in only 113 games due to a broken thumb suffered in July, but Garry batted .319 for the season. Templeton again refused an invitation to the All Star Game and said he preferred to have the three days off.
- Garry had a tempestuous 1981 season. Before the strike, Garry voiced his desire to be traded to a west coast team. The fans in St. Louis were on him and Garry responded with an infamous obscene gesture during a game on August 26. Templeton was suspended for three weeks and underwent tests for depression.
- Templeton came back after his suspension to be named Player of the Week by Sports Illustrated. Garry had 14 hits in 31 at bats for a .452 average. For the season Templeton batted .288 in 80 games.
- After the 1981 season Garry was traded (with Al Olmsted and Sixto Lezcano) to the San Diego Padres for Ozzie Smith, Steve Mura, and Luis DeLeon.
- Templeton was upbeat after the trade and looked forward to playing for manager Dick Williams. He was still only 26 years old in 1982. Unfortunately for Garry, his best seasons were already behind him. In 1982 Templeton batted .247 in 141 games. Garry batted .263 in 126 games in 1983.
- Garry had a similar year in 1984 and got his second Silver Slugger Award. Templeton batted .258 and led the NL with 23 intentional walks. Most of the time Garry batted eighth in the order. Templeton batted .333 (5 for 15) in the NLCS and .316 (6 for 19) in the World Series.
- How Garry Templeton Emerged as a Leader for the Padres - July 1985 Baseball Digest
- Templeton had his best year as a Padre in 1985. He made the NL All Star team (he singled as a pinch hitter) and batted .282 in 148 games. Garry missed the last five games of the season after he suffered a bone fracture in his leg.
- Garry turned 30 during the 1986 season, but the leg fracture and knee problems sapped his offense. Templeton batted .247 in 147 games in 1986, .222 in 148 games in 1987, and .249 in 110 games in 1988.
- Templeton spent two more seasons as a starting shortstop. In 1989 he batted .255 in 142 games and in 1990 Garry batted .248 in 144 games.
- Garry spent the first two months of the 1991 season with the Padres and batted .193 in 32 games. On May 31 he was traded to the New York Mets for Tim Teufel. Templeton batted .228 in 80 games for the Mets in 1991. Garry retired after the 1991 season.
- After his playing career Templeton coached and managed for various teams in the minor leagues.
- Here is a 2009 interview with Garry Templeton. At the time he was managing the Long Beach Armada of the Golden League.
- Herzog and Templeton: No Grudges, No Regrets - 22 July 2010, stltoday.com.
- Garry now manages the Yuma Panthers of the independent North American League.
- 1977 Stats:.322, 94 runs, 200 hits in 153 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1979, 1980, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, Cardboard Gods
- Jerry Mumphrey was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971. After playing in the minors from 1971-1974, Jerry had a September call-up in 1974 and was 0 for 2 with two runs scored in five games.
- In 1976 Mumphrey started in the minors but the Cardinals brought him up in May after he started out batting .338 for AAA Tulsa. Jerry was the fourth outfielder and batted .258 in 112 games.
- Mumphrey became the starting center fielder late in 1977 and batted .287 with 10 triples in 144 games.
- In 1978 Jerry spent time in all three outfield positions and batted .262 in 125 games.
- Mumphrey was a fourth outfielder again in 1979. Jerry batted .295 in 124 games. After the 1979 season Mumphrey was traded with John Denny to the Cleveland Indians for Bobby Bonds. Two months later Jerry was traded to the San Diego Padres for Bob Owchinko and Jim Wilhelm.
- Jerry was given an opportunity to be the regular center fielder in 1980 and he came through, batting .298 and stealing a career-high 52 bases.
- At the end of spring training in 1981, Mumphrey was traded (with John Pacella) to the New York Yankees for Ruppert Jones, Joe Lefebvre, Tim Lollar, and Chris Welsh. During the strike-shortened 1981 season Jerry batted .307 in 80 games as the Yankees' starting center fielder. Mumphrey batted .095 (2 for 21) in five games in the ALDS, .500 (6 for 12) in the ALCS, and .200 (3 for 15) in the World Series.
- Jerry batted .300 in 123 games in 1982.
- In 1983 Mumphrey split the season between the Yankees and the Houston Astros. Jerry was batting .262 in 83 games on August 10 when he was traded to the Houston Astros for Omar Moreno. Jerry was happy to get back to the National League with its astroturf fields. Mumphrey batted .336 in 44 games with Houston to finish the 1983 season with a flourish.
- Mumphrey was an NL All Star in 1984 (he struck out as a pinch hitter). He batted .290 with 83 RBI in 151 games in '84.
- Jerry moved from center field to right field in 1985. He tailed off just a bit, batting .277 in 130 games. After the 1985 season Mumphrey was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Billy Hatcher and a player to be named later (Steve Engel went to the Astros in July 1986).
- Jerry spent the next two seasons as the fourth outfielder and a pinch hitter for the Cubs. In 1986 he batted .304 in 111 games and in 1987 he batted .333 in 118 games.
- Mumphrey tailed off badly in 1988. He was used almost exclusively as a pinch hitter and batted only .136 in 66 at bats. Jerry was released after the 1988 season.
- 1977 Stats: .287, 73 runs scored, 23 stolen bases in 144 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988
- This is the first time Keith Hernandez sports a mustache on his card. He is clean shaven in 1978 and then the remainder of his Topps cards all have the 'stache.
- 1977 Stats: .291, 15 HR, 91 RBI in 161 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1988, 1980, 1978, 1976, 1975
