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.
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.
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.
The Detroit Tigers were better than they were the last couple of years, but Mark Fidrych's injury problems helped to derail a potentially good season. They brought up Jason Thompson and Steve Kemp to start the 1977 season, and future stars Lou Whitaker, Alan Trammel, Jack Morris, and Lance Parrish all came up late in the season.
Ralph Houk was signed by the New York Yankees in 1939. Ralph was a catcher in the minors for a couple of years and then his career was interrupted by World War II. Houk entered the war as a private, was decorated for his bravery during the Battle of the Bulge, and was discharged as a major (hence his nickname "The Major"). Ralph returned to baseball in 1946 and was brought up to the Yankees in 1947. Ralph wasn't going to get much playing time with Yogi Berra as the starting catcher. He was mostly in the minors in 1948 and 1949 and then spent a lot of time on the bench for the Yankees from 1950-1954. In eight years with the Yankees Houk played in only 91 games, but he did bat .272 during that span.
In 1955 Houk became a player-manager for AAA Denver. He did the same thing in 1956 and then was exclsively the manager in 1957.
Ralph was very successful as a manager and in 1958 he was promoted to the majors to be Casey Stengel's first base coach. He coached for the Yankees from 1958-1960.
By the end of the 1960 season Houk was a very hot commodity as a possible manager. The Yankees didn't want to see him leave, so they discharged Stengel and made Ralph the manager of the club. The Yankees won three pennants and two world championships from 1961-1963 under Houk.
Ralph moved into the General Manager's role in 1964 and hired Yogi Berra to manage the Yankees. Houk was disenchanted with Yogi's work as manager and after the Yankees lost the 1964 World Series he fired the popular Berra. Houk hired Johnny Keane to manage the Yankees in 1965, but he was more suited to managing younger players than the aging veterans that made up the Yankees team. After the team struggled in 1965 and in 1966, Houk came back to the dugout in May 1966.
Houk managed the Yankees from 1966-1973. The Yankees never made it back to the post season during Ralph's second tenure as manager. Ralph resigned as the Yankee manager after the 1973 season and was promptly hired by the rebuilding Detroit Tigers.
The Tigers struggled in Houk's first two seasons, but by the end of the 1977 season the team was on its way to start contending again. Houk retired after the 1977 season.
Ralph stayed retired for three years and then came out of retirement to manage the Boston Red Sox. Houk managed the Red Sox from 1981-1984. Houk was a special assistant for the Minnesota Twins from 1987-1989.
Darrell Johnson was a catcher who played in parts of seven seasons from 1952-1962. He started out with the St. Louis Browns and also played for the Chicago White Sox in 1952. Darrell then played in the minors for the next four seasons. He posted some good hitting stats in the Yankees system in AAA in 1955 (.306) and in 1956 (.319). Johnson became Yogi Berra's backup catcher in 1957, but he didn't get a lot of playing time (.217 in 21 games in 1957 and .250 in 5 games in 1958). Johnson was back in AAA in 1959 since the Yankees had Elston Howard. The St. Louis Cardinals drafted Darrell in the Rule 5 draft after the 1959 season. Johnson played for the Cardinals for a short time in 1960 and then he was released as a player and added as a coach. Darrell continued as a coach until the middle of the 1961 season. When manager Solly Hemus was fired, Johnson went with him. Darrell signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as a player (.230 in 21 games). He was sold to the Cincinnati Reds in mid August and batted .315 in 20 games. Johnson appeared in the 1961 World Series and was 2 for 4 in 2 games. In 1962 Johnson stared the year with the Reds (0 for 2 in 8 games). He was released in April and signed with the Baltimore Orioles. Darrell batted .182 in 6 games before being released in June. He served as the bullpen coach for the Orioles for the rest of the year. Darrell served as a minor league manager (1963-1966) as a scout (1967) and as the pitching coach for the Boston Red Sox (1968-1969). After manager Dick Williams was fired in 1969, Johnson returned to managing in the minors. He had some success there and was brought in to manage the Boston Red Sox in 1974. Johnson led the Red Sox to the 1975 World Series, but he was fired in July 1976 after a slow start. Darrell became the first manager of the Seattle Mariners and managed them from 1977 until mid-1980. Johnson coached for the Texas Rangers in 1981 and in 1982. He became the manager of the Rangers in July 1982 and finished the season with them. Johnson then worked for the New York Mets for several years as a coach and in other positions. Darrell died of leukemia in 2004.
Don Bryant - I think this is the first time I have seen a bullpen coach on a card. Bryant was a catcher who spent most of his career (1960-1973) in the minors. Don had a few brief stints in the majors in 1966, 1969, and 1970 (220 in 59 games). Bryant was Johnson's bullpen coach in Boston (1974-1976) and in Seattle (1977-1980).
Jim Busby - Busby was an outfielder for six teams from 1950-1962 (,262 in 1352 games). Busby was a coach in the major leagues from 1962-1978. Jim passed away in 1996.
Vada Pinson - Pinson would have been a Hall of Fame outfielder if it weren't for injuries. He played in the majors from 1958-1975 (.286, 2757 hits, 256 HR). Pinson was a major league coach from 1977-1994. Vada died of a stroke in 1995. Vada Pinson's SABR biography
Wes Stock - Wes was a major league pitcher from 1959-1967 (27-13, 3.60 ERA). Stock was a pitching coach for several major league teams (including the World Champion Oakland A's of 1973 and 1974) from 1967-1981 and again from 1984-1986.
Record: 64-98, 6th in AL West, 38 games behind Kansas City
Attendance: 1,338,511 (8th in AL)
Team Batting: .256 (11th in AL)
Team HR: 133 (8th in AL)
Team Stolen Bases: 110 (5th in AL)
Team ERA: 4.83 (14th in AL)
Team Fielding: .976 (10th in AL)
All Stars: Ruppert Jones (OF)
Awards: none
AL Leaders: none
Batting Leader: Leroy Stanton (.275)
Home Run Leader: Leroy Stanton (27)
RBI Leader: Leroy Stanton / Dan Meyer (90)
Stolen Base Leader: Dave Collins (25)
Victories Leader: Glenn Abbott (12)
Losses Leader: Glenn Abbott (13)
Strikeout Leader: Enrique Romo (105)
Saves Leader: Enrique Romo (16)
ERA Leader (starters): Glenn Abbott (4.45) ; (pitchers who started more than half of their appearances)
ERA Leader (relievers): Enrique Romo (2.83)
Players who could have had Mariners cards in 1977 (batters with over 100 AB, pitchers with over 40 innings) :
Craig Reynolds (SS) - .248 in 135 games
Jose Baez (2B) - .259 in 91 games
Larry Milbourne (IF) - .219 in 86 games
Julio Cruz (2B) - .256 in 60 games
Skip Jutze (C) - .220 in 42 games
Tom House (P) - 4-5, 1 save, 3.93 ERA in 26 games (11 starts)
Mike Kekich (P) - 5-4, 3 saves, 5.60 ERA in 41 games (2 starts)
Enrique Romo (P) - 8-10, 16 saves, 2.83 ERA in 58 games (3 starts)
John Montague (P) - 8-12, 4 saves, 4.29 ERA in 47 games (15 starts)
Herman Franks started his career in the St. Louis Cardinals organization at the age of 18 in 1932. Franks played in the minors until 1939. Herman batted .059 in 17 games for the Cardinals in 1939 and then was drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Herman spent two seasons as a backup catcher with the Dodgers (.183 in 65 games in 1940 and .201 in 57 games in 1941) and then served in the military for the next three years.
Franks played for AAA Montreal in 1946 was a player-manager for the AAA St. Paul Saints in 1947. Herman left the Dodger organization in 1947 to be a backup catcher for the Philadelphia A's for the rest of the 1947 season and for the 1948 season.
Herman became a coach for the New York Giants under Leo Durocher in 1949. In the famous Bobby Thomson home run game in 1951 Franks was in the center field clubhouse in the Polo Grounds. He apparently was looking at the opposing catchers' signs with a telescope and then relaying them to bullpen catcher Sal Yvars, who would then relay the sign to the batter. Franks always denied being part of such an operation. Herman coached with the Giants until Durocher was fired in 1955.
Franks was a Giants scout and the General Manager of the AAA Salt Lake City Bees from 1956-1964. Herman also coached under Giants' manager Alvin Dark in 1964.
In 1965 Franks became the manager of the Giants. The Giants finished second for four straight seasons (1965-1968). Herman stepped down as the Giants' manager after the 1968 season. Franks didn't really need the job -- he was making enough money outside of baseball to have a comfortable living.
Herman was out of baseball and became a successful businessman between 1969 and 1976.
Franks had a good managerial career even though he never won a pennant. His teams finished at .500 or better in six of his seven years as a major league manager, and the other club (the 1978 Cubs) were just slightly below .500.
The LA Dodgers were able to dethrone the two-time World Champion Cincinnati Reds in 1977. The Dodgers had four 30 Home Run guys (Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, Dusty Baker, and Reggie Smith) and they also had great pitching. The Dodgers beat the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Championship Series and then lost to the New York Yankees in the World Series.
Pitcher Tommy Lasorda was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1945. Lasorda missed the 1946 and 1947 seasons due to military service. Tommy came back in 1948 and had some impressive games in the minors. The Brooklyn Dodgers got wind of Lasorda's pitching prowess and drafted him out of the Phillies chain.
Lasorda stayed in the minors for most of his pitching career. Although Tommy put up some good numbers in AAA, he couldn't stick in the majors. Lasorda had brief trials with the Dodgers in 1954 (5.00 ERA in 4 games) and in 1955 (13.50 ERA in 4 games/1 start).
The Kansas City A's purchased Lasorda during spring training in 1956. Tommy started the 1956 season with the A's but was 0-4 with a 6.15 ERA in 18 games (5 starts). On July 11 Lasorda was traded to the New York Yankees for Wally Brunette. Tommy pitched in the minors for the remainder of the 1956 season (and for the rest of his career as it turned out).
Tommy was purchased by the Dodgers in May 1957. Lasorda pitched for AAA Montreal through the 1960 season.
Lasorda was a scout for the Dodgers from 1961-1965. In 1965 Tommy started his managing career in the low minors. Lasorda worked his way up until he managed in AAA from 1969-1972.
Tommy joined Walter Alston's staff as the Dodger third base coach in 1973. He remained as third base coach until Alston retired toward the end of the 1976 season.
Lasorda managed the Dodgers for the last few games of the 1976 season. He continued to manage the Dodgers for the next 21 years (1976-1996). Lasorda won eight NL West titles, four NL pennants, and two World Championships (1981 and 1988) as manager of the Dodgers. Tommy retired in June 1996 after he had a heart attack. Tommy became a Dodger executive and was the General Manager for part of the 1998 season.
Tommy was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.
Record: 98-64 (1st in NL West, 10 games ahead of Cincinnati Reds)
Attendance: 2,955,087 (1st in NL)
Team Batting: .266 (5th in NL)
Team HR: 191 (1st in NL)
Team Stolen Bases: 114 (7th in NL)
Team ERA: 3.22 (1st in NL)
Team Fielding: .981 (2nd in NL)
All Stars: Don Sutton (starting pitcher); Steve Garvey (starting 1B); Ron Cey (starting 3B); Reggie Smith (OF)
Awards: Steve Garvey (Gold Glove 1B); Dusty Baker (NL Championship Series MVP)
NL Leaders: Steve Garvey (games played - 162)
Batting Leader: Reggie Smith (.307)
Home Run Leader: Steve Garvey (33)
RBI Leader: Steve Garvey (115)
Stolen Base Leader: Davey Lopes (47)
Victories Leader: Tommy John (20)
Losses Leader: Charlie Hough (12)
Strikeout Leader: Burt Hooton (153)
Saves Leader: Charlie Hough (22)
ERA Leader (starters): Burt Hooton (2.62)
ERA Leader (relievers): Elias Sosa (1.98)
Players who could have had Dodgers cards in 1977 (batters with over 100 AB, pitchers with over 40 innings) :
Rick Monday (CF) - pictured with Chicago Cubs - .230, 15 HR, 48 RBI in 118 games
Ted Martinez (2B) - no card in 1977 - .299 in 137 AB
Johnny Oates (C) - pictured with Philadelphia Phillies - .269 in 156 AB
Glenn Burke (CF) - rookie card in 1978 - .254 in 169 AB
Mike Garman (P) - pictured with Chicago Cubs - 4-4, 12 saves, 2.73 ERA in 49 games
Danny Ozark had a long playing career in the minor leagues. He started in 1942 and then was in military service for the next three years. Ozark fought in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II.
Danny came back after the war and resumed his playing career. Ozark spent his entire playing career (1942, 1946-1961, 1963) in the Brooklyn/LA Dodgers' organization, but he never made it to the majors.
In 1956 Ozark started managing in the Dodger organization. He was a player-manager in Class B and A ball for four years and then managed the Dodgers' AAA affiliate from 1960-1964.
In 1965 Ozark moved up to the LA Dodgers as a coach. He coached with the Dodgers from 1965-1972.
The Phillies finished 6th in 1973, 3rd in 1974, and 2nd in 1975. They then won the NL East in three straight seasons (1976-1978). The team won 101 games in both 1976 and in 1977. Philadelphia lost in the NL Championship Series by the Cincinnati Reds in 1976 and by the LA Dodgers in 1977 and 1978.
The Phillies signed Pete Rose as a free agent after the 1978 season. It was thought that Rose was the missing piece. Rose had a good year, but injuries and some off years by other players doomed the Phillies. Ozark was fired on August 31, 1979 after the Phillies were 65-67 and in fourth place. Danny was thought to be too soft on the players. Dallas Green took over the team and led it to the World Championship the following season.
Danny retired to his home in Vero Beach. He passed away in 2009 at the age of 85.
Record: 101-61, 1st in NL East, 5 games ahead of Pittsburgh Pirates
Attendance: 2,700,070 (2nd in NL)
Team Batting: .279 (1st in NL)
Team HR: 186 (2nd in NL)
Team Stolen Bases: 135 (4th in NL)
Team ERA: 3.71 (4th in NL)
Team Fielding: .981 (2nd in NL)
All Stars: Greg Luzinski (starting LF); Mike Schmidt (3B); Steve Carlton (P)
Awards: Steve Carlton (NL Cy Young Award, The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year); Jim Kaat (Gold Glove, P); Mike Schmidt (Gold Glove, 3B); Garry Maddox (Gold Glove, OF)
NL Leaders: Steve Carlton (victories, 23)
Batting Leader: Greg Luzinski (.309)
Home Run Leader: Greg Luzinski (39)
RBI Leader: Greg Luzinski (130)
Stolen Base Leader: Larry Bowa (32)
Victories Leader: Steve Carlton (23)
Losses Leader: Jim Kaat (11)
Strikeout Leader: Steve Carlton (198)
Saves Leader: Gene Garber (19)
ERA Leader (starters): Steve Carlton (2.64)
ERA Leader (relievers): Gene Garber (2.35)
Players who could have had Phillies cards in 1977 (batters with over 100 AB, pitchers with over 40 innings) :
Bake McBride (OF) (pictured with Cardinals): .339, 11 HR, 41 RBI in 85 games
Richie Hebner (1B) (pictured with Pirates): .285, 18 HR, 62 RBI in 118 games
Ted Sizemore (2B) (pictured with Dodgers) : .281, 4 HR, 47 RBI in 152 games
Davey Johnson (2B) (no 1977 card): .321, 8 HR, 36 RBI in 78 games
Warren Brusstar (P) (no 1977 card - rookie card in 1978): 7-2, 3 saves, 2.65 ERA in 46 games
A good season by the Texas Rangers was overshadowed by a lot of managerial drama. The team went through four managers in eight days after Frank Lucchesi was fired in June. Eddie Stanky was hired, but quit after one game because he missed his home in Alabama. Third base coach Connie Ryan then managed the team on an interim basis until Billy Hunter was hired to manage the club on June 27. The Rangers were 33-35 at the time of Hunter's hiring, but played much better after that.
March 28 - Lenny Randle punched manager Frank Lucchesi before a spring training game. Randle was upset because rookie Bump Wills was going to be the starting second baseman instead of him. Lucchesi was quoted as saying that he wouldn't let a "punk" who was making $80,000 a year make demands. Three days before (March 25), Randle was going to walk out of camp but was talked out of it by Bert Blyleven, Mike Hargrove, and Gaylord Perry. Randle was suspended after the incident and later traded to the New York Mets.
Frank Lucchesi managed at the major and minor league levels for a total of 30 years. He started as an 18-year-old minor league outfielder in 1945. After spending one year in AA, Frank never again rose above Class B level.
Lucchesi became a player-manager at the age of 24 in 1951. He continued to play and manage for various Class C and D teams through the 1957 season.
Frank came to the Philadelphia Phillies organization in 1956. He managed in the organization and slowly worked his way up the ladder from 1956-1969.
The Phillies were still a building ballclub during Frank's tenure. Lucchesi managed the team through the 1970 and 1971 seasons and for part of the 1972 season. Frank was relieved of his managerial duties on July 10, 1972. Lucchesi continued with the organization for the rest of the season as a special assignments man.
Lucchesi managed Cleveland's AAA team (Oklahoma City) in 1973.
Frank was hired to replace Billy Martin as manager of the Rangers on July 22, 1975. Lucchesi was only guaranteed to manage the team for the rest of the year, but he was later given an extension.
After the Randle incident in 1977, Frank had to recuperate for a time before taking over the ballclub. The Rangers didn't play as well as they should have, and Frank was let go in June. In September 1977 Lucchesi filed a civil suit against Randle.
Frank was the "eye in the sky" coach for the Chicago Cubs in 1987 when on September 9 he was tapped as the interim manager after Gene Michael resigned.
Lucchesi managed AAA Nashville in the Cincinnati Reds organization in 1988 and in 1989.
Record: 94-68, .580 , 2nd in AL West (8 games behind Kansas City)
Attendance: 1,250,722 (9th in AL)
Team Batting: .270 (6th in AL)
Team HR: 135 (7th in AL)
Team Stolen Bases: 154 (4th in AL)
Team ERA: 3.56 (2nd in AL)
Team Fielding: .982 (2nd in AL)
All Stars: Bert Campaneris (SS)
Awards: Jim Sundberg (Gold Glove catcher); Juan Beniquez (Gold Glove OF)
AL Leaders: Toby Harrah (Bases on Balls, 109); Bert Campaneris (Sacrifice Hits, 40; Caught Stealing, 20)
Batting Leader: Mike Hargrove (.305)
Home Run Leader: Toby Harrah (27)
RBI Leader: Toby Harrah (87)
Stolen Base Leader: Bump Wills (28)
Victories Leader: Doyle Alexander (17)
Losses Leader: Bert Blyleven, Gaylord Perry (12)
Strikeout Leader: Bert Blyleven (182)
Saves Leader: Adrian Devine (15)
ERA Leader (starters): Bert Blyleven (2.72)
ERA Leader (relievers): Darold Knowles (3.22)
Players who could have had Rangers cards in 1977 (batters with over 100 AB, pitchers with over 40 innings) :
Roger Moret (pictured with Atlanta Braves) - 3-3, 4 saves, 3.73 ERA in 18 games (8 starts)
Darold Knowles (pictured with Chicago Cubs) - 5-2, 4 saves, 3.22 ERA in 42 games
Paul Lindblad (pictured with Oakland A's) - 4-5, 4 saves, 4.20 ERA in 42 games (1 start)
Adrian Devine (pictured with Atlanta Braves) - 11-6, 15 saves, 3.58 ERA in 56 games (2 starts)
Dock Ellis (pictured with New York Yankees) - 10-6, 1 save, 2.90 ERA in 23 games (22 starts)
Ken Henderson (OF-Pictured with Atlanta Braves) - .258, 5 HR, 23 RBI in 75 games
Dave May (RF-no card) - .241, 7 HR, 42 RBI in 120 games
Willie Horton (DH-pictured with Detroit Tigers) - .289, 15 HR, 75 RBI in 139 games
Claudell Washington (LF-pictured with Oakland A's) - .284, 12 HR, 68 RBI in 129 games
I wonder why I put those marks next to Jim Otten and Greg Teriecky.
The 1977 Chicago White Sox bring back fond memories for a lot of fans. The "South Side Hit Men" led the AL West for much of the season and won 90 games.
Bob Lemon was a Hall of Fame pitcher who spent his entire playing career with the Cleveland Indians. He had cups of coffee in 1941 (1 for 4) and in 1942 (0 for 5) as a third baseman before spending the next three years in World War II.
Lemon came back in 1946 and was a reliever and occasional starter for the next two seasons. Bob came into his own in 1948 and had a 20-14 record with a league-leading 20 complete games. Lemon won two games in the 1948 World Series for the World Champion Indians.
After his playing career, Lemon was a scout and a coach for a few years. Bob managed in the minors in 1965 and in 1966 (he was the PCL Manager of the Year in 1966). He scouted for the Indians in 1967 and in 1968 and then managed the AAA Vancouver Mounties in 1969.
Lemon got his first managing job with the Kansas City Royals in 1970. He guided the team to its first winning season in 1971 but was fired after the 1972 season because the team didn't want coach Jack McKeon to move to another organization.
Bob managed in the minors for two more years (1974 and 1975) and then was hired by the White Sox after the 1976 season.
Lemon had the White Sox in first place as late as August 14, but the team tailed off and finished third in the AL West. Bob was named the AL Manager of the Year in 1977.
After the White Sox had a slow start (34-40), Lemon was fired on June 30, 1978. He didn't stay unemployed for long -- the Yankees fired Billy Martin in late July and Lemon was named as his replacement. The Yankees made a big comeback and ended up winning the World Championship. Lemon was named AL Manager of the Year for the second time.
The Yankees started slowly in 1979 and Lemon was dismissed as manager. Bob remained with the organization since he was under contract through the 1982 season.
Bob was again named as the Yankee manager on September 6, 1981 (my 15th birthday) and he guided them to the AL pennant. The Yankees lost to the LA Dodgers in the World Series. Bob was dismissed again after a 6-8 start in 1982.
In later years Bob suffered a stroke and was in failing health. He died on January 11, 2000 at the age of 70.
Record: 90-72, 3rd in AL West, 12 games behind Kansas City
Attendance: 1,657,135 (5th in AL)
Team Batting: .278 (4th in AL)
Team HR: 192 (2nd in AL)
Team Stolen Bases: 42 (14th in AL)
Team ERA: 4.25 (10th in AL)
Team Fielding: .974 (12th in AL)
All Stars: Richie Zisk (starting LF);
Awards: none
AL Leaders: Alan Bannister (sacrifice flies - 11)
Batting Leader: Lamar Johnson (.302)
Home Run Leader: Oscar Gamble (31)
RBI Leader: Richie Zisk (101)
Stolen Base Leader: Ralph Garr (12)
Victories Leader: Steve Stone (15)
Losses Leader: Steve Stone (12)
Strikeout Leader: Ken Kravec (125)
Saves Leader: Lerrin LaGrow (25)
ERA Leader (starters): Ken Kravec (4.10)
ERA Leader (relievers): Lerrin LaGrow (2.46)
Players who could have had White Sox cards in 1977 (batters with over 100 AB, pitchers with over 40 innings) :
Don Kessinger (pictured with St. Louis Cardinals) (SS/2B) - .235 in 39 games
Royle Stillman (no card in 1977) (utility) - .210 in 56 games
Wayne Nordhagen (rookie card in 1978) (RF) - .315 in 52 games
Billy Martin started his major league career in 1950 as a second baseman with the New York Yankees. Martin was a favorite of manager Casey Stengel.
In 1953 Billy set a record for a six-game World Series with 12 base hits.
Martin played for the Yankees until 1957. Several Yankee players were involved in an altercation at the Copacabana nightclub during a celebration of Billy's 29th birthday. Martin was traded to the Kansas City A's on June 15.
Billy was heartbroken over being traded from the Yankees. He played for six teams from 1957-1961.
After his playing carer Martin went into coaching. He was the third base coach for the 1965 AL pennant-winning Minnesota Twins.
The Twins won the AL West in 1969, but they were swept by the Baltimore Orioles in the AL Championship Series and Martin was fired after the season. Billy flattened one of his pitchers (Dick Bosman) after he had gone after pitching coach Art Fowler. Bosman was upset with Fowler after he had reported to Martin that Bosman hadn't run all of his sprints. Teammate Bob Allison was involved as well and sustained some damage while trying to break things up.
Billy was hired to manage the Detroit Tigers in 1971. He ran the club for three years and won the AL East title in 1972. Martin resigned as manager during spring training in 1973 but was talked into returning to the team. In September 1973 the Tigers fired Martin. Martin had been suspended for ordering his pitchers to throw spitballs against the Cleveland Indians in response to Gaylord Perry being "allowed" to throw the spitter.
The Yankees won the AL Pennant in 1976 but were swept by the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series.
The 1977 New York Yankees got a lot of ink in the press. They were controversial and they didn't get along well, but they were a great team. The Yankees fought off late season challenges by the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles to win the AL East by 2 1/2 games. The Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals in the AL Championship Series and the LA Dodgers in the World Series to claim their first World Championship since 1962.
The Oakland A's hired Martin to manage the team in 1980. Billy injected new life into the club and the A's finished above .500 in 1980. The A's won the AL East during the 1981 strike season but were knocked out of the playoffs by the Yankees.
The A's faltered in 1982 as several pitchers were injured. Billy was fired by the A's after the season. Soon after his firing by the A's, Martin was hired to manage the Yankees again for the 1983 season.
During this stint as Yankee manager, Martin was involved in the infamous "Pine Tar Game" when he protested a home run hit by George Brett of the Kansas City Royals. The umpires upheld Martin's protest, which caused a memorable reaction by Brett. Martin was suspended twice during the season for run-ins with umpires. After the 1983 season Martin was transferred to an "adviser" for the Yankees and was replaced as manager by Yogi Berra.
Billy became manager of the Yankees again in 1985 after the controversial firing of Yogi Berra. He missed some time while recovering from a punctured lung suffered when he was getting an injection for back spasms. Martin suffered a broken arm during an altercation with pitcher Ed Whitson in a hotel barroom in September. Even with all of these incidents, the Yankees won 97 games and finished second in the AL East.
June 18 - Martin and Reggie Jackson almost come to blows in the dugout during a nationally televised game. Jackson didn't hustle while retrieving a base hit and Martin sent Paul Blair out to replace Reggie in the middle of the inning. Martin came close to losing his job because of the incident and because of feuds with several players, but he survived and finished the season with the club.
July 19 - Reggie Jackson is accused by a 13-year-old boy of roughing him up after the All Star Game in New York.
Record: 100-62, .617, 1st in AL East, 2 1/2 games ahead of Baltimore and Boston
Attendance: 2,103,092 (1st in AL)
Team Batting: .281 (2nd in AL)
Team HR: 184 (3rd in AL)
Team Stolen Bases: 93 (7th in AL)
Team ERA: 3.61 (3rd in AL)
Team Fielding: .979 (3rd in AL)
All Stars: Willie Randolph (starting 2B), Reggie Jackson (starting RF), Thurman Munson (C), Graig Nettles (3B), Sparky Lyle (P)
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.
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.
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.
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) :
This was the start of Chuck Tanner's ten year run as the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Chuck Tanner started his career as an outfielder. He started his major league career in 1955 with the Milwaukee Braves. He played for the Braves in from 1955-1957. Chuck was traded to the Chicago Cubs in the middle of the 1955 season and played with them through the 1958 season. Tanner then played for the Cleveland Indians for two years and finished his major league career with the expansion Los Angeles Angels from 1961-1962. He was in the minors for most of the time from 1959-1962.
Tanner retired as a player after the 1962 season and started managing in the minors. He managed in the Los Angeles / California Angels organization from 1963-1970. His 1970 Hawaii Islanders (AAA - Pacific Coast League) had a great record of 98-48, a .671 winning percentage)
After the 1975 season new White Sox owner Bill Veeck removed Tanner from the position of manager and hired Paul Richards for the job. Tanner was quickly hired by the Oakland A's as manager for the 1976 season.
The Pirates finished second in the AL East in Tanner's first two seasons with the club. Chuck managed the Pirates to the World Championship in 1979.
By the mid 1980s the Pirates had major problems. A big drug scandal brought down several players. Tanner was seen as being too lax in managing the club and was let go after the 1985 season.
Tanner managed the Braves in 1986 and 1987. By May of 1988 he and General Manager Bobby Cox had deep philosophical disagreements about the direction of the ballclub. Cox fired Tanner in late May and replaced him with Russ Nixon.
After his managing career Chuck worked in the Milwaukee Brewers organization for 11 years, as a special assistant for the Cleveland Indians for five years, and then for the Pirates for two years.
Aug 5 - Had a brawl with the Reds. The brawl started when Reds pitcher Joe Hoerner hit Frank Taveras with a pitch in the 9th inning of a 13-0 Pirate victory.
Record: 96-66, 2nd in NL East, 5 games behind Philadelphia
Attendance: 1,237,349 (8th in NL)
Team Batting: .274 (2nd in NL)
Team HR: 133 (7th in NL) - I'm surprised the "Lumber Company" was this low
Team Stolen Bases: 260 (1st in NL)
Team ERA: 3.61 (3rd in NL)
Team Fielding: .977 (8th in NL)
All Stars: Dave Parker (starting RF); John Candelaria (P); Goose Gossage (P)
Awards: Dave Parker (Gold Glove - OF);
NL Leaders: Dave Parker (Batting - .338; Hits - 215; Doubles - 44); Frank Taveras (Stolen Bases - 70); John Candelaria (ERA - 2.34; Winning Percentage - .800; Home Runs Allowed - 29)
Batting Leader: Dave Parker - .338
Home Run Leader: Bill Robinson - 26
RBI Leader: Bill Robinson - 104
Stolen Base Leader: Frank Taveras - 70
Victories Leader: John Candelaria - 20
Losses Leader: Jerry Reuss - 13
Strikeout Leader: Rich Gossage - 151
Saves Leader: Rich Gossage - 26
ERA Leader (starters): John Candelaria - 2.34
ERA Leader (relievers): Rich Gossage - 1.62
Players who could have had Pirates cards in 1977 (batters with over 100 AB, pitchers with over 40 innings) :
Fernando Gonzalez (IF/OF) - .276, 4 HR, 27 RBI in 80 games
Rich Gossage - (pictured with Chicago White Sox) - 11-9, 1.62 ERA, 26 saves in 72 games
Grant Jackson (pictured with Seattle Mariners) - 5-3, 3.86 ERA, 4 saves in 49 games (2 starts)
Odell Jones - 3-7, 5.08 ERA in 33 games (15 starts)
Terry Forster (pictured with Chicago White Sox) 6-4, 4.43 ERA in 33 games (6 starts)
Bill Virdon had a long career in baseball as a player and as a manager.
Virdon came up with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1955 and was the NL Rookie of the Year.
Bill was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1956 and played center field for them through the 1965 season. Virdon was a member of the 1960 World Champion Pirates and won a Gold Glove award in 1962.
Bill retired after the 1965 season and managed the AA Williamsport Mets in 1966
Bill coached for the Pirates for a few more seasons and then became the Pirates' manager after the resignation of Danny Murtaugh after the 1971 season.
Virdon managed the Pirates in 1972 and for most of the 1973 season until he was replaced by Murtaugh on September 6. The Pirates didn't play well in 1973, but a lot of that was due to the tragic loss of Roberto Clemente before the season.
Bill managed the Astros until the middle of the 1982 season. Virdon was the NL Manager of the Year in 1980. He took the Astros to the playoffs in 1980 and in 1981, but when the Astros struggled in 1982 Virdon was replaced. Bill is still the winningest manager in Houston history. He had a 544-522 record during his Houston tenure.
