1977 Topps Baseball #327 - Houston Astros / Bill Virdon

• 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
• Virdon managed the AAA Jacksonville Suns in 1967.
• Virdon was the outfield and hitting coach for the Pirates in 1968. He was activated for a month during the 1968 season when the Pirates needed some outfield help.
• 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 wasn't unemployed for very long. In January 1974 he was hired to manage the New York Yankees. The Yankees were a surprise contender in '74 and Bill was named AL Manager of the Year, but Virdon was dismissed during the 1975 season when Billy Martin became available to manage the club.
• One month after he was fired by the Yankees Virdon was hired to manage the Houston Astros
• 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.
• Virdon managed the Montreal Expos in 1983 and for most of the 1984 season. Bill approached Expo ownership and said that he wasn't planning on managing in 1985, so the Expos fired him in August.
• Bill fell just short of 1000 career managerial wins (he won 995 games).
• Virdon still serves as a special spring training outfield instructor for the Pirates.
• In 2012 Virdon had a one-game tenure as a ceremonial coach with the Pirates. He and Bill Mazeroski were given the boot after one game because MLB said there were too many people in the dugout.
• Other card blogs: 1965,
• Here is a home movie of Virdon (circa 1956) at the Polo Grounds:
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• • Team Highlights:
  • April 11-13: Swept the World Champion Cincinnati Reds in a three game series in Houston.
  • May 7: A benches-clearing brawl ensued when Cardinals pitcher Al Hrabosky hit Cesar Cedeno in the back with a pitch in the 9th inning.
  • Aug 25: The Astros rehire manager Bill Virdon and the coaching staff for the 1978 season.
  • • Record: 81-81 (3rd in NL West - 17 games behind Los Angeles)
    • Attendance:  1,109,560 (9th in NL)
    • Team Batting: .254 (9th in NL)
    • Team HR: 114 (9th in NL)
    • Team Stolen Bases: 187 (2nd in NL)
    • Team ERA: 3.54 (2nd in NL)
    • Team Fielding: .978 (5th in NL)
    • All Stars: Joaquin Andujar (P)
    • Awards: none
    • NL Leaders: none
    • Batting Leader: Jose Cruz - .299
    • Home Run Leader: Bob Watson - 22
    • RBI Leader: Bob Watson - 110
    • Stolen Base Leader: Cesar Cedeno - 61
    • Victories Leader: J.R. Richard - 18
    • Losses Leader: Mark Lemongello - 14
    • Strikeout Leader: J.R. Richard - 214
    • Saves Leader: Ken Forsch - 8
    • ERA Leader (starters): J.R. Richard - 2.97
    • ERA Leader (relievers): Joe Sambito - 2.33
    • Players who could have had Astros cards in 1977 (batters with over 100 AB, pitchers with over 40 innings) : 
    • Jim Fuller (OF) .160 in 100 AB
    • Willie Crawford (OF - shown with SF Giants) .254, 2 HR, 18 RBI in 114 AB
    • Rob Sperring (IF) .186 in 129 AB
    • Julio Gonzalez (IF) .245 in 383 AB
    • Art Howe (2B) .264, 8 HR, 58 RBI in 413 AB
    • Terry Puhl (OF) .301 in 229 AB
    • Floyd Bannister (P) 8-9, 4.04 ERA in 23 starts