1977 Topps Baseball #418 - Chicago White Sox / Bob Lemon

• 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.
• Bob was a seven-time All Star and won 20 or more games seven times. Lemon teamed up with Bob Feller, Early Wynn, and Mike Garcia to make a formidable rotation in the early 1950s. Bob was waived in July 1958 and went to the minors when he was unclaimed. He retired during spring training in 1959 and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1976.
• 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
• Richie Zisk (pictured with Pittsburgh Pirates) (LF) - .290, 30 HR, 101 RBI 
• Don Kirkwood (pictured with California Angels) - 1-1, 5.18 ERA in 16 games
• Steve Renko (pictured with Chicago Cubs) - 5-0, 3.54 ERA in 8 starts
• Lerrin LaGrow (no card in 1977) - 7-3, 25 saves, 2.46 ERA in 66 games