- Jim Hughes was in the minors for most of the 1977 season. He started the season in Minnesota but was sent down after appearing in two April games. Hughes pitched in the minors for a few teams in 1978 and 1979 but never made it back to the majors.
- 1977 Stats: 0-0, 2.08 ERA in 2 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1976, 1976 Hostess
- Gene Tenace was one of the last of the dynasty era Oakland A's to get away from Charlie Finley. After the 1976 season Gene signed a big free agent deal (six years, over $1.8 million) with the San Diego Padres. Topps airbrushed Tenace into a Padres uniform for his 1977 card.
- By the end of the 1977 season Tenace already wanted to be traded from the Padres. He was unhappy about being platooned at catcher and being moved around to other positions. Gene wasn't the only Padre who was unhappy with manager Alvin Dark.
- 1977 Stats: .233, 15 HR, 61 RBI in 147 games. Led the NL with 125 walks and 13 hit by pitches.
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 Hostess, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983
- Mike Garman had his last good year in 1977. He actually played for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1977. Mike was traded to the Dodgers (with Rick Monday) for Ivan DeJesus, Bill Buckner, and a minor leaguer in January 1977.
- He was used to close some games and was also a set-up man for Charlie Hough.
- 1977 Stats:
- Regular season: 4-4, 2.73 ERA, 12 saves in 49 games
- NL Championship Series: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 save in 2 games
- World Series: 0-0, 0.00 ERA in 2 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1979
- Toby Harrah was an on base machine during this time in his career. Harrah led the AL with 109 walks in 1977. Toby was moved from shortstop to third base to make room for free agent pickup Bert Campaneris.
- 1977 Stats: .263, 27 HR, 87 RBI, 109 walks, 90 runs
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1972, 1973, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1983, 1985, 1986
- 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:
- Other card blogs: 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986
- Otto Velez signed with the New York Yankees in 1969. Velez made his way through the Yankees system and was considered to be one of their best prospects, but he wasn't able to break into the starting lineup. His nickname was "Otto the Swatto."
- In the minors one of Otto's strengths was getting on base. He walked 130 times for AAA Syracuse in 1973 and had a lifetime .451 on base percentage in five AAA seasons.
- Velez was first called up in September 1973. He played right field for the Yankees and batted .195 with 2 HR and 7 RBI in 23 games.
- In 1974 Velez batted .209 in 27 games and in 1975 he batted .250 in six games. In both seasons Otto was in AAA most of the time.
- Velez stayed with the Yankees for the entire 1976 season. He played in 49 games and batted .266 with 2 HR and 10 RBI. Otto was 0 for 1 in the AL Championship Series. Velez made three pinch hitting appearances in the World Series and struck out all three times.
- After the 1976 season Velez was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the expansion draft.
- Otto was given a chance to play with the Blue Jays. He split his time between right field and designated hitter and batted .256 with 16 HR and 62 RBI in 120 games.
- Velez was a part time player in 1978 and 1979. Otto appeared in 91 games and batted .266 with 9 HR and 38 RBI in 1978. In 1979 Velez batted .288 with 15 HR and 48 RBI in 99 games.
- In 1980 Velez was used mostly as a DH. He played in 104 games and batted .269 with a career-high 20 HR and 62 RBI. On May 4 Otto hit four home runs in a doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians. He hit for the "cycle" in those two games -- A solo shot, a 2-run homer, and a grand slam in game 1 and a 3-run homer in game 2
- Otto got the bulk of the playing time at DH in 1981 but he tailed off badly. Velez batted .213 with 11 HR and 28 RBI in 80 games.
- Velez struggled in 1982. He had limited playing time and batted .192 in 28 games. Otto was the last of the players from the original 1977 team. Velez was designated for assignment on August 5 and was sent to AAA Syracuse on August 9. The Blue Jays released Velez on September 7.
- In 1983 Otto signed a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians. He played for AAA Charleston until being called up on July 14. Velez played in 10 games for the Indians in 1983 but batted only .080 in 25 at bats. Otto was designated for assignment on August 8.
- 1977 Stats: .256, 16 HR, 62 RBI in 120 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1974, 1979, 1980, Cardboard Gods
- Charlie Hough was in his fifth full season as a Dodger reliever in 1977. Charlie got the majority of the save opportunities for Los Angeles
- At first I was surprised that Charlie didn't have any saves in the 1977 playoffs, but I later noticed that all of the Dodger wins but one were complete games by their starters. I kind of wonder why Hough didn't pitch in game 3 of the NLCS. The Dodgers won the game in 12 innings and used five pitchers, but Charlie wasn't one of them.
- 1977 Stats:
- Regular season: 6-12, 21 saves, 3.32 ERA in 70 games (1 start)
- NL Championship Series: 0-0, 4.50 ERA in 1 game
- World Series: 0-0, 1.80 ERA in 2 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988
