1977 Topps Baseball #411 - 1976 World Series Games 1 and 2

• When I looked at the back of this card I thought to myself, "The Reds used only nine non-pitchers?" I figured there would at least be one or two at bats by other guys. After checking baseball-reference.com I realized that this card is correct.
•  The Reds really did a number on the Yankees in their four game sweep. Pete Rose and Ken Griffey were the only guys who didn't do much. Johnny Bench was named the World Series MVP.
• Here is a little clip from the '76 World Series:

1977 Topps Baseball #410 - Willie Montanez

• Willie Montanez represented the Atlanta Braves in the 1977 All Star Game (he was 0 for 2 with a strikeout). He had better power numbers in 1977, but his average dropped from .321 to .287. After the 1977 season Willie was traded to the New York Mets.
• Willie missed almost the entire month of May with a pulled groin muscle.
• 1977 Stats: .287, 20 HR, 68 RBI
• 1977 Highlights:
• April 11 - Hit a bases loaded single in the fourth inning that gave the Braves the runs they needed to beat the LA Dodgers 7-6. Willie was 3 for 5 in the game.
• June 25 - Hit a home run to help the Braves beat the San Diego Padres 9-5.
• Other card blogs: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980

1977 Topps Baseball #409 - Pete Broberg

• Pete Broberg was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 1976 expansion draft. Pete never pitched for the Mariners he was placed on waivers in late March and on April 20 he was sent to the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later (which ended up being Jim Todd). 
• Broberg started the season with AAA Wichita and was recalled on July 6. He was a starter in Wichita, but Pete was used as a reliever by the Cubs.
• 1977 Stats: 
• Chicago Cubs: 1-2, 4.75 ERA in 22 games
• Wichita Aeros (AAA): 6-5, 5.38 ERA in 13 starts
• 1977 Highlights:
• July 16 - Got his only win of the year by pitching 1 1/3 innings of shutout  ball against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Cubs won the game 9-8.
• Other card blogs: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1976 Hostess, 1979, Cardboard Gods

1977 Topps Baseball #408 - Cesar Tovar

• Cesar Tovar's major league career was over when this card was produced, but he played in several more seasons in Mexico and Venezuela.
• Cesar Tovar's SABR biography
• Other card blogs: 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976

1977 Topps Baseball #407 - Dave Freisleben

• Dave Freisleben had his best season in terms of winning percentage (.438) in 1977. Dave started the season with the Padres but was sent to AAA Hawaii after being 0-4 with a 6.49 ERA in April. Dave came back to the Padres in late June and lost his first start to go to 0-5. He finished the season with a 7-9 record, so he went 7-4 in the last three months.
• 1977 Stats: 
• San Diego Padres: 7-9, 4.69 ERA in 33 games (22 starts)
• Hawaii Islanders (AAA): 4-4, 3.94 ERA in 9 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• July 9 - Pitched innings and got the win as the Padres scored in the 10th inning and beat the LA Dodgers 2-1. The Dodgers had only one hit in the first seven innings.
• July 26 - Allowed three runs on eight hits in a complete game 4-3 win over the Montreal Expos.
• Other card blogs: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, Cardboard Gods

1977 Topps Baseball #406 - Tim Johnson

• Tim Johnson was the odd man out after the Brewers signed Sal Bando and he didn't play very  much in 1977. Tim got in 30 games but started only six of them. When Paul Molitor was ready for the majors in 1978, Tim was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays.
• Johnson had an injury in mid August and was placed on the disabled list on August 15. Johnson was also injured in July with a pulled leg muscle.
• 1977 Stats: .061 (2 for 33) in 30 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• April 27 - Appeared as a pinch runner and scored the winning run in Milwaukee's 4-2 win over the Boston Red Sox. It was Tim's first appearance of the season.
• Other card blogs: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980

1977 Topps Baseball #405 - Claudell Washington

• On March 26, 1977 Claudell Washington was traded to the Texas Rangers for Rodney Scott, Jim Umbarger, and cash. Washington had a pretty good year for the Rangers as they contended for the AL West crown.
• 1977 Stats: .284, 12 HR, 68 RBI in 129 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• June 27 - Hit a 2-run homer to help the Rangers beat the A's 5-2.
• July 25 - Went 3 for 5 and his 2-run single in the 9th inning was the winning blow as the Rangers beat the Cleveland Indians 6-4
• Aug 11 - His 2-run home run helped the Rangers in their 8-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals. The Texas victory tightened the AL West race -- at the time four teams were within 2 1/2 games of the lead.
• Other card blogs: 1975, 1976, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988