- Right before the 1977 season Oscar Gamble was traded (with Lamarr Hoyt, a minor leaguer, and $200,000) to the Chicago White Sox for Bucky Dent. The trade helped both teams -- Dent was the missing piece in the Yankee infield and Gamble became part of the "South Side Hit Men" in Chicago. Oscar led the White Sox in home runs with 31 in 1977.
- Gamble became a free agent after the 1977 season and signed with the San Diego Padres.
- 1977 Stats: .297, 31 HR, 83 RBI in 137 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985
- 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
- Al Hrabosky wasn't as effective in 1977 as he was in previous seasons. Al lost a lot of his aura when new Cardinals manager Vern Rapp made him shave his Fu Manchu mustache and cut his hair.
- Al was suspended for insubordination in May. The Cardinals relaxed the facial hair rule in July. Al went 4-1 with 2 saves and had a 4.05 ERA after the rule was relaxed.
- 1977 Stats: 6-5, 10 saves, 4.38 ERA in 65 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- May 6 - Pitched two innings and allowed one run to gain the save in the Cardinals' 4-1 win over the Houston Astros. A brawl got started in the 9th inning when Al hit Cesar Cedeno with a pitch. Cedeno charged the mound and the benches emptied. Neither Cedeno or Hrabosky were ejected, but two others were tossed.
- Aug 8 - Pitched two innings and earned the save as the Cardinals beat the New York Mets 4-2.
- Other card blogs: 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1976, 1976 Kellogg's, 1979, 1980
- After an injury-marred 1976 season, Bill Lee wasn't used very much in 1977. He was in the Boston starting rotation in May and June and again in September. Bill was a reliever for most of the rest of the 1977 season.
- Bill Lee's SABR biography
- 1977 Stats: 9-5, 4.43 ERA in 27 games (16 starts)
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1976 Kellogg's, 1978, 1979, 1980
- Juan Bernhardt
- Debut: July 10, 1976
- 1977 Stats: .243, 7 HR, 30 RBI in 89 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1979
- Juan Bernhardt was signed by the New York Yankees from the Domincan Republic in 1970. Bernhardt was in the minors from 1971-1976. He batted over .300 in AAA in 1975 and in 1976. Juan was called up briefly in 1976 and batted .190 in 10 games.
- After the 1976 season Bernhardt was taken by the Seattle Mariners in the expansion draft. Juan was with the Mariners for the entire 1977 season and batted .243 in 89 games.
- Bernhardt split the 1978 season between Seattle and AAA San Jose. Juan batted .230 in 54 games for the Mariners in 1978.
- Juan started the 1979 season with the Mariners but only got into one game (1 for 1). He was in the minors for most of the 1979 season. Bernhardt was traded to the Chicago White Sox for Rich Hinton on July 6.
- In 1980 Bernhardt went to the Mexican League. Juan was a player-manager in 1981 and in 1982. Bernhardt played in the Mexican League from 1980-1983.
- Mike Champion
- Debut: September 14, 1976
- 1977 Stats: .229 in 150 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: none
- The San Diego Padres drafted Mike Champion in 1973. Mike was in the minors from 1973-1976 and had a brief stint with the Padres in September 1976 (.237 in 11 games).
- Mike was given the starting second base job in 1977. He struggled at the plate, batting only .229 in 150 games. Mike was slightly below league average in fielding percentage and also had a below average range factor.
- In 1978 Champion started the season with the Padres. Mike lost his starting 2B job to Fernando Gonzelez and he was sent to AAA Hawaii in June. Champion came back to the Padres as a September call-up. Mike ended up batting .226 in 32 games in 1978.
- At the end of spring training in 1979 Champion was sent to the Cleveland Indians as the player to be named later in an earlier deal for Dan Briggs. Mike was sent to AAA Tacoma where he had two good years (.311 in 1979 and .281 in 1980). Champion was never called back up to the majors and he retired after the 1980 season.
- Jim Gantner
- Debut: September 3, 1976
- 1977 Stats:
- Spokane Indians (AAA): .281, 15 HR, 80 RBI, 98 runs in 143 games
- Milwaukee Brewers: .298 in 14 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Sept 25 - Went 3 for 4, including a rare home run, in Milwaukee's 8-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins.
- Other card blogs: 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988
- Jim Gantner was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1974. Jim played in the minors from 1974-1977. He was given brief chances with Milwaukee in 1976 (.316 in 26 games) and in 1977 (.298 in 14 games).
- Gantner didn't have a regular position for his first few seasons with the Brewers. Jim batted .216 in 43 games in 1978 and .284 in 70 games in 1979.
- Jim spent most of his time at third base in 1980, batting .282 in 132 games.
- In 1981 Gantner was given the regular second base job (Paul Molitor was moved first to CF and then to 2B). Jim batted .267 in 107 games during the regular season and batted .143 (2 for 14) in the AL Divisional Series.
- Gantner had his three best seasons from 1982-1984. Jim batted a career-high .295 in 1982. He batted .188 in the AL Championship Series and .333 in the World Series. In 1983 Gantner batted .282 and hit a career-high 11 home runs. Jim also batted .282 in 1984 with less power.
- Jim started at 2B for the next two seasons, batting .254 in 1985 and .274 in 1986.
- Gantner had injury problems in 1987. He had arthroscopic knee surgery in March. He then had a hamstring injury in July and missed most of the last two months of the season. Jim batted .272 in 81 games.
- Jim returned to start at 2B in 1988 (.276 in 155 games) and in 1989 (.274 in 116 games).
- Gantner was a backup infielder for the last three seasons of his career. He batted .263 in 88 games in 1990, .283 in 140 games in 1991, and .246 in 101 games in 1992.
- Jim had rotator cuff surgery after the 1992 season. He wasn't sure if he wanted to come back and play again. Jim retired at the end of spring training in 1993.
- After his playing career Gantner coached for several seasons. Jim now runs Hale Park Automotive Services in Hales Corners, Wisconsin.
- Bump Wills
- Debut: April 7, 1977
- 1977 Stats: .287, 9 HR, 62 RBI in 152 games
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983
- Bump Wills, son of former SS Maury Wills, had a tumultuous start to his major league career. Bump was drafted in the first round by the Texas Rangers in 1975. After Wills played in the minors for two years Texas manager Frank Lucchesi declared in spring training of 1977 that Wills would be the Rangers' starting second baseman. Incumbent second baseman Lenny Randle took exception to the decision. Randle ended up punching out Lucchesi before a spring training game, which earned Randle a suspension and a trade out of Texas. Bump's rookie season seemed to get lost in the controversy. Wills batted .287 with 9 HR and 62 RBI in 152 games. Bump also stole 28 bases and finished third in AL Rookie of the Year voting.
- Wills was the Rangers' starting 2B for the next four years. He stole 52 bases and batted .250 in 1978 and batted .273 with 35 stolen bases in 1979. Bump batted .263 and scored a career high 102 runs in 1980.
- Bump's batting average dropped to .251 and his stolen base total dropped to 12 in 1981. After the 1981 season Wills lost his arbitration case and was also going to lose his starting 2B job to Doug Flynn.
- During spring training in 1982 Wills was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Paul Mirabella, a minor leaguer, and cash. Bump spent one season with the Cubs, batting .272 with 35 stolen bases in 128 games.
- Bump became a free agent after the 1982 season. He decided to play in Japan and spent the 1983 and 1984 seasons playing for the Hankyu Braves. After his stint in Japan Wills went into coaching. He managed in the low minors for several years in the late 1980s and 1990s.
T
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- This was Randy Hundley's final season as a player. Hundley was the Cubs' bullpen coach and made two playing appearances in September. Randy was released after the season.
- 1977 Stats: .000 (0 for 4) in 2 games.
- Other card blogs: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976
- Mike Krukow
- Debut: September 6, 1976
- 1977 Stats: 8-14, 4.40 ERA in 34 games (33 starts)
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: 1979. 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988
- Mike Krukow was an 8th round draft pick of the Chicago Cubs in 1973. He pitched in the minors from 1973-1976. Mike pitched in two games (0-0, 8.31 ERA) for the Cubs late in the 1976 season.
- Krukow entered the Cubs rotation as a rookie in 1977. He went 8-14 with a 4.40 ERA in 33 starts.
- Mike split the 1978 season between the Cubs and AAA Wichita. Krukow went 9-3 with a 3.90 ERA in 27 games (20 starts) for the Cubs in '78.
- Krukow was a member of Chicago's starting rotation for the next three seasons. Mike went 9-9 with a 4.21 ERA in 1979 and was 10-15 with a 4.39 ERA in 1980. Krukow led the NL in games started (25) in 1981 and was 9-9 with a 3.68 ERA.
- After the 1981 season Krukow was traded (with cash) to the Philadelphia Phillies for Dan Larson, Keith Moreland, and Dickie Noles. Mike spent one season with the Phillies - he was 13-11 with a 3.12 ERA in 33 starts.
- Krukow was on the move again after the 1982 season. Mike was traded (with Mark Davis and a minor leaguer) to the San Francisco Giants for Joe Morgan and Al Holland. Mike would spend the rest of his career (both as a player and as a broadcaster) in San Francisco.
- Mike had three pretty typical seasons for the Giants (11-11 in 1983, 11-12 in 1984, 8-11 in 1985). He had one really good year in 1986, going 20-9 with a 3.05 ERA in 34 starts. Krukow finished third in NL Cy Young Award voting in 1986 and made his only All Star team (he pitched a scoreless 9th inning).
- Krukow started to have injury problems in 1987. He slumped to a 5-6 record with a 4.80 ERA in 1987. Mike won his only start in the NL Championship Series -- he allowed two runs in a 4-2 complete game victory in game 4.
- Mike had a stint on the disabled list in 1988 and briefly pitched in the minors while rehabbing an injury. Krukow started 20 games for the Giants in 1988 and was 7-4 with a 3.54 ERA.
- Krukow's last year was 1989. He was 4-3 with a 3.98 ERA in 8 starts. He didn't pitch after June 4 due to a torn rotator cuff (he had surgery on June 30). Mike tried to come back in spring training in 1990 but he struggled and decided to retire.
- Mike did some occasional radio broadcasting for the Giants from 1990-1993. He became a full-time broadcaster in 1994. Krukow has won seven Emmy awards as a broadcaster and is teamed with former infielder Duane Kuiper.
- Jim Otten
- Debut: July 31, 1974
- 1977 Stats:
- Iowa Oaks (AAA): 5-9, 2 saves, 4.68 ERA in 34 games (13 starts)
- Other card blogs: none
- Jim Otten was originally drafted in the 5th round in 1970. Jim didn't sign in 1970 and was drafted twice in the first round in 1971 but he didn't sign then either. Otten finally signed with the Chicago White Sox after he was drafted in the second round in 1973. Jim usually had good stats with his minor league teams but he didn't get much of a chance to pitch in the majors. Otten spent most of the 1973-1977 seasons pitching in the minors.
- Otten had brief stints with the White Sox in 1974 (0-1, 5.51 ERA in 5 games), 1975 (6.75 ERA in 2 games) and 1976 (4.50 ERA in 2 games).
- After the 1977 season Otten was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for a minor leauger.
- Jim spent all of the 1978 and 1979 seasons in the minors.
- In 1980 Otten started in the minors and was called up in late May. Jim stayed with the Cardinals for the remainder of the 1980 season, going 0-5 with a 5.53 ERA in 31 games (4 starts)
- Otten was 1-0 with a 5.30 ERA in 24 games in 1981. Jim was released after the 1981 season.
- Gary Wheelock
- Debut: September 17, 1976
- 1977 Stats: 6-9, 4.89 ERA in 17 starts
- 1977 Highlights:
- Other card blogs: none
- Gary Wheelock was drafted by the California Angels in 1974. Gary pitched in the minors from 1974-1976. He allowed six runs in two innings (27.00 ERA) in two games for the Angels late in the 1976 season. After the 1976 season Wheelock was chosen by the Seattle Mariners in the expansion draft
- Gary made the Seattle ballclub in 1977 and was placed in the starting rotation. Wheelock had injury problems off and on in the 1977 season. On August 22 Gary was placed on the disabled list. He didn't pitch for the rest of the season. Wheelock ended up with a 6-9 record and had a 4.89 ERA in 17 starts.
- Wheelock was in AAA in 1978 as he tried to come back from his injury. He had a rough year in 1978 (1-12, 6.98 ERA). Gary improved his stats in AAA in 1979.
- Gary had one last shot with the Mariners in 1980. He started one game and allowed two runs in three innings pitched. Wheelock went back to AAA Spokane for the rest of the 1980 season.
- Wheelock pitched in nine games for the LA Dodgers' AA San Antonio club in 1981. Gary retired after the 1981 season.
- Mike Willis
- Debut: April 13, 1977
- 1977 Stats: 2-6, 5 saves, 3.94 ERA in 43 games (3 starts)
- 1977 Highlights:
- April 13: Earned the save in his first major league appearance. Mike pitched the final 2 2/3 innings in Toronto's 7-6 win over the Detroit Tigers.
- May 4: Earned the save by allowing one run in three innings as the Blue Jays beat the Milwaukee Brewers 10-3.
- Other card blogs: 1979, Cardboard Gods
- Mike Willis was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1972. Mike pitched in the Baltimore system from 1972-1976. Willis put up good stats (especially 1974 and 1975 in AAA Rochester), but he never got the chance to pitch in Baltimore.
- Willis was chosen by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1976 expansion draft. Mike was mostly a reliever for the Blue Jays during his five-year stay with the club.
- In 1977 Mike was 2-6 with 5 saves and had a 3.94 ERA in 43 games (3 starts)
- Willis had a 3-7 record with 7 saves and had an ERA of 4.56 in 42 games (2 starts) in 1978. Willis was one of only three pitchers to defeat Ron Guidry during his 25-3 season. Mike was pressed into service as an emergency starter on September 20 and pitched a complete game 8-1 victory. Mike later called it the game of his life.
- Mike started the 1979 season with Toronto. He got hit pretty hard and was sent to AAA Syracuse in late June. Willis ended up with an 0-3 record and had an 8.44 ERA in 17 games (1 start).
- Willis was in Syracuse until early August in 1980. Mike came up to Toronto for the last two months of the season and was 2-1 with 3 saves and had an ERA of 1.71 in 20 appearances.
- Mike's last year in the majors was 1981. He went 0-4 and had a 5.91 ERA in 20 games. Mike's final game in the majors was on June 11. After the strike Willis was sent to Syracuse. He only made five appearances for Syracuse.
- Willis moved to the Philadelphia Phillies organization in 1982. Mike pitched for AAA Oklahoma City but he wasn't very effective (7-6, 6 saves, 7.00 ERA in 56 games/2 starts). Willis retired after the 1982 season.
- Mike now lives and works in Houston. Here is an article about him looking back at his baseball career.
