- Poor Greg Minton. This is a very odd looking card. The only two things that save this card from total failure is the fact that he played for the Giants and the single on the Play Ball game.
- The Giants were still trying to figure out if Minton was more suited for the bullpen or for starting pitching. Greg was used mostly as a starter in AAA Phoenix in 1977 and in 1978. The Giants finally decided to make Minton a full-time reliever and he made only one start from 1979 until the end of his career in 1990.
- San Francisco had a deep pitching staff in 1978, so Minton spent most of the year in Phoenix. He made 11 relief appearances all together for the Giants.
- 1978 Stats:
- San Francisco Giants: 0-1, 8.04 ERA in 11 games
- Phoenix Giants (AAA): 7-4, 4.50 ERA in 14 games (13 starts)
- 1978 Highlights:
- April 26 - Pitched two scoreless in the Giants' 6-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves
- Andy Etchebarren was sold to the Milwaukee Brewers before the 1978 season. Etchebarren was expected to compete with Larry Haney for a position as a backup catcher. There was speculation that whoever didn't make the team would end up as a bullpen coach or have another job in the organization. Etchebarren won the job and Haney was released at the end of spring training. But Haney was activated in September and appeared in four games.
- Andy played in four games in April, was placed on the disabled list with elbow chips in May, had elbow surgery in June and retired after the season.
- 1978 Stats:
- Milwaukee Brewers - .400 (2 for 5) in 4 games.
- 1978 Highlights:
- Jose Baez probably owed his short 2-year major league career to expansion. His entire major league experience was with the expansion Seattle Mariners.
- Jose was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1971. Baez played in the Dodgers' system from 1972-1976. He had good batting averages, but Jose wasn't going to crack the deep Dodger club.
- After the 1976 season Baez was sold to the Mariners.
- Jose was 23 years old in 1977 and made the Seattle ballclub. He got about half of the starts at second base, splitting time with 22-year-old Julio Cruz. Baez batted .259 in 91 games. Jose got the first hit in Mariners' history on April 6, 1977.
- In 1978 Baez started the season splitting time with Cruz again at second base. Baez didn't hit well and by the end of April Cruz took over full-time at second base. Jose played a few games at third base in May, but in mid June he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Mike Potter. Baez was sent to AAA for the rest of the season.
- Jose was released in February 1979. Baez played in the Inter-America League in 1979 and in the Mexican League in 1980.
- 1978 Stats:
- Seattle Mariners - .160 (8 for 50) in 23 games
- Springfield Redbirds (AAA) - .276 in 33 games
- 1978 Highlights:
- April 16 - Had two hits and scored two runs to help the Mariners beat the Minnesota Twins 7-2.
- June 6 - Appeared as a pinch runner and scored the winning run on a Willie Randolph error as the Mariners beat the New York Yankees 4-3. It was Jose's last major league appearance.
- As I have gone through this set I've noticed some cards that need to be upgraded. This card is the most obvious example so far. It was probably cut out of a magazine. I must have had some pretty poor scissor skills when I was 11 years old.
- Don Sutton won 15 games in 1978. In modern times it would usually be enough to lead a team. In 1978 it was a tie for third on the deep Dodger staff. Burt Hooton led the team with 19 wins, Tommy John had 17, and Doug Rau and Sutton each had 15.
- 1978 Stats:
- Regular Season: 15-11, 3.55 ERA in 34 starts
- NL Championship Series: 0-1, 6.35 ERA in 1 start
- World Series: 0-2, 7.50 ERA in 2 starts.
- 1978 Highlights:
- June 18 - Shut out the Montreal Expos, allowing six hits and one walk. The Dodgers won 5-0.
- July 14 - Was thrown out of the game by umpire Doug Harvey for defacing the ball. There was talk of a ten day suspension but that didn't happen.
- Aug 24 - Apologized for getting into a clubhouse scuffle with teammate Steve Garvey several days before in Shea Stadium.
- Sept 15 - Pitched a six hit shutout against the Atlanta Braves. It was Sutton's last win of the season. Don took a loss and two no decisions in his last three regular season starts and then he lost all three of his post season starts.
- Here's another Yankee Stadium picture with the Brut billboard in the background.
- Cliff Johnson was used mainly as a DH and pinch hitter in 1978. He played a few games behind the plate as well. It was the worst offensive season of Johnson's 15 year career.
- 1978 Stats:
- Regular Season: .184, 6 HR, 19 RBI in 76 games
- AL Championship Series: .000 (0 for 1) in 1 game
- World Series: .000 (0 for 2) in 2 games
- 1978 Highlights:
- June 14 - Appeared as a pinch hitter and hit a 2-run home run that tied the game in the bottom of the 8th inning. The Yankees eventually beat the Seattle Mariners 11-9 in ten innings.
- July 14 - Hit a pinch home run in the bottom of the 9th to tie the Chicago White Sox, The Yankees won the game 7-6 in 11 innings.
- John Milner went from the New York Mets to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 4-team trade that also involved the Texas Rangers and the Atlanta Braves. The Pirates also acquired Bert Blyleven as part of the deal. Milner platooned with Bill Robinson in left field in 1978 and also occasionally spelled Willie Stargell at first base.
- Milner had trouble getting untracked early in the season -- he didn't get over the Mendoza Line until May 29. John heated up in June and hit well for the rest of the year.
- 1978 Stats: .271, 6 HR, 38 RBI in 108 games
- 1978 Highlights:
- June 4 - Went 4 for 4 and knocked in two runs in Pittsburgh's 4-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
- June 24 - Had four hits, including two doubles and a home run, and knocked in four runs as the Pirates beat the Mets 7-4.
- Jim Rooker was getting close to the end of the line in 1978. Rooker slipped to nine wins after five straight years of double figures in victories. He was the #4 starter in the rotation.
- 1978 Stats: 9-11, 4.24 ERA in 28 starts
- 1978 Highlights:
- July 1 - Shut out the New York Mets for eight innings as the Pirates beat the Mets 1-0. It was Rooker's first win since May 7.
- Sept 14 - Allowed no earned runs in 7 2/3 innings in Pittsburgh's 7-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
- Joe Niekro became a full-time starter in 1978. He was mostly a reliever from 1971-1977. Niekro would be a starting pitcher for the rest of his career (he retired in 1988).
- The 33-year-old Niekro was the oldest pitcher on the Houston staff. His 14 victories was second on the team to J.R. Richard's 18 wins.
- 1978 Stats: 14-14, 3.86 ERA in 35 games (29 starts)
- 1978 Highlights:
- April 18 - Allowed four hits in a complete game 5-1 victory over the San Diego Padres. Niekro also was 2 for 3 with two RBI and two runs scored in the game.
- July 17 - Earned the victory in a complete game 11-inning game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Niekro allowed five hits and one run in the 2-1 victory. Niekro scored a run as well.
- July 26 - Pitched a 4-hit shutout against the Montreal Expos.
- Rico Carty was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays during spring training for Dennis DeBarr. Carty didn't play in the field for the entire season. Carty had one of his best seasons -- he hit a career-high 31 home runs and just missed the 100 RBI mark.
- Carty was traded to the Oakland A's on August 15 for Willie Horton and Phil Huffman. After the season Oakland sold Carty back to the Blue Jays.
- 1978 Stats:
- Toronto Blue Jays: .284, 20 HR, 68 RBI in 104 games
- Oakland A's: .277, 11 HR, 31 RBI in 41 games
- TOTAL: .282, 31 HR, 99 RBI in 145 games
- 1978 Highlights:
- June 28: Had three hits, including a 2-run home run in Toronto's 3-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles.
- Aug 9: Doubled three times and scored twice as the Blue Jays beat the Chicago White Sox 8-0.
- Sam Hinds was a tall pitcher who was originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971. Hinds didn't sign with the Cardinals. Hinds tried out with the Milwaukee Brewers during spring training in 1974 and showed enough to earn a minor league contract.
- Sam worked his way up the Milwaukee system from 1974-1977 and was called up in May 1977. In his only major league season Hinds was 0-3 with 2 saves and had a 4.73 ERA in 29 games (1 start).
- It looks like Sam was in manager Alex Grammas' doghouse late in the 1977 season. He entered the 1978 season hoping for a chance from new manager George Bamburger.
- Hinds didn't make the Milwaukee club in 1978 and spent the year in AAA Spokane. He struggled, going 1-8 with a 6.73 ERA.
- Sam pitched with the AA Holyoake Millers in 1979 and went 8-8 with a 4.32 ERA in 20 games (19 starts). He retired after the season.
- 1978 Stats:
- Spokane Indians (AAA): 1-8, 6.73 ERA in 20 games (17 starts)
The 1978 Chicago Cubs were a pretty average team. They were pretty good for the first half of the season and were in first place in the NL East as late as June 23. But the team had only one player in double figures in home runs (Dave Kingman) and only one pitcher in double figures in victories (Rick Reuschel). The Cubs also suffered due to going 4-14 against first place Philadelphia.
Team Record: 79-83, .488, 3rd in NL East, 11 games behind Philadelphia
Manager: Herman Franks
Attendance: 1,525,311 (6th in NL)
Team Batting: .264 (1st in NL)
Team Home Runs: 72 (11th in NL)
Team Stolen Bases: 58 (5th in NL)
Team ERA: 4.05 (11th in NL)
Team Fielding: .978 (4th in NL)
NL All Stars: Bruce Sutter (P)
Award Winners: none
League Leaders: Ivan DeJesus (runs, 104)
Batting Leader: Bill Buckner (.323)
HR Leader: Dave Kingman (28)
RBI Leader: Dave Kingman (79)
Stolen Base Leader: Ivan DeJesus (41)
Victory Leader: Rick Reuschel (14)
Losses Leader: Rick Reuschel, Dennis Lamp (15)
Saves Leader: Bruce Sutter (27)
Best ERA (starters): Dennis Lamp (3.30)
Best ERA (relievers): Lynn McGlothen (3.04)
Players who could have had 1978 Cubs cards (over 100 AB for position players, over 40 innings pitched for pitchers):
Jerry White (OF - .272, 1 HR, 10 RBI in 59 games) - rookie card in 1979
Mike Vail (OF - .333, 4 HR, 33 RBI in 74 games) - pictured with NY Mets
Rodney Scott (3B -.282, 0 HR, 15 RBI, 27 stolen bases in 78 games) - pictured with Oakland A's
Dave Rader (C - .203, 3 HR, 36 RBI in 116 games) - pictured with St. Louis Cardinals
Tim Blackwell (C - .223, 0 HR, 7 RBI in 49 games) - pictured with Montreal Expos
Lynn McGlothen (5-3, 3.04 ERA in 49 games - 1 start) - Pictured with SF Giants
Ken Holtzman (0-3, 2 saves, 6.11 ERA in 23 games - 6 starts) - Pictured with NY Yankees
- Interesting that even though Buddy Schultz spent the entire 1977 season with the St. Louis Cardinals that Topps couldn't come up with a recent picture of him. This is an airbrushed picture from about 1976.
- Buddy Schultz was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1972. Schultz was in the minors from 1972-1975. He got a late season call-up in 1975 and was 2-0 with a 6.35 ERA in six appearances.
- Schultz was with the Cubs in the beginning of the 1976 season. He was sent to the minors in early July and spent most of July and all of August in AAA. He was called back up in September. Buddy was 1-1 with a 6.08 ERA in 29 games for the Cubs.
- Early in spring training in 1977 Schultz was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for a minor leaguer. Buddy had a good year for the Cardinals, going 6-1 with a 2.32 ERA in 40 games (3 starts). He made two starts in AAA in June. Schultz had a pulled hamstring and missed three weeks in July.
- Schultz didn't have as good of a year in 1978. He was 2-4 with 6 saves and had a 3.80 ERA in 62 games. He was the only left hander in the St. Louis bullpen. He appeared in 62 games and warmed up in another 80 games during the season.
- Buddy's last major league season was in 1979. He was 4-3 with 3 saves and had a 4.46 ERA in 31 games. He had an inflamed tendon and missed most of the last two months of the season.
- Schultz had a torn rotator cuff and had surgery in 1980. He tried a couple of comebacks in 1980 and in 1982 but didn't get beyond AAA.
- 1978 Stats: 2-4, 6 saves, 3.80 ERA in 62 games
- 1978 Highlights:
- This was the year when Joe Morgan really started to slow down after several years as the bese second baseman in baseball. Joe still made the NL All Star team this season and in the following season.
- 1978 Stats: .236, 13 HR, 75 RBI in 132 games
- 1978 Highlights:
- April 6 - Had three hits, three runs scored, and five RBI in Cincinnati's 11-9 Opening Day victory over the Houston Astros.
- April 21 - Set the major league record for consecutive errorless games at 2B with 90. He would have the string broken two days later. (Darwin Barney of the Chicago Cubs now holds the record with 142).
- May 16 - Was 3 for 3 with a 3-run home run and four RBI as the Reds beat the Montreal Expos 5-1.
- Aug 27 - Hit a home run to become the first player to hit 200 career home runs and have 500 career stolen bases.
- Whitey Herzog was signed by the New York Yankees in 1949. Whitey spent the next for years in the Yankees' farm system before spending two years in military service. Herzog had a good year in AAA Denver in 1955, but he wasn't going to crack the Yankees club.
- In April 1956 Whitey was a throw-in in a large trade between the Yankees and the Washington Senators. He spent all of 1956 in Washington and then split time between AAA Miami and Washington in 1956. Herzog was traded to the Kansas City A's in 1958 and played for three teams between 1958 and 1963.
- Herzog scouted, coached, and managed in the minors and for the New York Mets from 1964-1967. He then became director of player development for the Mets in 1967 and served in that position for six years. Whitey was a candidate to replace the deceased Gil Hodges as manager of the Mets in April 1972 but Yogi Berra was selected instead.
- In 1973 Herzog replaced Ted Williams as manager of the Texas Rangers. The Rangers were a terrible team in 1973 and Whitey didn't even last the whole season. He was canned when the Rangers got the chance to sign the newly available Billy Martin to manage.
- Herzog was a coach and an interim manager for the California Angels in 1974.
- In 1975 Whitey was hired to manage the Kansas City Royals. The Royals were very successful under Herzog, winning three AL West titles from 1976-1978. They were never able to reach the World Series during that time and Whitey was dismissed after a disappointing 1979 season.
- Whitey became the General Manager (as well as manager) of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1980. He was the GM from 1980-1982. Herzog took the Cardinals to the World Championship in 1982 and won pennants in 1985 and in 1987. Herzog was named NL Manager of the Year in 1985. Whitey stepped down as the Cardinals' manager in July 1990 when he was dissatisfied with the team's performance.
- Herzog never managed again (although he was offered the managerial position in Boston in 1996). He served in various front office and consultant positions after leaving the Cardinals.
- Whitey was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 2010.
- Managerial Record:
- Texas Rangers (1973): 47-91 (.391)
- California Angels (1974): 2-2 (.500)
- Kansas City Royals (1975-1979): 410-304 (.574) - 3 AL West titles
- St. Louis Cardinals (1980-1990): 822-708 (.530) - 3 NL Pennants, 1 World Championship
- What's a "Strike ut?"
- Tony Armas struggled through a tough season in 1978. He didn't play for about five weeks from late April to early June. Tony also didn't play much in the last two months of the season.
- 1978 Stats: .213, 2 HR, 13 RBI in 91 games
- 1978 Highlights:
- April 19 - Had three hits and knocked in what would prove to be the winning run in the top of the 11th as the A's beat the Minnesota Twins 6-5 in 11 innings.
- June 25 - Homered, knocked in two runs, and scored twice as the A's bet the Kansas City Royals 6-3.
