#412 Jim Clancy

Card thoughts: Oh boy, am I bored with these interchangeable Blue Jay head shots of indistinguishable white pitchers.

The player: With a long career as a high-ERA innings eater, it seemed the Blue Jays were always waiting for Clancy’s raw stuff (one of the best sliders in the game, an overpowering fastball) to translate into a consistently winning season. Every year, however, Clancy would get himself involved in a bunch of a blow outs that raised his ERA a bunch, which belied his effectiveness in other starts. Edwin Jackson of the Cubs comes to mind as a similarly frustrating pitcher.

An original Blue Jay, he was selected from the Rangers minor league system in the expansion draft, despite pitching consistently poorly there. He made it to the majors later in 1977, but his first full time season was in ’78, where he had a typical season for him: a near .500 record, with an ERAs north of 4.

After a few more inconsistent years, mostly marred by injury, Clancy had an great campaign in 1982, starting a league high 40 games (I guess the thought was then the injuries allowed a pitcher to “rest” his arm), and pitching the fourth inning of the all star game. Clancy ended the year 16-14 and a career high 266 innings pitched.

Another good season followed in 1983 (15-11), but in 1984, he was pretty terrible (13-15, 5.16 ERA). Despite this, he was still run out there all the time, and led the league once in again in games started. Clancy was injured much of the season shown on this card (only 23 starts), so he wasn’t much of a factor in the playoffs (1 inning pitched, 1 run given up). But the next three seasons were typical Clancy: Lots of decisions, leading to both double digit wins and losses, high ERAs (for the time), and lots of innings pitched.

The Astros signed him as a starter for the 1988 season, but he was very hittable (9.5 hits per nine innings), before being demoted to the bullpen. The same thing happened the following season, where his bloated 6.51 ERA got him exiled for a time to Tuscon.

By 1991, he was no longer a starter. Traded midway through the season to Atlanta, after he posted a 2.78 ERA in 55 innings (with 5 saves) with the Astros, he pitched poorly down the stretch, but was kept on the post-season roster. He ended his career by pitching 4+ innings in the World Series.

Rear guard: Clancy's first win came against the Brewers and it was a complete game. By giving up just 2 runs in 9 innings, he lowered his ERA from his ghastly major league debut (22.50) where he gave up 5 runs in 2 innings.

#386 Cecil Fielder

Card thoughts: Not as fat as he’d get when he was with the Tigers, Fielder’s still showing a lot of girth as he takes his hacks (presumably) right after #168 Jeff Burroughs. This is his rookie card.

The player: Cecil Fielder seemingly came out of nowhere to hit over 50 home runs (actually, Japan) in 1990. Much like his son, Prince, Fielder was always suspect because of his weight, which limited his mobility in both the field and at the plate. But he proved the doubters wrong, as he consistently slugged for about a decade after that initial power explosion.

Fielder had a lot of pop in the minors for the Blue Jays and Royals (20 HR, .645 slugging for Butte in ’82; 28 HR between A and AA in ’84), he was blocked in the majors by veteran Willie Upshaw. When Upshaw finally moved on, another top prospect, Fred McGriff, had supplanted Fielder as he had a similar power profile, but was a much better fielder.

Fielder would get his chance when he was signed by the Tigers—the Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese League. At this point, Fielder was considered a 4A player, and he relished the opportunity to earn some money (a reported salary of over $1M), and some respect (the team assigned him a chauffeur and a full-time interpreter). By this time, Fielder weighed in at over 280 pounds and he was nicknamed “Wild Bear” for his hulking stature. He ended up belting 38 home runs and slugging .628 for the team.

This got the (American) Detroit Tigers attention, and they signed Fielder. Obviously no expecting much, he was only signed to a short-term contract. But he surprised everyone by leading the league in home runs (51) and RBIs (132), while finishing second in MVP voting. Fielder was the first player in 25 years to reach the 50 home run mark, and the first on the Tigers since Hank Greenberg did it in 1938. The next year, Fielder again led in home runs (44) and RBIs (133), and followed that up in 1992 with yet another RBI crown (124).  Not only was Fielder hitting a boatload of home runs, but home runs were often prodigious. He once hit a home run completely out of Milwaukee County Stadium (the only player ever to do that), and also became only the fourth player in history to clear the left field roof in Tiger Stadium.

Although there were constant concerns about Fielder’s durability, even with all that weight he rarely got injured. He was a fairly one dimensional player, however with one plus tool (power). As he aged, Fielder’s shortcomings in the field and on the bases (he was one of the slowest runners in the league), led the Tigers to explore a trade in 1996, despite the fact they had made him one of the highest paid players just a year before. They found a willing partner in the Yankees, no stranger to high-priced sluggers, and they received Ruben Sierra, another aging slugger, in return.

With the Yankees, Fielder was confined to designated hitter, and although still productive, he had a hard time staying healthy in his only full season there (1997). Fielder’s career would end as a bench player for the Angels and Indians the following season.

Although Fielder and his son, Prince, were once close, the two had a falling out after his father tried to claim part of his salary because he had helped him negotiate his first pro contract. These shady dealings may be tied to Fielder’s reported gambling problem, which left him bankrupt and eventually destroyed his marriage. (Fielder denied these allegations, and sued USA Today for reporting on them. However, the libel suit was dismissed.) Father and son have apparently reconciled, and Fielder has gotten back in the game as a coach for a few indy league teams, and organizing a kiddie World Series.

Rear guard: 230 pounds? I think not! Anyway, I can't even begin to pronounce Dave Lemanczyk's name, but I would say recording 4 putouts in a game is not especially exciting for a pitcher. Although he was second in the league in putouts that year, perhaps because he pitched 252 1/3 innings. Here's his 1978 card.

#360 Lloyd Moseby

Card thoughts: This is a really big close-up of Moseby’s, well, closed-up batting stance. His nickname was “Shaker,” but he looks pretty calm to me.

The player: Moseby was the third of a trio of great young outfielders (#338 Jorge Bell and Jesse Barfield being the others). He did not have the sustained success those other two had, however.

Moseby’s first few years with the Blue Jays were a struggle, as he provided little power, speed, or ability to hit for average. He was, however, a superior centerfielder which kept his weak bat in the lineup. All that began to turn around in 1983 when Moseby hit .315 (almost 100 points better than the previous season), making it into the top ten in batting. The following season, he would lead the league in triples (15) and drive in 92 runs. One of the major reasons for his improvement is that he upped his abysmal walk rate from around 6% in his first few seasons, to about 10%.

By the time this card was issued, Moseby was an established star in Toronto. He also lived in infamy for stealing second base, then first base, the second base again on the same play in a game against the White Sox. However, that didn’t stop the American League from naming him to the all star team in 1986 (he walked and stole a base).

The following year was Moseby’s best overall season. He reached career highs in runs (106), home runs (26), runs batted in (96) and steals (39). After that, Moseby’s production slid and his numbers resembled those he put up in the early 80s. Some of that slide had to do with the pounding Moseby’s knees had taken for those years running on artificial turf. However, he did come through in the 1989 playoffs, as he hit over .300 in the ALCS, with a four runs scored.

Despite this performance, Moseby was not resigned after the season, and he ended up in Detroit, where he shared center field with #309 John Shelby. By 1991, he was battling a myriad of injuries (bruised heel, pulled hamstring), and had been moved to left field, ceding a lot of playing time to all-or-nothing slugger Pete Incaviglia.

Without a contract in 1992, Moseby elected to go to Japan where he slugged .579 for the Yomiuri Giants. A .246 average in part time play the following year led to his retirement. He later went back to the Blue Jays as a first base coach from 1998-1999.

Rear guard: Roof joined the Blue Jays via trade. Since the Blue Jays had yet to participate in the expansion draft, they gave the White Sox a player to be named later for Roof. Larry Anderson, who was drafted from the Brewers, was sent to the White Sox  January 5, 1977. Roof didn't last long with the Blue Jays--he only played in three games and never got a hit. Here's his 1977 card, where he's airbrushed into a Blue Jays cap (it would be his last card).

 

#348 Cliff Johnson

Card thoughts: There seems to be a lot of pictures of Blue Jays guffawing around the batting cage in this set. Was #168 Jeff Burroughs making the joke? Johnson wouldn't be laughing around the cage in '86 when he and #45 Damaso Garcia got in a fight when Johnson was taking up too much time in the cage.

The player: Johnson came up to the majors in 1972 as a catcher, but he was a terrible receiver, so he was shifted to first where he was below average as well. The then recent designated hitter rule was perfect for Johnson, and once he came over to the AL in 1977, that’s where he spent the majority of his time.

A powerful minor league hitter, Johnson won the MVP award of the Carolina League (27-91-.332 in 1970) and American Association (33-117-.302 in 1973).  He was used as a fairly regular catcher-first baseman by the Astros from 1974-1977, but was so bad as a fielder (he made the top ten in errors at catcher in 1976 despite only catching 66 games), he was never able to start regularly. But, boy could he hit, especially left-handers, whom he murdered.

The Yankees, gearing for the stretch run in 1977, wanted a thumper off the bench (and someone who other than Jim Wynn who could platoon with Carlos May at DH), and got Johnson at midseason for a passel of youngsters, including previous blog subjects #283 Mike Fischlin and #101 Dave Bergman. Jacking 12 home runs in the final half of the season (including three against the Blue Jays on July 1), made him a hero in the Bronx. He continued to hit well in the ALCS, starring in Game 2 (home run, double) and hitting .400 overall. But in the World Series that year, teams were playing without the designated hitter, which put Johnson on the bench. He only pinch hit once and did not get a hit.

Despite another World Series winning season in 1978, Johnson became disgruntled. Whether he was upset at his .184 average, his repeated defensive lapses as the third string catcher, or the general cliquishness and in-fighting that characterized the 1970s Yankees teams, he wanted off the team.

Johnson got his wish soon after. Still unhappy, he brawled with Goose Gossage in 1979, injuring him (account of the brawl here), and he was soon shipped to the Indians for journeyman reliever Don Hood. He hit much better for the Indians (24 home runs, 89 RBIs in 414 at bats over parts of two seasons), and the Cubs inexplicably coveted him during their lost 1980 season. So they sent one of their top prospects (Karl Pagel) to the Indians to get a guy who couldn’t field to back up Bill Buckner at first.

A .235 average (but, with 10 homers and a better than average OPS), convinced the Cubs that Johnson wouldn’t be displacing Buckner at first anytime soon and he was sent to the A’s for recent first round draft pick Michael King (who never made the majors). After a couple of years as a backup, Johnson was traded to the Blue Jays, a team he always tormented while with the Yankees.

He platooned for three years at DH with Jorge Orta and had a bit of a late career renaissance. In 1983, he had his best season since the mid-70s, hitting 22 homers, 76 RBI and a .265 average. The Jays liked him so much that when he left after the 1984 season as a free agent (to the Rangers), they brought him back for the stretch run in 1985. Johnson played all 7 ALCS games against the Royals, and hit .368.

Despite a decent 1986 season at age 38 (15-55-.250), Johnson retired after the Blue Jays bought out the final year of his contract.  At the time of his retirement, he held the record for most pinch homers.

Rear guard: I gotta get up at dawn to shovel mulch into the garage tomorrow, so nothing tonight.

#338 Jorge Bell

Card thoughts: This is one my favorite cards in the set. As a kid, I wondered what was wrong with Bell. Was he simple minded, or a buffoon? Why on earth is he slouched in the corner with the mien of an overgrown rag doll? Apart from this, Topps, unlike every other card company, had “George Bell” as “Jorge.” In an unusual move, Topps actually corrected their mistake in 1986, making this the last of 4 Jorge Bell cards.

The player: Jorge Bell was a part of a talented young outfield that included Jesse Barfield and Lloyd Moseby. Bell would end up being the most consistent star out of the bunch, although as a fielder he was below average.

Bell was signed by the Phillies, but was left unprotected in the minors after hitting .309 in 22 games at Reading. This allowed the Blue Jays to draft him the Rule 5 draft. Since they had to keep him in the majors the following season, Bell backed up in the outfield and hit .233. With the restriction not in effect in 1982, Bell was sent to the minors for the entire year for more seasoning. But when he came back up for good in 1984, Bell was installed as the starting left fielder for the Blue Jays and had and .824 OPS on the strength of 39 doubles (3^rd in the league), 4 triples, and 26 home runs.

Starting in the season shown on this card, Bell became one of the bonfide stars in the mid to late 80s. But, although he was in the top ten in MVP voting for 4 out of 6 seasons, he was only selected for the all-star game once (1987), and that was courtesy of the fans.

1987 was his career year, however. He won the MVP award by leading the league in RBIs with 137, and total bases with 369. Other offensive highlights of that season include his home run numbers (47-2^nd in the league); hits (188-6^th); and slugging (.605). In a dubious honor, it was also the only season he did not lead the league in errors in left field between 1985-1989.  

Bell’s numbers fell off the next year, but the season looked promising when he cranked three opening day home runs off Bret Saberhagen (a record). Although he still drove in 97 runs, his OPS dropped 200 points. A bounce back year followed where his home runs declined to 18, but he drove in 104 runs (and he also hit a career high 41 doubles).

Bell was signed as a free agent in 1990 by the Cubs for a three-year deal worth $10 million. Although Bell was a star in Toronto, he was considered surly, and for years refused to do interviews (probably because Spanish was his first language). The fans began to ride him for his poor defense after 1987, and he told them to “kiss his purple (expletive).”

I remember thinking that this was a misguided signing by the Cubs. Bell was 31 and a statue in left, a severe liability when he was coming into a league without a DH. Although he hit 25 home runs and drove in 86, he was not beloved. It didn’t help that the other two big signings by the Cubs that off season (Danny Jackson and Dave Smith) were as awful as the team.

But in a silver lining, Bell was traded across town the next season for a young player named Sammy Sosa. Although Bell, now reduced to being a full-time DH for the White Sox, drove in 112 runs and Sosa struggled to hit major league pitching in 1992, it was one of the few good deals then GM Larry Himes pulled off.

His contract up in 1993, Bell didn’t find any takers for a 33-year old whose defensive liabilities forced him into a designated hitter role. His last game turned out to be October 2, 1993 when he started at DH and drove in Norberto Martin with a sacrifice fly. Although the White Sox won the division, he was not put on the post season roster.

Despite Bell’s often contentious relationship with the Toronto fans and media, he is enshrined in the upper deck of the Rogers Centre (the so-called Blue Jays Level of Excellence).

Rear guard: Bell's first of 265 home runs came off Orioles pitcher #110 Scott McGregor and was a solo shot. Bell also had two other hits off the Oriole starter.

Jim Clancy was the pitcher, John Mayberry the first baseman, and Luis Gomez the shortstop. Junior Moore of the White Sox popped up a bunt as the runners were going. Toronto has also turned triple plays against the Yankees and Indians (1979) and the Royals (2012).

#333 Tom Henke

Card thoughts: This picture was obviously taken on the same day as #312 Tom Filer’s earlier in the set. This is his first Topps card.

The player: Henke was nicknamed “The Terminator” for his ability to close games. Throwing a splitter, slider, forkball and fastball, he was drafted by the Rangers in 1980. Although impressive in the minors, the team felt his lack of control made him suspect in the bullpen.  Henke was chosen from the Rangers as a free agent compensation pick in 1985.  After spending the beginning of the season dominating the International League (0.88 ERA and 17 saves in 39 games), he was up for good with the Blue Jays, where he shared closing duties with veteran Bill Caudill and Jim Acker. Due to his youth, Henke was generally put in non-save situations in the ALCS, but he won 2 games in relief after the Blue Jays came back to beat the Royals in the late innings in Games 2 and 4.

Acker and Caudill were mediocre in 1986, so Henke became the primary closer, a position he would hold until retired. He was so remarkably consistent over the years, that it is hard to pinpoint a standout season. However, 1987 would be a good candidate. That season, Henke led the league in games finished (62) and saves (34) while making his first All Star game. He pitched 2 2/3 innings in the game and gave up 2 hits. However, Henke collapsed at the end of the season, blowing 4 saves, and his agent accused manager Jimy Williams of purposely allowing him to get roughed up against the Brewers.

To illustrate Henke’s skill, here’s his Mariano Rivera-like ERAs over his 7 year peak (1987-1993): 2.49, 2.91, 1.92, 2.17, 2.32, 2.26, 2.91. He also saved over 30 games four different times, and 40 and over for one year (1993). Henke was a big part of the Blue Jays 1992 World Series win. Sharing closing duties with Duane Ward, he saved 3 ALCS games, and 2 World Series games.

Despite being at the time the greatest reliever in Blue Jays history, the team felt that cheaper option Ward could ably fill Henke’s shoes. Signing with the Rangers, he saved 40 his first year with the team, but pitched poorly for the first time in a decade, as he battled back problems and blew nearly 30% of his save opportunities in 1994.  Allowed to leave as a free agent, he signed with the Cardinals. In what was his best year since 1987, Henke saved 40, and had a 1.82 ERA. He was honored by being named to his second all star team, where he struck out Mo Vaughn, and induced Paul O’Neill to fly out to center.  That season, Henke also became the 7th^th player to reach the 300 save mark, a number that should be a standard hall of fame threshold for relievers.

Henke had already decided that 1995 would be last season (in fact, he signed with the Cardinals because his home was only a few hours away). So despite the impressive numbers, that would be it for Henke.

Rear guard: I really think there must have been a better stat to cite than "First Save for the Blue Jays" (although, in light of Henke's 200 or so future saves with the Blue Jays, maybe quite prophetic).

Doug Rader, I always got confused with Dave Rader (although they are no relation). Rader was playing his last season while with the Blue Jays, which is pretty surprising because he was just 32, and had an above average OPS. Rader smashed 245 doubles in his career, and 18 with the Blue Jays in 1977. Here's his card from that year.

#312 Tom Filer

Card thoughts: To my surprise, there exists a Tom Filer rookie card in a Cubs uniform in the 1983 Topps set (with a goofy, gaping look on his face). He would not have another card until the 1989 set where once again, he’s doing something weird with his mouth.

The player: Filer went through three organizations before ending up on the Blue Jays division winners in 1985.

Drafted by the Yankees in 1978, he had two really good years as a starter in that organization, but was left unprotected in 1980, and he was snapped up by the A’s who did not impress them enough to keep him: Filer was returned to the Yankees at the end of spring training in 1981.

All the moving around must have effected Filer, because after one start at Columbus (where he was bombed for 5 runs in 3 innings), he was sent to the Cubs for backup catcher Barry Foote, who did not have a hit in his first 26 plate appearances. Filer lost his control, and despite consistently terrible performances at AAA from 1981-1984, he was given 8 starts in 1982 with the parent club. Filer’s 5.53 ERA in those starts convinced the Cubs that he was only fit to be an insurance policy at AAA.

With a (seemingly) strong rotation emerging from the 1984 division winning team, he was deemed expendable by the Cubs and he was not resigned after becoming a six-year free agent. Filer then signed with the Blue Jays, and performed well in the minors, earning him a call up in July, replacing an injured Jim Clancy. All Filer did is go unbeaten in 7 decisions (9 starts and 2 relief appearances). However, appearances are deceiving because he pitched poorly in a third of those starts, pushing his ERA up into the high 3’s (high in that small ball era). In another down note, Filer went down with a tender elbow near the end of the season (the third stint he had spent on the DL).

The elbow injury flared up again spring training in 1986, causing Filer to miss the entire season. He never again pitched for the Blue Jays, becoming the first player in history to leave a team while being undefeated in over six decisions.

Filer hooked up with the Brewers in 1988, where he spent a couple of years as their fifth starter, generally pitching ineffectively. He later spent time with the Mets and Cubs, mostly pitching at AAA for those clubs. At 35, Filer retired from pro ball after a 2-10 record at AAA Norfolk (Mets). He is now a pitching coach for the AAA Indianapolis Indians.

Rear guard: His first win was his only one for the Cubs. It was a great game, as he gave up no runs and beat #150 Joaquin Andujar in a pitcher's duel.

#241 Tony Fernandez

Card thoughts: Blue everywhere! There will be more of these posed spring training shots in the set.

The player: A thin man (his playing weight was only 165 lbs on a + 6 foot frame), Fernandez nevertheless was a consistent, high average hitter. But he was most adept at defense. Fernandez was the Ozzie Smith equivalent the American League. He could make the acrobatic play with ease, including leaping into the air while simultaneously making an underhanded throw to first base.

He was well suited for the turf era. Fernandez had a line drive stroke, and was a prolific triples and doubles hitter. After backing up Alfredo Griffin in 1984, Fernandez won the starting job in 1985, only missing one game. His 10 triples put him in the top ten, and he led the league in assists by a shortstop, although he also committed 30 errors. In the ALCS Fernandez hit .333.

The next five years could be considered his star years. Fernandez made the all star team in 1986, 1987, and 1990, and won gold gloves four straight years. His best overall season was in 1986, when he got 213 hits, scored 91 runs, and hit .310. On the fielding side, he led shortstops in fielding percentage with .983. Fernandez made it back to the post season with the Blue Jays in 1989, hitting .350 in a loss to Oakland. This was also the season where he set a record for best fielding percentage by a shortstop (.991). In 1990, he led the league in triples with 17.

Fernandez was traded in a blockbuster deal to the Padres in 1990 with Fred McGriff for future hall-of-famer Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter, both of whom propelled the Blue Jays to back to back World Series victories. With the Padres, Fernandez became more of a singles hitter, but he still hit in the high .270s.

A trade in 1993 brought him to New York, where he hit an abysmal .225 for the Mets, before being sent back to the Jays early in the season (the 2^nd of 4 different times he played for Toronto). The Blue Jays had been rotating veterans Dick Schofield and Alfredo Griffin (again) in the shortstop position to little avail. Fernandez immediately solidified the position, hitting .306 in 94 games and playing typically stellar defense. In the Blue Jays World Series victory over the Phillies, he hit .333 and drove in 9 runs.

The Reds picked him up in 1994, but used him at third as another hall-of-famer, Barry Larkin, had short locked down. Fernandez excelled at his new position, hitting .279 and leading the NL with a .991 fielding percentage, incredible for a third baseman.

The next season was his only one with the Yankees and his last as a shortstop, but he memorably hit for the cycle against the A’s. But Fernandez missed the entire following season (when the Yankees won the World Series) with a broken elbow. Then it was on to the Indians, where he hit a career high 11 home runs during the season. In the World Series that year, his go-ahead 2 run single in Game 7 was negated by a costly error in the 11^th inning that led to a Series loss.

Back for 2 more years with the Blue Jays, Fernandez set career highs in batting average (.328) and RBIs (75) in 1999, and made his last all star team. After a year in Japan, he spent his final major league year as a utility player for the Brewers and, once again, the Blue Jays.

Rear guard: Fernandez' first hit was a double off A's starter Tim Conroy. He later scored on a single by #74 Rance Mulliniks.

This date in baseball history: In 1983, both Donnell Nixon and Vince Coleman break Rickey Henderson's pro ball record of 131 stolen bases while in the minors.

#219 Dennis Lamp

Card thoughts: Lamp’s trademark mustache is in evidence here, but not his glasses. On his early cards, Lamp was always bespectacled. I was always fascinated with card pictures where the ball seemed like it was coming right at the camera.

The player: Lamp was a pitcher reliant on his sinker . . . almost too much at times, as he also had a good curve and slider. Which makes it astonishing that his success came with a team that played a majority of its games on artificial turf. He was also valuable because, especially in the middle of his career, he could pitch in any role: starter, middle relief, long relief, and closer.

Lamp was drafted by the Cubs, and made his debut with them in 1977. He was mainly a starter for the club, and not an especially effective one. He only had one winning season in the 4 years he pitched for them, including records of 7-15, 11-10, and 10-14. Here’s a game where Lamp was getting destroyed by the Phillies in the first inning of a game in 1979. To add insult to injury, he led the league in earned runs given up in 1980, mostly due to his wildness (8^th in walks, 3^rd in wild pitches).

The Cubs had enough, and completed a rare trade with the White Sox, getting pitcher Ken Kravec in exchange. Lamp turned his career around with the Sox. They wisely made him a swing man, and he responded with a 2.41 ERA in 1981. Lamp was even better the next year, winning 11 games, splitting his time about equally between starting and relieving. In 1983, Lamp was almost exclusively used as a reliever, which would be his role for the rest of his career. He went 7-7 during the season, and gave up no runs over 3 innings in the ALCS.

Lamp’s next stop was with the Blue Jays, where he would have the best of years of his career. He came within 1 win in 1984 of setting the record for most consecutive relief wins in a season. And in the year shown on this card, Lamp did not lose a game, going an outstanding 11-0 with 3.32 ERA, and he kept up his hot pitching the ALCS, where he once again gave up no runs over 3 appearances.

After another season with the Jays, Lamp would spend one season with the A’s (where he was ineffective) and then to Red Sox for four seasons, with the 1989 season as a highlight. Lamp had a career low 2.32 ERA and 1.095 WHIP that season.

Lamp would end his career in 1992 with the Pirates. Since retiring, Lamp has a worked a variety of jobs not usually associated with an ex-player including as a temporary worker and a salesman on commission at Nordstrom. He currently mans a seafood counter at a grocery store, and says he loves his job. In case you are wondering, Lamp isn’t broke. He just likes working.

Rear guard: Wow! Lamp's first card is the only one where he is sans mustache. Maybe there was a rule in the Cubs minor league system against facial hair. Out of the other three pitchers he shares his card with, Roy Thomas has a card in this set, so he lasted awhile; Cardell Camper, besides being an awesome name, only won 1 game and pitched 3 games and is now dead; and Craig Mitchell was the first overall pick in the 1973 draft, yet he only pitched 5 games over a 3 year career and ended up with a 7.82 ERA.

This date in baseball history: The famous poem "Casey at the Bat" was published in the San Francisco Examiner under a pseudonym in 1888 because the author, Ernest Thayer, a humor columnist for the paper, was ashamed at the poor versification.

#196 Doyle Alexander

Card thoughts: That is a very awkward follow through. And mustache.

The player: Alexander was an incredibly inconsistent pitcher, who often pitched his best down the stretch. Once a hard thrower, arm injuries transformed Alexander into a guile pitcher. Other than a mediocre fastball, he threw a curve, change, slider, and sinker from three different arm angles. Besides his reputation as a clutch pitcher, Alexander was involved in two memorable trades, at either end of his career.

Alexander was drafted by the Dodgers in 1968 and was with the club within 3 years. He only lasted the 1971 season before he was traded to the Orioles with three other players for hall of famer Frank Robinson. He began pitching out of the bullpen, but by 1973 he was starting regularly. Alexander was a workhorse, completing 10 out of 26 starts to go with a 12-6 record. He lost his only playoff start.

Two seasons followed, where he bounced between the 'pen and the rotation. It seems the Orioles never knew what to do with him, and they traded him to the Yankees midway through the 1976 season. Alexander pitched much more effectively for them, going 10-5 the rest of the year.

But the Yankees would not enjoy his services long this time. Alexander signed as a free agent with the Rangers the next season, and had his best season to date, going 17-11 with a 3.65 ERA. But much like his time with the Orioles, the subsequent two seasons were marred by injury and sub-.500 records.

Alexander would be traded every year for the next four years. First it was to the Braves (a good season--14 and 11); then to the Giants (double digit wins again, 11 and 7, with a career low 2.89 ERA); then to the Yankees (where he broke his pitching hand punching a wall after being shelled by the Mariners); and finally to the Blue Jays in 1983, where Alexander would have his most consistent success.

Alexander was the top Blue Jay pitcher in both 1984 and the season shown on this card, winning 17 each year, and leading the league in winning percentage in the former year. His success did not translate in the ALCS in 1985, as Alexander gave up 10 runs in about as many innings over 2 starts, losing one of them.

He was traded back to the Braves in the middle of the next season, and he was generally effective with both teams, winning 11 and losing 10. In the offseason, Alexander was one of the free agents blocked by collusion, and therefore did not sign with the Braves until May. He was less than dominant for them, but that Braves team was REALLY terrible. Despite his 5-10 record and above 4 ERA, the Tigers coveted Alexander. He was the kind of big game, stretch run pitcher they needed in their tight race with his old team, the Blue Jays. To get him, they paid a heavy price by trading a minor leaguer named John Smoltz (who went on to win 213 games). Much like the trade of #183 Larry Andersen for Jeff Bagwell, it paid immediate dividends for the Tigers, but at a huge long term loss.

Alexander went an outstanding 9-0 down the stretch with a 1.53 ERA. This did not carry over into the playoffs again, much like in 1985. He lost two starts to the Twins, once again giving up 10 runs. There was a still a last hurrah for Alexander, as he went 14-10 in 1988, to make his first all star team at age 37. But there would be few cheers in his final season, as he led the league in losses with 18, and home runs allowed with 28.

Rear guard: Because of the Topps card issuing policy in 1972, Alexander never appeared as a Dodger, even though he spent the 1971 season with them. Instead, Topps airbrushed him into some semblance of an Orioles uniform.

This date in baseball history: In 1985, Tom Seaver bests Walter Johnson by pitching his 15th opening day.