A '70s Miscellany - Real Action Shots

Okay, so last week’s “action shots” really weren’t. This week, however …

I was always so proud when my Little Leaguers used their “big guy” voices.

In addition to having one of the greatest nicknames of all time, John Wesley “Boog” Powell was also a pretty decent ballplayer. Over a 17-year career, he totaled 339 homers and 1187 RBIs. He was a one-time MVP and a four-time All Star as well. Boog’s kept busy in retirement, starring in Miller Lite commercials, operating a marina, and running a BBQ stand at Camden Yards.

I always had to tell my Little Leaguers to warm up perpendicular to the sun, not with it.  (Then I had to explain what “perpendicular” meant.)

A particular favorite of mine, Brooks can also be found here, here, and here.

Few know it, but the San Diego fans once boycotted the team for a whole home stand to protest those horrible uniforms

This card represents Fred Norman’s last year with the Pads – he would be traded to the Big Red Machine in the offseason. He would, thus, go from a team where he had records of 3-12 and 1-7 to one where he would compile records of 12-4, 12-6, and 12-7 … and there would actually be fans in the stands.

Rick liked to give himself a little hug when things weren’t going so well on the mound.

Rick Wise was once traded straight up for Steve Carlton, in pretty much the middle of their careers.

	Rick	Steve
Years played	18	24
Wins	188	329
K's	1647	4136
ERA	3.69	3.22
20-win seasons	0	6
Years leading league in wins	0	4
Years leading league in losses	1	2
Cy Young awards	0	4
All Star appearances	2	10
No hitters	1	0
Hall of Fame?	No	Yes

Aw … Give yourself a hug, Rick!

“Uh, you’re on my base.”

Dave Nelson was very fast. He once stole 51 bases despite hitting only .226. He also once stole second, third, and home in one inning. Life after baseball included coaching and announcing.

Great post here where the blogger and some commenters narrowed this shot down to the seventh inning of the second game of a doubleheader that took place on July 30, 1972. The glum-looking infielder is Ted Kubiak, by the way. (And the pitcher is Steve Hamilton, in case you haven’t already guessed that yourself.)

“Hey, get your hand off my butt!”

Lenny Randle was another speed burner. He was also a somewhat better hitter than Nelson, having batted over .300 twice. Interestingly, though, he also finished under the Mendoza line no less than three times in 12 years. (More Lenny right here.)

As far as I can tell, this is July 31, 1977. It’s the 3rd inning and Randle has just been picked off at 1st by pitcher Dave Wehrmeister and first baseman Gene Richards. The ball gets away, however, and Randle will end up at 3rd. Now, here’s how I figured it out:

• It’s 1977 – Topps’ 1978 cards (of which this is one) were shot during the 1977 season
• Mets are playing Pads at home – Pads wore dark shirts on the road
• They played in NY only 6 times
• Randle got in only 4 of those games
• He didn’t get in base in one of those games
• In only 1 of those 3 games did the Pads have an African-American Padre infielder
• That crazy play took place in the 3rd

Just call me Sherlock … Sherlock Holmes.

Yes, this was done on purpose.

And it’s also a great way to wrap things up with this blog. Yeah, I do make fun of these guys and their cards. At the same time, though, I’m like Annie Savoy – a card carrying member of the church of baseball. They’re all all stars in my book (er, blog).

Oh, Billy Cowan? He was pretty much a nobody (click here for more, if you must), but at least he had a great sense of humor.