1979 Topps, Woodie Fryman

#269 Woodie Fryman

Here is the next card that I unlocked or traded for on the Topps Million Card Giveaway site. I sent this card to Woodie on January 15 and I had it back in hand on the 27th. Then a week later, Woodie passed away.. That just goes to show how fragile life can be. Here one day and gone the next. I can't find a cause of death, but it appears that Woodie was signing up until his death.

Woodie has an interesting story. He didn't sign with a Major League team until he was 25-years old. The reason he held out so long was because he was making more money as a tobacco farmer than he would have been playing ball. But, he finally relented and he made his Major League Debut with the Pirates on his 26th birthday. It was the start to a long Major League career, one that had him pitching in three different decades.

Woodie spent time with the Pirates, Phillies, Tigers, Expos, Reds, and Cubs during his eighteen year career. But, it seems like his most talked about "season" was the final two months of the 1972 campaign. Woodie was 4-10 with a 4.36 ERA with the Phillies and they put him on waivers. The Tigers, in the midst of a pennant chase with Boston, picked him up and he went on a terror. He went 10-2 with the Tigers and he got his tenth win on the next to last day of the season by beating Boston and clinching the AL East title. He didn't do quite as well in the ALCS, but if it weren't for his run, the Tigers probably never even made it that far.

For his career, Woodie was 141-155 with 58 saves and a 3.77 ERA. He was a two-time All Star.

1979 Topps, Paul Dade

#13 Paul Dade

Here is the next Million Card Giveaway TTM success. This one features the former Angel, Indian, and Padre, Paul Dade. I wish that the Million Card Giveaway site was still up and running so that I can see what card it took for me to land this beauty. Once I saw that he signed TTM, I knew I had to have this card just because of that fantastic Indians uniform. I doubt that I have a card that features that uni and I know I don't a have a signed card of one. But, now I do, and it is spectacular. The only thing that could have made this card any better is if Paul would have included his jersey number with his signature. He wore 00 while with the Tribe. That would have been another first for me.

Paul played in the Majors for parts of six seasons. He only got into a hundred or more games twice in his career and that was with Cleveland in 1977 and a season split between Cleveland and San Diego in 1979. With the Indians in '77, Paul put up career numbers in hits, RBI, and average. Then in his split season, he had career highs in doubles, home runs, and stolen bases. He would only play one more season in the Majors after that and he hit .189 in just 53 at-bats.

I sent this card to Paul on January 15 and I got it back February 7.

1978 Topps, Gary Lavelle

#671 Gary Lavelle

Here is the next card that I got via the Topps Million Card Giveaway. This one features the two-time All Star, Gary Lavelle. I sent this card to Gary on the third of February and I had it back nine days later.

Gary pitched in the Major Leagues for thirteen seasons. He spent the majority of the time with the Giants, but he did also play briefly for the Blue Jays and A's. In 1978, Gary won a career high 13 games and he did not start a single game that season. His best season probably came in 1977. He only won 7 games that year, but he did record 20 saves and he posted a career-best ERA of 2.05. He made his first All Star team that year as well.

Gary never had more than 20 saves in a season, but he did hit the 20 save plateau three times. He was an All Star the first time he had 20 and he was an All Star the last time he had 20 in 1983. For his career, Gary was 80-77 with 136 saves and a 2.93 ERA. His 127 saves as a Giant ranks him fourth on their all-time list, right behind Brian Wilson (who could be at the top by the end of next year).

1978 Topps, Jerry Mumphrey

#452 Jerry Mumphrey

Here is the next Topps Million Card Giveaway card that I unlocked last summer. It was because of the the TMCG that I decided to sign up for SportsCollector.net's premium service. Before that, I would use the free features and it suited me just fine. But, when the TMCG came around, I needed to know instantly whether or not that player signed through the mail. If he did, I kept the card. If he didn't, I tried to trade the card. Jerry Mumphrey signed TTM, so I kept this card. I sent it to him on January 19 and I had it back on the last day of that month.

On an unrelated note, this will be my last post until Sunday. I'm going ballparkin' for a few days and I will be away from the computer. I'll be seeing the Iowa Cubs tonight, the Twins tomorrow, and the Omaha Storm Chasers on Saturday.

Justin and Ryan- I still have not mailed out your prize packages and I am sorry. It has been a hectic last few weeks here and I am behind on everything. I will get them out to you sometime next week, though. Just bear with me.

1976 Topps, Jim Colborn

#521 Jim Colborn

Here is the third installment of my Topps Million Card Giveaway TTM project. Just like yesterdays post, I had sent this card to Jim without realizing that he had a no-hitter on his resume. But, the worst part about it is that Jim had his no-hitter while playing with my favorite team and I had no clue.

Jim was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cubs in the late '60s. He only played in a handful of games with them before being dealt to the Brewers before the '72 season. He pitched for the Brew Crew for five seasons and he had his best season with them in 1972. That season, Jim was a 20-game winner and he had career bests in wins, ERA (3.11), and strikeouts (135). He also made his lone All Star team that season.

After the '76 season, Jim was traded to the Royals and he quickly impressed his new fans and teammates by throwing his no-no at home against the Rangers in an early May game. The no-hitter was the third in Royals history and Jim was the second pitcher to throw one (Steve Busby had the first two). It was also the first no-no thrown by a Royal at home. Jim finished the season with 18 wins, the second most of his career, and yet he only went on to pitch just one more season and it was with the Mariners.

I don't send out Sharpies when I send out my TTM requests, so Jim picked red for me. I'm more of a blue kind of guy, but the red looks pretty good on this card. Good choice, Jim.

I sent this card out on January 15 and I got it back a month later on February 17.

1973 Topps, Milt Pappas

#70 Milt Pappas

Here is a card of Milt Pappas that I got from the Topps Million Card Giveaway. I sent this card to Milt on January 15 and I had it back ten days later.

When I unlocked or traded for this card, I had no idea that Milt had a no-hitter under his belt. I had seen the story about his no-no on MLB Network a few times before, but I didn't put two and two together. For those of you who haven't heard about it, Milt had a perfect game going with the Cubs on September 2nd of 1972. After retiring twenty-six straight batters, Milt had a 2-2 count on Larry Stahl. The next two pitches were close to the zone, but they were both called balls by home plate umpire, Bruce Froemming. He lost the perfect game with two outs in the ninth, but he still got the no hitter. By all accounts, it seems that Milt is still a little upset that he didn't get the perfect game.

Milt had long career in the Majors as he spent time with the Orioles, Reds, Braves, and Cubs. He was never a 20 game winner, but he did reach 17 wins twice and he hit double digit wins in twelve of his seventeen seasons. He made two All Star games as an Oriole and he finished his career with a 209-164 record.

Milt has an interesting signature that is a little hard to make out. I can see an "M" in there and that is about it.

Milt's birth name is Miltiades Stergios Pappastediodis. I think I like Milt Pappas better, too.

1973 Topps, Paul Spilttorff

#48 Paul Splittorff

Here is the final Paul Splittorff card that I will be able to post on here. I got this card signed on Opening Day this year at Kauffman Stadium. Paul was part of the Royals pre-game show and I was able to get this card signed between filming at Rivals Sports Bar. I was pretty excited when I got it because it was the only card that I got signed that day. But, more importantly, it signaled the beginning of autograph season.

Just over a month later, it was announced that Paul had been admitted into the hospital for oral cancer. That came as a shock to everyone. People knew something was wrong with Paul that was worse than announced. The papers said that he had an oral virus that he had been battling, but on TV, it honestly looked like Splitt had had a stroke. Just before his admittance to the hospital, Paul had filled in for Frank White as the color man on the Royals broadcast and his speech was more garbled than ever. I knew something was wrong, but I had no idea that it was a serious as it was. It wasn't until his hospital stay that everyone found out that Paul had been battling oral cancer and melanoma for two years.

Nine days after being admitted into the hospital, Paul passed away. You are missed, Splitt.

Paul is the Royals winningest pitcher and he was the first Royal to win twenty games in a season.