1969 Topps, Norm Miller

#76 Norm Miller

Here is the second card that I have to post from last years Topps Million Card Giveaway. This one features the former Astro and Brave, Norm Miller. If I remember correctly, I unlocked Norm's 1970 card and then flipped it for this one just to have an older card. I sent this card out on January 15 and I had it back on the 26th.

Norm played in the Majors for parts of ten seasons. All of his time was spent with the Astros except the final year and a half. It looks like he was mainly a fourth outfielder-type as he only played in 90 or more games twice. The season where he got the most playing time was 1969 and he hit .264 with 21 doubles, 4 home runs, and 50 RBI. All of those numbers were career highs except for the home runs. He had hit 6 the previous year.

Norm's career ended after the 1974 season and he finished it with a .238 lifetime average with 24 home runs and 159 RBI.

I find it strange that Topps had to blackout Norm's hat on this card. Up to that point, the Astros were the only Major League team that Norm had played with. I doubt that the photo is a minor league shot because the ballpark looks pretty big. Maybe Norm had been in a lot of trade talks at the time and Topps was trying to make it easier for themselves if it did go through? I honestly cannot come up with a good reason as to why his hat is blacked out.