1974 Topps, Tim Johnson

#554 Tim Johnson

Here is something that I haven't posted in some time- a card that I got signed at a game. Tim managed the El Paso Diablos, of the American Association, this past year and I was able to get three cards signed by him when they came to Wichita at the end of the season. Tim seemed genuinely nice and even told me that he liked the ball club that Wichita had and that he hoped that they would win it all. I had hoped the same, but it didn't happen as the 'Nuts got swept in the championship.

Tim took over the Diablos in the middle of the season this past summer. The club started off 4-16 before Tim took over and they finished the year 47-53. Tim's 43-37 record got them close to playoff contention until the team stumbled down the stretch. Nevertheless, Tim did such a good job with the team that he was named the American Association's Manager of the Year.

1974 Topps, Jon Matlack

#153 Jon Matlack

This is another card that I unlocked from the Topps Diamond Giveaway. Unlike most of the others I have posted, though, I had a little trouble getting this card signed through the mail. I originally sent this card to Jon last November to the address that is listed on SCN, but it came back returned to sender. I then waited around for a few months waiting for a new address for Jon or a success from the address that I used. I finally saw that someone got an autograph back from him from the original address this past September and I resent this card to him at his Texas home address. Just over a month later, I got my cards back signed and they were postmarked from Syracuse, new York. SCN is still listing the Texas address as his current mailing address and someone got a successful return from him about a week ago.

John pitched in the Majors for 13 years with the Mets and Rangers. He was the 1972 Rookie of the Year and he was a three-time All Star in the mid '70s and was even the MVP of the 1975 mid-summer classic. His best season was with the Mets in '76 when he finished the season 17-10 with a 2.95 ERA.

I traded for this card on the Million Card Giveaway site. I can't remember which card I originally had, but I know that it was a Reggie Jackson playoff or World Series card from 1974. I knew that I was never going to get that card signed, so I looked into trading it. I saw that Jon had a playoff card from the '74 set, but I could not find it by searching for it on the site. I found this one though, and I figured that this one would end up looking really nice once signed.

1973 Topps, Jim Mason

#458 Jim Mason

Sorry about the lack of posts recently. I work in retail and last week was my one Hell week for the year. But, now that it is over, I should get back to my sporadic posting schedule. That is until I leave for the Fiesta Bowl next week.

Here is a card of Jim Mason that I unlocked in the Topps Diamond Giveaway. I wish that site was still up so I could see all of the wheeling and dealing I had to do to end up with the cards I did. The only requirement I had when finalizing the cards I wanted shipped was that they had to be from 1980 or earlier and the player on them had to sign through the mail.

Jim Mason played in the Majors from 1971 to 1979. He played for the Senators/Rangers, Yankees, Blue Jays, and Expos during his career and was generally used as a utility infielder. He was the everyday shortstop for the Yankees in 1974 and he put up his best numbers in that season, with career highs in every offensive category including average (.250). For his career, Jim was a .203 hitter with 12 home runs and 114 RBI.

Jim played in one World Series for the Yankees in 1976 and he got into three games. He was used as a defensive replacement, but he did get one at-bat. In that one at-bat, he hit a solo home run off of the Reds Pat Zachary. So, he career World Series line is 1-1 with a home run, RBI, and a 4.000 slugging percentage.

I sent this card to Jim last November and I had it back ten days later.

1973 Topps, Eddie Fisher

#439 Eddie Fisher

This is another Topps Diamond Giveaway card that I unlocked in 2011 and got signed through the mail at the end of the year. I sent this card to Eddie at the beginning of November last year and I got it back twelve days later.

Eddie pitched in the Majors for for fifteen seasons and he saw time with the Giants, White Sox, Orioles, Indians, Angels, and Cardinals. He was a knuckleball pitcher that mainly pitched in relief. For his career, Eddie was 85-70 with 81 saves and a 3.41 ERA.

Eddie had an outstanding season with the White Sox in in 1965. That season, he pitched in 82 of the Sox 162 games (all in relief) and he lead the team in wins (15) and saves (24). His 15 wins were good for eighth in the league while his 24 saves ranked second. Plus, Eddie had a 2.40 ERA to boot and made the only All Star team in his career. He even finished fourth in the MVP vote behind Zoilo Versalles, Tony Oliva, and Brooks Robinson. Had the Cy Young Award been given out to the best pitcher in both leagues in 1965, Eddie would have been the logical choice for the American League recipient.

Powder blue jerseys with red script and red hats seem like an odd combination for the White Sox. Luckily, they only lasted for five seasons. I guess that the powder blue roads are better than the red pinstriped home uniforms.

1973 Topps, Glenn Borgmann

#284 Glenn Borgmann

This is another card that I got signed through the mail earlier this month. Like Dave Rader a few days ago, I picked this card up from checkoutmycards and sent it along with an '81 Donruss TTM request. I sent the cards out to Glenn at the end of November and I had both of them back and signed about ten days later.

Glenn played in the Majors for nine seasons, spending all but one of them with the Twins. He was the Twins regular catcher for two seasons in the mid '70s before becoming a second or third string catcher for the remainder of his career. His best season came in 1974 when he hit .256 with 3 home runs and 45 RBI in 128 games. Glenn finished his career with a .229 average, 16 home runs, and 151 RBI.

I love Glenn's sideburns on this card. I also like how he has his name written on his glove. You don't see that in the Majors any more.

1973 Topps, Fergie Jenkins

#180 Fergie Jenkins

Here is the first of two cards that I got signed by Fergie Jenkins at All Star Game Fanfest this past summer. I got a card signed by Fergie four years prior at a charity old-timers game, but that card featured him as a Ranger. Since I usually think of Fergie as a Cub, I had to pick up this card of him from checkoutmycards.

With the Cubs, Fergie was a 20 game winner for six straight seasons from 1967-1972. He made three All Star teams during that span and won the Cy Young Award in 1971. That season, he went 24-13 with a 2.77 ERA with 263 strikeouts. He also hit 6 home runs that season and drove in 20 to help himself out.

I only remember Fergie doing one free signing at Fanfest. Most of the time, though, he could be found signing at the charity table for twenty bucks a pop, ball included.

I love the Cubs jersey on this card. The numbers centered on it are certainly unique.

For some reason, the Sharpie did not stick to this card too well. That doesn't happen to often, but I have seen it before. I don't know if I touched the surface before he signed it or what.

George Brett was the official All Star Game ambassador, but Fergie was the one that helped open the Fanfest ceremonies. Here is a somewhat blurry picture of him doing so.

1973 Topps, Dave Rader

#121 Dave Rader

Here is a card that I got signed through the mail about ten days ago. I sent this card, and an '81 Donruss, to Dave towards the end of November and I had to them both back about eight days later.

I did not have this card in my collection, so I picked it up for fairly cheap from Checkoutmycards when they had their Black Friday sale. I figured that since I was posting some older cards right now, I might as well add to them a bit.

Dave played in the Majors for parts of ten seasons with the Giants, Cardinals, Cubs, Phillies, and Red Sox. He started out his career with San Francisco and was their everyday catcher for a couple of years before eventually moving into the back-up role. The Giants traded him to the Cardinals after the '76 season and Dave proceeded to change teams every season after that. He last played in the Majors in 1980 with the Sox.

Dave finished his career a .257 hitter with 30 home runs and 235 RBI.

In 1973, Dave finished second in the National League in intentional walks. He only hit .229 that year, so I hope he was hitting eighth.

Speaking of finishing second, Dave finished second in the '72 National League Rookie of the Year vote.