1981 Topps World Series - Bake McBride

The 1981 Topps set had only 2 World Series cards. By then Topps had gotten away from issuing a card for each World Series game.Seemed like a good fir for this action shot of 1974 Rookie of the Year, McBride. For a moment I considered making World Series cards for the years that Topps didn't. But finding game specific photos seems like an overwhelming task.

1979 Topps Mike Hargrove

The Human Rain Delay only lasted in the perfect weather of San Diego for 52 games of the 1979 season. Mike Hargrove batted nearly 100 points below his career batting average of .290. He was traded in June to Cleveland for outfielder Paul Dade. In Cleveland he returned to his old form. He ended his playing career in as an Indian in 1985 and in 1991 began his managerial career in an Indians uniform. 

1974 Topps Rookie Stars: George Brett, Rick Burleson, Greg Gross, Jim Sundberg

In my last post I pointed out that 5 of the 8 players receiving Rookie of the Year votes were not included in the 1974 Topps set.  I think one of the major contributors to their exclusion was Topps decision to issue "All 660 Cards in One Series!": 

Only Bucky Dent had his own card in the 1974 Set:

Bill Madlock & Bake McBride were included on multi-player Rookie Cards:

With the inclusion of the Rookie of the Year card I made of Mike Hargrove, All 8 1974 ROY vote recipients now have a 1974 card.

1975 Topps 1974 Rookies of the Year

The 8 players receiving Rookie of the Year votes in 1974 all went onto productive Major league careers. Unfortunately, only 3 of the 8 appeared on Topps cards in 1974. Bake McBride and Bill Madlock appeared on multi-player rookie cards. Bucky Dent was the only one to have his own Topps card in 1974.

Mike Hargrove got 67% of the Rookie of the year voting in 1974. He beat out 1978 World Series MVP Bucky Dent and Future Hall of Famer George Brett. He also beat out infielder Rick Burlson and catcher Jim Sundberg. Both of whom are Gold Glove winning All Stars.

In the National League, Bake McBride also got 67% of the vote. He beat out Greg Gross, and Bill Madlock. Bross played 17 years with an overall batting average of .287. Madlock was a 3 time All Star and the co-MVP of the 1975 All Star game.

One other thing these ROY award winners had in common was their unique batting rituals. McBride was known to dig in at the plate literally. He would kick the dirt around obscuring the chalk lines. Hargrove was known as "The Human Rain Delay". Before each pitch he would adjust his batting gloves, adjust his jersey, both at the shoulders and the sleeves, adjust his pants, adjust his helmet, dig in with his left foot then plant his step in with his right foot. 

1974 Topps Bake McBride

In his first full Major league season, Bake McBride hit .309 and stole 30 bases. A highlight of the 1974 season is when McBride scored from 1st base on a pick-off play by Mets pitcher Hank Webb in the 25th inning to put the Cardinals ahead for good in a game that lasted over 7 hours.