1976 Topps #122 - Mike Cosgrove

• Mike Cosgrove was a left-handed pitcher for the Houston Astros from 1972-1976. He spent time in the minors in every season except for 1976. Mike started in A ball in 1970 when he was 19 years old. He pitched well in all of his stops. A record of 6-2 and an ERA of 2.62 at AAA Oklahoma City was good enough to earn him a September call-up in 1972. Mike went 0-1 with a 4.61 ERA in 7 games for the Astros in 1972.

• Cosgrove made the team out of spring training, but spent most of the season in AAA Denver in 1973. His ERA ballooned to 6.09 (7-11 in 22 starts) but some of that is probably due to the Pacific Coast League being more of a hitter's league. He was used as a reliever by the Astros and had a 1-1 record with a 1.80 ERA in 10 innings.

• Mike started the 1974 season in the minors but was called up in mid-May and spent the rest of the season in Houston. Cosgrove was 7-3 with a 3.50 ERA in 1974. He appeared in 45 games and started 17 of those games.

• Cosgrove probaby had his best season in 1975. He was in the minors from mid-April to mid-June, but still had a record of 1-2 with a 3.33 ERA in 32 games (3 starts). Mike spent all of 1976 in Houston but his stats fell off (he developed arm trouble after being converted to a starter). He only pitched three times in July, twice in August, and once in September. Mike's record was 3-4 with a 5.52 ERA in 22 games (16 starts).

• Mike spent the 1977 season in the minors then was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the Rule 5 draft. He somehow ended up with the Toronto Blue Jays and then was traded from the Blue Jays to the California Angels for Mickey Scott on March 23, 1978. There aren't any stats for Mike after the 1977 season, so he probably didn't make the Angels club.