1976 Topps #244 - Bill Sharp

• Bill Sharp was an outfielder for the Chicago White Sox and the Milwaukee Brewers from 1973-1976. Sharp was drafted by the White Sox in 1971. He played for a farm team of the Cincinnati Reds in 1971 (perhaps on loan or something like that) and in the White Sox' system from 1972-1974. He made his major league debut on May 26, 1973. Bill finished the '73 season with the White Sox and batted .276 in 77 games as a backup outfielder.

• Sharp started the 1974 season in the minors and was recalled to the White Sox in early June. He batted .253 in 320 AB for the White Sox in 1974. In 1975 Bill played in 18 games for the White Sox (.200 in 35 AB) then was traded to the Brewers for Bob Coluccio. Sharp got regular playing time with the Brewers and he batted .255 in 125 games and also had 27 doubles.

• The 1976 season would be Sharp's last year in the majors. He played in 78 games but batted only 180 times and had a .244 average. He injured his knee on September 17, ending his season. Bill didn't make the Brewers club in 1977 and went to AAA Spokane. Sharp played in five games and then retired at the age of 27.

• Bill's #7 has been retired by Lima Senior High School.

• Bill's son Matt played baseball for the UCLA Bruins from 2002-2005 and in the Chicago White Sox organization from 2005-2007.

• About the comic on the back of the card---they got Hank Bauer's face just about right. In the classic "The Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book," they say that Hank Bauer had a face like a clenched fist. The dude looked like someone you didn't want to mess with. I still have my original paperback edition from 1974 or so--I highly recommend it if you haven't read it yet!