1976 Topps #283 - Merv Rettenmund

• Merv Rettenmund played for four teams from 1968-1980. Merv signed with the Baltimore Orioles in 1964. He played in the minors from 1965-1968. Rettenmund spent the first couple of weeks of 1968 with the Orioles and then was sent back down. He batted .331 with 22 HR at AAA Rochester and was brought back up to stay in late August 1968. Merv got into 31 games and batted .297 in 64 at bats. He also walked 18 times to end up with a .452 on base percentage. Merv was usually a patient hitter and his on base percentages were usually in the upper .300s.

• Rettenmund was a backup outfielder in 1969 and batted .247 in 190 at bats. In 1970 Merv had a nice season as a backup -- he batted .322 with 18 HR and 58 RBI. He was 3 for 8 in the postseason and homered in game 5 of the World Series.

• Merv was the regular right fielder and had another good year in 1971. He batted .318 with 11 HR and 75 RBI. He also scored 81 runs and had a .422 on base percentage. He didn't do as well in the postseason (.250 in the ALCS and .185 in the World Series).

• Rettenmund went back to a backup role in 1972. He slumped to a .233 average in 301 AB in 1972. Merv did a little better in 1973 (.262 with 9 HR in 321 AB). He was 1 for 14 in the 1973 ALCS. After the '73 season he was traded with Junior Kennedy and a minor leaguer to the Cincinnati Reds for Ross Grimsley and a minor leaguer.

• Merv spent the 1974 and 1975 seasons with the Reds. He won a second World Series ring as a backup for the '75 club. He batted .216 in 208 AB in 1974 and .239 in 188 AB in 1975. After the 1975 season he was traded to the San Diego Padres for Rudy Meoli.

• Rettenmund was with the Padres in 1976 and 1977. He batted only .229 in '76 but had a .361 on base percentage. In 1977 he was in 107 games but batted only 166 times (.286 average, .432 on base percentage). After the 1977 season Merv became a free agent and signed with the California Angels.

• At this point in his career, Merv was a pinch hitter, DH, and late-inning outfielder. He batted .269 in 108 at bats in '78. In 1979 Merv batted .263 in 76 at bats. Rettenmund was released by the Angels on June 24, 1980 after going 1 for 4 in two games.

• After his playing career Rettenmund was a batting coach for several organizations. Most recently he was the hitting coach for the San Diego Padres in 2006 and 2007.
  

• Merv has two websites: here and here.

• Liked to face: Mike Kekich (.467 in 30 AB); Sam McDowell (.351 in 37 AB); Dick Drago (.385 in 26 AB)
• Hated to face: Tommy John (.160 in 25 AB); Doug Rau (.154 in 26 AB); Steve Carlton (.150 in 20 AB)