1976 Topps #402 - Don Money

• Don Money was an infielder (mostly third base) for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Milwaukee Brewers from 1968-1983. Mone was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1965. He played in the Pirates system for three years and then was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies with several others for Jim Bunning. Don batted .303 in AAA San Diego in 1968 and got a September call-up. He batted .231 in 13 at bats for the Phillies at the end of the 1968 season.

• Money was the starting shortstop for the Phillies in 1969. He batted .229 in 127 games. In 1970 Don was moved to third base. He had a much better offensive season, batting .295 with 14 HR and 66 RBI. Money split time between third base, left field, and second base in 1971. He batted .223 with 7 HR in 121 games in '71.

• Money returned to third base in 1972. He played in 152 games and batted .222 with 15 HR and 52 RBI. The Phillies had some guy named Mike Schmidt coming up in their system so they traded Money, Bill Champion, and John Vuckovich to the Milwaukee Brewers for Jim Lonborg, Ken Brett, Ken Sanders, and Earl Stephenson.

• Don had several nice seasons for the Brewers. In 1973 he batted .284 with 11 HR and 61 RBI. As the card back says, Money led the AL with a .989 fielding percentage and had a streak of 86 errorless games at third base. He also batted .283 with 15 HR and 63 RBI and made his first AL All Star team (he didn't get into the game). How to Cope As Wife of a Major Leaguer by Sharon Money (Don's wife) - August 1974 Baseball Digest.

• Money played in 109 games in 1975 (he was out from late May to late June with an injury) and batted .277 with 15 HR and 43 RBI. Don returned to the All Star Game in 1976 (he was 0 for 1) and batted .267 with 12 HR and 62 RBI.

• Don moved to second base for the 1977 season and made the AL All Star team again but didn't play in the game. Money had one of his better power years, batting .279 with a career-high 25 HR and 83 RBI. Money's last season as a full-time player was 1978. In 137 games Don batted .293 with 14 HR and 54 RBI. He split time between 1B, 2B, and 3B. Don was the starting second baseman for the AL in the 1979 All Star Game and was 0 for 2.

• Money missed seven weeks (early May to late June) with an injury in 1979. He batted .237 with 6 HR and 38 RBI. At this point in his career Don was a part-time player since the Brewers had younger players like Paul Molitor and Jim Gantner. In 1980 Money played in 86 games and batted .256 with 17 HR and 46 RBI.

• Don had a rough year in 1981 as he batted .216 with 2 HR and 14 RBI in 60 games. He was 0 for 3 in the ALDS. Money bounced back for one more good season in 1982. As part of "Harvey's Wallbangers" Don batted .284 with 16 HR and 55 RBI in 96 games and had a .531 slugging percentage. He batted .182 in the 1982 ALCS and .231 in five games in the World Series. In 1983 Money had his toughest season as he batted .149 in 114 at bats. He was released by the Brewers after the season. Don played for the Kintetsu Buffaloes in Japan in 1984 but he tore up his contract after a month and came back to the United States.

• After his playing career Money managed the Class A Oneonta Tigers in 1987 and 1988. Don has been managing in the Brewers' system since 1998. He is currently the manager of Milwaukee's AAA Nashville club. Here is a February 17, 2010 Q&A article with Don Money on mlb.com.

• Liked to face: Dick Pole/Ray Bare (.556 in 18 AB); Vern Ruhle (.440 in 25 AB)
• Hated to face: Denny Lemaster (.000 in 12 AB); Mike Marshall/Doug Bird (.059 in 17 AB); Dennis Eckersley (.077 in 39 AB)