1976 Topps #534 - Stan Bahnsen

• Stan Bahnsen pitched in the majors from 1966-1982. Bahnsen was drafted by the New York Yankees in 1965. He pitched in the minors in 1966 and was called up at the end of the season. Stan was 1-1 with a 3.52 ERA in four games (three starts) for the Yankees in 1966.
• Bahnsen was in the minors for the entire 1967 season. As the back of the card says, he pitched two no-hitters in the minors including a perfect game on July 9. 
• Bahnsen made the Yankees ballclub in 1968 and won the AL Rookie of the Year award. Stan was 17-12 with a 2.05 ERA in 34 starts as he easily beat out Del Unser for the award.
• Bahnsen had a tough sophomore season in 1969 -- he was 9-16 with a 3.83 ERA in 33 starts. Stan had solid seasons for the Yankees in 1970 (14-11, 3.33 ERA) and in 1971 (14-12, 3.35 ERA). After the 1971 season Stan was traded to the Chicago White Sox for Rich McKinney.
• Stan was a good addition to the White Sox staff. In 1972 he was 21-16 with a 3.60 ERA in 41 starts. Bahnsen was 18-21 with a 3.57 ERA in 1973. Those 21 losses led the American League. In his last full season with the White Sox in 1974 Stan was 12-15 with a 4.70 ERA.
• Bahnsen started the 1975 season with the White Sox. He was 4-6 with a 6.01 ERA in 11 starts when he and Skip Pitlock were traded to the Oakland A's for Dave Hamilton and Chet Lemon on June 15. Stan went 6-7 with a 3.24 ERA for the A's to finish the 1976 season.
• Stan wasn't getting used  much by the A's in 1977 (1-2, 6.14 ERA in 11 games) and on May 22 he was traded to the Montreal Expos for Mike Jorgensen. Bahnsen was in the Montreal starting rotation for the rest of the 1977 season and went 8-9 with a 4.81 ERA in 22 starts.
• In 1978 the Expos moved Stan to the bullpen. Bahnsen was 1-5 with seven saves and a 3.67 ERA in 44 games (1 start) in 1978. Stan then had two solid seasons in the Montreal bullpen. In 1979 he was 3-1 with five saves and a 3.15 ERA in 55 games. Bahnsen was 7-6 with four saves and a 3.05 ERA in 57 games in 1980. Stan decided to try the free agent market after the 1980 season and ended up signing with the Expos again.
• Stan didn't get used as much in 1981. In 25 games (3 starts) Bahnsen was 2-1 with a 4.96 ERA. After Dick Williams was fired as the  Montreal manager in September and replaced by Jim Fanning, Bahnsen didn't have many kind words to say about how Williams handled the pitching staff. Stan pitched 1.1 innings in game 3 of the 1981 NLDS and allowed no runs and one hit.
• Bahnsen didn't make the Montreal ballclub in 1982 and was released at the end of spring training. The Expos ended up eating a $300,000 contract. Stan signed with the California Angels on April 8. Bahnsen was 0-1 with a 4.66 ERA in seven games when the Angels released him on May 14. Stan hooked up with the Philadelphia Phillies on May 31 and spent a lot of the rest of the season in the minors. Stan had a 1.35 ERA in eight games for the Phillies in 1982. Stan was released after the 1982 season. Stan told the Phillies he wouldn't come back before the 1983 season (he was going to retire to enter business) but apparently had a change of  mind later in the season. He pitched for the Phillies' AAA Reading club in 1983 but didn't make it back to the majors.
• Stan pitched in the Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989 and 1990. He pitched in the Netherlands in 1992.
• Stan now works with the promotions department of MSC Cruises. He is involved in getting retired major leaguers to participate in activities on cruise ships such as autograph and story telling sessions. He also helps out in New York Yankee broadcasts. On August 13, 2010 he returned to his hometown (Council Bluffs, IA) to help unveil a new baseball field. Stan now lives in Florida.
• Liked to face: Frank White (.000 in 13 AB); John Roseboro (.056 in 18 AB); Roger Repoz (.077 in 39 AB)
• Hated to face: Tom Grieve (.636 in 11 AB); Johnny Bench (.500 with 2 HR in 12 AB); Ron Blomberg (.500 in 26 AB)

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