Saturday, October 23, 2010

1976 Topps #593 - Rookie Pitchers (Anderson, Crosby, Littell, Metzger)




  • Larry Anderson
    • This is the Larry Anderson that didn't have a very long career
    • Drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1971
    • Came up to the Brewers at the end of the 1974 season and pitched 2.1 scoreless innings in two games
    • Pitched in the minors in 1975 and came back up to Milwaukee in September
    • Was 1-0 with a 5.04 ERA in eight games (one start)
      • Larry's one start was a shutout pitched against the Detroit Tigers on September 28.
    • Spent the entire 1976 season in the minors
    • Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the expansion draft after the 1976 season.
    • Traded to the Chicago White Sox for Phil Roof before the 1977 season
    • Spent most of the 1977 season in the minors
    • Pitched in six games for the White Sox in 1977 and was 1-3 with a 9.35 ERA.
    • Pitched for several minor league teams from 1978-1980 but never got back to the majors.
  • Ken Crosby
    • Drafted by the New York Yankees in 1969
    • Pitched in the Yankee organization from 1969-1973 without getting a shot at the majors
    • Traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in September 1973
    • Pitched in the St. Louis organization in 1974 and in the first part of 1975
    • Traded to the Chicago Cubs in late July for Eddie Solomon
    • Pitched for the Cubs at the end of the 1975 season and went 1-0 with a 3.24 ERA in nine games
    • Pitched in seven games (1 start) for the Cubs in April and May 1976. Had an 0-0 record with a 12.00 ERA in 12 innings.
    • Finished the 1976 season in AAA and retired after the season.

  • Mark Littell
    • Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1971
    • Came up to the Royals in 1973 as a starter
      • Pitched in eight games (seven starts) and was 1-3 with a 5.68 ERA
    • Spent 1974 and most of 1975 in the  minors
    • Came back up in August 1975 and went 1-2 with a 3.70 ERA in seven games (three starts)
    • Became a reliever in 1976 and had a good year for the Royals
      • Went 8-4 with 16 saves and had a 2.08 ERA in 60 games (one start)
    • Littell gave up the game-winning (and series-winning) home run in the bottom of the 9th to Chris Chambliss in game 5 of the 1976 ALCS
    • Went 8-4 with 12 saves and had a 3.61 ERA in 48 games (five starts) in 1977.
      • Pitched three innings in two games in the 1977 ALCS and had a 3.00 ERA
    • Traded to the St. Louis Cardinals after the 1977 season for Al Hrabosky
    • Pitched in a career-high 72 games (2 starts) in 1978 and went 4-8 with 11 saves and had a 2.79 ERA.
    • Went 9-4 with 13 saves and had a 2.19 ERA in 63 games in 1979.
    • Suffered an injury on May 28, 1980 and missed the rest of the season
      • Had bone spurs in his elbow
      • Went 0-2 with 2 saves and had a 9.28 ERA in 14 games
    • Pitched in his first game of 1981 on May 22
      • Was 1-3 with 2 saves and had a 4.39 ERA in 28 games
    • Pitched in 16 games in 1982 and went 0-1 with a 5.23 ERA
    • Mark's last major league game was on June 24, 1982
    • Marketed a protective cup called a "Nutty Buddy" in 2006
      • Allowed himself to be hit by a 90 MPH fastball to demonstrate the product
  • Butch Metzger.
    • Drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1970
    • Came up to the majors in September 1974 and went 1-0 with a 3.55 ERA in ten games
    • Traded with Tito Fuentes to the San Diego Padres after the 1974 season for Derrel Thomas
    • Was in the minors for most of the 1975 season
    • Pitched in four games for the Padres in September 1975 (1-0, 7.71 ERA in four games)
    • Was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1976
    • Pitched in 77 games and was 11-4 with 16 saves and had a 2.92 ERA
    • Started the 1977 season with the Padres (0-0, 5.56 ERA in 17 games)
    • Traded to the St. Louis Cardinals on May 16 for John D'Acquisto and Pat Scanlon on May 17
    • Went 4-2 with 7 saves and had a 3.11 ERA in 58 games for the Cardinals in 1977.
    • Selected off of waivers by the New York Mets on April 5, 1978
    • Went 1-3 with a 6.51 ERA in 25 games for the Mets in 1978
    • Purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies on July 4, 1978 and spent the rest of the season in AAA.
    • Was released by the Phillies during spring training in 1979 and did  not pitch that year.
    • Pitched for the Atlanta Braves' AAA Richmond club in 1980 but did not get back to the majors.
I couldn't end this entry without showing Mark Littell's video for his product:

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