1976 Topps #609 - Fred Norman

• Fred Norman pitched in the majors for 16 years. His biggest years were for the Cincinnati Reds in the mid-late 1970s. Norman was signed by the Kansas City A's in 1961. Fred pitched in the minors for the A's from 1961-1963. Norman had brief stints with Kansas City in 1962 (0-0, 2.25 ERA in two games) and in 1963 (0-1, 11.37 ERA in two starts).
• Norman was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Nelson Mathews before the 1964 season. Fred started the 1964 season with the Cubs but was sent down after going 0-4 with a 6.54 ERA in 8 games (5 starts). Fred was in the minors for the rest of the 1964 season and for the entire 1965 season.
• Norman was also in the minors for most of the 1966 season. He pitched in two games for the Cubs late in 1966 and allowed two runs in four innings.
• Fred pitched in one game for the Cubs (0 runs in 1 inning) in 1967 before he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Dick Calmus on April 26. Norman was in the minors for the rest of the 1967 season and stayed in the minors in 1968 and in 1969. 
• Norman pitched in 30 games (2-0, 5.14 ERA) for the Dodgers in 1970. Fred was waived in late September and picked up by the St. Louis Cardinals. Norman pitched in one game for the Cardinals before the end of the 1970 season.
• Fred started the 1971 season with the Cardinals and pitched in four games (0-0, 12.57 ERA) before being sent to the minors. On June 11 Norman was traded to the San Diego Padres. Fred became a starting pitcher with the Padres and was 3-12 with a 3.32 ERA in 20 games (18 starts) to finish the 1971 season.
• Norman pitched in 42 games (28 starts) in 1972 and was 9-11 with a 3.44 ERA. In 1973 Fred started the season 1-7 with a 4.26 ERA in 11 starts for the Padres. Norman was traded to the Cincinnati Reds on June 12 for two players and cash. Fred turned it around with the Reds and was 12-6 with a 3.30 ERA in 24 starts. Norman started game 4 of the 1973 NLCS and allowed one run in five innings (he didn't get a decision in the 12-inning game).
• Norman turned in several solid seasons as a starter and reliever for the Reds. In 1974 Fred was 13-12 with a 3.14 ERA. Fred was 12-4 with a 3.73 ERA in 1975. Norman started and won game 2 of the 1975 NLCS. Fred went 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in two games in the 1975 World Series. He started and lost game 4 when he allowed five runs in the 4th inning).
• Fred had a 12-7 record with a 3.09 ERA in 1976. Norman started game 2 of the World Series but wasn't involved in the decision.
• Norman was 14-13 with a 3.38 ERA in 1977 and went 11-9 with a 3.70 ERA in 1978. 
• In 1979 Fred was 11-13 with a 3.64 ERA. Norman pitched two innings in the 1979 NLCS and allowed four runs. After the 1979 season Fred became a free agent and signed with the Montreal Expos.
• Norman was mostly a reliever for the Expos in 1980. Fred appeared in 48 games (8 starts) and 4-4 with four saves and had a 4.13 ERA. Fred didn't make the Montreal team in 1981 and was released at the end of spring training.
• Liked to face: Rod Gilbreath (.045 in 22 AB); Bobby Murcer (.065 in 31 AB); Joe Ferguson (.093 in 43 AB)
• Hated to face: Manny Trillo (.500 in 22 AB); Roberto Clemente/Jerry Martin (.455 in 22 AB); Bob Bailey (.450 in 40 AB)

.