1976 Topps #622 - Rick Auerbach

• Rick Auerbach was an infielder who played in 11 seasons in the majors from 1971-1981. Auerbach was drafted by the Seattle Pilots in 1969. Rick came up to the  majors with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1971 after batting over .300 for two teams in the minors in 1970. Auerbach was with Milwaukee for a few months and then was up and down for the remainder of the season. Rick batted .203 in 79 at bats for the Brewers in 1971.
• Auerbach was the starting shortstop for the Brewers in 1972 and batted .218 in 153 games. Rick started the 1973 season with Milwaukee (2 for 10 in six games) and was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 24 for Tim Johnson. Rick played in AAA Albuquerque for the rest of the 1973 season.
• Rick played sparingly in 1974, batting .342 in 73 at bats. Auerbach doubled in a pinch hitting appearance in the 1974 NLCS and got into game 3 of the World Series as a pinch runner.
• Auerbach was a backup infielder for the Dodgers in 1975 (.224 in 85 games) and in 1976 (.128 in 36 games). After the 1976 season Rick was traded to the New York Mets for Hank Webb and a minor leaguer.
• Rick started the 1977 season with AAA Tidewater. He was traded to the Texas Rangers as part of a deal for Lenny Randle on May 20. Auerbach didn't get into any games for the Rangers and on June 15 was sold to the Cincinnati Reds. Rick didn't get much playing time for the Reds in 1977 -- he batted .156 in 33 games.
• Auerbach batted .327 in 55 at  bats for the Reds in 1978. In 1979 Rick batted .210 in 64 games for the Reds during the regular season. Auerbach went 0 for 2 in two games in the 1979 NLCS.
• Rick went 11 for 33 (.333) in 1980 for the Reds. Auerbach was sold to the Rangers on July 19 but didn't get into any games for the Rangers during the season.
• Before the 1981 season Rick was traded to the Seattle Mariners as part of an ten-player deal. Auerbach batted .155 in 38 games for the  Mariners in 1981 and was released after the season.
• Someone is selling Rick's 1980 Topps card for $2.95!

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