1976 Topps #641 - Tom Paciorek

• Tom Paciorek played in 18 seasons from 1970-1987. Tom was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1968. Paciorek was mostly a minor leaguer from 1968-1972. Tom was brought up for short stints in 1970 (.222 in 8 games), 1971 (.500 in 2 games), and 1972 (.255 in 11 games). Paciorek was the Sporting News  Minor League Player of the Year in 1972.
• When he first  joined the Dodgers in 1970 Paciorek was given Don Drysdale's old number 53. Tom later switched to number 17.
• After batting over .300 three years in a row in AAA, Tom was finally brought up to the Dodgers to stay in 1973. Paciorek was a fill-in outfielder for the Dodgers for the next few seasons. Tom batted .262 in 96 games in 1974 and batted .240 in 85 games in 1974. Tom played sparingly in the 1974 NLCS (1 for 1) and in the 1974 World Series (1 for 2 with a run scored).
• Paciorek batted only .193 in 62 games in 1975. After the 1975 season Tom was traded with three other players to the Atlanta Braves for Dusty Baker and Ed Goodson (hence the airbrush job on this card).
• Paciorek batted .290 in 111 games for the Braves in 1976. Tom didn't fare as well in 1977, batting .239 in 72 games.
• In 1978 Tom was released during spring training, but was resigned by the Braves just before the start of the season. Paciorek went 3 for 9 (.333) in five games for the Braves before being released again on May 23. Tom signed with the Seattle Mariners on May 31. He played in AAA for a few weeks and then came up to the Mariners in late June and batted .299 in 70 games.
• Paciorek finally blossomed with the Mariners. In 1979 Tom batted .287 in 103 games. Paciorek batted .273 with 15 HR in 126 games in 1980.
• Tom was an AL All Star in 1981 (he appeared as a pinch hitter and singled) and finished 10th in AL MVP voting. Paciorek batted .326 with 14 HR and 66 RBI in 1981. It was the only season in which Tom was listed as a starting player.
• After the 1981 season Tom was traded to the Chicago White Sox for three players. In 1982 Paciorek batted .312 with 11 HR and 55 RBI in 104 games. 
• Tom batted .307 with 9 HR and 63 RBI in 1983. Paciorek went 4 for 16 (.250) in four games in the 1983 ALCS.
• In 1984 Paciorek batted .256 in 111 games. Tom started the 1985 season with Chicago (.246 in 46 games) and was traded to the New  York Mets on July 16 for Dave Cochrane. Paciorek batted .284 in 46 games for the Mets in 1985 and was released after the season.
• Paciorek signed with the Texas Rangers before the 1986 season. Tom batted .286 in 88 games in 1986. Paciorek batted.283 in 27 games in 1987. He became a free agent after the 1987 season but wasn't signed.
• After his playing career Tom did color commentary for several ballclubs. His most famous announcing stint was his time with Ken Harrelson on Chicago White Sox broadcasts.
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