1976 Hostess #64 - Carlton Fisk

• Carlton Fisk was struggling with injuries during this time in his career
• Fisk was hitting well, but had a hard time staying in the lineup
• In 1974 Carlton took a foul ball in a sensitive place and missed the first three weeks of the season. Fisk  went down in late June with a knee injury sustained while blocking the plate. The injury required surgery and Fisk was out for the season
• Carlton broke his elbow during spring training in 1975 and didn't play until June 23
• Fisk was an AL All Star in 1972, 1973, and 1974 -- he didn't play in '74 due to the knee injury
• AL Rookie of the Year in 1972

• Before peak, peak, or after peak? before peak

1976 Kellogg's #31 - Fred Lynn

• What did he do to deserve a 1976 Kellogg's card?
• This was probably the most sought-after card in the set. Fred could do no wrong in 1975
• Lynn was the AL MVP and Rookie of the Year in 1975
• Fred batted .331 with 21 HR and 105 RBI in 1975
• Led the AL with 103 runs, 47 doubles, and a .566 slugging percentage
• Went 0 for 2 in the 1975 All Star Game
• Won the first of his four Gold Gloves 
• Batted .364 (4 for 11) in the AL Championship Series and .280 (7 for 25) in the World Series
• 1976 Highlights
• Batted .314 with 10 HR and 65 RBI
• Was 1 for 3 with a solo HR as the AL starting CF in the All Star Game

1976 Kellogg's #10 - Jim Rice

• What did he do to deserve a 1976 Kellogg's card?
• Had a great rookie season in 1975, batting .309 with 22 HR and 102 RBI
• Finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting and third in MVP voting in 1975
• 1976 Highlights
• Batted .282 with 25 HR and 85 RBI
• Led the AL with 123 strikeouts (not sure if that is much of a highlight)
• Struggled to keep his average above .260 for much of the season before having a late-season surge.

1976 Topps Traded #250T - Fergie Jenkins

• After the 1975 season Fergie Jenkins was traded to the Boston Red Sox for Juan Beniquez, Steve Barr, and Craig Skok.
• In 1976 Fergie was 12-11 with a 3.27 ERA in 29 starts for the Red Sox in 1976.
• Jenkins pitched for the Red Sox in 1977 (10-10, 3.68 ERA in 28 starts). 
• Fergie was traded back to the Rangers after the 1977 season for John Poloni and $25,000. The Rangers planned to use him as a long reliever, but after making four April relief appearances Jenkins was back in the starting rotation.

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1976 Topps Traded #231T - Tom House

• After pitching in Atlanta for five seasons, Tom House began the nomadic phase of his career by being traded to the Boston Red Sox after the 1975 season.
• House didn't fare very well in the American League. In 1976 Tom was 4-3 with four saves and had a 4.33 ERA in 36 games.
• After eight games with the Red Sox in 1977, Tom was sold to the Seattle Mariners.
• House spent the rest of the 1977 season and the 1978 season with Seattle before being released during spring training in 1979.

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1976 Topps #654 - Doug Griffin

• Doug Griffin was a second baseman in the majors from 1970-1977. Griffin was drafted by the California Angels in 1965. Doug played in the minors for the next several years (except for a two-year stint in the Navy) and got his chance to play in the majors in 1970. Doug batted .127 in 18 games for the Angels in 1970.
• After the 1970 season Griffin was traded to the Boston Red Sox in a multi-player trade that sent Tony Conigliaro to the Angels.
• Luis Tiant called Griffin "skeleton" because he was so thin. Doug and newly acquired shortstop Luis Aparicio formed a good defensive double play combination. Griffin started well in 1971 but was injured on July 28 when his back went into spasms. He missed a month of the 1971 season and batted .241 for the season.
• Doug won the Gold Glove in 1972. He suffered a broken hand after being hit  by a Gaylord Perry pitch and missed a month of the season. Griffin batted .260 in 1972.
• In 1973 Griffin was bothered by back spasms and was hit in the hand by Billy Champion on May 25. Tom missed about six weeks from late May to mid July. Doug batted .255 in 113 games during the 1973 season.
• Early in the 1974 season Griffin missed some time due to a pulled muscle. He had a much more serious injury on April 30 when he was beaned by Nolan Ryan. The beaning knocked Griffin unconscious and it caused some temporary hearing loss. Doug spent two months on the disabled list after the beaning. Griffin batted .266 in 93 games in 1974.
• Early in the 1975 season several possibilities were discussed on replacing Griffin due to his injury difficulties. The Red Sox acquired Denny Doyle in June and Griffin's playing time decreased significantly. Doug batted .240 in 100 games in 1975. Doug was beaned by Oakland pitcher Dick Bosman on August 30 but he had a quicker recovery time since he was wearing an ear flap on his batting helmet. Griffin didn't play in the ALCS and made one appearance in the World Series. After the 1975 season Griffin wanted to be traded because of his lack of playing time.
• Griffin batted only  .189 in 49 games in 1976. Doug played in five games in 1977 and was 0 for 6. Griffin was released on June 21, 1977.
• After his playing career Griffin worked in the construction trade. He is now retired and lives in Winter Haven, FL.
• Here is Doug's SABR biography.
• Liked to face: Mike Hedllund (.545 in 11 AB); Lerrin LaGrow (.429 in 14 AB); Vida Blue (.405 in 37 AB)
• Hated to face: Frank Linzy (.000 in 9 AB); John Odom (.053 in 19 AB); Ray Corbin (.059 in 17 AB)

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1976 Topps #632 - Rogelio Moret

• Rogelio Moret pitched in the majors from 1970-1978, mostly with the Boston Red Sox. Moret was signed by the Red Sox in 1968. He pitched in the minors from 1968-1970 and was called up in September 1970. Moret pitched in three games for the Red Sox in 1970 and was 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA.
• Moret split the next two seasons between the Red Sox and AAA Louisville. In 1971 Rogelio was 4-3 with a 2.92 ERA in 13 games (7 starts). Moret pitched in three games in 1972 and had a 3.60 ERA in five innings pitched.
• Moret was in the majors to stay in 1973. He started 15 games and appeared as a reliever in 15 other games. Rogelio had a record of 13-2 with a 3.17 ERA and led the AL with a .867 winning percentage.
• In 1974 Rogelio was 3-5 with a 4.74 ERA in 31 games (21 starts).
• Moret led the AL in winning percentage (.824) again in 1975. He was 14-3 with a 3.60 ERA in 36 games (16 starts). Rogelio pitched one inning and was the winning pitcher in game 2 of the 1975 ALCS. Moret appeared in two games in the 1975 World Series and allowed no runs in 1.2 innings.
• After the 1975 season Moret was traded to the Atlanta Braves for Tom House. In 1976 Moret was 3-5 with a 5.00 ERA in 27 games (12 starts). After the 1976 season Rogelio was traded with four other players and $250,000 to the Texas Rangers for Jeff Burroughs.
• In 1977 Moret didn't pitch until June 28. He appeared in 18 games (8 starts) and was 3-3 with a 3.73 ERA.
• Moret was 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in seven games (two starts) in 1978. Rogelio struggled with his mental health in 1978. On April 12 he was scheduled to start but was spotted in the Rangers' locker room in a catatonic state holding a slipper in front of him. He didn't respond to examiners and was taken to a psychiatric facility. Moret made six other appearances after that incident, but his last major league games was on June 16, 1978.
• Moret was released during spring training in 1979. He tried to come back with the Cleveland Indians in 1980 but was cut during spring training.
• Rogelio pitched in the Mexican League in 1981 and 1982 and then pitched for several years in Puerto Rico until he became eligible to collect his major league pension.
• Here is Moret's SABR biography.

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1976 Topps #597 - Rookie Pitchers (Aase, Kucek, LaCorte, Pazik)

• Don Aase
• Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 1972
• Pitched in Rookie League as a 17-year-old in 1972 and went 0-10 with a 5.81 ERA
• Continued to pitch in the minors until the middle of the 1977 season
• Came up to Boston in late July of 1977 and was 6-2 with a 3.12 ERA in 13 starts
• Traded to the California Angels after the 1977 season for Jerry Remy
• 1978: 11-8, 4.03 ERA in 29 starts
• 1979: 9-10, 4.81 ERA in 37 games (28 starts)
• Pitched in two games and allowed one run in five innings in the 1979 ALCS. 
• Earned the win in game 3 of the ALCS
• 1980: 8-13, 4.06 ERA in 40 games (21 starts)
• 1981: Converted to a reliever. Was 4-4 with 11 saves and had a 2.34 ERA in 39 games
• 1982: 3-3 with four saves and a 3.46 ERA in 24 games
• Injured on July 17 and  missed the rest of the season
• 1983: Missed the entire season due to injury (elbow surgery)
• 1984: 4-1, 1.62 ERA, 8 saves in 23 games
• Became a free agent after the 1984 season and signed with the Baltimore Orioles
• 1985: 10-6, 3.78 ERA, 14 saves in 54 games
• 1986: 6-7, 2.98 ERA, 34 saves in 66 games
• 1987: 1-0, 2 saves, 2.25 ERA in 7 games
• Did  not pitch after May 23 due to injury
• 1988: 0-0, 4.35 ERA in 35 games
• Released after the 1988 season and signed with the New York Mets
• 1989: 1-5, 3.94 ERA, two saves in 49 games
• Became a free agent after the 1989 season and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers
• 1990: 3-1, 3 saves, 4.97 ERA in 32 games
• Retired after the 1990 season
• 
  
• Jack Kucek
• We used to call Jack Kucek "cartoon character" because of the picture on this card
• Graduated from the University of Miami in 1974 and was drafted by the Chicago White Sox
• The White Sox called Kucek up after he went 5-2 with a 1.76 ERA for Class A Appleton
• Went 1-4 with a 5.26 ERA in nine games (seven starts) for the  White Sox in 1974
• Spent most of the next several seasons in the minors with some short stints in the majors:
• 1975 - 0-0, 4.91 ERA in two games
• 1976 - 0-0, 9.64 ERA in two games
• 1977 - 0-1, 3.63 ERA in eight games (three starts)
• 1978 - 2-3, 3.29 ERA in ten games (five starts)
• Jack pitched three complete games in a row in September 1978 (he was 1-2 in those three games)
• Started the 1979 season with the White Sox (0-0, 0.00 ERA in one game) and was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in April for Jim Morrison
• Was 1-0 with a 8.31 ERA in four games for the Phillies in 1979
• Released after the 1979 season and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays
• The 1980 season was the only year in which Jack was in the majors for the entire season
• Kucek was 3-8 with a 6.75 ERA in 23 games (12 starts)
• Pitched in the minors in 1981 and retired after the season
• His career was ended by a rotator cuff injury
• Invented "Strikeout Strippz" (a pitching training tool)
• Frank LaCorte
• Signed by the Atlanta Braves in 1972
• First came up with the Braves in September 1975 and went 0-3 with a 5.27 ERA in three games (two starts)
• Was up and down between the Braves and AAA Richmond from 1976-1978
• 1976: 3-12, 4.70 ERA in 19 games (17 starts)
• 1977: 1-8, 11.68 ERA in 14 games (7 starts)
• 1978: 0-1, 3.68 ERA in two games
• Started the 1979 season with Atlanta (7.56 ERA in six games) and traded to the Houston Astros for Bo McLaughlin on May 25
• Played in the minors for Houston for a while and came back to Houston in late July.
• Went 1-2 with a 5.00 ERA in 12 games (three starts) for Houston in 1979
• Had his best year in 1980 as a reliever
• Went 8-5 with 11 saves and had a 2.82 ERA in 55 games in 1980
• Was 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in two appearances in the 1980 NLCS.
• Went 4-2 with five saves and had a 3.64 ERA in 1981
• Pitched 3.2 scoreless innings in two games in the 1981 NLDS.
• Appeared in 55 games in 1982 and went 1-5 with seven saves and had a 4.48 ERA
• In 1983 LaCorte was 4-4 with a 5.06 ERA
• His shoulder was hurt during a brawl with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1983. The injury affected his pitching for the rest of his career.
• Became a free agent after the 1983 season and signed with the California Angels
• Went 1-2 with a 7.06 ERA in 13 games (1 start) in 1984
• Was injured in 1984 and didn't pitch at all in 1985
• Frank tried to come back in 1986 but didn't make it back to the majors
• LaCorte moved back to his hometown of Gilroy, CA after his playing career ended and bought Marx Towing. He and his wife still run the business today.

• Mike Pazik
• When I googled Mike Pazik I got a bunch of pictures of a model. I had no idea why until I saw that his daughter Kristen is a model who is married to Ukranian soccer player Andriy Shevchenko.
• Drafted by the New York Yankees in 1971
• Traded to the Minnesota Twins in May 1974 for Dick Woodson
• Had short stints with the Twins in 1975, 1976, and 1977
• 1975: 0-4 in five games (three starts) and had an 8.24 ERA
• 1976: 0-0 with a 7.00 ERA in five games
• 1977: 1-0 with a 2.50 ERA in three starts
• Became a free agent and signed with the Chicago White Sox in 1978
• Played in the minors in 1978 and 1979 before he retired after the 1979 season
• Managed and coached in the minors after his playing career
• Was the pitching coach for the Chicago White Sox from 1995-1998.
• Edit: Someone e-mailed me and asked me to add this information about Mr. Pazik:
• Please add:  The Minnesota Twin is team that has generally avoided tragic stories.  I can not think of a Twin who died while playing for them.  However Mike Pazik's story is about as close as it gets.  In 76 Mike was one of top PCL pitchers.  He seemed primed for greater things with a great start in the 1977 season, being the starter in 3 wins in April.  However he and fellow pitcher Don Carrithers were involved in a serious car accident.  Neither were killed but the injuries substained effectively ended there careers.  Given the Twins needed pitching badly that year, people who remember that season are left with a what if Pazik had not had the car accident.

1976 Topps #594 - Rookie Catchers and Outfielders (Merchant, Ott, Stillman, White)

• Andy Merchant
• Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 1972
• Debuted in the majors at the end of the 1975 season
• Played in one game (September 28) after the Red Sox clinched the AL East and went 2 for 4.
• Appeared as a pinch hitter for the Red Sox twice in June 1976 and struck out both times. That was it for his major league career
• Played in AAA in the Red Sox organization from 1974-1979
• After his retirement from baseball he worked at Alabama Power as a line-clearing specialist from 1980-2000
• Andy's SABR biography
• Ed Ott
• Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1970
• Played in the minors from 1970-1975
• Had short stints with the Pirates in 1974 (0 for 5 in seven games) and in 1975 (1 for 5 in five games)
• Played in 27 games in 1976 and batted .308 in 39 at bats
• Split the catching duties with Duffy Dyer in 1977 --- batted .264 with 7 HR in 104 games
• Slammed Mets 2B Felix Milan to the ground during an altercation on August 18, 1977. Milan was hurt and the injury basically ended his career.
• Batted .269 with 9 HR in 112 games in 1978
• Was the regular catcher for the Pirates in 1979 and  batted .273 with 7 HR and 51 RBI in 117 games
• Played in three games in the 1979 NLCS and went 3 for 13 (.231)
• Batted .333 (4 for 12) in three games in the 1979 World Series
• Batted .260 with 8 HR and 41 RBI in 1980
• Traded with Mickey Mahler to the California Angels for Jason Thompson after the 1980 season
• Played in 75 games for the Angels in 1981 and batted .217
• Did not play in 1982
• Played in AAA in 1983 and retired after the season.
• Coached with the Houston Astros from 1989-1993
• Currently  manages the Sussex Skyhawks in the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball
• Ed Ott reminisces
• Royle Stillman
• Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1969
• Played in the Dodgers' organization from 1969-1971 and then was traded to the Baltimore Orioles as part of the Frank Robinson deal
• Played in AA in 1972 and then played all or parts of four seasons (1973-1976) for AAA Rochester
• Played in 13 games for the Orioles in 1975 and went 6 for 14 (.429)
• Played in 20 games in 1976 and went 2 for 22 (.091)
• Became a free agent after the 1976 season and signed with the Chicago White Sox
• Stayed with the White Sox for the entire 1977 season and batted .210 in 119 at bats
• Cut by the White Sox at the end of spring training in 1978
• Played for AAA Ogden and AAA Salt Lake City in the A's and Mariners organizations from 1978-1980
• Held out in 1974. Stillman was one of Rochester's better players but was thought of as enigmatic by some teammates and people around the club
• Jerry White
• Drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1970 at the age of 17
• Played in the minors from 1970-1974
• Was called up in September 1974 and went 4 for 10 in nine games
• Started the 1975 season in Montreal but was sent down to AAA in  late May
• Came back to the Expos in September and ended up batting .299 in 39 games
• Stayed in Montreal for the entire 1976 season and batted .245 in 114 games
• Batted .190 in 16 games for Montreal in 1977 (was in AAA for most of the season)
• Started the 1978 season in Montreal and was mostly used as a pinch runner (2 for 10 in 18 games)
• Traded to the Chicago Cubs on June 23 for Woodie Fryman
• Batted .272 in 59 games for the Cubs in 1978
• Traded back to Montreal after the 1978 season with Rodney Scott for Sam Mejias
• Batted .297 in 88 games for the Expos in 1979
• Played in 110 games and batted .262 with 7 HR in 1980
• Slumped to .218 in 59 games in 1981
• Went 3 for 18 (.167) in the 1981 NLDS
• Batted .313 (5 for 16) in the 1981 NLCS
• Batted .243 in 69 games in 1982
• Played in 40 games in 1983 and went 5 for 34 (.147). Also spent some time in AAA in 1983
• Became a free agent after the 1983 season but was unsigned.
• Played in Japan in 1984 and 1985
• Signed by the St. Louis Cardinals before the 1986 season
• Batted .125 (3 for 24) in 25 games in 1986 and was released on June 12
• Has worked for the Minnesota Twins in various capacities since 1987 (except for two years in the mid-1990s when he worked for the Detroit Tigers)
• Jerry has been the first base coach for the Twins since 1999.

1976 Topps #575 - Dwight Evans

• Dwight Evans enjoyed a long career as the right fielder for the Boston Red Sox. Evans was drafted by the Red Sox in 1969. Evans worked his way up the ladder in Boston's system and later said that Darrell Johnson (his AAA manager in 1972) gave him the confidence he needed to succeed. Evans was the International League MVP in 1972 and was brought up to Boston at the end of the season. Dwight batted .263 in 57 at bats for Boston in 1972.
• Evans played in right field for much of the 1973 season, but his offense still needed work. Dwight batted .223 with 10 HR in 119 games. In 1974 Evans improved to .281 with 10 HR in 133 games.
• Dwight batted .274 with 13 HR in 128 games in 1975. He didn't do much in the ALCS (1 for 10), buh he had a solid World Series (.292 in 24 AB).
• Evans won his first Gold Glove in 1976 (he would also win it in 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985) and batted .242 with 17 HR in 146 games. Dwight Evans: Another Winner for the Red Sox - March 1976 Baseball Digest.
• Dwight missed a lot of the 1977 season with a knee injury. It as the only season in which he missed a significant amout of playing time. Evans played in 73 games and batted .287 with 14 HR in 1977.
• Evans batted .287 with 22 HR in 147 games in 1978. Dwight made his first AL All Star team and struck out in his only at bat in the All Star Game. He struggled in the last month of the season after he suffered a beaning on August 28. Dwight had two more similar seasons in 1979 (.274, 21 HR) and in 1980 (.266 with 18 HR).
• Evans really improved his offense in the 1980s. Dwight led the AL with 22 HR and 85 walks and batted .296 during the strike-shortened 1981 season. Evans finished third in AL MVP voting and went 1 for 2 with a walk in the 1981 All Star Game.
• In 1982 Evans batted .292 with 32 HR and 98 RBI and led the AL with a .402 on base percentage. Evans didn't do as well in 1983, batting .238 with 22 HR.
• Dwight bounced back in 1984 and led the AL with 121 runs. He batted .295 with 32 HR and 104 RBI in '84. Evans led the AL with 114 walks in 1985 and batted .263 with 29 HR and 78 RBI.
• Evans batted .259 with 26 HR and 97 RBI in 1986. Dwight went 6 for 28 (.214) in the ALCS and 8 for 26 (.308) with 2 HR in the World Series.
• Dwight made his last AL All Star team in 1987 and went 2 for 2 with a walk in the All Star Game. Evans batted .305 with 34 HR, 123 RBI, and a league-leading 106 walks. Dwight finished fourth in AL MVP voting in 1987.
• Evans batted .293 with 21 HR and 111 RBI in 1988 and went 2 for 12 (.167) in the ALCS. In 1989 Evans had his last really productive year -- he batted .285 with 20 HR and 100 RBI. Dwight Evans Earns Spot among Red Sox Idols - September 1989 Baseball Digest
• Dwight's last year with the Red Sox was in 1990 and he batted .249 with 13 HR in 123 games. The Red Sox declined to offer Evans a contract after the season so he signed with the Baltimore Orioles. Evans batted .270 in 101 games in 1991 and retired after the season.
• After his playing career Dwight worked in the Chicago White Sox minor league system for a couple of years and then became the hitting coach of the Colorado Rockies in 1994. Dwight went back to the Boston organization as a roving minor league instructor in 2001 and then became the Red Sox hitting coach in 2002. Evans now works for the Red Sox organization as a player development consultant.
• Here is Dwight's SABR biography.
• Liked to face: Bryan Clark (.571 in 21 AB); Jerry Koosman (.500 in 28 AB); Bill Travers (.481 in 27 AB)
• Hated to face: Luis Sanchez (.000 in 15 AB); Jim Abbott (.091 in 22 AB); Catfish Hunter (.094 in 32 AB) 

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1976 Topps #529 - Deron Johnson

• Deron Johnson was at the end of a long career when this card came out. Johnson signed with the New York Yankees in 1956 and spent several years in the Yankees system. Deron hit at least 24 homers every year in the minors from 1956-1960. Johnson was originally a third baseman but he found his progress to the majors blocked  by Clete Boyer. Deron went 2 for 4 in a brief late season call-up in 1960.
• In 1961 Deron started with the Yankees and batted .105 in 13 games. On June 14 he and Art Ditmar were traded to the Kansas City A's for Bud Daley. Johsnon played 3B, 1B, and all three OF positions for the A's and batted .216 with eight home runs in 83 games.
• Johnson didn't play much in 1962, and most of his appearances were as a pinch hitter. Deron batted .105 in 19 at bats in 1962. Johnson was sold to the Cincinnati Reds at the end of spring training in 1963.
• The Reds assigned Johnson to AAA San Diego. Deron hit 33 home runs for San Diego in 1963 and he was given the opportunity to win a job with the Reds in 1964. Deron mostly played 1B in 1964 and batted .273 with 21 HR and 79 RBI.
• Johnson finished fourth in NL MVP voting in 1965 and led the league in RBI. Deron batted .287 with 32 HR and 130 RBI. Johnson's stats fell off a little in 1966 as he batted .257 with 24 HR and 81 RBI. Deron started off well in 1967 but he missed eight games with an injury in mid June and his stats steadily declined through the rest of the season. Johnson wound up batting .224 with 13 HR and 53 RBI in 108 games. Strong Man of the Reds - August 1967 Baseball Digest. After the 1967 season Deron was traded to the Atlanta Braves for Mack  Jones, Jim Beauchamp, and Jay Ritchie.
• Johnson spent one year in Atlanta (1968) and batted .208 with 8 HR and 33 RBI. After the 1968 season Deron was sold to the Philadelphia Phillies. Downhill from Stardom - February 1969 Baseball Digest.
• In 1969 Johnson played about half of the time in LF and also saw quite a bit of action at 3B and 1B. Deron batted .255 with 17 HR and 80 RBI in 138 games in '69. 
• The Phillies traded Dick Allen after the 1969 season and Johnson got Allen's job at 1B. Deron hit well at that position for two seasons, batting .256 with 27 HR and 93 RBI in 1970 and .265 with 34 HR and 95 RBI in 1971.
• In 1972 Deron had some injury problems and wasn't producing as well. He played in 96 games and batted .213 with nine home runs. Johnson started poorly in 1973 (.167 in 12 games) and was traded to the Oakland A's for a minor leaguer on May 2. Deron became Oakland's designated hitter and would be a DH most of the time for the remainder of his career. Johnson batted .246 with 19 HR and 81 RBI for the A's in 1973. He went 1 for 10 in the ALCS and was 3 for 10 in the World Series.
• Johnson started poorly again in 1974 -- he batted .195 with 7 HR in 50 games for the A's before being  traded to the Milwaukee Brewers on June 24 for Bill Parsons and cash. Deron didn't  improve with the Brewers as he  batted .151 with 6 HR in 47 games. Johnson was sold to the Boston Red Sox for the pennant drive on September 7. Deron batted .120 in 11 games for Boston and was released after the season. 
• Deron caught on with the Chicago White Sox during spring training in 1975. He played in 148 games for the White Sox and batted .232 with 18 HR and 72 RBI. The Red Sox reacquired Johnson for a minor leaguer and cash on September 21 and he went 6 for 10 in three games at the end of the 1975 season. Johnson started the 1976 season with the Red Sox but was released on June 4 after batting .132 in 38 AB.
• After his playing career Johnson managed the Salt Lake City Gulls in the Pacific Coast League in 1978. He then coached for several teams from 1979-1991. Johnson was the hitting coach for the California Angels from 1989-1991 and was named the bench coach for the 1992 season but he was too ill to attend spring training. 
• Johnson died of lung cancer on April 23, 1992.
• Liked to face: Dan McGinn (.455 in 32 AB); Joe Gibbon (.448 in 29 AB); Bob Moose (.435 in 23 AB)
• Hated to face: Ron Reed (.000 in 29 AB); Rudy May (.000 in 20 AB); Vida Blue (.000 in 23 AB) 

1976 Topps #523 - Bob Montgomery

• Bob Montgomery was a backup catcher with the Boston Red Sox from 1970-1979. Bob signed with the Red Sox after graduating from high school in 1962. He signed as a third baseman but switched to catcher in 1963 after being convinced by his minor league manager that he didn't have the power to make it as a corner infielder. Montgomery slowly made progress in the Red Sox chain and eventually got a chance with the Red Sox in 1970. He made his debut on September 6, 1970 (my fourth birthday) and batted .179 in 22 games. Bob hit his first major league home run on September 11, 1970 off of Jim Palmer.
• Montgomery split time with Duane Josephson at catcher in 1971 and batted .239 in 67 games. Carlton Fisk was brought up at the end of the 1971 season and locked up the starting catching job by having a good September.
• Bob became Fisk's backup for the rest of the decade. In 1972 he batted .286 in 24 games. Montgomery batted .320 with seven  home runs (a career high) in 1973.
• Fisk was injured on June 28, 1974 and Montgomery got a lot of playing time behind the plate. Bob batted .252 in 254 at bats in 1974.
• Montgomery started the 1975 season as the starting catcher for the Red Sox while Fisk was on the mend from a broken arm in spring training. Bob batted .226 in 62 games during the regular season. Montgomery wasn't used during the 1975 ALCS and only batted once (a pinch hitting appearance in the bottom of the 9th in game 7) in the World Series.
• Fisk was able to stay healthy through the rest of the 1970s and Montgomery didn't get much playing time. Bob batted .247 in 31 games in 1976 and .300 in 17 games in 1977. Montgomery got in only ten games in 1978 (he batted .241) and 32 games in 1979 (he batted .349).
• Bob retired during spring training in 1980 when the Red Sox decided to use Gary Allenson as Fisk's backup.
• Montgomery was the last player to bat without using a batting helmet.
• After his playing career Montgomery worked in radio for a couple of years doing some sports shows and working as a substitute announcer for Red Sox broadcasts. In 1982 he became the color commentator for Red Sox TV broadcasts on Channel 38 and remained at that post through the 1995 season, when Channel 38 stopped broadcasting Red Sox games.
• After leaving broadcasting Bob worked in sales and marketing for Unison (a Boston area signage company). He now works for Big League Promotions, which manufactures game boards using professional sports licensing.
• Bob Montgomery's SABR biography.

1976 Topps #471 - Jim Burton

• Jim Burton had a short major league career (1975-1977) with the Boston Red Sox. Burton was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 1971. He pitched in the minors until 1975. Control and back problems kept him from having success until 1975.
• In 1975 Burton started with AAA Pawtucket and pitched very well, going 8-2 with a 1.54 ERA. He pitched a no-hitter against Tidewater on June 8 and was called up to Boston the next day. Jim was a valuable lefty out of the bullpen for the Red Sox and went 1-2 with a 2.89 ERA in 29 games (4 starts).
• Jim pitched on September 20 but wasn't used again until the World Series. In game 3 Jim walked Ken Griffey and allowed a sacrifice fly to Joe Morgan. In the top of the 9th inning of game 7 with the score tied Red Sox manager Darrell Johnson turned to Burton because the Reds had several left-handed batters coming up and his closer (Dick Drago) had pitched three innings in game 6. Burton said later that he didn't have anything because he hadn't been used in so long. Jim walked Griffey and Cesar Geronimo sacrificed him to second. Griffey went to third on Dan Driessen's ground ball. Burton walked Pete Rose and the Reds had runners on first and third with two out. Joe Morgan hit a Burton slider into center field to score Griffey and eventually win the Series. Burton and Morgan both later said that Jim made a good pitch and Morgan just hit it.
• Don Aase and Rick Jones beat out Burton in spring training in 1976 and Burton found himself back in Pawtucket. He didn't pitch well in 1976 but bounced back in 1977 to have a good year for Pawtucket. Burton was brought up to the Red Sox in September and pitched in one game (2 2/3 scoreless innings against Baltimore on September 17).
• After the 1977 season Burton was traded to the New York Mets. He started the 1978 season with AAA Tidewater and eventually ended up in single-A ball. Jim was having elbow problems and decided to retire after the 1978 season.
• After his retirement Burton started his own printing business in North Carolina. He also travels to Haiti to do missionary work.
• Burton's SABR biography.

1976 Topps #445 - Rico Petrocelli

• Rico Petrocelli was a popular shortstop and third baseman with the Boston Red Sox. He was one of those rare players who spent every year of a long career with the same club. Rico had the famous "Fenway Stroke" which yielded lots of home runs over the years. Petrocelli was signed by the Boston Red Sox in 1961. After playing in the minors from 1962-1964 Rico became the starting shortstop in 1965. Rico had throwing problems because of a chronic right elbow problem and he played in only 103 games, batting .232 with 13 home runs.
• Petrocelli wasn't a favorite of Red Sox manager Billy Herman. Things came to a head when Rico left in the middle of a game to take care of a family emergency. Herman wanted Rico suspended, but he was fined instead. Petrocelli spent some time on the disabled list because of his elbow, but he still batted .238 with 18 HR in 139 games in 1966.
• New Red Sox manager Dick Williams had more success in working with Petrocelli. Rico was insecure until Williams and coach Eddie Popowski came along and gave him confidence. A turning point in the Red Sox' "Impossible Dream" season came on June 21 when the Red Sox and Yankees had a benches-clearing brawl. Petrocelli and the Yankees' Joe Pepitone really went at it and it took several security guards to get them apart. The Red Sox went 60-39 in the remainder of the season. Rico batted .259 with 17 HR and 66 RBI. Petrocelli was also the starting shortstop in the All Star Game (he went 0 for 1). He struggled in the World Series (.200 in 20 AB), but he hit two home runs in game 6. Red Sox Balance Wheel - September 1967 Baseball Digest.
• Rico's right elbow problem came back in 1968 and he missed 39 games. Petrocelli batted only .234 with 12 HR in 123 games. A Look at Rico - August 1968 Baseball Digest.  Rico gave up ice cream to prevent calcium deposits from forming on his elbow and exercised his arms and wrists during the offseason. He felt much better at the beginning of the 1969 season and he had his best year. Rico batted .297, hit 40 home runs (an AL record for shortstops at the time), and had 97 RBI. He was the starting shortstop in the 1969 All Star Game and went 1 for 3 with a double. Rico Petrocelli, Newest Minibrute in the Majors - September 1969 Baseball Digest
• Petrocelli batted .261, hit 29 homers and had 103 RBI in 1970. After the season he was asked to move to third base in order for the Red Sox to acquire shortstop Luis Aparico. Rico agreed and put in extra work during spring training before the 1971 season. He set a record for third basemen with 77 consecutive errorless games and led AL third basemen with a .976 fielding percentage. Rico batted .251 with 28 HR and 89 RBI in 1971.
• Rico's power started to fall off in 1972. He batted .240 with 15 HR and 75 RBI. It was his last injury-free season. In 1973 Petrocelli didn't play after August 11 because of his bad elbow. The Red Sox were 2 1/2 games behind the Baltimore Orioles when Rico went down but they fell out of the race and finished 8 games behind. Rico batted .244 with 13 HR and 45 RBI.
• Petrocelli had elbow surgery in the offseason. His elbow healed well, but Rico had hamstring problems that slowed him down early in 1974. He batted .267 with 15 HR and 76 RBI. Petrocelli was beaned by a Jim Slaton pitch on September 15 and missed the rest of the 1974 season.
• Rico came back in 1975 but had problems with his equilibrium. His leadership was still important for the young Red Sox club. Petrocelli batted .239 with 7 HR and 39 RBI in 115 games. He batted .167 in the ALCS and .308 in the World Series.
• Petrocelli had problems with side-effects from the inner-ear medication he was taking. He had to stop taking the medication. This affected his abilities at the plate and he eventually lost his 3B job to Butch Hobson. He was tried at second base but that move was unsuccessful. Rico batted .213 with 3 HR in 85 games in 1976.
• Petrocelli was cut by the Red Sox during spring training in 1977. Rico wrote a column for the Boston Herald following the progress of the Red Sox. He also did a talk radio show. Rico spent some time in broadcasting and then went into business for a few years in the early 1980s. Petrocelli had two stints as a minor league manager (1986-1988 and 1992) and was a roving instructor for the Red Sox in the 1990s. Rico now runs Petrocelli Marketing Group based in Nausha, NH.
• Liked to face: Al Fitzmorris (.414 in 29 AB); Casey Cox (.395 in 45 AB); John Hiller (.409 in 22 AB)
• Hated to face: Dave LaRoche (.000 in 10 AB); Nolan Ryan (.057 with 21 strikeouts in 35 AB); Jim Slaton (.081 in 37 AB) 
• Here is Rico's SABR biography

1976 Topps #419 - Reggie Cleveland

• Reggie Cleveland pitched for four teams from 1969-1981. During his career Reggie had trouble with his weight and “living the major league lifestyle.” Cleveland was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1965 and pitched in the minors from 1966-1970. Reggie started a game for the Cardinals on October 1, 1969 and allowed four runs in four innings (he didn’t get a decision in that game).

• Reggie came to the majors to stay in August of 1970. He pitched in 16 games (1 start) that year for the Cardinals and was 0-4 with a 7.62 ERA. Cleveland became a regular starting pitcher in 1971. He went 12-12 with a 4.01 ERA in 34 starts in 1971.

• Reggie was a pretty solid starter for the Cards for the next two seasons. In 1971 he was 14-15 with a 3.94 ERA in 33 starts. Cleveland was 14-10 with a 3.01 ERA in 1973. After the 1973 season Cleveland was traded to the Boston Red Sox in a multi-player trade.

• In 1974 Cleveland reported to camp overweight and with a bad knee. He started the season as a long reliever but eventually started 27 games and relieved in 14 more. Reggie went 12-14 with a 4.31 ERA.

• Reggie made 31 appearances (20 starts) in 1975 and was 13-9 with a 4.43 ERA. He had a DUI incident on the night of June 29 – Reggie rolled his car in Boston’s Summer Tunnel and needed stitches around his mouth and right ear. The incident went unreported and Cleveland pitched the next day. Cleveland started game 2 of the 1975 ALCS and allowed 3 runs in 5 innings (he didn’t get the decision). He made a relief appearance in game 3 of the 1975 World Series and became the first Canadian-born pitcher to start a World Series game when he started game 5. Cleveland took the loss in that game. He appeared in the 9th inning of game 7 and would have been in line for the win if Boston had been able to make a comeback. The Red Sox lost the game 4-3.

• In 1976 Cleveland spent more time in the bullpen than in the rotation. He made 41 appearances (14 starts) and was 10-9 with a 3.07 ERA. Reggie was in 36 games (27 starts) in 1977 and went 11-8 with a 4.26 ERA. On September 25 Cleveland allowed 18 hits in a 12-5 complete game victory over the Detroit Tigers.

• Cleveland was sold to the Texas Rangers for $125,000 early in the 1978 season after making one relief appearance for the Red Sox. Reggie was the 11th man on a 10-man Red Sox staff. Reggie made 53 appearances (all in relief) for the Rangers in 1978. He went 5-7 with 12 saves and had a 3.09 ERA. Rangers owner Brad Corbett was having some money problems and Reggie was sold to the Milwaukee Brewers for $200,000 after the 1978 season.

• Cleveland wasn’t happy about the trade and reported to the Brewers camp in 1979 with a sour attitude and a larger waistline. He went 1-5 with a 6.71 ERA in 29 games (1 start). Reggie turned things around during the winter of 1979-1980 and reported to the 1980 spring training camp one week early and 25 pounds lighter. Cleveland pitched in 45 games (13 starts) and went 11-9 with a 3.73 ERA.

• In 1981 Reggie had a tough time. He over-trained to get ready after the strike and developed tendonitis in his pitching arm. He was also drinking more and having family problems. Cleveland made 35 relief appearances in 1981 and was 2-3 with a 5.15 ERA. Reggie was released after the 1981 season and retired.

• After his baseball career Cleveland moved back to Canada with his second wife. One of his sons (John) was a three-time Olympic swimmer for Canada, and the other son (Todd) played shortstop for the University of North Florida. Reggie sold cars for several years and then was a minor league pitching coach for a few years in the early 1990s. Cleveland became a US citizen in 1980 and moved to Dallas in 2005. He sells cars for Park Place Lexus in Dallas.

• Reggie Cleveland’s SABR biography

• Liked to face: Cleon Jones (.000 in 11 AB); Freddie Patek (.042 in 24 AB); Larry Bowa (.119 in 42 AB)

• Hated to face: Kiko Garcia (.563 in 16 AB); Tim McCarver (.519 in 27 AB); Mickey Rivers (.441 in 34 AB)

1976 Topps #396 - Bill Lee

• 
  
  The back of Bill Lee's 1976 card looks cool with three years in a row of 17 wins. That was pretty much the peak of Lee's career. He had a couple more good years, but not in a run like 1973-1975.

• 
  
  Bill Lee was drafted out of the University of Southern California by the Boston Red Sox in 1968. Bill didn't take very long to get to the majors. He had an ERA of 1.58 with two single-A teams in 1968. In 1969 Bill was 6-2 with a 2.06 ERA in ten starts for AA Pittsfield when he was called up to Boston in June. Lee pitched in 20 games (1 start) for the Red Sox in 1969 and was 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA.

• 
  
  Lee didn't pitch very much in 1970. He appeared in 11 games (5 starts) and was 2-2 with a 4.62 ERA. Bill didn't pitch again in the 1970 season after getting hit for 5 hits and 5 runs in one inning against the Chicago White Sox on May 31. Lee had to fulfill his duties in the U.S. Army Reserve and missed the rest of the season.

• 
  
  In 1971 Lee was mostly a reliever -- he appeared in 47 games and only three of them were starts. Bill was 9-2 with two saves and a 2.74 ERA in '71. Bill was strictly a reliever in 1972. In 47 games Lee was 7-4 with five saves and a 3.20 ERA.

• 
  
  Lee became a starter in 1973 and had his best season. Bill was 17-11 with a 2.75 ERA in 38 games (33 of them starts) and had a save in one of his relief appearances. Lee was also named to the 1973 AL All Star team but he didn't pitch in the game.

• 
  
  Bill went 17-15 with a 3.51 ERA in 1974 and led the AL with 320 hits allowed. In 1975 Bill was 17-9 with a 3.95 ERA. He wasn't used in the 1975 ALCS, but he started two games in the 1975 World Series. Bill had a 3.14 ERA in the two starts but didn't get the decision in either game.

• 
  
  Lee missed almost two months of the 1976 season from late-May to mid-July. Lee injured his shoulder when he was hit by Graig Nettles during an on-field brawl and fell awkwardly. It was just about his toughest season. Bill went 5-7 with one save and a 5.62 ERA in 24 games (14 starts) in 1976.

• 
  
  In 1977 Lee didn't make a start until May 8 and was in and out of the rotation all season. Bill was 9-5 with one save and a 4.43 ERA in 27 games (16 starts) in '77.

• 
  
  Bill and a few other Red Sox players formed a faction called the "Buffalo Heads" that made things tough for Red Sox manager Don Zimmer. Lee called Zimmer "Gerbil" -- to this day every time I see a picture of Zim I think about the Gerbil thing. Bill also walked out on the team after Bernie Carbo was traded away. Altogether Lee was 10-10 with a 3.46 ERA in 24 starts. After the season Lee was traded to the Montreal Expos for Stan Papi. He was embarrassed about being traded and was quoted as saying, "Who wants to be with a team that will go down in history alongside the '64 Phillies and the '67 Arabs?".

• 
  
  Montreal manager Dick Williams was able to get Lee back on track and Bill was 16-10 with a 3.04 ERA in 33 starts for the Expos in 1979. In 1980 Bill missed a lot of time due to an odd injury. Lee claimed that he happened by a friend's apartment and wanted to surprise her by climbing the wall and tapping on the window. He fell and hurt his hip on an iron fence. Lee missed about five weeks and ended up 4-6 with a 4.96 ERA in 24 games (18 starts) in 1980.

• 
  
  Lee was a reliever and spot starter in 1981. He went 5-6 with six saves and a 2.94 ERA in 31 games (7 starts). Bill got into one game in the NLDS and one game in the NLCS and pitched a total of one inning without giving up any runs.

• 
  
  Bill was a reliever in 1982 and had pitched in seven games (0-0, 4.38 ERA) when he left the team on May 8 after his friend Rodney Scott was released. The Expos released Lee on May 9 and he never pitched in the majors again.

• 
  
  After his major league career Bill traveled a lot and played in various independent league and senior league games in the U.S. and in other countries. He wrote a few books and also owns The Old Bat Company in Vermont.

• 
  
  Here is Bill Lee's SABR biography.
• 
  
  The Spaceman Cometh - The Vermont Guardian April 12, 2007

• 
  
  Liked to face: Barry Bonnell (.000 in 12 AB); Jerry Royster (.059 in 17 AB); Dave Collins (.105 in 19 AB)
• 
  
  Hated to face: Don Baylor (.459 in 37 AB); Willie Horton (.452 in 42 AB); John Ellis (.438 in 42 AB)

Bill Lee on baseball - 2008


Bill Lee on what happened to the Expos (he gets some years and team names confused, but he definitely has an opinion on what happened to the ballclub).

1976 Topps #381 - Denny Doyle

• 
  
  Denny Doyle was coming off of his biggest year when this card came out. The Boston Red Sox had acquired him in June 1975 and Denny went on to play a solid second base all the way through the World Series. Since I was rooting for the Reds in the World Series I got mad every time Doyle got a hit.

• 
  
  Denny Doyle mostly played second base in the  majors from 1970-1977. Denny was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1965. He played in the minors from 1966-1969 and earned a promotion to the majors after batting .310 for AAA Eugene in 1969.

• 
  
  In 1970 Doyle batted .208 in 112 games for the Phillies as a 26-year-old rookie. He improved to .231 in 95 games in 1971. Denny became the starting second baseman for the Phillies in 1972, batting .249 in 123 games. On July 18 Doyle broke up a no-hitter by San Diego's Steve Arlin by singling with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th inning. Manager Don Zimmer had pulled in his third baseman to protect against the bunt and Denny blooped a single over the third baseman's head. It was the closest any Padre pitcher has ever come to a no-hitter. In 1973 Doyle batted .273 in 116 games. The Phillies had Dave Cash coming up so Doyle was traded to the California Angels after the 1973 season for players to be named later and Billy Grabarkewitz.

• 
  
  Denny batted .260 in 147 games in 1974. In 1975 the Angels went with Jerry Remy as their starting second baseman, so Doyle didn't get much playing time. He had played in only eight games with the Angels when he was traded to the Red Sox on June 14 for a minor leaguer and cash. The Red Sox made Doyle their starting second baseman and the move paid big dividends. Denny batted .310 in 89 games and hit a career-high 21 doubles. Doyle batted .273 in the 1975 ALCS and .267 in the World Series. He also received one 10th place vote for AL MVP in 1975. Denny Doyle: An Unsung Hero of the Red Sox Pennant Drive - February 1976 Baseball Digest.

• 
  
  Doyle was the starting second baseman for the Red Sox in 1976 (.250 in 117 games) and in 1977 (.240 in 137 games). The Red Sox picked up Remy to play second base so Doyle was expendable again. Denny was cut loose during spring training in 1978 and retired.

• 
  
  Now Denny Doyle is more famous for the baseball camps and training programs that he and his brothers (Brian and Blake) run in Winter Haven, Florida. They founded Doyle Baseball in 1978 and 37 camp alumni have made it to the majors. The camp got off to a good start when Denny's brother Brian (also a second baseman) had that great World Series for the Yankees in 1978.

• 
  
  Here is Doyle's SABR biography.

• 
  
  Liked to face: Bob Gibson (.464 in 28 AB); Al Fitzmorris (.425 in 40 AB); Clay Kirby (.405 in 37 AB)
• 
  
  Hated to face: Catfish Hunter (.108 in 37 AB); Don Sutton (.130 in 23 AB); Don Wilson (.132 in 38 AB)

1976 Topps #365 - Carlton Fisk

• Does it seem like a lot of the Red Sox cards were taken during games instead of posed? Seems that way to me.

• Carlton Fisk was born in Vermont, but always claimed New Hampshire as his home. Apparently the nearest hospital was across the state line in Vermont so that's why he was born there. Fisk was the #1 draft pick (4th overall) of the Boston Red Sox in 1967. His minor league batting averages weren't real impressive, but he had some power and was a good catcher. Fisk came up to the majors for two games late in 1969 and went 0 for 5. This enabled him to become a rare 4-decade player, as his playing career didn't end until 1993.

• Fisk was in the minors again in 1970 and most of 1971. He played in 14 games for the Red Sox late in 1971 and batted .313 in 48 at bats. Fisk was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1972, won his first Gold Glove, and was in the All Star Game (he was 1 for 2 with a run scored). Carlton led the AL with nine triples and batted .293 with 22 HR and 61 RBI in 131 games. Fisk finished 4th in AL MVP voting in 1972. The Challenge that Inspired Carlton Fisk - March 1973 Baseball Digest.

• Fisk was the starting catcher for the AL in the 1973 All Star Game (he was 0 for 2) and batted .246 with 26 HR and 71 RBI in 135 games. Carlton Fisk Deflates the Sophomore Jinx - September 1973 Baseball Digest. He was off to a good start in 1974 (.299 with 11 HR in 52 games) when he tore the ligaments in his knee in a home plate collision on June 28. Fisk missed the rest of the 1974 season. He was voted as the starting catcher for the AL in the 1974 All Star Game but didn't play due to the injury.

• The injury changed Fisk's career. He realized how much hard work it took to come back from the injury and continued to work hard to prepare for the baseball season each year for the rest of his career. In 1975 Fisk was ready to return to action but his forearm was broken by a pitched ball in spring training and he didn't play until June 23. He played in 79 games and batted a career-high .331. Fisk batted .417 in the NLCS and although he batted only .240 in the World Series, he hit that famous game 6 12-inning home run which extended the Series to a 7th game.

• In 1976 Fisk returned to the All Star Game (he was 0 for 1) and batted .255 with 17 HR and 58 RBI. Carlton had a nice year in 1977, batting .315 with 26 HR and 102 RBI and finishing 8th in MVP voting. He was the AL starting catcher in the All Star Game and was 0 for 2. Fisk Did What Many Great Catchers Didn't - May 1978 Baseball Digest

• Fisk caught in a career-high 154 games in 1978 and batted .284 with 20 HR and 88 RBI. He started in the All Star Game and was 0 for 2 with a sacrifice fly. He's Behind the Plate but Ahead of the Game! - October 1978 Baseball Digest. In 1979 Fisk was injured and played in only one game before May 23. In 91 games he batted .272 with 10 HR and 52 RBI.

• The 1980 season was Fisk's last as a member of the Boston Red Sox. He batted .289 with 18 HR and 62 RBI. Carlton started the All Star Game and struck out twice. The Red Sox made a blunder and didn't mail Fisk's 1981 contract offer in time, so he was declared a free agent. The Red Sox offered Fisk a $2 million guaranteed contract, but the Chicago White Sox offered him $3.5 million. He wasn't sure if he wanted to leave Boston, but after the Red Sox traded Fred Lynn, Rick Burleson, and Butch Hobson to the California Angels Fisk questioned the team's committment to winning and signed with the White Sox.

• Fisk started the 1981 All Star Game (1 for 3 with a run scored) and won the AL Silver Slugger Award at catcher. He batted .263 with 7 HR and 45 RBI in 91 games. In 1982 Fisk was 0 for 2 as the starting catcher in the All Star Game. He batted .267 with 14 HR and 65 RBI.

• The White Sox finally won the AL West in 1983 and Fisk was a big part of the team's success. Fisk finished third in AL MVP voting as he batted .289 with 26 HR and 86 RBI. Fisk batted .176 in the ALCS as the Baltimore Orioles knocked out the White Sox and went on to the World Championship.

• Fisk missed almost a month with injuries in 1984. He batted .231 with 21 HR and 43 RBI in 102 games. Fisk played a lot more in 1985 (153 games) and hit a career-high 37 home runs. Carlton was the starting catcher for the AL in the All Star Game (0 for 2) and won the Silver Slugger Award.

• Carlton played fewer games (125) in 1986 and batted .221 with 14 HR and 63 RBI. In 1987 he batted .256 with 23 HR and 71 RBI in 135 games. Fisk missed 2 1/2 months of the 1988 season with an injury. He batted .277 with 19 HR and 50 RBI and won the Silver Slugger award despite missing all of that time.

• In 1989 Fisk split time with Ron Karkovice behind the plate for the White Sox. He batted .293 with 13 HR and 68 RBI in 103 games. Carlton played a lot more in 1990 (135 games) and batted .285 with 18 HR and 65 RBI. Carlton Fisk: He's a Durable Wonder Behind the Plate - December 1990 Baseball Digest. Fisk set the record for home runs by a catcher in August when he hit #349 (Mike Piazza now holds the record).

• Fisk played in his last All Star Game (he was 1 for 2) as a 43-year-old in 1991. He batted .241 with 18 HR and 74 RBI in his last season as a regular player. In 1992 he played in 62 games and his average dipped to .229. In 1993 Fisk set the record for games caught (2226) and was released soon afterward (Ivan Rodriguez later broke the record). He batted .189 in his final season.

• A memorable incident in 1989: Deion Sanders didn't run out a pop fly. The next time Sanders came up Fisk said, "If you don't play it [the game] right, I'm going to kick your ass right here."

• Fisk was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.

• Fisk's number is retired both by the Red Sox and the White Sox.

• Fisk is now a White Sox ambassador.

• Carlton Fisk's official site.

• Carlton Fisk SABR biography
• Fisk didn't have many good things to say about steroid users early in 2010.

• Liked to face: Dan Quisenberry (.458 in 24 AB); Al Fitzmorris (.394 in 33 AB); Glenn Abbott (.345 with 6 HR in 29 AB)
• Hated to face: John Denny (.000 in 13 AB); Ken Schrom (.077 in 26 AB); Curt Young (.097 in 31 AB) 

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