1976 Topps #39 - Pete Broberg

Pete Broberg compiled a 41-71 (.366 pct) lifetime record with a 4.62 ERA for four teams. Pete started with the Senators/Rangers and pitched there from 1971-1973. He spent 1974 in the minors and then was traded to Milwaukee. His best year was in 1975 when he went 14-16 with a 4.13 ERA for the Brewers. He dropped to 1-7, 4.97 in 1976 and then was selected by the Mariners in the expansion draft. He was traded to the Cubs and went 1-2, 4.75 as a reliever. He was then traded to the A's in 1978 where he went 10-12, 4.62.

In 1979, Broberg signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who gave him a choice of going to Triple-A or being released. "I went home," Broberg said. "They still had to pay me, and the Dodgers paid my way through law school." Broberg went on to be a lawyer and now owns his own firm in West Palm Beach." (link here)

1976 Topps #38 - Garry Maddox

"Two-thirds of the Earth is covered with water, the other one third is covered by Garry Maddox" - the late Harry Kalas

(also attributed to Ralph Kiner)

Garry had his best year in 1976 as he helped the Phillies to their first division title and first playoff appearance in 26 years. He won the second of seven straight Gold Glove Awards, batted .330, and was fifth in MVP voting. The Phillies wouldn't make it to the World Series until 1980, but they had some great teams in the late 70s and early 80s.

Garry originally came up with the Giants. The Giants really had an embarassment of riches in the outfield during the seventies. They also came up with Gary Mathews, Dave Kingman, Jack Clark, George Foster, and Bobby Bonds. Maddox was traded to the Phillies in 1975 for Willie Montanez, who was supposed to replace Willie McCovey at first base. That didn't work out well for the Giants, as Montanez was traded the next season.

Garry continued to be a good player for the Phillies through the 1984 season. He didn't have a good year in 1985 and was released after the season. He came back to the Phils for a few games in 1986 and then retired.

Garry went back and finished his degree after his playing days and is now a successful businessman in Philadelphia.

1976 Topps #37 - John Hiller

John Hiller was one of those rare relievers who spent his entire career (1965-1980) with the same team. I think the most interesting stat line for Hiller was his 1974 season. He went 17-14 without starting a single game. He pitched 150 innings in relief. That's a lot of decisions for a reliever! He was in the top ten in the AL Cy Young voting in both 1973 and 1974.

John had a heart attack in January 1971 and missed the entire '71 season. He was brought back as a coach and batting practice pitcher in 1972 and was signed as a player in July 1972. He appeared in 24 games and beat the Milwaukee Brewers in a pivotal game in the last weekend of the season to help the Tigers to the AL East title. He was the winning pitcher in game 4 of the ALCS.

John had a great season for a reliever in 1973. His record was 10-5, 1.44, 38 saves. The 38 saves set an AL record that would stand for several years.

He continued to be an effective reliever and spot starter until the end of his career in 1980.

1976 Topps #36 - Frank Taveras

Frank Taveras was Pittsburgh's starting shortstop for a few years in the mid-late seventies. He didn't hit much, but he stole a lot of bases. He was traded to the Mets early in the 1979 season for Tim Foli, so he missed out on being on a World Championship team. The trade also allowed Frank to lead the NL in games played with 164. Every season he played, Frank had a fielding percentage below league average. Frank finished his career as a second baseman with the Montreal Expos in 1982.

1976 Topps #35 - Tony Oliva

Tony was a Cuban-born outfielder who played his entire career (1962-1976) with the Minnesota Twins. He struggled with knee injuries in the last five years of his career -- he was mostly limited to playing DH during this time. Tony was the 1964 AL Rookie of the Year, was selected to eight All Star teams, won one Gold Glove, and had a lifetime .304 batting average. He won three AL batting crowns, led the league in hits five times, and was runner-up for MVP twice (1965 and 1970). Tony was the first DH to hit a home run.

Tony's web site has a page that makes a case for his election to the Hall of Fame. I never saw him play, so I don't know about his HOF qualifications. He had some great stats from 1964-1971. If he gets in, it would be using about the same criteria that got Kirby Puckett and Bruce Sutter in. Here is a good year-to-year rundown on Oliva's career.

Tony was a player-coach in the 1976 season and only batted 123 times.

This card says that his date of birth was 7/20/1940, but his actual DOB was 7/20/1938. He used his brother's birth certificate to get into the country.

1976 Topps #34 - Mike Garman

Mike Garman pitched mostly out of the bullpen for five teams from 1969-1978. He spent a lot of time in the minors in the Red Sox organization from 1967-1972, then stuck with the big club in 1973. After the 1973 season he was traded by the Boston Red Sox with John Curtis and Lynn McGlothen to the St. Louis Cardinals for Reggie Cleveland, Terry Hughes and Diego Segui.

Mike went 7-2 and 3-8 in two years with the Cardinals (with ERAs under 3.00 both years) then went to the Cubs for the 1976 season in a trade for Don Kessinger. He went 2-4, 4.95 with the Cubs, then was traded with Rick Monday to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Jeff Albert (minors), Bill Buckner and Ivan DeJesus.

Mike had a good year with the Dodgers in 1977 (4-4, 2.73, 12 saves) but he had a slow start in 1978 and was traded to the Montreal Expos in May. He finished the year with the Expos and then was released in spring training of 1979. He pitched in AAA in 1979 and then hung 'em up.

1976 Topps #33 - Bill North

Bill North was the CF for two World Championships with the A's in 1973 and 1974. He started his career with the Cubs in 1971 and was traded to the A's before the '73 season for Bob Locker. He became a stolen base machine, leading the AL in 1974 and 1976. He also led the AL three times and the NL once in caught stealing.

He was a pretty good on-base leadoff-type hitter until 1977, when he and the A's had a bad year. Bill was traded to the Dodgers in May 1978 for Glenn Burke. He played for the 1978 NL Champs and then went to the Giants as a free agent. He bounced back in 1979 with 58 stolen bases and 96 walks. He had a pretty good year in 1980, but he hit only.221 in 1981 and was released in August. Bill tried to latch on with the Padres in 1982 but he didn't make the team and his career was over at the age of 33.

Bill was involved in several clubhouse fights during his career, and was arrested for coke possession in 1977. Information can be found at this biography site.

Bill North is now a financial planner in Kirkland, Washington.