1976 Topps #382 - Matt Alexander

• Matt Alexander played in parts of nine seasons (1973-1981) with three teams. Matt was mostly an outfielder but he also saw action in the infield. The majority of his appearances were as a pinch runner (thus the nickname "Matt the Scat"). Alexander was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1968. He played in the minors in 1968 and 1969 and then missed two years due to military service. Matt played in the minors again in 1972 and 1973 and was promoted to the Cubs late in 1973 after batting .303 for AAA Wichita. He played in 12 games and batted .200 in five at bats.

• Alexander spent most of the 1974 season with the Cubs but wasn't used very much. He played in 45 games and batted .204 in 54 at bats. Matt was sent back to Wichita in late July and played in 30 games there at the end of the season.

• In 1975 Matt started the year in Wichta. He played in 7 games there before being traded to the Oakland A's for a minor leaguer on April 28. The A's liked to have a "designated runner" type of player on the team and Matt fit the bill in1975. He played in 63 games but only got to the plate 11 times (he was 1 for 10 with a walk). Alexander stole 17 bases in 27 attempts and scored 16 runs in 1975. Alexander was only 1 for 30 (.033 average) in 1976. He played in 61 games and stole 20 bases in 27 attempts.

• The A's released Alexander during spring training in 1978. He had come down with a case of hepatits during the off-season and wasn't ready for the regular season. Alexander attended barber college with some money from the GI bill. He needed only 24 more days to qualify for his baseball pension. Matt didn't play until he was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 1. Pirate manager Chuck Tanner managed Matt in Oakland and remembered what he could do on the basepaths. Alexander appeared in seven games (all as a pinch runner), stole four bases, and scored two runs.

• In 1979 Matt split time between AAA and the Pirates. He appeared in 44 games for the Pirates and batted .538 (7 for 13) with 16 runs scored. Matt also stole 13 bases in 14 attempts. He pinch ran in one game in the NLCS and scored a run. Alexander also pinch ran in one game in the World Series and was caught stealing.

• Alexander appeared in 37 games in 1980 and was 1 for 3 as a batter. He scored 13 runs and stole 10 bases in 13 attempts. Matt was in the minors for most of 1981 except for a week in May and a few weeks in September. He appeared in 15 games and batted .364 in 11 at bats. The Pirates sold Matt to the Mexico City Tigers (Mexican League) in March 29, 1982. He played in Mexico through the 1984 season then retired. Matt worked at odd jobs for a few years, then worked at Libbey Glass in his hometown of Shreveport from 1992-2007. He also helps as an assistant coach at Huntington High School in Shreveport.

• Here is Matt's SABR biography.

1976 Topps #380 - Bobby Bonds

• Bobby Bonds really moved around a lot in the latter part of his career. He played 14 seasons in the majors from 1968 through 1981 and ended up playing for eight different teams. Bonds was signed by the San Francisco Giants in 1964. He played in the minors from 1965-1968 and was called up to San Francisco after batting .370 in the first three months of 1968 for the AAA Phoenix Giants.

• Bonds played in 81 games in 1968 and batted .254. In 1969 Bobby led the NL in runs (120) and strikeouts (187) while batting .259 with 32 HR and 90 RBI. Bonds batted .302 with 26 HR and 78 RBI in 1970 while scoring 134 runs and leading the NL in strikeouts again with 189. The Giants weren't sure whether to use Bonds at the leadoff spot to take advantage of his speed or to bat him further down in the order to take advantage of his power.

• The Giants won the NL West in 1971, which was the only year in which Bonds would appear in the post season. Bobby did his part during the season by batting .288 with 33 HR, 102 RBI, and 110 runs scored. Bonds was 2 for 8 in the 1971 NLCS. Bobby also was an All Star for the first time (he appeared as a pinch hitter and struck out) and won his first Gold Glove award.

• Bobby had a down year (for him) in 1972. He batted .259 with 26 HR and 80 RBI. He scored 118 runs and stole 44 bases in 50 attempts. Bobby's best season was probably 1973. He finished third in NL MVP voting, was an NL All Star (he homered and doubled in the game and was the game's MVP), and won his second Gold Glove. Bonds batted .283 with 39 HR and 96 RBI. He also led the NL with 131 runs scored. Bobby Bonds Takes A Giant Step Forward - December 1973 Baseball Digest

• Bonds slipped a bit in 1974. He batted .256 with 21 HR and 71 RBI. He won the Gold Glove for the last time. After the 1974 season Bobby was traded to the New York Yankees for Bobby Murcer. This would begin the "transient" part of Bobby's career. It's A New Ballgame for Bobby Bonds - April 1975 Baseball Digest

• Bonds had a good year for the Yankees in 1975. He batted .270 with 32 HR and 85 RBI and was an AL All Star (he didn't play in the game). After the 1975 season Bonds was traded to the California Angels for Mickey Rivers and Ed Figueroa.

• Bobby was injured in 1976 and didn't play after August 8. He batted .265 with 10 HR and 54 RBI in 99 games in '76. Will This Be The Year for Bobby Bonds? - June 1977 Baseball Digest. Bonds bounced back in 1977 and batted .264 with 37 HR and 115 RBI. Bobby Bonds Pays Off with Speed and Power! - December 1977 Baseball Digest. After the 1977 season Bonds, Rich Dotson, and Thad Bosley were traded to the Chicago White Sox for Brian Downing, Dave Frost, and Chris Knapp.

• Bonds didn't stay with the White Sox very long. He played in 26 games (.278, 2 HR , 8 RBI) before being traded to the Texas Rangers for Rusty Torres and Claudell Washington on May 16. Bobby batted .265 with 29 HR and 82 RBI for the Rangers. The 1978 season was Bobby's fifth (and final) 30 HR/30 SB season. After the 1978 season he was traded with Len Barker to the Cleveland Indians for Larvell Blanks and Jim Kern.

• Bobby had his last good year in 1979. He batted .275 with 25 HR and 85 RBI. After not being able to come to terms on a new contract, Bobby demanded a trade. The Indians traded Bonds to the St. Louis Cardinals after the 1979 season for John Denny and Jerry Mumphrey. Bobby Bonds - The 'Goodbye Guy' - April 1980 Baseball Digest Bonds had a poor season for the Cardinals in 1980, batting only .203 with 5 HR and 24 RBI in 86 games. The Cardinals released Bonds after the 1980 season. .

• Bobby signed with the Rangers as a free agent on April 17, 1981. He was assigned to the Rangers' AAA Wichita club and batted .244 in 35 games. The Chicago Cubs purchased Bonds on June 4. He started the game on June 4 but was injured in the first inning and came out of the game. Bobby's next action wouldn't come until August (after the strike). Bonds played in 45 games for the Cubs in 1981 and batted .215 with 6 HR and 19 RBI. Bobby was released after the 1981 season.

• Bonds signed with the Yankees in May 1982. He went to AAA Columbus but batted only .179 in 28 games and was released in late June.

• Bonds was a hitting instructor for the Indians from 1984-1987. He became a coach and a scout for the Giants when his son Barry signed with them in 1993.

• Bobby died of complications from a brain tumor and lung cancer on August 23, 2003. Power Plus Speed Bobby Bonds - November 2003 Baseball Digest

• Liked to face: Bob Stanley (.500 in 20 AB); Bob Veale (.450 in 20 AB); Steve Arlin (.378 in 37 AB)
• Hated to face: Bill Travers (.000 in 19 AB); Lowell Palmer (.091 in 22 AB); Tom Seaver (.118 in 51 AB)

1976 Topps #381 - Denny Doyle

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  Here is Doyle's SABR biography.

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

1976 Topps #379 - Ken Boswell

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  Ken Boswell was an infielder for the New York Mets and the Houston Astros from 1967-1977. Boswell was drafted by the Mets in 1965. He played in the minors from 1965-1967 and was called up at the end of the '67 season. Ken batted .225 in 40 at bats for the Mets to finish the season.

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  Boswell split time with Phil Linz at second base in 1968. Ken batted .261 in 284 at bats. He got more playing time in 1969 and batted .279 in 362 at bats. Boswell batted .333 with 2 home runs in the 1969 NLCS and was 1 for 3 in the World Series.

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  Ken had similar years in 1970 (.254 in 351 AB) and 1971 (.273 in 392 AB). In 1970 he set the major league fielding record for second basemen with a .996 fielding percentage. In 1972 Boswell's hitting dropped off sharply as he batted .211 in 355 at bats.

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  In 1973 Boswell became a reserve infielder, playing 2B and 3B. He batted .227 in 110 AB in 1973. He was 0 for 1 in the NLCS and was 3 for 3 in three pinch hitting appearances in the World Series. Ken got more playing time in 1974 as a utility infielder and outfielder and batted .216 in 222 at bats. After the 1974 season Ken was traded to the Astros for Alan Gallagher.

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  Boswell was a backup infielder for the Astros from 1975-1977. In 1975 he batted .242 in 178 at bats. Ken batted .262 in 126 AB in 1976 and .216 in 97 AB in 1977. After the 1977 season Boswell became a free agent and retired.
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  Liked to face: Gaylord Perry (.471 in 17 AB); Dick Selma (.444 in 18 AB); Bill Singer (.375 in 24 AB)
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  Hated to face:  Clay Carroll (.000 in 18 AB); Burt Hooton (.100 in 40 AB); Lynn McGlothen (.059 in 17 AB)

1976 Topps #378 - Steve Stone

• Steve Stone pitched in the majors from 1971-1981. He gained fame for his long broadcasting career with the Chicago Cubs. Stone was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1969. Steve pitched in the minors in 1969 and 1970. He made the San Francisco club in 1971 and spent most of the season there except for a six week stint in AAA Phoenix from mid-July to early September. Stone was 5-9 with a 4.15 ERA in 24 games (19 of them starts) in 1971.

• Stone pitched pretty well in 1972 but missed some time due to injury. He pitched in only one game from mid-June to early August. Steve was 6-8 with a 2.98 ERA in 27 games (16 starts) in '72. After the 1972 season Stone was traded with Ken Henderson to the Chicago White Sox for Tom Bradley.

• Stone was 6-11 with a 4.24 ERA in 36 games (22 starts) for the White Sox in 1973. After the 1973 season he was traded to the Cubs with Ken Frailing, Steve Swisher and Jim Kremmel for Ron Santo.

• Steve spent three seasons with the Cubs. Stone pitched in 36 games (22 starts) in 1974 and 8-6 with a 4.14 ERA. Steve's best year with the Cubs was in 1975 when he was 12-8 with a 3.95 ERA in 32 starts. In 1976 Stone had a torn rotator cuff. He started one game in late April and then didn't pitch again until July, refusing surgery in favor of cryotherapy. Steve was 3-6 with a 4.08 ERA in 15 starts. After the 1976 season Stone became a free agent and signed with the White Sox.

• Stone was 15-12 with a 4.51 ERA in 31 starts for the White Sox in 1977. Steve has the distinction of giving up Duane Kuiper's only major league home run on August 29, 1977. In 1978 he was 12-12 with a 4.37 ERA in 30 starts. Steve was a free agent again after the 1978 season and signed with the Baltimore Orioles.

• Steve started 32 games for the Orioles in 1979 and was 11-7 with a 3.77 ERA. He wasn't used in the ALCS, but did pitch two innings in game 4 of the World Series, allowing two runs.

• Stone had his career year in 1980. He won the AL Cy Young Award and started the 1980 All Star Game (he pitched three scoreless innings). The Game I'll Never Forget - March 1983 Baseball Digest. Steve was 25-7 with a 3.23 ERA in 37 starts. After the season Stone opened the mail to find that he had been mailed Steve Carlton's Cy Young plaque by mistake. How Steve Stone Turned into A Big Winner - November 1980 Baseball Digest.

• All of those games took a toll on Steve and he developed tendonitis in his pitching arm.. He dropped to 4-7 with a 4.60 ERA in 15 games (12 starts) in 1981. Stone retired after the 1981 season.

• In 1983 Steve became a color commentator for Chicago Cubs broadcasts. He and Harry Caray did the Cubs TV games for 15 years. After Caray died in 1998 Chip Caray was brought in to do the play-by-play and Stone teamed up with him until 2000. Stone stepped down for health reasons but returned to the booth in 2003 and 2004. Steve resigned after the 2004 season after having problems with Cubs' players who thought he was being too critical of them.

• From 2005-2008 Steve did various broadcasting jobs for the White Sox and TBS. He is now the color commentator for White Sox TV broadcasts.

• Stone was featured (in more ways than one) in a July 1983 Playgirl article.

• In 1999 he co-wrote a book called Where's Harry? about his time with Harry Caray.

• Here is Steve's offical website.

• Liked to face: Bob Robertson (.000 in 14 AB); Dave Cash (.114 in 35 AB); Ruppert Jones (.118 in 34 AB)
• Hated to face: Jim Rice (.568 with 4 HR in 37 AB); Manny Sanguillen (.565 in 23 AB); Johnny Grubb (.409 in 44 AB)

1976 Topps #377 - Mike Hegan

• Mike Hegan is the son former Cleveland Indian catcher Jim Hegan. He was signed by the New York Yankees in 1961. Jim had several good seasons in the minors but couldn't stick with the Yankees since Joe Pepitone and Mickey Mantle (at the end of his career) were ahead of him at first base. Mike also spent a lot of time doing stints in the military during the mid-1960s which caused disruptions in his playing career.

• Hegan played in five games for the Yankees in 1964 and was 0 for 5, but he was on the Yankees' World Series roster. Jim scored a run in game 1 after being inserted as a pinch runner. In 1966 Mike played in 13 games and batted .205. Hegan played in 68 games for the Yankees in 1967 and batted only .136. In 1968 Hegan played for AAA Syracuse. Mike was sold to the Seattle Pilots (who woudn't begin play until 1969) in June under the condition that he finish the '68 season in Syracuse.

• Mike got a chance to play in Seattle and made the AL All Star team, but couldn't play due to a hamstring injury. Mike missed 67 games in 1969, mostly because of injuries. He played in 95 games and batted .292 with 8 HR and 37 RBI. The Pilots became the  Milwaukee Brewers in 1970. Mike batted .244 with 11 HR and 52 RBI in 148 games for the Brewers in 1970.

• Hegan started the 1971 season with the Brewers (.221, 4 HR, 11 RBI) and was purchased by the Oakland A's on June 14. Mike batted .236 in 55 at bats for the A's and was 0 for 1 in the 1971 ALCS. Hegan was a backup 1B and occasionally played in the outfield. He had a good glove at first base and played in 178 consecutive games at first base without an error (the streak would extend until 1973). In 1972 Mike batted .329 in 79 at bats for the A's. He was 0 for 1 with a BB in the 1972 ALCS and was 1 for 5 in the 1972 World Series.

• Mike didn't get much playing time while with the A's. He was batting .183 in 71 at bats in 1973 when he was traded to the Yankees as part of a "conditional deal" on August 18. He finished the 1973 season with the Yankees and batted .275 with 6 HR in 35 starts at first base.

• During the 1974 season the Yankees acquired Chris Chambliss, which made Mike expendable. He played in 18 games at 1B for the Yankees and was batting .226 when he requested a trade to either Milwaukee, Detroit, or Boston. Jim was sold to the Brewers on May 13. The Brewers had George Scott as their starting 1B, so Mike backed up at 1B and played some OF and DH. Hegan batted .237 with 7 HR and 32 RBI for the Brewers in '74.

• In 1975 Hegan batted .251 with 5 HR and 22 RBI in  203 AB. Mike hit for the cycle on September 3, 1976. During that season he batted .248 with 5 HR and 31 RBI in 218 AB. In 1977 Hegan wasn't happy about his role on the team and also wasn't happy with manager Alex Grammas. He batted .170 in 53 AB and was released on July 15.

• Hegan jumped into the broadcasting booth when he finished his playing career. He already had a little bit of experience in the booth -- in 1973 A's manager Dick Williams sent Mike up to the booth to call three innings because the regular Oakland broadcaster had taken ill. Mike broadcasted for the Brewers for 11 seasons (1977-1987).  Mike also owned Grand Slam USA (a chain of indoor batting cages) in Milwaukee for 15 years. In 1989 Hegan moved on to the Cleveland Indians and has been broadcasting for them ever since.

• SABR biography of Mike Hegan.

• Liked to face: Pat Dobson (.526 in 19 AB); Wally Bunker (.412 in 17 AB); Dick Drago (.341 in 41 AB)
• Hated to face: Tom Burgmeier (.000 in 12 AB); Sonny Siebert (.080 in 25 AB); Bert Blyleven (.098 in 41 AB)

1976 Topps #376 - Rich Hebner

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  Richie Hebner had a solid career from 1968-1985. Hebner was the Pittsburgh Pirates' first round pick in 1966. He played in the minors from 1966-1968 and was brought up at the end of the 1968 season (he was 0 for 1 in 2 games).

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  Hebner became the starting 3B for the Pirates in 1969 and batted .301 with 8 HR and 47 RBI. Richie Hebner: New Favorite at Forbes Field - July 1969 Baseball Digest. In 1970 Richie batted .290 with 11 HR and 46 RBI. He batted .667 (4 for 6) in the 1970 NLCS. Hebner Doesn't Want to Think about the Sophomore Jinx - July 1970 Baseball Digest

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  Richie batted .271 with 17 HR and 67 RBI in 117 games in 1971. He batted .294 with 2 HR in the 1971 NLCS and .188 in the World Series. Hebner's bese season was probably 1972. He batted .300 with 19 HR and 72 RBI and had a career-high .508 slugging percentage. Richie batted .188 in the 1972 NLCS.

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  Hebner had another solid season in 1973. He had career-highs in HR (25) and doubles (28) and batted .271 with 74 RBI. In 1974 he batted .291 with 18 HR and 68 RBI. In the 1974 NLCS Richie batted .231 with a home run.

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  Richie's production started to fall off in 1975. He batted .246 with 15 HR and 57 RBI. He batted .333 in the 1975 NLCS. Hebner's last year with the Pirates was 1976. He batted .249 with 8 HR and 51 RBI in '76. Hebner became a free agent after the 1976 season and signed with the Philadelphia Phillies.

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  The Phillies already had Mike Schmidt at third base so Richie played most of his games at first base. He batted .285 with 18 HR and 62 RBI in 1977 and batted .357 in the NLCS. In 1978 Hebner batted .283 with 17 HR and 71 RBI.

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  The Phillies signed Pete Rose before the 1979 season, so they traded Hebner to the New York Mets with Jose Moreno for Nino Espinosa. He moved back to third base and batted .268 with 10 HR and 79 RBI. It was the first time Richie played for a losing team. He had a nice playoff run in the 1970s -- his teams were in the playoffs 7 times in the decade and two other times (1973 and 1976) his teams finished second in the division.

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  After the 1979 season Richie was traded to the Detroit Tigers for Phil Mankowski and Jerry Morales. He played 3B and 1B in 1980. He batted .290 with 12 HR and a career-high 82 RBI. In 1981 Hebner dropped to .226 with 5 HR and 28 RBI in 78 games.

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  Hebner played in 68 games for the Tigers in 1982 and batted .274 with 8 HR and 18 RBI. On August 16 he was purchased by the Pirates. Richie played in 25 games for the Pirates and batted .300 with 2 HR and 12 RBI.

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  At this point in his career Richie was a part-time player and pinch hitter. He batted .265 with 5 HR in 162 AB for the Pirates in 1983. Hebner became a free agent after the 1983 season and signed with the Chicago Cubs. He was a valuable pinch hitter for the Cubs in 1984, batting .333 in 81 at bats. Hebner was 0 for 1 in the 1984 NLCS.

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  Richie's last season was 1985. He batted .217 in 120 at bats. Hebner was released during spring training in 1986.

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  After his playing career Richie was a hitting coach and occasional manager in the minors. He was the hitting coach for a few years in the majors (Boston 1989-1991, Philadelphia 2001). Hebner is now the hitting coach for the Norfolk Tides (Baltimore organization).

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  Richie dug graves in the offseason for his family's grave-digging business. Now he drives a hearse (thanks James at Sports Locker).

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  Players Who Left the Game on Their Own Terms: Richie Hebner - October 2004 Baseball Digest

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  Richie Hebner quote: "Hitting Phil Niekro's knuckleball is like eating soup with a fork."

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  Liked to face:  Rick Reuschel (.422 in 83 AB); Dave Freisleben (.480 in 25 AB); Bob Gibson (.387 in 62 AB)
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  Hated to face: Mario Soto (.000 in 14 AB); Craig Swan (.048 in 21 AB); Randy Jones (.107 in 28 AB)