1976 Topps #307 - Al Bumbry

• Al Bumbry was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1968. He played in 35 minor league games in 1969 before serving in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970. Al was a platoon leader and earned the Bronze Star while in Vietnam. He came back in 1971 and batted .336 in 66 games for Class A Aberdeen. After batting .345 in AA and AAA, Al came up at the end of the 1972 season and appeared in nine games (.364 in 11 at bats).

• Bumbry was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1973 and led the league with 11 triples. He batted .337 in 356 at bats while playing all three outfield positions and DH. Al tied a major league record by hitting three triples in one game on September 22. He was hitless in nine plate appearances in the 1973 ALCS. In 1974 Bumbry played in 94 games and slumped to a .233 average in 270 at bats. He struck out in his only plate appearance in the 1974 ALCS.

• In 1975 Al saw most of his action as a DH (45 games) and left fielder (35 games). He batted .269 in 349 at bats. Bumbry became the starting LF for the Orioles in 1976 after Don Baylor was traded. He stole 42 bases and batted .251 in 450 at bats. In 1977 Al played in 133 games and batted .317 with a .371 on base percentage.

• Bumbry was injured in 1978 and didn't play from May 12 to September 4. He batted .237 in 33 games. Al bounced back in 1979 as the regular center fielder to bat .285 with 37 stolen bases in 148 games. He had a pretty good ALCS (.250 with 5 runs scored in 4 games), but didn't do much in the World Series (.143 in 21 at bats).

• Al made the AL All Star team in 1980 (he went 0 for 1) and received some minor MVP consideration. Bumbry batted .318, stole 44 bases, and had 205 hits while playing in 160 games. In 1981 Al batted .273 in 101 games (out of a possible 105).

• Al batted .262 in 150 games in 1982. In 1983 Bumbry batted .275 in 124 games and in 1984 he closed out his Oriole career by batting .270 in 119 games. After the 1984 season Bumbry became a free agent and signed with the San Diego Padres. Al mostly pinch hit in '85, batting .200 in 95 at bats. He became a free agent after the season, didn't sign with anyone, and retired.

• After his playing career Al coached for several teams. He now runs a baseball clinic. Al's son Steven was drafted by the Orioles in 2009.

• Liked to face: Rick Waits (.625 in 16 AB); Al Fitzmorris (.588 in 17 AB); Chuck Rainey (.571 in 14 AB); Jim Beattie (.455 in 33 AB)
• Hated to face: Rollie Fingers (.063 in 16 AB); Rich Gossage (.067 in 30 AB); Bert Blyleven (.087 in 36 AB); Nolan Ryan (.152 with 24 strikeouts in 46 AB)