1976 Topps #469 - Rawly Eastwick

• Rawly Eastwick was a reliever from 1974-1981. Eastwick was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 1969 and pitched in the minors from 1969-1974. Rawly was called up late in the 1974 season and had two saves and a 2.04 ERA in eight games.
• Eastwick started the 1975 season with AAA Indianapolis and was called up to the Reds in mid-May. Even though he got a late start Rawly still led the NL with 22 saves and was 5-3 with a 2.60 ERA. Rawly was third in NL Rookie of the Year voting behind John Montefusco and Gary Carter. Eastwick won game 3 of the NLCS. Rawly won games 2 and 3 and saved game 5 of the World Series.
• Rawly led the NL in saves for the second straight season. He was 11-5 with 26 saves and a 2.09 ERA in 71 games. Eastwick was 5th in Cy Young Award balloting, was 13th in MVP voting, and won the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award. Eastwick won game 3 of the NLCS. He wasn't used in the World Series as the Reds swept the Yankees. Eastwick was interested in out of body experiences. Eastwick Psychic Traveller - The Spokesman-Review September 3, 1976.
• After the 1976 season the Reds knew that Rawly would become a free agent after the 1977 season. They renewed his contract and cut his salary by the maximum allowable 20 percent. Eastwick was 2-2 with seven saves and a 2.91 ERA when he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Doug Capilla on June 15. Reds GM Dick Wagner said that Eastwick caused morale problems with the club during a tough contract negotiation (Rawly had called the trade of fellow reliever Will McEnaney "an act of stupidity"), but Pete Rose and Joe Morgan disagreed. Eastwick refutes charge that he caused problems - August 1, 1977 Bangor Daily News. Rawly went 3-7 with four saves and a 4.71 ERA for the Cardinals to finish the 1977 season. He also started the only game of his career on July 29 and allowed four runs in 2 1/3 innings.
• Eastwick became a free agent and signed a five-year, $1.1 million contract with the Yankees after the 1977 season. It was interesting that the Yankees signed Eastwick since they already had Goose Gossage and Sparky Lyle. He pitched in eight games for the Yankees (2-1, 3.28 ERA) in 1978 before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies on June 14 for Bobby Brown and Jay Johnstone. Rawly was 2-1 with a 4.02 ERA in 22 games for the Phillies in 1978 and allowed one run in one inning in the NLCS.
• Rawly was 3-6 with six saves and a 4.90 ERA in 51 games for the Phillies in 1979. In 1980 Eastwick didn't make the Phillies ballclub and was released at the end of spring training. Rawly signed with the Kansas City Royals in June and went 0-1 with a 5.32 ERA in 14 games before being released in August.
• Rawly signed with the Chicago Cubs in 1981. He went 0-1 with one save and had a 2.28 ERA in 30 games for the Cubs in '81. Eastwick was released during spring training in 1982.
• Liked to face: Roger Metzger (.000 in 14 AB); Mike Schmidt (.083 in 12 AB); Darrell Evans (.091 in 11 AB)
• Hated to face: Tony Perez (.583 in 12 AB); Chris Speier (.500 in 18 AB); Mike Krukow (hit a home run in his only at bat against Eastwick)
•