Project Baseball 1976: 1976 Topps #589 - Rookie Pitchers (Alcala, Flanagan, Pactwa, Torrealba)

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

I couldn't file the cards under a particular team
The cards didn't have very much information about the players
I cared more about getting players I had heard of instead of rookies
The only rookies I heard of were the ones who played with or against the Phoenix Giants in the Pacific Coast League.

Signed by the Cincinnati Reds in 1970
Pitched for the Reds (1976, 1977) and the Montreal Expos (1977)
11-4, 3.70 ERA in 30 games (21 starts) in 1976 -- did not pitch in the postseason
Started the 1977 season 1-1 with a 5.74 ERA in seven games (two starts) for the Reds
Traded to the Montreal Expos on May 21 for Shane Rawley and Angel Torres
Was 2-6 with two saves and had a 4.69 ERA in 31 games (10 starts) for the Expos in 1977
Waived to the Seattle Mariners before the 1978 season
Pitched in the Seattle organization in 1978 and in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization from 1979-1982 but never got back to the majors.

Mike was by far the most successful player on this card.
Drafted in 1973 by the Baltimore Orioles
Started pitching for the Orioles in September 1975 (0-1, 2.79 ERA in two games)
1976 - split the season between Baltimore (3-5, 4.13 ERA) and AAA Rochester.
1977 - 15-10, 3.64 ERA
1978 - 19-15, 4.03 ERA; led AL with 40 starts; AL All Star (didn't get in game)
1979 - 23-9, 3.08 ERA; led AL in wins; AL Cy Young Award winner; 1-0 in ALCS, 1-1 in World Series
1980 - 16-13, 4.12 ERA
1981 - 4-6, 4.19 ERA
1982 - 15-11, 3.97 ERA
1983 - 12-4, 3.30 ERA; missed 10 weeks of the season with a knee injury; 1-0 in ALCS, 0-0 in one start in World Series
1984 - 13-13, 3.53 ERA
1985 - 4-5, 5.13 ERA; didn't pitch until July 20 due to a torn achilles tendon
1986 - 7-11, 4.24 ERA
1987 - 3-6, 4.94 ERA with Orioles; traded to Toronto Blue Jays on August 31; 3-2, 2.37 ERA with Blue Jays
1988 - 13-13, 4.18 ERA
1989 - 8-10, 3.93 ERA; started and lost game 4 of ALCS
1990 - 2-2, 5.31 ERA in five starts; last game was May 4; released by Blue Jays on May 8
1991 - Tried out with Orioles in spring training and made the ballclub; 2-7, 3 saves, 2.38 ERA in 64 games (1 start)
1992 - 0-0, 8.05 ERA in 42 games; retired after the season
Has been a pitching coach, a front office executive, and a broadcaster with the Orioles since his playing career ended.
Mike Flanagan: A Career That Almost Wasn't - January 1980 Baseball Digest

Drafted by the New York Yankees in 1966
Pitched in the Yankees organization from 1966-1974 without making it to the majors
Originally an outfielder but started pitching in 1973.
Spent most of the 1975 season in the Mexican League and purchased by the California Angels on September 12.
Pitched for the Angels at the end of the 1975 season and went 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in four games (three starts)
Played in Mexico from 1976-1982.
Passed away at the age of 60 on March 10, 2009

Signed by the Atlanta Braves in 1966
Pitched in the minors from 1966-1971
Did not pitch in 1972 and then returned to the Braves organization in 1973 and pitched in the minors from 1973-1975.
Started the 1975 season with the Braves and went 0-1 with a 1.35 ERA in six games before being sent down to AAA Richmond
Spent the entire 1976 season with the Braves and went 0-2 with two saves and had a 3.57 ERA in 36 games
Sold to the Oakland A's during spring training in 1977
Went 4-6 with two saves and had a 2.62 ERA in 41 games (10 starts) in 1977.
Traded to the Chicago White Sox during spring training in 1978 for Jim Essian and Steve Renko
Had a 2-4 record with one save and a 4.71 ERA in 25 games (three starts) in 1978
Started the 1979 season with the White Sox (0-0, 1.59 ERA in three games) but was sent down in late April and spent the majority of the season with AAA Iowa. Pablo had a 6.95 ERA for Iowa in 1979, which was his last season.
Pablo is now the scouting coordinator in Venezuela for the Houston Astros.