1976 Hostess #49 - Willie Stargell

• Willie's seasons from 1971-1973 constitute a great three-year run
• Willie should have been MVP in either 1971 or 1973 (or both)
• At this point in his career, Stargell was starting to struggle with injuries. He played in only 117 games in 1976 and 67 games in 1977
• Before peak, peak, or after peak? after peak, but he still had a few good years left in him

1976 Kellogg's #22 - Willie Stargell

• What did he do to deserve a 1976 Kellogg's card?
• As the card back says, Willie was still one of the most feared hitters in the NL.
• Stargell had at least three legitimate shots at NL MVP --- 1971 (2nd to Joe Torre), 1972 (third behind Johnny Bench and Billy Williams) and 1973 (second behind Pete Rose). Willie finally won the award in 1979.
• Batted .295 with 22 HR and 90 RBI in 1975
• Finished 7th in NL MVP voting in 1975
• 1976 Highlights
• Batted .257 with 20 HR and 65 RBI
• It was the first year since 1968 that Stargell didn't get any NL MVP consideration

1976 Topps #270 - Willie Stargell

Willie "Pops" Stargell was a much-beloved Pittsburgh Pirate outfielder and first baseman who played from 1962-1982. He took over the mantle of leadership after Roberto Clemente's death in 1972. Willie won one MVP award (1979 - shared with Keith Hernandez) and could have won at least one more -- a strong case could be made for him in both 1971 and 1973. He had a lifetime .282 batting average with 475 home runs and 1,540 RBI.

Here are some highlights and memories of Willie Stargell:

• Don Sutton once said of Stargell, "I never saw anything like it. He doesn't just hit pitchers, he takes away their dignity."

• He had a unique way of waving his bat like a windmill before pitches.

• Stargell made the NL All Star team seven times: 1964-1966, 1971-1973, 1978)

• Willie was on two World Champion teams: 1971 and 1979

• Stargell is the only player to win the MVP of the league championship series, the world series, and the season (all in 1979)

• Voted to the Hall of Fame in 1988.

• Gave his teammates stars (called Stargell Stars) for their caps to commemorate good plays or good games. He started doing this in 1978.

• Several Baseball Digest articles about Willie: December 1969; September 1971; August 1973; December 1979.

• Some Sports Illustrated Articles: 12/24/79 (Sportsmen of the Year--Willie and Terry Bradshaw); 8/20/79; 8/2/71 (article about the Pirates -- Stargell is on the cover)
  

• Stargell died of complications from a stroke on April 9, 2001. It was the same day that a statue of him was unveiled at the opening of PNC Park in Pittsburgh. He had thrown the last pitch at Three Rivers Stadium in 2000 as part of the farewell ceremony.

• Willie Stargell Foundation

• Liked to face: Gaylord Perry (.343 with 7 HR in 102 AB); Don Drysdale (.400 in 70 AB); Milt Pappas (.348 with 7 HR in 66 AB); Joe Niekro (.421 in 57 AB)

• Hated to face: Juan Marichal (.179 in 106 AB); Claude Osteen (.192 in 78 AB); Jim Bunning (.190 in 63 AB)