1976 Topps #200 - AL Victory Leaders

• Jim Hunter led the AL in victories twice (1974 with 25 and 1975 with 23). Jim won 20 or more games every year from 1971-1975 and won the AL Cy Young award in 1974.

• 1975 was the first of three straight years that Jim Palmer would lead the AL in victories. He had 23 in 1975, 22 in 1976, and 20 in 1977. Jim won 20 or more games every year but one from 1970-1978 and won three AL Cy Young awards (1973, 1975, 1976).

• Vida Blue never led the AL in victories. He won 20 or more games three times (1971, 1973, and 1975). Vida won the 1971 AL Cy Young award.

1976 Topps #199 - NL Victory Leaders

• This card has seen better days. This must be one of my original cards that I got out of a pack in '76.

• I wonder if this would be successful as a subset -- make a card of each team's all-time top three in each major category (homers, RBI, victories, etc.). Do one of the categories each season (this year homers, next year RBI, etc.). I think it would be fun from a baseball history standpoint and it'd be a fun subset to collect.

• Tom Seaver led the NL in victories three times and won over 20 games five times. He won three NL Cy Young awards (1969, 1973, and 1975).

• Randy Jones led the NL in victories in 1976 and won 20 or more games twice (1975 and 1976). He won the NL Cy Young award in 1976.

• Andy Messersmith led the NL in victories once (1974). He won 20 or more games twice (1971 with the Angels and 1974).
  

1976 Topps #198 - AL Stolen Base Leaders

• Mickey Rivers dominated the stolen base race in 1975. He was 30 SBs ahead of Claudell Washington. It was the only season in which "Mick the Quick" would lead the league in stolen bases. Rivers stole 267 bases in his career--for some reason I thought he stole more.

• Claudell Washington stole 312 bases in his career. He had a lifetime success rate of 70%.

• Amos Otis led the AL in stolen bases in 1971 and stole 341 bases in his career.

1976 Topps #197 - NL Stolen Base Leaders

• I love the stolen base. Games go on longer when speedsters get on base, but it's more exciting to me than to sit back and wait for the long ball.

• Dave Lopes led the NL in stolen bases in 1975 and 1976. He was a great percentage base stealer--his lifetime success percentage was 83% and he stole 557 bases in his career.

• Joe Morgan never led the league in stolen bases, but he stole 40 or more bases every year from 1969-1977. Morgan's lifetime success rate was 81% and he stole 689 bases in his career.

• Lou Brock was the greatest base stealer of all time until Rickey Henderson came along. As evidenced on the back of this card, Brock led the NL in stolen bases every year except one from 1966-1974. He was second in 1964, 1965, and 1970. He also led the NL in caught stealing seven times. Brock had 938 career stolen bases and a lifetime 75% success rate.
  

Jerry Koosman Sentenced in Tax Evasion Case

Jerry Koosman was sentenced to six months in prison for tax evasion. His 1976 card is #64.

Is he throwing a curve or a screwball in that picture?

1976 Topps #196 - AL RBI Leaders

• All three of these guys had great years in 1975. You know you had a good season when you appear on multiple league leader cards in the following year.

• The 1975 season was the second (and last) season in which George Scott would have over 100 RBI.

• John Mayberry led the AL in RBI twice (1972 and 1975) and those were the only two years in which he would have over 100 RBI. He was second in MVP voting in 1975.

• Fred Lynn also had over 100 RBI twice (1975 and 1979). Fred was the AL Rookie of the Year and MVP in 1975. The 1975 season was the first of nine straight AL All Star seasons for Lynn.

1976 Topps #195 - NL RBI Leaders

• 1975 was the only season in which Greg Luzinski would lead the NL in RBI. He knocked in over 100 runs three times in the NL and once for the Chicago White Sox in the AL.

• Johnny Bench led the NL three times in RBI (1970, 1972, 1974). He knocked in over 100 runs six times in his career.

• Tony Perez never led the league in RBI, but he did knock in over 100 runs seven times in his career.