1976 Topps #459 - Jim Brewer

• Jim Brewer had a long career, pitching from 1960-1976. He was at the end of the line when this card came out. Brewer was signed by the Chicago Cubs in 1956. He pitched in the minors from 1956-1960. Jim was promoted to the Cubs after going 8-5 with a 3.38 ERA in 18 starts for AAA Houston. Brewer only pitched in five games for the Cubs (0-3, 5.82 ERA) in 1960 due to the incident described in the next paragraph.
• Brewer had a famous (or infamous) fight with Billy Martin during his rookie season.
• Wikipedia entry: "Brewer was involved in an infamous on-field altercation with Billy Martin on August 4, 1960. Brewer, then with the Cubs, brushed back Martin, then with the Cincinnati Reds, with a pitch in the second inning of a game at Wrigley Field. Martin threw his bat at Brewer, who picked it up and started to hand it to Martin as Martin approached. Martin punched Brewer in the right eye, breaking his cheekbone. Brewer was hospitalized for two months, and Martin served a five-day suspension. The Cubs sued Martin for $1 million for the loss of Brewer's services, but later dropped their case. Brewer, however, pursued his, and in 1969 a judge ordered Martin to pay $10,000 in damages. When informed of the judgment by the press, Billy asked sarcastically, "How do they want it? Cash or check?"
• Jim was a swingman for the Cubs in 1961. He went 1-7 with an ERA of 5.82 in 36 games (11 starts). Brewer spent most of the 1962 season in the minors -- he had a short stint with the Cubs in May and another short stint in September. Brewer was 0-1 with a 9.53 ERA in six games in 1962.
• Brewer did better in 1963 but his stats weren't exactly eye-popping. He pitched in 29 games (1 start) and was 3-2 with a 4.89 ERA. After the 1963 season Jim was traded with Cuno Barragan to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Dick Scott.
• Brewer became a valuable part of the Dodger bullpen for many years. Jim took the advice of Warren Spahn and developed a screwball. The new pitch paid dividends as  Brewer was 4-3 with a 3.00 ERA in 34 games (5 starts) in 1964. Jim had injury problems in 1965 -- he didn't pitch until late April and also missed almost a month in June/July. Brewer pitched well when he could go out there -- in 19 games (2 starts) he was 3-2 with a 1.82 ERA. Jim pitched two shutout innings in a mop-up role in game 1 of the 1965 World Series.
• Jim also had injury problems in 1966. He didn't appear in a game until May 20 and he had two month-long absences during the season. Brewer 0-2 with a 3.68 ERA in 13 games in 1966. Jim pitched a scoreless 9th inning in game 2 of the 1966 World Series.
• Brewer appeared in 30 games (11 starts) in 1967. It would be the last season in which he would start a game. Jim was 5-4 with a 2.68 ERA in 1967. Brewer became a closer (or at least what was defined as a closer at the time) in 1968. He had six straight seasons of 14 or more saves from 1968-1973. In 1968 Jim was 8-3 with 14 saves and a 2.49 ERA in 54 games.
• In 1969 Brewer was 7-6 with 20 saves and a 2.55 ERA. He was 7-6 with 24 saves and a 3.13 ERA in 1970. Jim had a good season as a reliever in 1971 -- he was 6-5 with 22 saves and a 1.88 ERA. Jim had a microscopic 1.26 ERA in 1972 while going 8-7 with 17 saves.
• Brewer made the NL All Star team in 1973 and earned the save by pitching a scoreless 9th inning. He was 6-8 with 20 saves and a 3.01 ERA in '73.
• In 1974 Jim became a set-up man due to the presence of Mike Marshall and his 106 appearances. He missed two months from mid-July to mid-September. Brewer was 4-4 with a 2.52 ERA in 24 appearences in 1974. He wasn't used in the NLCS, but he pitched 1/3 of an inning  in game 3 (he struck out Sal Bando to end the fourth inning of a 3-2 Dodger loss).
• Brewer didn't pitch well for the Dodgers in 1975. He was 3-1 with a 5.18 ERA in 21 games when he was traded to the California Angels for Dave Sells on July 15. Jim pitched much better for the Angels -- in 21 games he was 1-0 with five saves and a 1.82 ERA.
• The 1976 season was Jim's last one in the majors. He was 3-1 with two saves and a 2.70 ERA in 13 games when he retired in late May.
• Jim died of injuries sustained in a car accident on November 16, 1987 -- one day before his 50th birthday. Jim's son Mark is a pitching coach in the minor leagues.
• Liked to face: Clay Dalrymple (.000 in 14 AB); Ken Henderson/Jim Beauchamp (.067 in 15 AB); Tim McCarver (.095 in 21 AB)
• Hated to face: Tommie Agee (.533 in 15 AB); Don Demeter (.545 in 11 AB); Lou Brock (.406 in 32 AB)

1976 Topps #458 - Earl Williams

 

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• Earl Williams played in the majors from 1970-1977. Williams was a first round draft pick of the Milwaukee Braves in 1965. He was only 17 years old when he started playing in the minors in 1966. He started off as a pitcher in 1966 and was 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA in 11 games. Williams was moved to outfield and then to first base after the 1966 season. Earl batted .340 with 33 HR in Class A ball in 1969 and .309 with 24 HR in AA and AAA in 1970. Williams batted .368 in 10 games for the Braves at the end of the 1970 season.
• Earl was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1971. He batted .260 with 33 HR and 87 RBI. The Braves converted Williams to catcher even though he hadn't played the position in the minors. He also saw a lot of action at 1B and 3B. 
• Earl signed a $35,000 contract but reported to spring training 15 pounds overweight. Will The Sophomore Jinx Hobble Earl Williams? - May 1972 Baseball Digest. Williams had a similar year in 1972, batting .258 with 28 HR and 87 RBI. He became disenchanted with catching and after the 1972 season Williams was  traded with Taylor Duncan to the Baltimore Orioles for Pat Dobson, Roric Harrison, Davey Johnson and Johnny Oates.
• The Orioles were hoping for big things out of Earl. Jim Palmer was an early critic of the deal, but manager Earl Weaver thought he could win the pennant with Williams behind the plate. It was a tumultuous season for Earl, but the Orioles did win the AL East. In 1973 he batted .237 with 22 HR and 83 RBI. Williams batted .278 with 1 HR in five games in the 1973 ALCS.
• Earl didn't do as much in 1974, batting .254 with 14 HR and 52 RBI in 118 games. Williams was hitless in six at bats in the 1974 ALCS.
• On April 17, 1975 Earl was traded back (with cash) to the Braves for Jimmy Freeman. Williams spilt time between first base and catcher in 1975 and batted .240 with 11 HR and 50 RBI in 111 games. In 1976 Earl started off slowly (.212 with 9 HR and 36 RBI in 61 games) and was sold to the Montreal Expos on July 24. Williams played in 61 games for the Expos and batted .237 with 8 HR and 29 RBI.
• Williams was released by the Expos during spring training in 1977. Earl signed with the Oakland A's and batted .241 with 13 HR and 38 RBI in 100 games. Williams broke his thumb during spring training in 1978 and was unable to play. The A's released Earl on May 17. Nobody claimed him off of waivers and Earl played two years (1979 and 1980) in the Mexican League.
• Earl's SABR biography
• Liked to face: Dan Spillner (.571 in 14 AB); Jim Slaton (.478 in 23 AB); Jim Kaat (.471 in 17 AB)
• Hated to face: Steve Foucault/Jim Brewer (.000 in 11 AB); Bruce Kison (.056 in 18 AB); Don Sutton (.071 in 28 AB)

1976 Topps #457 - Ed Crosby

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• Ed Crosby played in parts of six seasons from 1970-1976. Ed was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1969. He batted .295 in 1969 and .300 in 1970 to earn a July promotion to the Cardinals in 1970. Crosby batted .253 in 38 games for the Cardinals in 1970.
• Crosby spent the entire 1971 season with AAA Tulsa. Ed was a utility infielder for the Cardinals in 1972 and batted .217 in 101 games. In 1973 Crosby started with the Cardinals and batted .128 in 22 games. He was traded to the Cincinnati Reds on July 27. Ed batted .216 in 36 games for the Reds and went 1 for 2 in the 1973 NLCS. After the 1973 season Crosby was picked by the Philadelphia Phillies in the Rule 5 draft.
• The Cardinals purchased Crosby from the Phillies during spring training in 1974. He played in 31 games for AAA Tulsa before being traded to the Cleveland Indians on June 1. Ed played in 10 games for AAA Oklahoma City and then finished the 1974 season with the Indians (.209 in 37 games).
• Ed batted .234 in 61 games for the Indians in 1975. Crosby batted twice in 1976 (1 for 2) and was in AAA for the rest of the year. Ed played in AAA for various organizations for the next three years and retired after the 1979 season.
• After his playing career Ed scouted for several years. He has a son (Bobby Crosby) who is currently a major league infielder. Another son (Blake) played college baseball for Brigham Young University and Sacramento State College. Ed wasn't happy about how the Oakland A's handled Bobby's career.

1976 Topps #456 - Joe Coleman

• Joe Coleman pitched in the majors from 1965-1979. His father Joe also pitched in the majors in the 1940s and 1950s. Coleman was a #1 draft pick of the Washington Senators in 1965. He had a great start to his major league career as an 18-year-old at the end of the 1965 season when he started two games and had complete game victories in both of them.
• Even though he had a great start to his career, Coleman wasn't quite ready for the majors. He pitched in the minors in 1965 and 1966. Joe had a complete game victory in his only major league game in 1966, which ran his career record to 3-0 in three starts.
• Joe started the 1967 season with the Senators and had a brief stint in the minors in August. Coleman ended up 8-9 with a 4.63 ERA in 28 games (22 starts). In 1968 Coleman was 12-16 with a 3.27 ERA in 33 starts.
• Joe's best season with the Senators was 1969. He went 12-13 with an ERA of 3.27 in 40 games (36 starts). Coleman was 8-12 with a 3.58 ERA in 1970. He battled with manager Ted Williams because of his reluctance to throw a slider. Joe tried it during spring training one season and wasn't successful with it. After the 1970 season Joe was traded with Ed Brinkman, Jim Hannan and Aurelio Rodriguez to the Detroit Tigers for Elliott Maddox, Denny McLain, Norm McRae and Don Wert. The trade was disastrous for the Senators.
• Coleman was a real workhorse for the Tigers in the next four seasons. In 1971 he was 20-9 with a 3.15 ERA in 38 starts. Joe was an AL All Star in 1972 (he didn't pitch in the game) and was 19-14 with a 2.80 ERA in 39 starts. Coleman pitched a 7-hit shutout in game 3 of the ALCS. He struck out a LCS-record 14 batters (the record was broken by Mike Mussina in 1997).
• Joe was 23-15 with a 3.53 ERA in 40 starts in 1973. He was 14-12 with a 4.32 ERA in 41 starts in 1974. Amazingly, Coleman didn't lead the league in starts in either of those seasons. How to Be A Winner Without the Slider - May 1974 Baseball Digest.
• All of those innings started to take a toll on Joe. In 1975 he slipped to 10-18 with a 5.55 ERA in 31 starts. Coleman started the 1976 season with the Tigers (2-5, 4.86 ERA in 12 starts) and was sold to the Chicago Cubs on June 8. The Cubs mostly used Joe as a reliever and he was 2-8 with a 4.10 ERA in 39 games (4 starts).
• During spring training in 1977 Joe was traded to the Oakland A's for Jim Todd. Coleman was a swingman for the A's in '77 and had his last good season. He went 4-4 with two saves and a 2.96 ERA in 43 games (12 starts). In 1978 Coleman pitched in 10 games for the A's (3-0, 1.37 ERA) before being sold to the Toronto Blue Jays on May 22. Joe went 2-0 with a 4.60 ERA in 31 games for the Blue Jays in 1978.
• Coleman became a free agent after the 1978 season. He was invited to spring training by the San Francisco Giants and made the club. Joe pitched in five games for the Giants (0-0, 0.00 ERA) before being released on April 21. Coleman signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 8. He spent most of the season in the minors before being recalled in August. Joe pitched in 10 games for the Pirates (0-0, 6.10 ERA) in 1979.
• Coleman spent three  more seasons in AAA but never made it back to the major leagues.
• Joe managed the single-A Peoria club in the Midwest League in 1983. He has been a pitching coach for various organizations since 1988. Joe is now the pitching coach for the class A Lakeland Flying Tigers.
• Liked to face: Orlando Cepeda (.000 in 12 AB); Glenn Borgmann (.053 in 19 AB); Jim Fregosi (.109 in 46 AB)
• Hated to face: Juan Beniquez (.450 in 20 AB); Bobby Murcer (.433 in 67 AB); Joe Pepitone (.409 in 22 AB)

1976 Topps #455 - Dick Allen

• Dick Allen spent most of his career with the Philadelphia Phillies, but I always thought of him as a White Sox player because of his three great early 70s seasons with them. This 1975 Topps card also influenced my thinking a lot.
• Dick Allen was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1960. He played mostly second base and outfield during his three minor league seasons. Dick earned a late season promotion to the Phillies in 1963 and batted .292 in ten games.
• Allen was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1964 and finished seventh in MVP voting. Even though he didn't play third base in the minors, Dick was the starting third baseman for the Phillies. Allen made 41 errors at third base in 1964, but he wasn't out there for his glove. He batted .318 with 29 HR and 91 RBI. Dick led the NL in runs (125), triples (13) and strikeouts (138) as the Phillies almost won the pennant.
• Dick hit fewer home runs in 1965 (20) but most of his other numbers were very similar to 1964. He batted .302 and knocked in 85 runs. Allen was the starting third baseman in the All Star game and went 1 for 3. People kept calling him Richie although he preferred Dick Dick Allen? - December 1965 Baseball Digest. Dick got into a clubhouse fight with teammate Frank Thomas. According to two teammates Thomas swung a bat at Allen and hit him on the shoulder. Thomas was released the next day and the other players were prevented from giving their side of the story.
• Allen was fourth in NL MVP voting in 1966. He made the All Star team again, striking out as a pinch hitter. Dick led the NL with a .632 slugging percentage, batted .317, hit 40 home runs, and had 110 RBI.
• Dick had an "all or nothing" game in the 1967 All Star game. He started at third base and batted four times. Allen struck out in three of those at bats and hit a solo homer in the other at bat. Allen batted .307 but his home run (23) and RBI (77) totals decreased. Dick split time between third base and left field in '67. He seriously injured his throwing hand when he pushed it through a car headlight in '67.
• In 1968 Dick was moved to left field. His batting average dipped to .268 but he hit 33 homers and had 90 RBI. Allen batted .288 with 32 HR and 89 RBI in 1969. Allen was fined and suspended when he didn't appear for a game after attending a morning horse race in New Jersey and getting caught in traffic on his way back to Shea Stadium.
• Dick wasn't very popular in Philadelphia and asked to be traded. The Phillies traded Allen to the St. Louis Cardinals as part of the famous Curt Flood trade. Before the 1970 season Cardinals manager Red Schoendienst was asked if the Cards should acquire Allen. Schoendienst said "no" because of the controversy surrounding Allen. After the 1970 season Schoendienst was asked if the Cardinals should trade Allen and he said "no" because of Allen's contributions to the club. In 1970 Allen batted .279 with 34 HR and 101 RBI. Dick was the NL's starting 1B in the 1970 All Star game and went 0 for 3 with a walk. After the 1970 season Dick was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Ted Sizemore and Bob Stinson.
• Allen split time between 3B, LF, and 1B for the Dodgers in 1971. In 155 games he batted .295 with 23 HR and 90 RBI. After the 1971 season Allen was traded to the Chicago White Sox for Tommy John and Steve Huntz.
• Dick had a great season in 1972 and almost led the White Sox to the AL West title. He led the AL in home runs (37), RBI (113), and slugging (.603) and batted .308. Dick made the cover of the June 12, 1972 issue of Sports Illustrated (it's an interesting picture). Allen was the 1972 AL MVP. He went 0 for 3 as the starting AL 1B in the All Star game. Dick Allen: Baseball Digest Player of the Year - December 1972 Baseball Digest.
• Allen was having another good year in 1973 when he broke his fibula in June. Allen made the AL All Star team but couldn't play due to his injury. Dick batted .316 with 16 HR and 41 RBI in 72 games in '73.
• Dick made the All Star team for the last time in 1974. He started at 1B and went 1 for 2. Allen led the AL with 32 HR. He also led in slugging percentage (.563), batted .301, and knocked in 88 runs. Dick left the White Sox with two weeks left in the season. The White Sox weren't sure if he wanted to continue to play so they sold his contract to the Atlanta Braves for $5000. Allen refused to report to the Braves and retired. The Batter Pitchers Hate to Face - October 1974 Baseball Digest.
• The Phillies were able to talk Allen out of retirement in May of 1975. The Phils sent Barry Bonnell, Jim Essian, and $150,000 to the Braves for Allen and Johnny Oates. Dick had shoulder problems and wasn't the same offensive player. He batted .233 with 12 HR and 62 RBI in 119 games. Allen batted .268 with 15 HR and 49 RBI in 85 games in 1976. Dick went 2 for 9 in the 1976 NLCS.
• Allen became a free agent after the 1976 season and signed with the Oakland A's. He batted .240 with 5 HR and 31 RBI in 54 games. Dick was released by the A's during spring training in 1978. Allen ended up with a career .292 batting average with 351 home runs.
• Allen's uninsured home and horse stables burned down in October 1979. He left his wife for a younger woman and lost everything (including his baseball pension) in the divorce.
• Dick Allen: Another View (by Craig R. Wright - SABR Magazine)
• Dick Allen, Baseball's Bad Boy - July 19, 1999 Sports Illustrated
• Liked to face: Juan Marichal (.371 with 8 HR in 105 AB); Paul Splittorff (.389 with 6 HR in 36 AB); Dick Ellsworth (.550 in 40 AB)
• Hated to face: Luke Walker (.000 in 25 AB); Don Drysdale (.065 in 46 AB); Ray Washburn (.103 in 29 AB)

1976 Topps #454 - Tom Griffin

• Tom Griffin pitched in the majors from 1969-1982. Griffin was a first round draft pick of the Houston Astros in 1966. Although he had a 7-14 record with a 4.34 ERA in AAA in 1968 Tom was called up to the majors in 1969. He was in Houston's starting rotation and went 11-10 with a 3.54 ERA in 31 starts in 1969.
• Griffin struggled in his next two seasons. He was 3-13 with a 5.76 ERA in 23 games for the Astros in 1970. Tom was sent down to the minors in August and made five starts in AAA. In 1971 Griffin started the season 0-5 with a 5.08 ERA before being sent down to AAA. He came back in September and ended up with an 0-7 record.
• Tom was a reliever and spot starter in 1972. He made 39 appearances (5 of them starts) and was 5-4 with 3 saves and a 3.24 ERA. Griffin missed about five weeks of the 1973 season. He went 4-6 with an ERA of 4.15 in 25 games (12 starts).
• Griffin became a starter in 1974. He started 34 games and was 14-10 with a 3.54 ERA. Tom had injury problems again in 1975. He didn't appear in any games after June 24. He ended up 3-8 with a 5.33 ERA in 17 games (13 starts).
• Tom was 5-3 with a 6.05 ERA for the Astros in August of 1976 when he placed on waivers and claimed by the San Diego Padres. Griffin started 11 games for the Padres and was 4-3 with a 2.94 ERA. The Padres used Griffin as a fifth starter and long reliever in 1977. Tom went 6-9 with a 4.40 ERA in 38 games (20 starts). After the 1977 season Griffin became a free agent and signed with the California Angels.
• Griffin missed three weeks in May of 1978 with an injury. He went 3-4 with a 4.02 ERA in 24 games (4 starts). Tom was released after the season. He was invited to spring training in 1979 with the San Francisco Giants and made the club. Tom went 5-6 with 2 saves and a 3.91 ERA in 59 games (3 starts) for the Giants in 1979.
• Griffin had a similar role for the Giants in 1980. He made 42 appearances (4 starts) and was 5-1 with a 2.76 ERA. In 1981 Tom went into the Giants' starting rotation. He was 8-8 with a 3.76 ERA in 22 starts in 1981. After the season Griffin was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Doe Boyland.
• Tom had a rough time with the Pirates. He was 1-3 with an 8.87 ERA when he was released on May 15.
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• Liked to face: Bob Watson (.000 in 14 AB); Gary Carter (.080 in 25 AB); Ivan De Jesus (.095 in 21 AB)
• Hated to face: Billy Williams (.485 in 33 AB); Ken Griffey (.480 in 25 AB); Bud Harrelson (.448 in 29 AB)

1976 Topps #453 - Lou Piniella

• It took Lou Piniella quite a while to establish himself in the majors. I think he had three different "rookie stars" cards in the 1960s. Piniella was signed by the Cleveland Indians in 1962. He played in the Indians' organization in 1962, then was picked by the Washington Senators in the "first-year draft." Lou played in the Senators' organization in 1963 and most of 1964 and then was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in August for Buster Narum. Piniella was brought up to the Orioles late in the 1964 season and was 0 for 1 in four games as a pinch hitter and pinch runner.
• Lou played in the Orioles' organization in 1965 and then was traded back to Cleveland. He then played in the Indians' organization for three seasons. Late in the 1968 season Piniella was brought up to the Indians and was 0 for 5 in six games as a pinch hitter. After the 1968 season Piniella was chosen by the Seattle Pilots in the expansion draft. He didn't play for the Pilots -- the Pilots traded Piniella to the Kansas City Royals for John Gelnar and Steve Whitaker.
• Piniella got his big break when he went to the Royals. He became the everyday left fielder for the Royals and won the AL Rookie of the Year award. Lou batted .282 with 11 HR in 1969. Piniella did even better in 1970 when he batted .301 with 11 HR. Breaks Start to Even up for Lou Piniella - August 1970 Baseball Digest. In 1971 Piniella fell off a little bit by batting .279 with 3 HR in 126 games.
• Lou made the AL All Star team for the only time in 1972 (he was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter). He led the AL with 33 doubles but also led the league in grounded into double plays (25). Piniella batted .312 with 11 HR and 72 RBI in 1972. Lou fell off in 1973 and batted .250 with 9 HR. After the 1973 season Lou was traded with Ken Wright to the New York Yankees for Lindy McDaniel.
• Piniella had a good year for the Yankees in 1974. He batted .305 with 9 HR and 70 RBI while mostly playing left field.
• The 1975 season was Piniella's toughest year as a major leaguer. He had a stint on the disabled list and ended up playing in only 74 games. Most of the time he batted in the lower .200s but on August 24 he dipped below the Mendoza Line and never recovered. Lou ended up with a .196 batting average.
• Lou recovered in 1976 and batted .281 in 100 games. He batted .273 in the 1976 ALCS and .333 (3 for 9) in the World Series.
• Piniella batted a career-high .330 in 1977. He also had a career high in home runs (12). Lou batted .333 in the ALCS and .273 in the World Series. Piniella had another solid year in 1978 when he batted .314 in 130 games. He batted .235 in the ALCS and .280 in the World Series. During this time in his career he was mostly a left fielder but he saw a lot of time in right field and at DH.
• Lou was the regular left fielder in 1979. He batted .297 with 11 HR in 130 games. In 1980 Piniella batted .287 in 116 games.
• In his last four seasons Piniella was mostly a substitute outfielder, DH, and pinch hitter. He swung the bat well right to the end of his career. Lou batted .277 in 1981, .307 in 1982, .291 in 1983, and .302 in 86 at bats in 1984 (his last season). The Yankees lost the 1981 World Series, but Piniella wasn't to blame -- he batted .438 in 16 at bats. Lou retired on June 16, 1984 with a .291 lifetime batting average.
• Piniella became the Yankees' batting coach in 1985. He managed the Yankees in 1986 and 1987 and then became the Yankees' general manager in 1988. He came back to the field on June 23 after the Yankees fired manager Billy Martin.
• Lou moved on to manage the Cincinnati Reds in 1990. The Reds won the world championship that year. After a tough 1991 season the Reds finished second in the NL West in 1992.
• Piniella managed the Seattle Mariners from 1993-2002. He was Manager of the Year in 1995 and 2001. The Mariners won three AL West titles under Piniella and won a record-tying 116 games in 2001. After the 2002 season Lou was included in a trade to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays that sent Randy Winn to the Mariners.
• Lou managed the Devil Rays from 2003-2005. He clashed with the Tampa Bay front office because of their low payroll and their focus on the future at the expense of immediate results. Lou stepped down as the Tampa Bay manager after the 2005 season even though he had one more year left on his contract at $4.4 million (he took a $2.2 million buyout).
• Piniella did some broadcasting in 2006 and then was hired to manage the Chicago Cubs in 2007. The Cubs won the NL East in 2007 (he was NL Manager of the Year) and again in 2008, but they didn't make it to the World Series. He is still managing the Cubs, but this is the last year of his contract (2010).
• Liked to face: Rich Wortham (.450 in 20 AB); Andy Hassler (.425 in 40 AB); Rudy May (.407 in 57 AB); Larry Gura (.407 in 59 AB)
• Hated to face: Wayne Garland (.000 in 19 AB); Ray Corbin (.125 in 24 AB); Mel Stottlemyre (.136 in 22 AB)