1976 Topps #609 - Fred Norman

• Fred Norman pitched in the majors for 16 years. His biggest years were for the Cincinnati Reds in the mid-late 1970s. Norman was signed by the Kansas City A's in 1961. Fred pitched in the minors for the A's from 1961-1963. Norman had brief stints with Kansas City in 1962 (0-0, 2.25 ERA in two games) and in 1963 (0-1, 11.37 ERA in two starts).
• Norman was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Nelson Mathews before the 1964 season. Fred started the 1964 season with the Cubs but was sent down after going 0-4 with a 6.54 ERA in 8 games (5 starts). Fred was in the minors for the rest of the 1964 season and for the entire 1965 season.
• Norman was also in the minors for most of the 1966 season. He pitched in two games for the Cubs late in 1966 and allowed two runs in four innings.
• Fred pitched in one game for the Cubs (0 runs in 1 inning) in 1967 before he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Dick Calmus on April 26. Norman was in the minors for the rest of the 1967 season and stayed in the minors in 1968 and in 1969. 
• Norman pitched in 30 games (2-0, 5.14 ERA) for the Dodgers in 1970. Fred was waived in late September and picked up by the St. Louis Cardinals. Norman pitched in one game for the Cardinals before the end of the 1970 season.
• Fred started the 1971 season with the Cardinals and pitched in four games (0-0, 12.57 ERA) before being sent to the minors. On June 11 Norman was traded to the San Diego Padres. Fred became a starting pitcher with the Padres and was 3-12 with a 3.32 ERA in 20 games (18 starts) to finish the 1971 season.
• Norman pitched in 42 games (28 starts) in 1972 and was 9-11 with a 3.44 ERA. In 1973 Fred started the season 1-7 with a 4.26 ERA in 11 starts for the Padres. Norman was traded to the Cincinnati Reds on June 12 for two players and cash. Fred turned it around with the Reds and was 12-6 with a 3.30 ERA in 24 starts. Norman started game 4 of the 1973 NLCS and allowed one run in five innings (he didn't get a decision in the 12-inning game).
• Norman turned in several solid seasons as a starter and reliever for the Reds. In 1974 Fred was 13-12 with a 3.14 ERA. Fred was 12-4 with a 3.73 ERA in 1975. Norman started and won game 2 of the 1975 NLCS. Fred went 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in two games in the 1975 World Series. He started and lost game 4 when he allowed five runs in the 4th inning).
• Fred had a 12-7 record with a 3.09 ERA in 1976. Norman started game 2 of the World Series but wasn't involved in the decision.
• Norman was 14-13 with a 3.38 ERA in 1977 and went 11-9 with a 3.70 ERA in 1978. 
• In 1979 Fred was 11-13 with a 3.64 ERA. Norman pitched two innings in the 1979 NLCS and allowed four runs. After the 1979 season Fred became a free agent and signed with the Montreal Expos.
• Norman was mostly a reliever for the Expos in 1980. Fred appeared in 48 games (8 starts) and 4-4 with four saves and had a 4.13 ERA. Fred didn't make the Montreal team in 1981 and was released at the end of spring training.
• Liked to face: Rod Gilbreath (.045 in 22 AB); Bobby Murcer (.065 in 31 AB); Joe Ferguson (.093 in 43 AB)
• Hated to face: Manny Trillo (.500 in 22 AB); Roberto Clemente/Jerry Martin (.455 in 22 AB); Bob Bailey (.450 in 40 AB)

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1976 Topps #608 - Vic Correll

• Vic Correll was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1967. Correll played in the Cleveland system from 1967-1970 and was released by the Indians at the end of spring training in 1971. Vic signed with the Chicago White Sox and played in the Chicago minor league system in 1971. Correll was then taken by the Boston Red Sox in the minor league draft.
• Correll played in AAA Louisville in 1972. Vic played in one game for the Red Sox at the end of the 1972 season and went 2 for 4 in the game.
• Vic was in the minors in 1973 and then was traded to the Atlanta Braves for Chuck Goggin before the 1974 season. Correll batted .238 in 73 games for the Braves in 1974.
• Correll was the starting catcher for much of the 1975 season before being replaced  by rookie Biff Pocoroba. Correll batted .215 with 11 home runs in 103 games in 1975. 
• Vic shared time behind the plate with Pocoroba and Earl Williams in 1976. Correll batted .225 in 69 games in 1976.
• Correll backed up Pocoroba in 1977 and batted .208 in 54 games. Vic was released during spring training in 1978. Correll signed with the Cincinnati Reds and split time between the Reds and AAA Indianapolis. Vic batted .238 in 52 games for the Reds in 1978.
• In 1979 Correll batted .233 in 48 games.
•  Vic didn't play  much in 1980 due to an Achilles' tendon tear suffered during spring training. Correll went 8  for 19 (.421 ) in ten late season games and was released after the season.

1976 Topps #607 - Rich Hinton

• Rich Hinton was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1969. He was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1965 but elected to attend the University of Arizona instead.
• Hinton was brought up to Chicago in July 1971. Rich pitched in 18 games (2 starts) and had a 3-4 record with a 4.44 ERA. After the 1971 season Hinton was traded to the New York Yankees for Jim Lyttle.
• Rich was up and down between New York and AAA Syracuse in 1972. Hinton went 1-0 with a 4.86 ERA in seven games (three starts) with the Yankees before he was sold to the Texas Rangers on September 7. Rich pitched in five games for Texas and was 0-1 with a 2.38 ERA.
• Hinton was traded to the Cleveland Indians during spring training in 1973. Rich spent the 1973 season in the minors and then was released during spring training in 1974. Rich signed with the White Sox and pitched in the minors during the 1974 season.
• Rich started the 1975 season in the minors and came back up to Chicago in late July. Hinton appeared in 15 games for the White Sox in 1975 and was 1-0 with a 4.82 ERA. After the 1975 season Rich was traded with a minor leaguer to the Cincinnati Reds for Clay Carroll.
• In 1976 Hinton was up and down between AAA Indianapolis and Cincinnati. Rich was 1-2 with a 7.64 ERA in 12 games for the Reds in 1976. Hinton didn't pitch in 1977 and became a free agent after the season.
• Hinton signed with the White Sox for a third time before the 1978 season. Rich started four games for AAA Iowa and went 2-6 with one save and had a 4.02 ERA in 29 games (4 starts) with the White Sox in 1978.
• Rich made four starts in Iowa again in 1979 and then was with the White Sox. Hinton pitched in 16 games (2 starts) for the White Sox and was 1-2 with a 6.05 ERA. On July 6 Hinton was traded to the Seattle Mariners on July 6 for Juan Bernhardt. Rich went 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in 14 games for the Mariners to finish the 1979 season. Hinton retired after the 1979 season.
• Rich Hinton now lives in Sarasota, FL with his wife and six children. He has had a Green Builder business since 1991.

1976 Topps #606 - Milwaukee Brewers

• That isn't my handwriting on the card -- I took this one off of the Topps site. A couple months ago I decided that it would be easier to pull the cards that hadn't been scanned yet off of this site instead of scanning them myself.
• Alex Grammas was  hired to manage the Brewers before the 1976 season
• Grammas managed the club to 6th place finishes in 1976 (66-95) and in 1977 (67-95)
• Alex was fired as the  Milwaukee manager after the 1977 season.
• Grammas coached with Sparky Anderson in Cincinnati (1970-1975, 1978) and in Detroit (1980-1991)
• Team Record: 66-95 (6th in AL East - 32 games behind New York)
• Team Attendance: 1,012,164 (7th in AL)
• Team Batting: .246 (10th in AL)
• Team Home Runs: 88 (6th in AL)
• Team Stolen Bases: 62 (12th in AL)
• Team ERA: 3.64 (9th in AL)
• Team Fielding: .975 (10th in AL)
• Batting Leader: Sixto Lezcano - .285
• Home Run Leader: George Scott - 18
• RBI Leader: George Scott - 77
• Stolen Base Leader: Robin Yount - 16
• Victories Leader: Bill Travers - 15
• Losses Leader: Bill Travers - 16
• Strikeouts Leader: Jim Slaton - 138
• ERA Leader (starters): Bill Travers - 2.81
• ERA leader (relievers): Danny Frisella - 2.74
• Saves Leader: Danny Frisella - 9
• AL All Stars: Don Money (3B); Bill Travers (P)
• AL Gold Glove Awards: George Scott (1B)

1976 Topps #605 - Al Downing

• Al Downing was signed by the New York Yankees in 1961. Al pitched well for Class A Binghamton (9-1, 1.84 ERA) and was brought up to the Yankees in July. Downing pitched in five games for the Yankees and was 0-1 with an 8.00 ERA.
• Downing was in the minors for most of the 1962 season. Al pitched briefly for the Yankees in 1962 (0 runs in one inning pitched).
• Al's first full season was 1963. Downing was 13-5 with a 2.56 ERA in 22 starts during the regular season. Al started and lost game 2 of the 1963 World Series.
• Downing led the AL in walks (120) and in strikeouts (217) in 1964. Al had an 13-8 record with a 3.47 ERA in 35 starts in 1964. Downing started game 4 of the 1964 World Series and also made two relief appearances in that series.
• The Yankees' fortunes took a downward turn after 1964 but Downing had some good years for the club. In 1965 Al was 12-14 with a 3.40 ERA and in 1966 he was 10-11 with a 3.56 ERA.
• Downing went 14-10 with a 2.63 ERA in 1967. Al made the AL All Star team that year and pitched two scoreless innings (9th and 10th) in the game.
• Al had injury problems in 1968 and spent quite a bit of time on the disabled list. Downing was 3-3 with a 3.52 ERA in 13 starts in 1968.
• Downing started the 1969 season in the bullpen and was put back in the starting rotation in July. Al ended up going 7-5 with a 3.38 ERA in 30 games (15 starts) in 1969.
• After the 1969 season Downing was traded to the Oakland A's in a multi-player deal that sent Danny Cater to the Yankees.
• Al started the 1970 season with the A's and was 3-3 with a 3.95 ERA when he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers on June 12. Downing went 2-10 with a 3.34 ERA in 16 starts for the Brewers to finish the 1970 season.
• Before the 1971 season Downing was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Andy Kosco
• Downing won the Comeback Player of the Year in 1971 and also finished third in NL Cy Young Award voting. Al went 20-9 with a 2.68 ERA in  36 starts in 1971.
• Al didn't have as many victories in the next few seasons but was still a solid starter for the Dodgers. In 1972 Downing was 9-9 with a 2.98 ERA. Al was 9-9 again in 1973 with a 3.31 ERA.
• Downing had some injury problems in 1974 and pitched only once between late May and late July. Al went 5-6 with a 3.66 ERA in 21 games (16 starts) in 1974. Downing gained fame by giving up Henry Aaron's 715th home run on April 8. Downing pitched four scoreless innings in a relief appearance during the 1974 NLCS. Al started and lost game 3 of the 1974 World Series.
• Al didn't get as much work during the last 2 1/2 years of his career. Downing was 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA in 22 games (6 starts) in 1975 and was 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA in 17 games (3 starts) in 1976. Al pitched in 12 games in 1977 and was 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA. Downing was released on July 21.
• Liked to face: Ken Reitz (.000 in 18 AB); Joe Torre (.034 in 29 AB); Willie Stargell (.083 in 24 AB)
• Hated to face: Manny Sanguillen (.520 in 25 AB); Vic Power (.500 in 18 AB); Jim Wynn (.452 in 31 AB)
• Al now works in community service for the Dodgers. Here is Downing's TTM information. Here is an article about Al from August 2010.

Farewell Sparky

1978 Topps #401

I was saddened to read about the passing of Sparky Anderson today. Sparky seemed like a good guy and he will be missed.

A few Sparky Anderson quotes:

• "People who live in the past generally are afraid to compete in the present. I've got my faults, but living in the past is not one of them. There's no future in it."
• "Baseball is a simple game. If you have good players and if you keep them in the right frame of mind then the manager is a success."
• "The great thing about baseball is when you're done, you'll only tell your grandchildren the good things. If they ask me about 1989, I'll tell them I had amnesia."

A 1977 interview with Sparky Anderson:

1976 Topps #604 - Joe Lovitto

• Joe Lovitto played for the Texas Rangers from 1972-1975. Joe was the first round pick (second overall) of the Washington Senators in 1969. Lovitto played in the minors from 1969-1971 and played well enough to earn a shot at the major league club in spring training in 1972.
• Lovitto was the starting center fielder for much of the 1972 season and batted .224 in 117 games. He had a run-in with Texas manager Ted Williams during the season.
• Joe started the 1973 season with the Rangers but suffered a leg injury in June. After some time off Lovitto played in AAA for the rest of the 1973 season. Joe ended up batting .136 in 44 at bats for the Rangers in '73.
• Joe started 73 games in center field in 1974. Lovitto played in a total of 113 games and batted .223 in 283 at bats.
• In 1975 Lovitto played sparingly. He batted .208 in 50 games. 
• After the 1975 season the Rangers traded Joe to the New York Mets for Gene Clines. Lovitto didn't make the Mets ballclub in 1976 and was cut during spring training
• Joe Lovitto died of cancer after battling it for eight years at the age of 50 on May 19, 2001.

A video tribute to Joe Lovitto:

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