1976 Hostess #14 - Terry Forster

• Terry had an uneven run in the 1971-1975 time period
• Terry had a great year out of the bullpen in 1972 -- he was 6-5 with 29 saves and had a 2.25 ERA
• Forster led the AL with 24 saves in 1974
• Terry had elbow problems in 1975 and only appeared in two games after May 23.
• Forster had a rough year in 1976. He was a swingman (29 appearances, 16 of them starts) and was 2-12 with a 4.37 ERA
• Forster and Goose Gossage were traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Silvio Martinez and Richie Zisk.
• Terry spent one year in Pittsburgh before going to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He enjoyed several good seasons as a reliever for the Dodgers
• Before peak, peak, or after peak? after first peak, before second peak

1976 Hostess #8 - Al Fitzmorris

• Al Fitzmorris was an important member of the KC Royals' rotation for a few years in the mid 1970s
• Fitzmorris had a good year in 1974 (13-6, 2.79 ERA)
• He also had a good year in 1976 -- Al was 15-11 with a 3.06 ERA
• After the 1976 season Al was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the expansion draft
• Fitzmorris had the rare distinction of being drafted in two different expansion drafts. The Royals plucked Al from the Chicago White Sox in 1968.
• A few hours after he was taken by the Blue Jays, Fitzmorris was traded to the Cleveland Indians for Andy Ashby and Doug Howard
• Al got into Cleveland manager Frank Robinson's doghouse and the dispute helped lead to Robinson's dismissal. Fitzmorris took himself out of a game and said he had a sore arm. Frank wanted to fine him, but club management turned down the request for a fine.
• Al had a poor season in 1977 and was released by the Indians after pitching in seven games in 1978. The California Angels picked him up, but Fitzmorris left as a free agent after the season.
• Fitzmorris signed with the San Diego Padres in 1979 but didn't make the club.
• Before peak, peak, or after peak? peak

1976 Hostess #80 - Rick Monday

• Rick Monday enjoyed a nice run as the Cubs' starting center fielder in the early to mid 1970s.
• Monday was traded to the Cubs after the 1971 season for Ken Holtzman. Both players were productive for their new teams. It was a great deal for Oakland as Holtzman solidified their rotation during the dynasty years.
• Rick had his best year as a Cub in 1976. He batted .272 with 32 HR and 77 RBI. He also led the club with 107 runs scored.
• Monday gained fame on April 25, 1976 when he took an American flag away from some people who had tried to burn it at Dodger Stadium. A clip of the incident:

• After the 1976 season Monday was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of the deal that brought Bill Buckner and Ivan DeJesus to Chicago.

1976 Kellogg's #32 - Tom Seaver

• What did he do to deserve a 1976 Kellogg's card?
• Tom Seaver was one of the best (if not the best) pitchers in baseball in the 1970s.
• In 1975 Seaver won his third NL Cy Young Award and was an NL All Star
• Tom led the  NL in wins (22) and in strikeouts (243)
• 1976 Highlights:
• Was a holdout during spring training but agreed to terms and became baseball's highest paid pitcher on April 5.
• Had a rough stretch in May, losing four straight starts. 
• Pitched two innings in the All Star Game and allowed a solo home run to Fred Lynn
• Had a record of 14-11 with a 2.59 ERA
• Led the NL with 235 strikeouts (his ninth straight 200-plus strikeout season)

1976 Hostess #136 - Don Money

• Don Money's career didn't really get going until he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers after the 1972 season.
• Money was an above-average fielder wherever he played and was usually in double figures in home runs.
• Don was a four-time AL All Star (1974, 1976, 1977, and 1978)
• Money was uncomfortable when the Brewers signed third baseman Sal Bando after the 1976 season, but Don got plenty of playing time at second base and first base in the next couple of years.
• Before peak, peak, or after peak? peak

1976 Hostess #121 - Mike Cuellar

• This is a nice five-year run for Mike Cuellar. Two 20-win seasons and two others with 18 wins.
• Mike was an important part of the Orioles' rotation from 1969-1975. He won the Cy Young Award in 1969.
• Cuellar was out of gas by the time this card was printed. Mike was removed from the rotation in early June. He went 4-13 with a 4.96 ERA in 1976 and was waived after the season. 
• Before peak, peak, or after peak? after peak

1976 Hostess #113 - Ted Simmons

• Ted Simmons was one heck of an offensive catcher. He'd be a Hall of Famer if he would have had a better decline phase of his career.
• During this five-year run, Simmons was an All Star in three seasons (1972, 1973, and 1974). He wasn't an All Star in 1975, although he finished 6th in MVP voting that year. Ted declined an invitation to the game for personal reasons.
• After the 1975 season Ted signed a contract calling for $200,000 a year for three years. At the time it was the biggest contract in St. Louis Cardinals' history.
• Simmons scolded "fair weather fans" in St. Louis during the 1976 season.
• Ted had his weakest full season of the decade in 1976, batting .291 with 5 HR and 75 RBI.
• Before peak, peak, or after peak? peak