1976 Topps #518 - Doug Flynn

• Doug Flynn was an infielder in the majors from 1975-1985. Doug was signed by the Cincinnati Reds in 1971 after a tryout camp and played in the minors from 1972-1974. Flynn came up to the Reds in 1975 as a backup infielder. He batted .268 in 89 games during the regular season and wasn't used in the postseason.
• Flynn was a backup infielder again in 1976 and batted .289 in 93 games. Doug got to see some postseason action in 1976 when he was used as a defensive replacement in one game in the NLCS.
• Doug backed up in the infield again in 1977. He didn't get much playing time (.250 in 32 AB) and on June 15 was included in the trade with the New York Mets that brought Tom Seaver to the Reds. Flynn was a backup for the Mets in 1977 and batted .191 in 282 AB.
• Second baseman Felix Milan retired after the 1977 season and Flynn was given the Mets' starting second base job.  Doug batted .237 in 156 games in 1978 and .243 in 157 games in 1979.
• Doug won the NL Gold Glove at second base in 1980. He batted .255 in 128 games in 1980 and .222 in 105 games in 1981. Flynn hit three triples in one game on August 5, 1980. After the 1981 season Flynn was traded to the Texas Rangers for Jim Kern.
• Flynn wasn't with the Rangers for very long. He batted .211 in 88 games for the Rangers and was sold to the Montreal Expos on August 2. Doug started at second base for the last two months of the season and batted .244 in 58 games for the Expos in 1982.
• Doug batted .237 in 143 games in 1983 and .243 in 124 games in 1984. He split time between second base and shortstop in both of those seasons.
• In 1985 Flynn was 1 for 6 (.167) in nine games for the Expos when he was released on June 11. He signed with the Detroit Tigers on June 20 and batted .255 in 32 games. Flynn didn't make the Tigers club in 1986 and was released in spring training.
• Flynn managed in the Mets' system in 1996 and 1997. He is now a banker in his hometown of Lexington, KY.
• Liked to face: Tom Bruno (.545 in 11 AB); Rick Camp (.500 in 20 AB); Don Sutton (.450 in 20 AB)
• Hated to face: Preston Hanna/Rick Honeycutt (.000 in 11 AB); Tug McGraw (.059 in 17 AB); Rick Rhoden (.077 in 39 AB)

1976 Topps #517 - John Milner

• John  Milner played in the majors from 1971-1982. Milner was drafted by the New York Mets in 1968. John played in the  minors from 1968-1971. He got a brief look by the Mets in 1971 and batted .167 in 18 AB.
• Milner was third in NL Rookie of the Year voting behind Jon Matlack and Dave Rader in 1972. Milner batted .238 with 17 HR and 38 RBI. In 1973 John spent most of his time at 1B and played some in LF as well. He batted .239 with 23 HR and 72 RBI during the regular season. John batted .176 in the NLCS and .296 in the World Series.
• Milner was the starting first baseman in 1974 and batted .252 with 20 HR and 63 RBI in 137 games. John struggled in 1975 and didn't get as much playing time. Milner batted .191 with 7 HR in 91 games in '75.
• John had a much better year in 1976, batting .271 with 15 HR and 78 RBI. Milner batted .255 with 12 HR and 57 RBI in 1977. After the 1977 season Milner was involved in a complicated 4-way trade. He ended up with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• For the next two years Milner and Bill Robinson formed an effective combination in left field for the Pirates. In 1978 Milner batted .271 with 6 HR and 38 RBI in 295 AB. Milner batted .276 with 16 HR and 60 RBI in 326 AB. John was hitless in nine at bats in the NLCS and was 3 for 9 in the World Series.
• John spent some time at 1B in 1980 as well as LF. He batted .244 with 8 HR and 34 RBI in 1980. Milner was mostly relegated to pinch hitting duties for the Pirates in 1981. John was batting .237 with 2 HR in 59 AB when he was traded to the  Montreal Expos for Willie Montanez on August 20. Milner batted .237 with 3 HR in 76 AB for the Expos to finish the 1981 season. Milner made two pinch hitting appearances in the NLDS (1 for 2) and was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter in the NLCS.
• Milner didn't do much for the Expos in 1982 (.107 in 28 AB) and was released on July 6. John signed with the Pirates on July 29 and batted .240 in 25 AB. Milner was released during spring training in 1983 and retired.
• Milner testified during the Pittsburgh drug trials in 1985. John testified that he once bought cocaine in a bathroom stall in Three Rivers Stadium during a game in 1980 and that he had received amphetamines from Willie Mays and Willie Stargell.
• John died of lung cancer at the age of 50 in East Point, Georgia in 2000.
• Liked to face: Dave Giusti (.538 in 13 AB); Paul Moskau (.474 in 19 AB); Don Gullett (.450 in 20 AB)
• Hated to face: Larry Demery (.000 in 11 AB); Claude Osteen (.056 in 18 AB); Alan Foster (.091 in 22 AB)

1976 Topps #516 - Wayne Granger

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• Wayne Granger pitched for seven teams from 1968-1976. Wayne was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1965. He was a starting pitcher in 1965 but after that Wayne was a reliever and spot starter. In 1968 Wayne got his chance with the Cardinals and went 4-2 with four saves and a 2.25 ERA in 34 games. Granger pitched two scoreless innings in game 6 of the 1968 World Series. After the 1968 season Granger and  Bobby Tolan were traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Vada Pinson.
• Wayne had three good seasons with the Reds. In 1969 he led the NL with 90 appearances and was 9-6 with 27 saves and a 2.80 ERA. Granger got a few votes in NL Cy Young Award balloting in 1970. He went 6-5 with a league-leading 35 saves and a 2.66 ERA in 67 games. Wayne made one appearance in the NLCS (2/3 of an inning with no runs allowed) and made two appearances in the World Series. Granger pitched 1.1 innings and allowed five runs (33.75 ERA). Wayne gave up a grand slam  to Dave McNally in game 3. It was the only time a pitcher has ever hit a grand slam in a World Series game.
• In 1971 Wayne again led the NL in appearances again with 70. Granger was 7-6 and had 11 saves and a 3.33 ERA. After the 1971 season the Reds decided to go with Clay Carroll as their closer and traded Granger to the Minnesota Twins for Tom Hall.
• Wayne went 4-6 with 19 saves and a 3.01 ERA in 63 games for the Twins in 1972. After the 1972 season Granger was traded to the Cardinals for John Cumberland and Larry Hisle.
• Granger started the 1973 season with the Cardinals (2-4, 5 saves, 4.24 ERA) and was  traded to the New York Yankees on August 7 for Ken Crosby and cash. Wayne was 0-1 with a 1.76 ERA in seven appearances with the Yankees.
• Wayne didn't make the Yankees club in 1974 and was released during spring training. Granger signed with the Chicago White Sox in April  and was up and down between the White Sox and AAA Iowa. Wayne made five appearances with the White Sox in 1974 and had no record and an 8.22 ERA. Granger was released by the White Sox after the season and signed with the Houston Astros.
• Granger pitched in 55 games in 1975 and was 2-5 with five saves and a 3.65 ERA. He was released after the season and signed with the Montreal Expos. Wayne started the 1976 season with the Expos and was 1-0 with two saves and a 3.66 ERA in 27 games. Granger was sent to the minors in late June and didn't come back up. 
• After the 1976 season Wayne was  released again and signed with the Atlanta Braves. His arm injuries caught up to him and he didn't make the Braves squad. Wayne retired after he was released by the Braves.
• Granger now lives in Huntington, MA. Here is his TTM information. Wayne will be inducted into the Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame in November 2010.
• Liked to face: Dave Cash (.000 in 15 AB); Bill Russell/Enzo Hernandez (.083 in 12 AB)
• Hated to face: Dennis Menke/Rusty Staub/Deron Johnson (.500 in 10 AB)

1976 Topps #515 - Steve Yeager

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• Here's a quick ad for a new set blog -- The 1974 Topps Set. The 1974 set was the first one I ever collected and I'm looking forward to following this blog. It is an underrated set that has a lot of sentimental value for me.
• Steve Yeager was a catcher in the major leagues from 1972-1986, mostly with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Yeager was drafted by the Dodgers in 1967. In his first three years in the minors (1967-1969) Yeager didn't come close to the Mendoza Line. Steve kept plugging away and eventually batted   over .270 in each of his last three minor league seasons (1970-1972).
• Yeager was brought up to the Dodgers in August 1972. In 35 games Steve batted .274. Yeager backed up Joe Ferguson in 1973 and batted .254 in 134 AB. Steve got more playing time in 1974 and had his best offensive year, batting .266 with 12 HR in 94 games. Yeager went 0 for 9 in the NLCS but he was 4 for 11 (.364) in the 1974 World Series.
• Steve took over the regular catching duties for the Dodgers in 1975. He batted .228 with 12 HR and 54 RBI in 135 games in 1975. The Catcher Who Says He's Better Than Bench - May 1975 Baseball Digest.
• Yeager had a life-threatening accident in 1976. He was standing in the on-deck circle when Bill Russell was at bat. Russell's bat shattered and a piece of the bat hit Steve in the neck. Steve suffered a punctured esophagus and had nine pieces of wood removed from his neck in 98 minutes of surgery. Dodger trainer Bill Buhler invented and patented a throat protector after this incident and soon most major league catchers were wearing it. Steve batted .214 with 11 HR and 35 RBI for the Dodgers in 1976.
• Yeager improved his offensive numbers in 1977 and batted .256 with 16 HR and 55 RBI. He batted .231 in the NLCS and .316 in the World Series.
• Steve missed some time with injuries in July and August of 1978 and his offense never really got in gear. He batted .193 in 94 games during the regular season. Yeager batted .231 in four games in the NLCS and .231 in five games in the World Series. The Indespensable Dodger: Catcher Steve Yeager - July 1978 Baseball Digest.
• Yeager played in 105 games and batted .216 in 1979 as he split time with Ferguson behind the plate. Steve and his family appeared on Family Feud in September 1979 and were on for six days. Steve batted .211 in 96 games in 1980.
• By 1981 Mike Scioscia had taken over as the Dodgers' regular catcher. Steve played in 42 games in 1981 and batted .209 in 86 at bats. Steve batted a total of seven times and got three hits in the NLDS and NLCS. He played in all six games of the 1981 World Series and batted .286. He hit a game-winning HR off of Ron Guidry in game 5 of the series. The Game I'll Never Forget - May 1986 Baseball Digest. Yeager was named World Series MVP along with Pedro Guerrero and Ron Cey.
• Steve batted .245 in 82 games in 1982. He appeared in Playgirl magazine in October 1982.
• Mike Scioscia missed most of the 1983 season with an injury and Yeager was pressed back into service as the regular catcher. Steve batted .203 in 113 games during the regular season and .167 in six at bats in the NLCS.
• Yeager returned to his backup catcher duties in 1984 and batted .228 in 74 games. He batted .207 in 53 games in 1985. After the 1985 season Steve was traded to the Seattle Mariners for Ed Vande Berg.
• Steve spent one year (1986) in Seattle and batted .208 in 50 games. Yeager retired after the season.
• Yeager was a technical advisor and played Coach Duke Temple in the three Major League movies. Steve is a nephew of Chuck Yeager. Tom Bradley, who was the mayor of Los Angeles at the time, served as Steve's best man at his wedding.
• Yeager was a manager and a coach in the minor leagues after his retirement as a player. He was a hitting coach (of all things) in the Dodgers' system for a few seasons.
• Steve was involved in an automobile accident in 2007. A car on the other side of a freeway hit the center divider, became airborne, and landed on Steve's car. Steve swerved just enough to keep the car from landing right on top of him. His left arm was pretty torn up.
• Liked to face: Ron Schueler (.500 in 14 AB); John Denny (.444 in 18 AB); Larry Christenson (.429 in 21 AB)
• Hated to face: John Stuper (.000 in 13 AB); Eric Rasmussen (.050 in 20 AB); J.R. Richard (.083 in 48 AB)

1976 Topps #514 - Dan Driessen

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• Dan Driessen played in the majors from 1973-1987,  mostly for the Cincinnati Reds. Driessen was signed by the Reds in 1969 after he wrote a letter to the team and asked for a tryout. Dan played well in the minors and was brought up to the Reds in 1973 after batting .409 in 47 games in AAA Indianapolis. Dan spent about 3/4 of his time at 3B and 1/4 at 1B in 1973 and batted .301 in 102 games. Driessen finished in a three-way tie with Bob Boone and Elias Sosa for third in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 1973 behind Gary Matthews and Steve Rogers. Dan batted .167 in four games in the 1973 NLCS. Reds Rookie is a Tough Cookie - August 27, 1973 Sports Illustrated.
• Driessen was the starting third baseman for the Reds in 1974. He batted .281 with 7 HR and 56 RBI in 150 games.
• The Reds moved Pete Rose to third base in 1975 to make room for George Foster in left field. The move sent Driessen to the bench. In 1975 Dan batted .281 in 88 games during the regular season. He wasn't used in the NLCS and was 0 for 2 in two games in the World Series. Driessen batted .247 in 98 games in 1976. He was 0 for 1 in the NLCS but got the opportunity to play in the World Series as the first designated hitter ever used by the NL. Dan batted .357 in 14 at bats in the Series. Dan Driessen, Cincy's DH Hits the Jackpot - January 1977 Baseball Digest. After the 1976 season the Reds traded Tony Perez to the Montreal Expos to make room for Driessen in the starting lineup.
• Driessen was the starting first baseman for the Reds from 1977 through 1983. He was a good fielder -- his lowest fielding percentage during that span was .993. Driessen didn't win any Gold Glove awards even though he led the NL in fielding percentage three times. Dan batted .300 with 17 HR, 91 RBI and 31 stolen bases in 1977 and .250 with 16 HR, 70 RBI and 28 stolen bases in 1978. 
• In 1979 the Reds won the NL West and returned to the playoffs after a two-year absence. Driessen batted .250 with 18 HR and 75 RBI during the regular season and went 1 for 12 in three games in the NLCS.
• Dan led the NL with 93 walks in 1980 and batted .265 with 14 HR and 74 RBI. In 1981 Driessen batted .236 with 7 HR and 33 RBI in 88 games. He had a couple of minor injuries that caused him to miss a week in May and nine days in September.
• In 1982 Dan batted .277 with 12 HR and 57 RBI and in 1983 he batted .269 with 16 HR and 60 RBI. Driessen started the 1984 season with the Reds (.280 with 7 HR in 81 games) and was traded to the Montreal Expos on July 26 for Andy McGaffigan and a minor leaguer (this was three weeks before Pete Rose came back to the Reds). Dan batted .254 with 9 HR in 51 games with the Expos to finish the 1984 season. 
• In 1985 Dan started with the Expos (.250 with 6 HR in 91 games) and was traded to the San Francisco Giants for Bill Laskey and Scot Thompson on August 1. Driessen batted .232 with three HR in 54 games for the Giants in '85. That was the year the Giants had that awful 100-loss season. In the 1986 Bill James Baseball Extract I remember the entry for Driessen said something like "typical San Francisco Giant". Ouch.
• Dan didn't last long with the Giants under new manager Roger Craig in 1986. He batted .188 in 16 at bats before being released on May 1 (the Giants ate his contract and paid him $700,000 in 1986 and $900,000 in 1987). On June 2 Dan signed with the Houston Astros and batted .295 in 70 games for AAA Tucson. Driessen came back to the Astros in September and batted .292 in 24 at bats.
• Driessen was released after the 1986 season. He signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in June and played in 58 games for AAA Louisville. Dan came back to the Cards in September and batted .233 in 24 games. Driessen batted .250 in five games in the NLCS and .231 in four games in the World Series. Driessen was released after the 1987 season and retired.
• Dan played in the Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989 and 1990.
• Liked to face: Dave Roberts (.588 in 17 AB); Bruce Kison (.471 in 17 AB); Larry Dierker (.458 in 24 AB)
• Hated to face: Jon Matlack (.000 in 13 AB); Alan Foster (.063 in 16 AB); Fernando Valenzuela (.105 in 38 AB)

1976 Topps #513 - Bart Johnson

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• Bart Johnson pitched for the Chicago White Sox from 1969-1977. Johnson was drafted by the White Sox in 1968 (he was the second player taken in the draft) and pitched in the minors in 1968 and 1969. After going 16-4 with a 2.17 ERA in 22 starts for class A Appleton Bart was brought up to the majors at the age of 19. He started four games for the White Sox in 1969 and was 1-3 with a 3.22 ERA.
• Johnson pitched for Luis Aparicio's winter league team in Venezuela after the 1969 season and all of the work took a toll on his arm. The White Sox decided to start Bart in the minors in 1970 and bring him up when his arm rounded into shape. Johnson came back to the White Sox in mid-May and went 4-7 with a 4.82 ERA in 18 games (15 starts).
• Johnson had his best year in 1971. He was a swingman and pitched in 53 games (16 starts). Bart went 12-10 with 14 saves and a 2.93 ERA in 1971. 
• In the offseason Johnson hurt his knee playing basketball. The White Sox examined him and said that he had some torn cartilage but could rehab it. Johnson tried to rehab the injury but was unsuccessful. He was slated to be the White Sox' closer in 1972 but struggled and was sent to the minors in early June. He finally had surgery to repair the cartilage in September. Bart was 0-3 with one save and a 9.22 ERA in nine games for the White Sox in 1972.
• Bart came back in 1973 to pitch in 22 games (9 starts) for the White Sox. He went 3-3 with a 4.13 ERA in '73.
• Johnson started the 1974 season in the minors. He threatened to quit the White Sox and try out for the Seattle Supersonics NBA team (Bart was 6'5") but ended up reporting to the minors. Bart was brought up in July and went 10-4 with a 2.74 ERA in 18 starts.
• Johnson hurt his back pitching on a muddy mound during spring training in 1975 and missed the entire season. In 1976 Bart started 32 games and was 9-16 with a 4.73 ERA.
• The White Sox had a great year in 1977 and won 90 games. Bart was 4-5 with two saves and a 4.01 ERA in 29 games (4 starts). 
• Bart was cut during spring training in 1978. He signed with Oakland but pitched in only one game for AAA Vancouver (he started a game and allowed four runs in one inning). Johnson pitched for Chicago's AAA Iowa club in 1979 and also pitched in the Mexican League in '79.
• Johnson became a scout for the White Sox in 1980. He worked for the club from 1980-1997. Bart then worked for the Tampa Bay Rays for ten years before being let go when the team switched to a computerized scouting system. Johnson now lives in Oak Lawn, IL.
• Here is a good 2009 interview with Johnson.

1976 Topps #512 - Ellie Rodriguez

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• Ellie Rodriguez was a catcher in the majors from 1968-1976. Rodriguez was signed by the Kansas City A's in 1963. Ellie played in the minors in the A's system in 1963 and then was drafted by the New York Yankees in the first year player draft. Rodriguez then played in the Yankees' system from 1964-1968. Ellie played for the Yankees for a short time during the 1968 season and batted .208 in nine games. After the 1968 season Rodriguez was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the expansion draft.
• Rodriguez was selected as the Royals' representative for the 1969 All Star Game (he didn't play in the game). Ellie split time with Buck Martinez behind the plate in 1969 and batted .236 in 95 games. Ellie backed up Ed Kirkpatrick in 1970 and batted .225 in 80 games. Ellie was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Carl Taylor after the 1970 season.
• Ellie became the starting catcher for the Brewers in 1971. He batted .210 in 115 games in 1971 and .285 in 116 games in 1972. Rodriguez made the AL All Star team in 1972 but didn't get in the game. In 1973 Ellie had  competition from 21-year-old Darrell Porter and lost some playing time. He batted .269 in 94 games in 1973. After the 1973 season Rodriguez was sent to the California Angels in a multi-player trade.
• Rodriguez was the Angels' starting catcher in 1974 and had a career high with seven home runs. Ellie batted .253 in 140 games in 1974. Rodriguez missed most of May 1975 with an injury and didn't play as much after the injury. He batted .235 in 90 games in 1975 and was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Orlando Alvarez and cash after the season.
• Ellie didn't play very much for the Dodgers in 1976. He batted .212 in 36 games in 1976. Rodriguez didn't get into any games for the Dodgers in 1977 and was released in early May. Rodriguez hooked on with Pittsburgh's AAA Colulmbus team later in 1977 but batted .224 and retired after the season.
• Rodriguez is now a player development consultant for The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and  is in charge of scouting in Latin America for the league.