1976 Topps #614 - Fernando Arroyo

• Fernando Arroyo pitched for three teams in eight seasons from 1975-1986. Arroyo was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 1970. Fernando pitched in the minors from 1970-1975 and got his chance at the majors after having a good start of the season with AAA Evansville. Arroyo pitched in a total of 14 games (2 starts) with the Tigers in 1975 and was 2-1 with a 4.58 ERA.
• Arroyo was in Evansville for the entire 1976 season. Fernando stayed in Detroit for the entire 1977 season and was 8-18 with a 4.17 ERA in 38 games (28 starts).
• Fernando spent most of the 1978 and 1979 seasons in Evansville. He pitched in two games for the Tigers in 1978 (0-0, 8.31 ERA) and six games in 1979 (1-1, 8.25 ERA). Arroyo was traded to the Minnesota Twins for Jeff Holly after the 1979 season.
• Arroyo spent the first two months of the 1980 season in AAA Toledo and came up to the Twins in June after going 6-1 with a 1.62 ERA in eight starts in Toledo. Fernando was 6-6 with a 4.68 ERA in 21 games (11 starts) for the Twins during the last four months of the 1980 season.
• Fernando stayed in the majors for the entire 1981 season. He had a record of 7-10 with a 3.93 ERA in 19 starts.
• Arroyo started the 1982 season with the Twins but was sent down to AAA after going 0-1 with a 5.62 ERA in six games. Fernando was released on May 18 and signed with the Oakland A's on May 25. Arroyo was up and down between AAA and Oakland for the next two months. Fernando had a 5.64 ERA in ten games with the A's and was released on July 27. He was signed by the  Chicago White Sox a few days later and spent the rest of the 1982 season in AAA.
• Fernando was in AAA for the entire 1983 and 1984 seasons. Arroyo was released after the 1984 season and pitched in the Mexican League in 1985. Arroyo was pitching in the Mexican League in 1986 when he was signed by Oakland on May 29. Fernando spent some time in the minors and then came back to Oakland at the end of the season to pitch in one game. That was it for Arroyo's career.
• After his playing career Arroyo was a pitching coach and a manager in the minor leagues.
• Arroyo was the pitching coach for manager Jerry Royster on the Korean Baseball Organization's Lotte Giants. Arroyo was hired for the 2008 season. Royster left the club after the 2010 season and the coaching positions are all listed as vacant now.

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1976 Topps #613 - Tim Johnson

• Tim Johnson played in the majors from 1973-1979. Tim was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1967. Johnson played in the Dodgers' system from 1968-1972. In 1973 Tim started the season in AAA Albuquerque but was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Rick Auerbach on April 24. Johnson became the Brewers' starting shortstop and batted .213 in 136 games.
• In 1974 an 18-year-old Robin Yount came up to the Brewers and Johnson was relegated to utility duty. Tim batted .245 in 93 games in 1974 and .141 in 38 games in 1975.
• Johnson was used a lot at second base in 1976. He had his best season, batting .275 in 105 games while playing all four infield positions.
• Tim played very sparingly in 1977. Johnson went 2 for 33 (.061) in 30 games during the season. 
• It's interesting to see some of the salary data on Baseball Reference. Johnson went to arbitration after the 1977 season. The Brewers offered $62,000 while Johnson asked for $92,500. The arbitrator ruled in Johnson's favor. How did someone who batted .061 manage to win an arbitration case? Does anyone have any insight on this one?
• Tim started the 1978 season with the Brewers. The Milwaukee infield was crowded during this time. Robin Yount was firmly entrenched at shortstop, Paul Molitor came up and played second base, and they had Don Money and Jim Gantner to back up. Johnson was the odd man out and was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on April 28 for Tim Nordbrook after going 0 for 3 in three games. Johnson batted .241 in 79 at bats for the Blue Jays in 1978.
• Johnson batted .186 in 86 at bats for the Blue Jays in 1979. Tim became a free agent after the 1979 season but didn't sign with anyone.
• After his playing career, Johnson scouted, coached, and managed in the  minors. He managed for various minor league clubs from 1987-1997. 
• Tim managed the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998 and the club had an 88-74 record (3rd in AL East). He didn't get along with pitching coach Mel Queen and several of his players. Johnson admitted after the 1998 season that stories he had told his players about serving in the Vietnam War weren't true. The Blue Jays initially stood by Johnson but questions arose about his credibility and ability to hold the team together and he was fired on March 17, 1999.
• After he left the Blue Jays Johnson managed in the Mexican League from 1999-2002 and then managed in various independent leagues from 2004-2010.

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1976 Topps #612 - Joe Lahoud

• Joe Lahoud was signed by the Boston Red Sox in 1966. Joe showed some pretty good batting stats in the minors from 1966-1968 and was particularly adept at drawing walks. Lahoud was mostly an outfielder and DH during his career.
• Lahoud started the 1968 season with Boston but was sent down at the end of April. He was rushed to the majors to replace the injured Tony Conigliaro. Joe came back up in June but was sent back down at the end of June and stayed in the minors for the rest of the season. Lahoud batted .192 in 29 games for the Red Sox in 1968. Here is an August 9, 1968 Life magazine article about the Boston Red Sox that mentions Joe.
• Joe spent the entire 1969 season with Boston and batted .188 in 101 games. Joe hit three home runs in one game against the  Minnesota Twins on June 11, 1969.  Lahoud was in the minors for most of the 1970 season and batted .245 in 17 September games for Boston.
• Lahoud batted .215 with 14 HR in 107 games for the Red Sox in 1971. After the 1971 season Joe was sent to the Milwaukee Brewers in a large multi-player trade that involved George Scott and Jim Lonborg going to Milwaukee and Tommy Harper going to Boston.
• Joe batted .237 with 12 HR in 111 games for the Brewers in 1972. Lahoud slumped to a .204 average with 5 HR in 96 games in 1973. After the 1973 season Joe was sent to the California Angels in another multi-player deal.
• Lahoud had his best year in 1974. He batted .271 and drew enough walks to have a .367 on base percentage. Joe also showed some power by hitting 13 HR in 325 at bats. In 1975 Joe batted .214 but had a .372 on base percentage.
• Joe started the 1976 season with the Angels. Lahoud batted .177 in 42 games and was sold to the  Texas Rangers on June 15. Joe batted .225 in 38 games for the Rangers in 1976. 
• Lahoud was released by the Rangers during spring training in 1977. Joe signed with the Kansas City Royals and started the season in AAA Omaha. Joe was called up to Kansas City in mid July after batting .317 with 19 HR in 84 games for Omaha. Joe batted .262 with a .364 on base percentage in 34 games for the Royals in 1977. Lahoud played in one game in the 1977 ALCS and was 0 for 1 with two walks and scored two runs.
• Joe didn't produce much in 1978 (.125 in 16 at bats) and was released on June 2.
• Lahoud was inducted into the Henry Abbott Technical High School Hall of Fame in April 2010.
• Liked to face: Dick Woodson (.462 in 13 AB); Gaylord Perry (.393 in 28 AB)
• Hated to face: Sonny Siebert (.000 in 13 AB); Jim Perry (.087 in 23 AB); Jackie Brown (.095 in 21 AB)
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1976 Topps #611 - Rich Folkers

• Rich Folkers was drafted by the New York Mets in the first round in 1967. Rich pitched in the minors in 1967 and in 1968 and then did a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1969. Folkers started four games for AAA Tidewater in 1970 and then came up to the Mets in June. Rich pitched in 16 games for the Mets in 1970 and was 0-1 with a 6.44 ERA.
• Folkers was in Tidewater for the entire season in 1971. After the 1971 season Rich was sent to the St. Louis Cardinals in a multi-player deal.
• Rich split the 1972 season between the minors and St. Louis. Folkers went 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA in nine late season games with the Cardinals in 1972.
• Rich started the 1973 season in the minors and came back to St. Louis in late April. Folkers was 4-4 with three saves and had a 3.61 ERA in 34 games (9 starts) for the Cardinals in 1973.
• Folkers was a reliever for the entire 1974 season. Rich appeared in 55 games and was 6-2 with two saves and had a 3.00 ERA.
• Rich was traded to the San Diego Padres after the 1974 season in a multi-player deal. Folkers appeared in 45 games, 15 of them starts, in 1975 and was 6-11 with a 4.15 ERA.
• Folkers pitched in 33 games (3 starts) and was 2-3 with a 5.28 ERA in 1976.
• Rich was placed on waivers during spring training in 1977. The Milwaukee Brewers selected Folkers and assigned him to AAA Spokane. Rich came up to Milwaukee briefly in May and June and pitched in three games (0-1, 4.26 ERA). 
• After the 1977 season Folkers was traded with Jim Slaton to the Detroit Tigers for Ben Oglivie. Rich didn't make the Detroit ballclub in 1978 and was released during spring training.
• Folkers coached at Eckerd college in the late 1980s and early 1990s and lives in St. Petersburg, FL.
• Liked to face: Richie Hebner (.063 in 16 AB); Cesar Geronimo (.111 in 18 AB); Joe Morgan (.118 in 17 AB)
• Hated to face: Willie Montanez (.667 in 18 AB); Johnny Bench (.467 with 3 HR in 15 AB); Manny Sanguillen (.444 in 18 AB)

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1976 Topps #610 - Greg Luzinski

• For a few years in the  mid 1970s Greg (The Bull) Luzinski was a very dangerous hitter. Greg was the first round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1968. Luzinski got a brief taste of the majors (2 for 12 in eight games) at the end of the 1970 season.
• Luzinski was in the minors for most of the 1971 season. Greg was called up to the Phillies at the end of the season and batted .300 in 28 games.
• Greg became the starting LF for the Phillies in 1972 at the age of 21. In his first full season Luzinski batted .281 with 18 HR and 68 RBI. Greg had a better season in 1973, batting .285 with 29 HR and 97 RBI. Greg Luzinski: 'I've Got to  Make Good' - February 1973 Baseball Digest
• Luzinski was out from June 5 to August 26 with a torn knee ligament in 1974. Greg ended up batting .272 in 85 games in '74. The Phillies were leading the NL East at the time of Greg's injury but ended up in 3rd place in the NL East. The  Majors' Next Home  Run King? - June 1974 Baseball Digest
• Greg made the first of four straight NL All Star teams in 1975 (he struck out in a pinch-hitting appearance). Luzinski batted .300 with 34 HR and a league-leading 120 RBI in 1975. Greg finished second behind  Joe Morgan in NL MVP voting that year. Greg Luzinski: The Maturing of a Major League Slugger - November 1975 Baseball Digest
• Luzinski started in LF for the National League in the 1976 All Star Game and went 0 for 3. Greg batted .304 with 21 HR and 95 RBI during the regular season and went 3 for 11 (.273) with a home run in the NLCS.
• Greg started in LF in the All Star Game again in 1977. He hit a 2-run homer off of Jim Palmer in the first inning of the game. Luzinski batted .309 with 39 HR and 130 RBI in 1977. Luzinski finished second to George Foster in NL MVP voting in '77. Greg went 4 for 14 (.286) with a home run during the 1977 NLCS. APBA Baseball Game Ad - September 1977 Baseball Digest. Greg Luzinski: Who Says Major Leaguers are Greedy? - November 1977
• Luzinski's batting average dropped off (.265) in 1978, but he hit 35 homers and had 101 RBI. Greg batted .375 (6 for 16) with two homers during the 1978 NLCS.
• Greg's offense dropped again in 1979 as he batted .252 with 18 HR and 81 RBI.
• Greg missed about seven weeks in 1980 with a knee injury. Greg had 15 HR before the injury but hit only four homers after he came back in August. Luzinski ended up batting .228 with 19 HR and 56 RBI during the 1980 season. Greg batted .294 (5 for 17) with a home run and 4 RBI during the 1980 NLCS. Luzinski went 0 for 9 with five strikeouts during the 1980 World Series. Greg Luzinski: A Slugger on the  Comeback Trail - July 1980 Baseball Digest
• Greg was sold to the Chicago White Sox during spring training in 1981. Luzinski spent the last four years of his career as a designate hitter and occasional first baseman.
• Luzinski batted .265 with 21 HR and 62 RBI during the 1981 strike season. In 1982 Greg batted .292 with 18 HR and 102 RBI.
• Greg's last big HR year was in 1983. Luzinski batted .255 with 32 HR and 95 RBI during the regular season and went 2 for 15 (.133) during the 1983 ALCS.
• Luzinski's last year in the majors was 1984. Greg batted .238 with 13 HR and 58 RBI in 1984. He became a free agent after the 1984 season and didn't sign with anyone. Greg announced his retirement in February 1985. There were rumors that Greg's weight was a major concern. Luzinski had peaked at 285 pounds before the 1985 season and his normal playing weight was about 240 pounds.
• After his retirement Greg coached freshman baseball at Holy Cross High School in Delran, NJ. Luzinski coached football and baseball there for several years.
• Greg opened "Bull's Barbecue" at Citizens Bank Park when the ballpark opened in Philadelphia. Greg now lives in Florida
• Liked to face: Doc Medich (.529 in 17 AB); Dan Petry (.428 in 54 AB); Andy Messersmith (.441 with 6 HR in 34 AB)
• Hated to face: Rollie Fingers (.000 in 17 AB); Skip Lockwood (.059 in 17 AB); John Montefusco (.070 with 22 strikeouts in 43 AB)

Greg Luzinski in a Bic commercial in 1981



Link to a 1988 Miller Lite commercial (embedding was disabled on this one)

Phillies Fever (1976)

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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.