1976 Topps #492 - Marty Pattin

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• Marty Pattin pitched in the  majors from 1968-1980. Marty earned a bachelor's and master's degree from Eastern Illinois University before being drafted by the California Angels in 1965. Marty once struck out 22 batters in a game while pitching for Eastern Illinois University.
• Pattin pitched in the minors from 1965 until early in the 1968 season. He was brought up to the Angels in mid-May of 1968 and had a 4-4 record with three saves and a 2.79 ERA in 52 games (4 starts). After the 1968 season Pattin was taken by the Seattle Pilots in the expansion draft.
• Pattin was 7-12 with a 5.62 ERA in 34 games (27 starts) for the Pilots in 1969. The Pilots became the Milwaukee Brewers in 1970 and Marty had a good year (14-12, 3.39 ERA in 29 starts).
• Pattin made the AL All Star team in 1971 (he didn't pitch in the game) and was 14-14 with a 3.13 ERA in 36 starts. After the 1971 season Pattin was traded with Tommy Harper, Lew Krausse, and a minor leaguer to the Boston Red Sox for Ken Brett, Billy Conigliaro, Joe Lahoud, Jim Lonborg, Don Pavletich, and George Scott.
• Marty was 17-13 with a 3.24 ERA for the Red Sox in 1972. Pattin took a no-hitter into the 9th inning on July 11 before it was broken up by a Reggie Jackson single with one out. He was 15-15 with a 4.31 ERA in 1973. According to Bill Lee, Pattin had a habit of throwing up after the first inning of just about every game he pitched. After the 1973 season Pattin was traded to the Kansas City Royals for Dick Drago.
• The Royals used Pattin as a reliever and occasional starter during his time there. In 1974 Marty was 3-7 with a 3.99 ERA in 25 games (11 starts).
• Pattin was named AL Pitcher of the Month twice in 1975 -- June (as a starter) and September (as a reliever). Marty pitched in 44 games (15 starts) and was 10-10 with five saves and a 3.25 ERA.
• In 1976 Pattin was 8-14 with five saves and a 2.49 ERA in 44 games (15 starts). He made two appearances in the ALCS and had a 27.00 ERA in 1/3 of an inning.
• Marty was 10-3 with a 3.58 ERA in 31 games (10 starts) in 1977. He appeared in game 4 of the ALCS and allowed two runs (one unearned) in six innings.
• In 1978 Marty was 3-3 with four saves and a 3.32 ERA in 32 games (5 starts). He allowed two hits and two runs in 2/3 of an inning in game 2 of the ALCS.
• Pattin was 5-2 with three saves and an ERA of 4.58 in 31 games (7 starts) in 1979. In 1980 Marty was 4-0 with four saves and a 3.64 ERA in 37 games. He wasn't used in the ALCS and pitched one scoreless inning in game 6 of the 1980 World Series. Pattin retired after the 1980 season.
• Marty was the head baseball coach at the University of Kansas from 1982-1987. He now makes appearances for the Royals.
• Liked to face: Rick Auerbach (.000 in 12 AB); Roy Smalley (.040 in 25 AB); Larry Hisle (.097 in 31 AB)
• Hated to face: Tony Solaita (.500 in 14 AB); Tony Oliva (.490 in 51 AB); Ed Herrmann (.407 with 4 HR in 27 AB)

1976 Topps #491 - Terry Crowley

• Terry Crowley was a major leaguer from 1969-1983. Crowley was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1966. He played in the minors from 1966-1969 and was brought up to the Orioles in September 1969 after batting .282 with 28 home runs for AAA Rochester. Terry went 6 for 18 in seven games for the Orioles at the end of the 1969 season.
• Crowley was a pinch hitter and extra outfielder in 1970. He batted .257 with 5 HR and 20 RBI in 152 at bats in 1970. Terry wasn't used in the ALCS and was 0 for 1 in the World Series.
• Terry was in the minors for most of the 1971 season. He batted .174 in 23 at bats for the Orioles in 1971 and wasn't on the postseason roster. In 1972 Crowley batted .231 with 11 HR and 29 RBI in 247 at bats in 1972.
• When the DH came to the American League in 1973 the Orioles envisioned Crowley in that role. He didn't hit very well in 1973 (.206, 3 HR, 15 RBI in 131 AB) and the Orioles used Tommy Davis as the DH. In the 1973 ALCS Terry was 0 for 2 in two pinch hitting appearances. After the 1973 season Crowley was sold to the Texas Rangers. During spring training in 1974 the Rangers sold Terry to the Cincinnati Reds.
• Crowley was mostly a pinch hitter during his two seasons in Cincinnati. In 1974 Terry batted .240 in 125 at bats and in 1975 he batted .268 in 71 at bats. Terry didn't bat in the 1975 NLCS and was 1 for 2 in the World Series. During spring training in 1976 Crowley was traded to the Atlanta Braves for Mike Thompson.
• Terry played for the Braves for about six weeks. He was 0 for 6 with a sacrifice fly in seven pinch hitting appearances. On May 6 Crowley was released by the Braves. Terry signed with the Orioles on May 26 and split time between the Orioles and Rochester. Crowley batted .246 in 61 AB for the Orioles in 1976. Terry was released during spring training in 1977 but resigned by the Orioles in mid-April. He was with Rochester for most of the season and batted .308 with 30 HR. Terry batted .364 in 23 AB at the end of the 1977 season.
• Crowley batted .253 in 93 AB in 1978, mostly as a pinch hitter and DH. That would be the role Terry would have for the rest of his career. In 1979 Crowley batted .317 in 63 at bats. Terry was 1 for 2 in the 1979 ALCS  and 1 for 4 in the World Series.
• Terry was a platoon DH in 1980 and batted .288 with 12 HR and 50 RBI in 233 at bats. In 1981 Crowley batted .246 in 134 at bats and in 1982 he batted .237 in 93 at bats. 
• During spring training in 1983 Crowley was released by the Orioles. He signed with the Montreal Expos in late May. Terry batted .182 in 44 at bats for the Expos and was released after the season. Crowley is tied with Denny Walling for 13th on the all-time list with 108 pinch hits.
• After his retirement as an active player Terry became a hitting coach. He was the hitting coach for the Baltimore Orioles from 1985-1988 and for the Minnesota Twins from 1991-1998. Crowley was rehired as the hitting coach by the Orioles in 1999 and has been in that position ever since.
• Liked to face: Bruce Kison (.600 in 10 AB); Skip Lockwood (.467 in 15 AB); Mike Torrez (.444 in 18 AB)
• Hated to face: Jim Perry/Matt Keough (.000 in 11 AB); Mike Marshall (.077 in 13 AB)
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1976 Topps #490 - Frank Tanana

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• Frank Tanana pitched in the majors from 1973-1993. In the early part of his career Frank had a fastball that would sometimes exceed 100 MPH but a shoulder injury caused him to change his style and he became an effective off-speed pitcher. Tanana was a first round draft pick of the California Angels in 1971. Frank pitched in the minors in 1972 and 1973. He was brought up to the Angels at the end of the 1973 season after going 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA for two minor league clubs. Tanana was 2-2 with a 3.08 ERA in four starts for the Angels in 1973.
• Tanana became part of the Angels' rotation in 1974. He went 14-19 with a 3.12 ERA  in 1974. Rapid Rookie - July 1974 Baseball Digest. Frank finished fourth in AL Cy Young Award voting in 1975 when he was 16-9 with a 2.62 ERA. He also led the AL with 269 strikeouts. Frank struck out 17 batters in a game against the Texas Rangers on June 21, 1975. The saying  "Tanana and Ryan and two days of cryin'" came into being during this time. Frank Tanana: Best of the Young Southpaws? - December 1975 Baseball Digest.
• Frank continuted his winning ways in 1976 when he was 19-10 with a 2.43 ERA. Tanana was named to the AL All Star team and allowed three runs in two innings of work. Frank finished third in AL Cy Young Award voting in 1976.
• Tanana was an All Star again in 1977 (he didn't pitch in the game) and led the AL in ERA. Frank was 15-9 with a 2.54 ERA and also led the AL with seven shutouts. Frank Tanana: A Lefty Headed Right ... for the Hall of Fame - May 1977 Baseball Digest
• The 24-year-old Tanana started to show the effects of so much pitching in 1978. He went 18-12 but his ERA jumped to 3.65. Frank made his third (and last) AL All Star team but didn't pitch in the game.
• Frank missed almost three months of the 1979 season with a shoulder injury. The injury cost Frank his fastball and he made a successful transformation into a "junk-ball pitcher." Tanana went 7-5 with a 3.89 ERA during the regular season, including a 4-1 complete game win over the Kansas City Royals to clinch the AL West for the Angels on September 25. He started game 3 of the ALCS but didn't figure in the decision -- he allowed two runs in five innings and the Angels eventually won the game in the 9th inning. Frank Tanana: Man with the Not-So-Golden Arm - June 1979 Baseball Digest.
• Tanana returned to the starting rotation in 1980 and was 11-12 with a 4.15 ERA. After the 1980 season Frank was traded with Jim Dorsey and Joe Rudi to the Boston Red Sox for Fred Lynn and Steve Renko.
• Frank was with the Red Sox for only one season. In 1981 Tanana was 4-10 with a 4.01 ERA. After the 1981 season Tanana became a free agent and signed with the Texas Rangers.
• Tanana led the AL in losses in 1982, going 7-18 with a 4.21 ERA. In 1983 Frank was 7-9 with a 3.16  ERA. Tanana was the Rangers' pitcher of the year in 1984 when he went 15-15 with a 3.25 ERA. Frank was off to a rough start in 1985 (2-7, 5.91 ERA in 13 starts) when he was traded to the Detroit Tigers for a minor leaguer on June 20. Tanana was able to get it together for the Tigers -- he went 10-7 with a 3.34 ERA in 20 starts to finish the 1985 season.
• Frank was 12-9 with a 4.16 ERA in 1986. Tanana was 15-10 with a 3.91 ERA for the Tigers in 1987 and pitched a 1-0 shutout over the Toronto Blue Jays on the last day of the season to clinch the AL East for the Tigers. Frank started and lost game 4 of the ALCS. The Game I'll Never Forget - December 2006 Baseball Digest.
• In 1988 Frank was 14-11 with a 4.21 ERA. He went 10-14 with a 3.58 ERA in 1989. Tanana had several no-decisons in 1990 as he was 9-8 with a 5.31 ERA in 29 starts. He was 13-12 with a 3.77 ERA in 1991 and 13-11 with a 4.39 ERA in 1992. 
• After the 1992 season Tanana became a free agent and signed with the New York Mets. He was 7-15 with a 4.48 ERA for the Mets and was traded to the New York Yankees on September 17 for Kenny Greer. Frank made three starts for the Yankees and was 0-2 with a 3.20 ERA. Tanana retired after the 1993 season with a lifetime record of 240-236 and a 3.66 ERA.
• Tanana is active in his church ministry. His TTM information is here.
• Liked to face: Larvell Blanks (.000 in 15 AB); Tom Veryzer (.042 in 24 AB); Thurman Munson (.091 in 44 AB)
• Hated to face: Rickey Henderson (.350 with 11 HR in 103 AB); Alvaro Espinoza (.480 in 25 AB); Bob Randall (.471 in 34 AB)

Frank Tanana clinches the AL East for the Tigers in 1987

1976 Topps #489 - Skip Jutze

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• Skip Jutze was a catcher in the major leagues from 1972-1977. Skip was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1968. He was previously drafted by the Boston Red Sox (1966) and the Detroit Tigers (1967) but didn't sign with those two clubs. He elected to attend Central Connecticut State University and taught at Candlewood Junior High in Dix Hills, New York before  becoming a major league catcher. Jutze progressed through the Cardinals' farm system and batted .324 for AAA Tulsa in 1972 before being brought up at the end of the season. Skip batted .239 in 21 September games for the Cardinals in 1972. 
• The Cardinals had Ted Simmons at catcher so Jutze was expendable. He was traded with Milt Ramirez to the Houston Astros for Ray Busse and Bobby Fenwick after the 1972 season. Skip started the 1973 season with AAA Denver and was brought up to the Astros in mid-May. He batted .223 in 90 games for the Astros in 1973.
• Skip spent  most of the 1974 season in Denver where he batted .321 in 102 games. Jutze batted .231 in eight games for the Astros.
• Jutze spent two more season with Houston, batting .226 in 93 at  bats in 1975 and .152 in 92 at  bats in 1976. After the 1976 season he was traded to the expansion Seattle Mariners for a minor leaguer and cash.
• Skip batted .220 in 109 at bats for the  Mariners in 1977. Jutze has the distinction of hitting the first grand slam in Mariners history on May 17, 1977 against the Baltimore Orioles. Skip hit three home runs in his career, all in 1977. He was released during spring training in 1978 and retired.
• Skip lives in Colorado and is the business operations manager for Jeffco, a company that provides vocational training and job placement for the developmentally disabled. 

1976 Topps #488 - Claude Osteen

• Claude Osteen had already pitched his last major league game when this card came out. He was cut at the end of spring training in 1976. Osteen was signed by the Cincinnati Reds in 1957. He pitched in three games as a 17 year old for the Reds in 1957 (2.25 ERA in four innings) and was in the minors for the remainder of the season.
• Osteen spent all of 1958 and most of 1959 in the minors. Claude pitched in two games for the Reds at the end of the 1959 season (7.04 ERA in 7.2 innings). The Reds used Osteen as a reliever and spot starter in 1960. He pitched in 20 games (3 starts) and was 0-1 with a 5.03 ERA. In 1961 Osteen was in the minors for most of the season and pitched in one game for the Reds before being traded to the Washington Senators on September 16 for cash and Dave Sisler. Osteen started three games for the Senators in 1961 and was 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA.
• Claude missed three weeks (late April to late May) of the 1962 season. He pitched in 28 games (22 starts) and was 8-13 with a 3.65 ERA. In 1963 Osteen was 9-14 with a 3.35 ERA. Claude had his first big year in 1964, going 15-13 with a 3.33 ERA. After the 1964 season Osteen was traded with John Kennedy and $100,000 to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Frank Howard, Ken McMullen, Phil Ortega, and Dick Nen.
• Osteen was 15-15 with a 2.79 ERA in 1965. He started two games in the 1965 World Series and was 1-1 with a 0.64 ERA. Claude pitched a 5-hit shutout in game 3 and took the loss in game 6. The Night Osteen Grew Up - June 1965 Baseball Digest
• In 1966 Osteen was 17-14 with a 2.85 ERA. He lost game 3 of the World Series 1-0. The Dodgers were shut out in three of the four games of that World Series. A Later Look at the Osteen Deal - August 1966 Baseball Digest.
• Claude became the #2 starter for the Dodgers in 1967 after the retirement of Sandy Koufax and was 17-17 with a 3.32 ERA. Osteen  made his first All Star team in 1967 but didn't get into the game.
• Osteen led the NL with 18 losses in 1968. He was 12-18 with a 3.08 ERA in '68. Claude had his first 20-win season in 1969, going 20-15 with a 2.66 ERA.
• Claude was 16-14 with a 3.83 ERA in 1970. He pitched three scoreless innings (10th, 11th, and 12th) and was the winning pitcher in the 1970 All Star Game. Success Hasn't Spoiled Dodgers' Claude Osteen - July 1970 Baseball Digest.
• Osteen was 14-11 with a 3.51 ERA in 1971 and 20-11 with a 2.64 ERA in 1972. Seven of his last nine starts in 1972 were complete game wins. He made the All Star team for the third and last time in 1973 (he pitched two scoreless innings) and was 16-11 with a 3.31 ERA. By this time the Dodgers had plenty of pitching but needed some offensive help, so after the  1973 season Osteen and a minor leaguer were traded to the Houston Astros for Jimmy Wynn. Wynn helped the Dodgers to the 1974 World Series, so it was a good move for them.
• Claude spent less than one season with the Astros. Osteen was 9-9 with a 3.71 ERA when he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals on August 15 for the 1974 stretch drive. Claude pitched in eight games (two starts) for the Cardinals and was 0-2 with a 4.37 ERA.
• The Cardinals cut Osteen at the end of spring training in 1975. Claude signed with the Chicago White Sox and went 7-16 with a 4.36 ERA in 1975. Osteen was cut at the end of spring training in 1976 and retired.
• After his playing career Osteen became a pitching coach for various minor league teams and for the Cardinals, Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Texas Rangers.
• Liked to face: Ted Savage (.000 in 13 AB); John Milner (.056 in 18 AB); Roy McMillan (.063 in 16 AB)
• Hated to face: Henry Aaron (.262 but with 14 HR in 126 AB); Orlando Cepeda (.471 with 6 HR in 68 AB); Mickey Mantle (.533 in 15 AB)

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1976 Topps #487 - Leron Lee

• The 1976 season was Leron Lee's last season in the major leagues. Lee was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1966 (sixth player taken overall). Leron had received football scholarship offers from 36 major colleges but opted to sign with the Cardinals. Leron played in the minors from 1967-1967 and put up some good offensive stats. In 1969 he batted .303 with 17 HR and 96 RBI for AAA Tulsa. He was brought up at the end of the 1969 season and batted .217 in 23 at bats.
• Lee was a pinch hitter and backup outfielder for the Cardinals in 1970. He batted .227 with six HR and 23 RBI in 264 AB in 1971. Leron started the 1971 season with the Cardinals (.179 in 28 AB) and was traded with Fred Norman to the San Diego Padres for Al Santorini on June 11. Lee batted .273 in  256 at bats for the Padres in '71.
• Leron had his best year in 1972. He batted .300 with 12 HR and 47 RBI in 370 at bats. Lee dropped to .237 in 369 AB in 1973 and was waived by the Padres during spring training in 1974. The Cleveland Indians claimed Lee and he batted .233 in 232 AB as a backup outfielder, pinch hitter, and DH. 
• Lee started poorly in 1975 (.130 in 25 AB) and was released on May 15. Leron signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 11 and he batted .256 in 43 AB (mostly as a pinch hitter).
• Lee didn't get a whole lot of playing time with the Dodgers in 1976 -- he didn't make his first appearance until August 6. He batted .133 in 45 AB and was released after the season.
• Lee signed with the Lotte Orions in Japan and played there from 1977-1987. Leron led the league in home runs and RBI in  his first season in Japan and won the batting title in 1980. He still holds the Japanese career batting average record. Leron got his younger brother Leon (father of Cubs 1B Derrek Lee) to come to Japan to play in 1978 and they were a strong duo in the middle of the lineup.
• Lee talks about his experiences playing in Japan in the book Remembering Japanese Baseball: An Oral History of the Game by Robert K. Fitts.
• After he retired from Japanese baseball Lee was the batting coach for the Oakland A's in 1989. He is currently a coach in the Cincinnati Reds organization. 
• Liked to face: Doyle Alexander (.600 in 10 AB); Paul Splittorff (.500 in 10 AB); Carl Morton (.400 in 20 AB)
• Hated to face: Don Carrithers/Ed Sprague (.000 in 10 AB); Dock Ellis (.071 in 14 AB); Clay Carroll (.083 in 12 AB)

1976 Topps #486 - Bruce Dal Canton

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• Bruce Dal Canton pitched in the majors from 1967-1977. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1966 at the age of 25. Bruce had been teaching high school at the time and was signed at an open tryout. Bruce was in the minors for the entire season in 1966 and would be in the minors for parts of the 1967 and 1968 seasons. Dal Canton was with the Pirates briefly in 1967 and was 2-1 with a 1.88 ERA in eight games (two starts).
• After spending most of 1968 in the minors, Dal Canton came back to the Pirates in September and was 1-1 with two saves and a 2.12 ERA in seven games. Bruce had a good year as a relief pitcher in 1969. He was 8-2 with five saves and a 3.34 ERA in 57 games.
• Dal Canton was a reliever and spot starter for the Pirates in 1970. He went 9-4 with one save and a 4.57 ERA in 41 games (6 starts). After the 1970 season Bruce was traded with Jerry May and Freddie Patek to the Kansas City Royals for Jim Campanis, Jackie Hernandez, and Bob Johnson.
• Bruce became a starting pitcher for the Royals in 1971. He started 22 games and was 8-6 with a 3.44 ERA. Bruce missed the entire month of August with an injury.
• Dal Canton split time between the bullpen and the starting rotation in 1972. Bruce was 6-6 with two saves and a 3.40 ERA in 35 games (16 starts). He had what was probably his worst season in 1973. Bruce was 4-3 with three saves and a 4.81 ERA in 32 games (3 starts).
• In 1974 Dal Canton led the AL with 16 wild pitches. He went 8-10 with a 3.13 ERA in 31 games (22 starts). Bruce got off to a rough start in 1975 (0-2, 15.58 ERA in four games) and the Royals had several young pitchers who were ready for the majors. Dal Canton was traded (with Ray Sadecki) to the Atlanta Braves on June 30 for cash, Norm Angelini, and Al Autry. Dal Canton went 2-7 with three saves and a 3.36 ERA in 26 games (nine starts) for the Braves in '75.
• Bruce was mostly a reliever in 1976. In 42 games (1 start) he went 3-5 with one save and a 3.56 ERA. Dal Canton didn't make the Braves ballclub in 1977 and was released on March 30. He was signed by the Chicago White Sox a week later but pitched in only eight games (0-2, 2 saves, 3.75 ERA) in April and  May. Bruce was released by the White Sox in August. He tried to come back with the White Sox' AAA club in 1978 but he didn't make it back to the majors.
• After his playing career Bruce was a pitching coach in the Atlanta Braves organization for 26 years, including a stint as the Braves' pitching coach from 1987-1990.
• Dal Canton was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
• Bruce died of esophageal cancer on October 7, 2008.
• Liked to face: Pete Rose (.000 in 9 AB); Willie Horton (.067 in 15 AB); Mickey Rivers (.071 in 15 AB)
• Hated to face: Chris Chambliss (.583 in 12 AB); Rusty Staub (.500 in 14 AB); Vada Pinson (.435 in 23 AB)