Recap: I’m going through all of the notable and somewhat notable players and managers of the 1970’s and I’m basically making like it’s an all-encompassing 1970’s throwback baseball card set. For the “card front”, I’m sharing my favorite 1970’s card of that guy. I’m also including a card back’s worth of information and thoughts about him and his cardboard.
LOU PINIELLA
1974 Topps #390
Played 1964 – 1984
1970’s Teams: Royals, Yankees
1970’s Highlights:
His 1972 season was his only All-Star season, he lead the league with 33 doubles plus set Royals team records for hits (179) and average (.312) — both of these team records were broken by George Brett later in the 1970s; Was the first DH to get a hit in the World Series (doubled to right in game 1 of the 1976 World Series)
Career Highlights:
Was the 1969 AL Rookie of the Year after he’d been selected in the 1968 expansion draft by the Seattle Pilots and then traded to the Royals at the end of spring training; Got the first hit and first run in Royals history; Was a successful manager with the Yankees, Reds, Mariners, Devil Rays and Cubs, winning the 1990 World Series with the Reds; Was named the AL Manager of the Year in 1995 and 2001 and the NL Manager of the Year in 2008
Fun Stuff:
His cousin is former Major Leaguer Dave Magadan
Card Stuff:
Appeared in every flagship Topps set of the 1970s; Appeared on three “Rookie Stars” combo cards with three different teams (1964 Senators, 1968 Indians and 1969 Pilots) before getting his own solo card in 1970 Topps; His card in the 1977 Burger King Yankees set, rumored to be included at George Steinbrenner’s insistence, is a relatively pricey short print (but the front looks the same as his regular 1977 Topps card)
DARRELL PORTER
1978 Topps #19
Played 1971 – 1987
1970’s Teams: Brewers, Royals
1970’s Highlights:
Starting AL All-Star Catcher in 1979; Also an All-Star in 1974 and 1978; In 1979 he lead the AL with 121 walks and 13 sacrifice flies in 1979, plus drove in 112 runs; Caught Jim Colborn’s no-hitter on 5/14/77
Career Highlights:
Was named the MVP of both the 1982 NLCS and World Series; Was inducted into the Brewers Wall of Honor
Card Stuff:
His 1977 O-Pee-Chee card is updated via a different photo plus airbrushing
BOOG POWELL
1975 Topps #625
Played 1961 – 1977
1970’s Teams: Orioles, Indians Dodgers
1970’s Highlights:
Was voted the AL MVP in 1970 after batting .297 with a .549 slugging % (2nd best in the AL), 35 homers (5th in AL), 114 RBI (3rd in AL) and 82 runs; Named the 1975 AL Comeback Player of the Year; The AL’s starting 1st baseman in the 1970 All-Star Game and was also an All-Star in 1971
Career Highlights:
Lead the AL in Slugging % in 1964; An All-Star in 1968 and 1969; Named to the 1962 Topps All-Star Rookie Team; Named the 1966 AL Comeback Player of the Year; Inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame in 1979
Fun Stuff:
Boog’s BBQ is one of the most popular food stands at Camden Yards
I’m going to skip over Q (apologies to Frank Quilici and Jamie Quirk) and move on to R
DAVE RADER
1973 Topps #121
Played 1971 – 1980
1970’s Teams: Giants, Cardinals, Cubs, Phillies
1970’s Highlights:
Finished 2nd to Jon Matlack in 1972 NL Rookie of the Year voting, but was named the Rookie Player of the Year by the Sporting News (which had a separate award for Rookie Pitcher); Caught Ed Halicki’s no-hitter on 8/24/75; In 1973 he had an unassisted double play and an inside-the-park home run
Career Highlights:
A 1st round draft pick (18th overall) of the Giants in 1967
Card Stuff:
Dave Rader’s photo was inadvertently used on Larry Cox’ 1979 Topps card; That’s Dave Concepcion at bat on Rader’s 1973 card featured above
DOUG RADER
1976 SSPC #59
Played 1967 – 1977
1970’s Teams: Astros, Padres, Blue Jays
1970’s Highlights:
Won five Gold Gloves at third base; Had 20+ home runs in 1970, 1972 and 1973
Career Highlights:
Managed the Rangers, White Sox (for 2 games) and Angels, but didn’t finish higher than 3rd place
Fun Stuff:
His nickname is “The Red Rooster”
Card Stuff:
Appears in 1978 Topps with the Blue Jays team he’d hit 13 home runs for in the second half of 1977, but he was released at the end of 1978 spring training and retired, so his 1978 card has his full career stats
The Shlabotnik Report 
That Powell is one of my favorite cards from the decade… and I will always remember Porter for that postseason performance. I think if Tony Gwynn didn’t become my favorite player, I might have ended up being a Cardinals fan, because they had so many likable players in the 80’s.