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.
ROY HOWELL
1979 Topps #101
Played 1974 – 1984
1970’s Teams: Rangers, Blue Jays
1970’s Highlights:
Was named the Blue Jays’ representative at the 1978 All-Star Game; Had 9 RBI in one game against the Yankees on 9/10/77, which is tied for the Blue Jays team record… Howell hit two homers, two doubles and a single; In 1975, at the age of 21, he became the youngest player in “New” Senators/Rangers history to hit a grand slam, a record which would stand until Rougned Odor hit one at the age of 20 in 2014; Lead the expansion 1977 Blue Jays with a .316 average; Was involved in turning a Triple Play for the Blue Jays against the Indians, 9/7/79
Card Stuff:
Made it into 1979 Hostess and Kellogg’s sets
AL HRABOSKY
1977 Topps #495
Played 1970 – 1982
1970’s Teams: Cardinals, Royals
1970’s Highlights:
Won the 1975 NL “Fireman” award while leading the league with 22 saves *and* a .813 winning % (13-3); Got 2 first place votes for the 1975 Cy Young Award, but finished 3rd behind winner Tom Seaver; Was the July 1975 NL Pitcher of the Month when he had a 0.43 ERA, a 6-0 record and 3 saves over 13 games and 21 innings
Fun Stuff:
His nickname is “The Mad Hungarian” (although I seem to remember that he’s not ethnically Hungarian, it’s just a nickname); Is a member of the Cardinals broadcast team; Played himself in the 1985 film “The Slugger’s Wife”… other players who appeared in that movie (and who have all been done already in this A-Z series) were Mark Fidrych, Bucky Dent and Bernie Carbo
TERRY HUMPHREY
1977 Topps #369
Played 1971 – 1979
1970’s Teams: Expos, Tigers, Angels
1970’s Highlights:
was considered a candidate to be the Expos starting catcher when he was coming up through their system, but was eclipsed by Barry Foote and Gary Carter, and played only as a backup for Montreal; Was the Angels starting catcher for most of 1977 after being acquired from the Astros in a trade; Initiated a 2-5-3-6 Triple Play for the Expos against the Astros on 6/3/72
Fun Stuff:
Was the last Tigers player to wear #47 before Jack Morris; Was the second Expos draft pick to make it to the Majors (pitcher Balor Moore was the first)
Card Stuff:
Appears in 1976 Topps with the Tigers, but he’d already been traded to the Astros after 18 games with Detroit (and he’d never play for Houston)
RANDY HUNDLEY
1970 Kellogg’s #31
Played 1964 – 1977
1970’s Teams: Cubs, Twins, Padres
1970’s Highlights:
Caught two no-hitters in 1972: Burt Hooton’s on 4/16/72 and Milt Pappas’ on 9/2/72
Career Highlights:
Was an All-Star in 1969; Won a Gold Glove in 1967; In 1966 he set records for most home runs by a rookie catcher (19) and most games caught by a rookie; Was named the catcher on the 1966 Topps All-Star Rookie Team; Hit for the cycle against the Astros on 8/11/66
Fun Stuff:
Father of Mets catcher Todd Hundley; Randy’s legal name is Cecil Randolph Hundley
RON HUNT
1974 Kellogg’s #25
Played 1963 – 1974
1970’s Teams: Giants, Expos, Cardinals
1970’s Highlights:
Was the first baserunner at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia (walked and stole 2nd base)
Career Highlights:
Was the first Met to start an All-Star game; Finished 2nd to Pete Rose in 1964 NL Rookie of the Year voting;
OW!
Holds the Expos/Nationals career record with 114 HBP and single-season record with 50 HBP in 1971; Holds the Giants single-season mark with 26 HBP in 1970; Lead the NL in HBP each season from 1968 to 1974
Card Stuff:
He appeared in 1975 Topps (airbrushed into a Cardinals cap), but was released in Spring Training and didn’t play in the Majors after 1974; Hunt’s 1971 O-Pee-Chee card featured a different photo, and based on the uniform the photo appears to have been from no later than 1967