As objective as I try to be in all my countdown posts, there is quite a bit of bias baked into this one.
I can't help it. The 1975 Topps set is more of a part of me than any other set that has been created. I naturally love certain cards in this set that someone without attachment would look at with confusion: "How can this card be better than that card? They look the same!"
Oh, but they don't. Trust me, as someone who came from 1975.
Such biases also help me in this countdown with placing certain cards that might appear the same. Emotional attachment can be actually useful.
So here we are at the next 20 cards. Let's go.
The Padres team photo adds a little extra flair by posing behind the team logo (precursor to taking team pictures at the zoo a few years later, I guess). But the team is too far back.
539. Rookie Infielders (card 617)
Three of these players made a definite MLB impact in the late '70s and into the 1980s. Reggie Sanders is the lone guy who didn't, but at least his name made a dent in the '90s in the form of a Cincinnati Red.
538. Lou Brock, '74 Highlights (card 2)
This card has always bothered me. Lou Brock's feat of 118 stolen bases is my second favorite record- breaking feat of 1974. Heck, it's probably my favorite because that other one came against the Dodgers. And Topps shows the fastest man alive sitting on a bench. I know that's what cards did during that time. But Brock was shown on the bases the very next year, so you know Topps got complaints.
537. Will McEnaney (card 481)
McEnaney's card nicely matches, but he's one of 4 Reds with this color combination in basically the same pose. The photo looks a bit washed out.
536. Tom Carroll (card 507)
The Reds had two pitchers named Carroll on the team at this time and they were not related. Not even the owl cartoon on the back can improve Tom's ranking ... or maybe it just did.
535. Lerrin LaGrow (card 116)
Another '75 photo that gives of major '70s dad vibes. LaGrow was 26 in this photo!
534. Larry Demery (card 433)
The sideways signature is a lot of fun but Demery appears unfazed ... or hypnotized.
533. Larry Christensen (card 551)
A card that I remember pulling while at a lakeside stay in the summer of '75. So I didn't mind the haircut.
532. Bill Singer (card 40)
I try to give more notable players a pass if I can but static is static. Bill Singer was an Angel and then appeared as an airbrushed Blue Jay before I was aware he was a regular Dodger
531. Paul Lindblad (card 278)
I've always enjoyed the color scheme with this card even the photo seems to indicate Lindblad just received some distressing news.
530. Lindy McDaniel (card 652)
McDaniel has some much better cards (he's a Cardboard Appreciation HOFer!) but he sure looks proud to be a Royal, don't he?
529. Ken McMullen (card 473)
Oh boy, me and batting helmets. I love them and they definitely affect the rankings.
528. Rookie Pitchers (card 621)
Another prospect card with three notables, although a lot of rookie collectors probably have no idea which three I'm talking about.
527. Braves team (card 589)
Clyde King doesn't seem like the manager type, which may be apparent as he lasted just a year with Atlanta. But his frames are giving this card bonus points.
526. Lou Pinella (card 217)
Gah! Why is Pinellas so close? And he's talking? Zoom out, there's batting cage to see.
525. Gene Garber (card 444)
For a long time -- a too, too long time -- I didn't know Garber's hat was airbrushed. It just looked so good, although it's pretty obviously not real. Have always liked this card.
524. Ron Santo (card 35)
I know this card horrified some. I don't mind. Cubs-White Sox, doesn't matter to me. It's a decent card.
523. John Morlan (card 651)
This is the first full pitching pose on the countdown. This one is not thrilling. Morlan also worked as a school teacher while playing baseball and he looks like what a school teacher in a baseball uniform would look like.
522. Burt Hooton (card 176)
You cannot beat a good rubbing-up-the-baseball photo but I've long been distracted by the space above Hooton. He looks like he's working in a hole.
521. Ken Frailing (card 436)
Not a bad shot. I was completely stumped by him when working on the set in 2004.
OK, that's 20 percent of the set down. We've got lots of good cards to go -- and some not-so-great ones.
Comments
My feelings on the Santo card are probably the same ones you have for any card that shows Ron Cey with the Cubs.
1. As a Tigers fan, remember the 1st Reggie Sanders as a promising prospect who started in late 74 trying to be our next Norm Cash. Hit well including a HR in his 1st mlb bat off of Catfish Hunter. Played 29 games - extrapolated to some 40 doubles and 20 homers and 279 average. Must have stunk up 75 spring Training as he was traded for the forgettable Jack Pierce. He has two rookies appearances 74 and 75 as shown here.
2. Lagrow was a star at ASU along with Larry Gura and combined for 33 and 4 record on a CWS champ. He at least made it close to 10 years in the bigs. The tigers went into steep decline in the mid 70s as the 68 champs went to retirement. Lerrin Lagrow and Gene Lamont on the same rookie card in 71 explains what happened, ok guys but not Kaline or Northrup or Lolich quality.
3. As to what happened to Lagrow, check out the scowling father in Kenny Loggins Heaven Helps the Man (I'm free) video. His card reminds me of the angry dad.
4. Doug D. Seem to come up just short so many times for the bigger rings. Orioles lost in 7 in 79 WS. Then his 82 and 86 angels choked away leads to Milwaukee and Boston. Finally ended his career on 87 Cards that lost in 7 to Twins. Not on him but he was close. He got into legal issues later with alleged insider trading.
Paul t
John Morlan's #12 is an odd number for a 1970s pitcher.
Andy M had a lot of talent and won 20 for the Angels as well. He parlayed that into a lucrative free agent signing from Ted Turner and Atlanta. Then injuries sank him. Amazing that he finished his career with the Dodgers too. Remember seeing him pitch on TV vs my tigers in 78 and he was just a shell of the guy who was dominant just 3 years earlier.
Singer I think ended up in Texas and later Blue Jays. If Bobby V hadn't become a manager, his career may have been forgotten about.
Paul t
Bill Singer looks like Fred McMurray from My Three Son and Lindy McDaniel looks like his next door neighbor.