One-card wonders, update 17

 

I was surprised to discover that the last time I updated this series was more than a year ago.

 

I like writing this series, and it's not super work-intensive. But I also try to balance it out, so I'm not running these all the time. Apparently I balanced things out a little too much.

 

As a refresher, this is where I pick a card year or two and find players in that set who had just one card for their whole career. They didn't appear on a multi-player rookie card or in any other major set (I discount minor league issues and sets of that nature). They are true One-Card Wonders.

 

The last time I did this I said I wanted to wrap up the 1970s, so that's what I'm doing now. The last years to finish are 1972, 1973 and 1976.

 

The most surprising year here is 1972.

 

There are just four One-Card Wonders in the 1972 Topps set, which is 787 cards large. Interestingly, two are bunters.

 

#77 - Ron Theobald, Brewers

#331 - Stan Swanson, Expos

#366 - Jimmy Rosario, Giants

#597 - Jim Magnuson, Yankees

 

Both Theobald and Rosario appeared in the 1994 Miller Beer 25th anniversary Brewers set, but I don't count that as a major set.

 

 

1973 features six OCW's. All of these guys were completely new to me when collecting the '73 set, except for Breazeale, whose card was discussed when I wrote the Best Glasses on Baseball Cards posts (still need to get back to that).

 

#33 - Jim Breazeale, Braves

#178 - Don Rose, Angels

#332 - John Felske, Brewers

#537 - Bill Slayback, Tigers

#548 - Don Durham, Cardinals

#561 - Jim Geddes, White Sox

 

 

1976 offers the most OCW's of the three sets with 10. Since I was collecting by this time, I was familiar with Jim Burton, Joe McIntosh and Bob Allietta right away because I pulled those cards. Burton was particularly big because he pitched in Game 7 of the 1975 World Series and I think I was aware of that. I believe I was aware of the Mike Beard card, too.

 

That meant the other guys were fascinating shockers when I was completing this set decades later. What the heck? Players I didn't know?

 

#53 - Mike Beard, Braves

#162 - Jack Pierce, Tigers

#262 - Dan Osborn, White Sox

#388 - Stan Perzanowski, Rangers

#413 - Pete Varney, White Sox
#471 - Jim Burton, Red Sox

#497 - Joe McIntosh, Padres

#539 - John Balaz, Angels

#549 - Randy Tate, Mets

#623 - Bob Allietta, Angels

 

Now a few of these guys showed up in the 1976 SSPC set, but I'm discounting that set, too, as prevalent as it was. You couldn't pull those cards from packs.

 

Checking the '76 OCW's did present a question though.

 

McIntosh actually has two cards in a major set, basically the same set. I decided not to count it against his OCW status though. He wasn't venturing into a new year with the second card. As for when I add to the team totals, both the Padres and Astros will get a click with McIntosh.

 

There was another question to answer with the 1973 set, too.

 

John Felske showed up again in a Topps set as a manager in 1986.

 

But I decided in the last post that One-Card Wonders refer to players only and anything related to a manager doesn't count. I've come across this previously with George Bamberger, who appeared as a player in 1959 Topps and then as a manager in multiple 1980s sets. Still an OCW as far as I'm concerned.

 

Now that I've gone through all the years of the 1970s, I know which set has the most OCW's. It's a tie. Both 1976 and 1978 featured 10 OCW's apiece. Here is the order from most to least:

 

1. 1976 Topps - 10

1. 1978 Topps - 10

3. 1971 Topps - 9

3. 1979 Topps - 9

5. 1974 Topps - 7

6. 1973 Topps - 6

6. 1975 Topps - 6 

8. 1970 Topps - 5

8. 1977 Topps - 5

10. 1972 Topps - 4

 

And now let's add the rest of the '70s set to the full list of OCW's.

 

1957 Topps

#191 - Joe Margoneri, Giants

#266 - Ken Kuhn, Indians

#276 - Jim Pyburn, Orioles

#321 - Red Murff, Braves

#337 - Rene Valdes, Dodgers

#386 - Lyle Luttrell, Senators

 

1958 Topps

#65 - Von McDaniel, Cardinals

#83 - Bob Hazle, Braves

#96 - Joe Durham, Orioles

#126 - Stan Palys, Reds

#129 - Jim Derrington, White Sox

#131 - Bobby Henrich, Reds

#151 - Buddy Pritchard, Pirates

#182 - Joe Caffie, Indians

#218 - Dick Rand, Pirates

#231 - Lloyd Merritt, Cardinals

#243 - Larry Raines, Indians

#283 - Ray Shearer, Braves

#322 - Harding Peterson, Pirates

#376 - Charley Rabe, Reds

#391 - Dave Melton, Athletics

#442 - Phil Paine, Cardinals

#449 - Gene Fodge, Cubs

#451 - Joe Taylor, Cardinals

#461 - Ed Mayer, Cubs

 

1959 Topps

#49 - Bill Hall, Pirates

#91 - Herb Moford, Red Sox

#120 - Chuck Coles, Reds

#121 - Bob Conley, Phillies

#126 - Eddie Haas, Braves

#134 - Jim McDaniel, Pirates

#140 - Charlie Secrest, Athletics

#192 - Charley Beamon, Orioles

#211 - Bob Blaylock, Cardinals

#214 - Marcelino Solis, Cubs

#254 - Zeke Bella, Athletics

#281 - Walt Craddock, Athletics

#283 - Russ Heman, Indians

#321 - Bob Giallombardo, Dodgers

#362 - Dolan Nicols, Cubs

#504 - Ossie Alvarez, Tigers

#522 - Gene Snyder, Dodgers

#529 - George Bamberger, Orioles

#532 - Mark Freeman, Athletics

#537 - Rodolfo Arias, White Sox

#539 - Gary Blaylock, Cardinals

#544 - Lee Tate, Cardinals

 

1965 Topps

#169 - Dave Vineyard, Orioles
#494 - Jay Ritchie, Red Sox
#529 - Jerry Fosnow, Twins
#543 - Ed Connolly, Red Sox 

1967 Topps

#344 - Ossie Chavarria, A's
#388 - Arnold Earley, Cubs
#489 - Doug Clemens, Phillies
#497 - Ron Campbell, Cubs

1969 Topps:

#317 -- Bruce Look, Twins
#361 -- Gary Holman, Senators
#378 -- Jose Herrera, Expos
#437 -- Luis Alcaraz, Royals
#632 -- Jon Warden, Royals

1970 Topps:

 

#147 - Angel Hermoso, Expos

#168 - Dave Watkins, Phillies

#414 - Paul Edmondson, White Sox

#533 - Buzz Stephen, Pilots

#703 - Lou Marone, Pirates

 

1971 Topps:

 

#34 - Sandy Vance, Dodgers
#77 - Mike Compton, Phillies

#84 - Marcel Lachemann, Athletics

#103 - Rich Severson, Royals

#186 - Bob Spence, White Sox

#298 - Jim Nelson, Pirates

#673 - Gerry Janiski, Senators

#702 - Milt Ramirez, Cardinals

#749 - Ken Szotkiewicz, Tigers

 

1972 Topps:

 

#77 - Ron Theobald, Brewers

#331 - Stan Swanson, Expos

#366 - Jimmy Rosario, Giants

#597 - Jim Magnuson, Yankees

 

1973 Topps:

 

#33 - Jim Breazeale, Braves

#178 - Don Rose, Angels

#332 - John Felske, Brewers

#537 - Bill Slayback, Tigers

#548 - Don Durham, Cardinals

#561 - Jim Geddes, White Sox  

1974 Topps:

#8 - George Theodore, Mets
#33 - Don Newhauser, Red Sox
#37 - Dave Sells, Angels
#77 - Rich Troedson, Padres
#421 - Dan Fife, Twins
#457 - Chuck Goggin, Braves
#573 - Mike Adams, Twins 

1975 Topps

#288 - Bruce Ellingsen, Indians
#407 - Herb Washington, A's
#508 - Bob Hansen, Brewers
#524 - John Doherty, Angels
#587 - Chris Ward, Cubs
#651 - John Morlan, Pirates

 

1976 Topps:

 

#53 - Mike Beard, Braves

#162 - Jack Pierce, Tigers

#262 - Dan Osborn, White Sox

#388 - Stan Perzanowski, Rangers

#413 - Pete Varney, White Sox
#471 - Jim Burton, Red Sox

#497 - Joe McIntosh, Padres/Astros

#539 - John Balaz, Angels

#549 - Randy Tate, Mets

#623 - Bob Allietta, Angels

1977 Topps

#118 - Rick Jones, Mariners
#132 - Chip Lang, Expos
#137 - Jeff Terpko, Rangers
#616 - Tommy Sandt, A's
#641 - Dan Larson, Astros 

1978 Topps:

#224 - Jerry Tabb, A's
#303 - Sam Hinds, Brewers
#311 - Jose Baez, Mariners
#386 - Bob Gorinski, Twins
#502 - Pat Rockett, Braves
#516 - Gary Beare, Brewers
#521 - Steve Staggs, Blue Jays
#591 - George Zeber, Yankees
#667 - Jeff Byrd, Blue Jays
#719 - Randy Elliott, Giants 

1979 Topps:

#172 - Mike Bruhert, Mets
#222 - Bob Beall, Braves
#292 - Don Reynolds, Padres
#336 - Bobby Thompson, Rangers
#363 - Craig Skok, Braves
#371 - Jeff Holly, Twins
#427 - Andy Replogle, Brewers
#658 - Taylor Duncan, A's
#676 - Johnny Sutton, Twins

1980 Topps:

#59 - Eddy Putman, Tigers
#72 - Fred Howard, White Sox
#156 - Tony Brizzolara, Braves
#221 - Joe Cannon, Blue Jays
#233 - LaRue Washington, Rangers
#291 - Randy Scarberry, White Sox
#347 - Harry Chappas, White Sox

1981 Topps:

 #491 - Gordy Pladson, Astros

1982 Topps:

#356 - Denny Lewallyn, Indians

 

1983 Topps

#266 - Paul Boris, Twins

1984 Topps:

#116 - George Bjorkman, Astros
#159 - Darryl Cias, A's
#163 - Lorenzo Gray, White Sox
#337 - Kevin Hagen, Cardinals
#382 - Chris Nyman, White Sox
#474 - Greg Bargar, Expos

1985 Topps:

#367 - Keefe Cato, Reds
#514 - Jeff Cornell, Giants

1986 Topps:

#451 - Mark Brown, Twins
#502 - Glen Cook, Rangers
#567 - Jeff Barkley, Indians

 

1987 Topps:

 

#387 - T.R. Bryden, Angels

1994 Topps:

#491 - John Hope, Pirates (maybe)

 

1983 Donruss

 

#52 - Steve Senteney, Blue Jays

#492 - Roy Johnson, Expos

#520 - Terry Bogener, Rangers

#629 - Anthony Johnson, Blue Jays

1985 Donruss:

#31 - Tony Brewer, Dodgers
#40 - Charlie Mitchell, Reds
#42 - Russ Stephans, Royals
#46 - Doug Loman, Brewers
#491 - Scottie Earl, Tigers
#504 - Ralph Citarella, Cardinals
#535 - Vic Rodriguez, Orioles

1986 Donruss:

#32 - Johnny Abrego, Cubs
#42 - Rick Surhoff, Rangers
#461 - Dave Leeper, Royals
#510 - Steve Engel, Cubs
#595 - Carlos Ponce, Brewers

 

1981 Fleer

 

#49 - Jeff Twitty, Royals

#130 - Gary Weiss, Dodgers

#220 - Sheldon Burnside, Reds 

 

1983 Fleer

 

#114 - Steve Hammond, Royals

#148 - Ken Smith, Braves

 

1960 Leaf

#61 - Vic Rehm, Braves

#62 - John Gabler, Yankees

#91 - Fred Hopke, Phillies

#93 - Wally Shannon, Cardinals

#99 - Marshall Renfroe, Giants

#108 - Tom McAvoy, Senators

#114 - Stover McIlwan, White Sox

 

And here is the updated team-by-team breakdown:

 

1. Braves - 13

1. White Sox - 13

3. A's - 12

3. Cardinals - 12

5. Cubs - 9

5. Twins - 9

7. Brewers - 8

7. Pirates - 8

9. Indians - 7

9. Rangers - 7

9. Reds - 7

9. Royals - 7
13. Angels - 6

13. Dodgers - 6

13. Expos - 6

13. Orioles - 6 

13. Tigers - 6

18. Blue Jays - 5

18. Giants - 5

18. Phillies - 5
18. Red Sox - 5

22. Astros - 4

22. Senators - 4

24. Mets - 3

24. Padres - 3

24. Yankees - 3

27. Mariners - 2

28. Pilots - 1

 

The Braves and White Sox leap into the lead. Still a lot of years to go, but right now it seems to be a four-team race between the Braves, White Sox, A's and Cardinals.

 

Of course, the One-Card Wonder name comes from the One-Hit Wonder concept, so here are just a few one-hit wonders from 1972, 1973 and 1976 (the '70s is filled with one-hit wonders). American Top 40 charts only:

 

 

Precious and Few - Climax

 

 

Hold Your Head Up - Argent

 

 

Popcorn - Hot Butter

 

 

Oh Babe, What Would You Say - Hurricane Smith

 

 

Dancing in the Moonlight - King Harvest

 

 

Brother Louie - Stories

 

 

 Afternoon Delight - Starland Vocal Band

 

 

 

 More, More, More - The Andrea True Connection

 

 

 

Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry

 

And there were lots of others than I could have picked.  

 

 

So that takes care of the '70s and as I mentioned the last time, I'll finish off the '80s next. After that it's the mid-1960s. And I guess I'll have to plow through the '90s at some point.

 

You'll see another one of these before the year is out. No way I'm going to let this stagnate for another year.