Ah, yes … who doesn’t love Valentine’s Day?

And, as it so happens, February 14 is also about the same time that pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training, marking the beginning of another Major League Baseball season. In the old days, it was also when new baseball cards made their way to most corners of the earth for the first time.

Yep, baseball and Valentine’s Day go together in a coincidental sort of way like school lunch and diarrhea. Or something.

To celebrate that pairing (baseball and Valentine’s Day, that is), I thought it would be fun to put together an All-Time All-Valentine’s Baseball Card Team. So I did.

All of the guys here have names that have something to do with our big sweetheart day, and they all have a baseball card or two to rub together.

And speaking of “together,” together these players form a complete lineup, and then some.

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Rick Sweet, C

Rick Sweet made a total of 272 appearances for the San Diego Padres, New York Mets, and Seattle Mariners scattered over three Big League seasons from 1978 through 1983. He hit just .234 with six homers and 57 RBI over 815 plate appearances, but he did manage to pick up a handful of baseball cards along the way. Chief among them was this, ahem, sweet 1983 Topps issue showing Sweet (the man) in the tools of ignorance — the mitt, at least —  with the Mariners.

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Pete Rose, 1B

Right. Pete Rose had all sorts of troubles after he came back to the Cincinnati Reds in the 1980s and became their manager, then their Bettor-in-Chief. He’s terrible and awful and broke baseball’s cardinal rule. Fine. All true.

But he was also one of the great players of the 1960s and 1970s, and it’s impossible to leave him off this team. Though Rose played all over the diamond, we’ll slot him at first base because that’s where he played most and because that fits the rest of our lineup best. And the card?

Rose cards don’t get much better than his second-year issue, 1964 Topps, which also happens to be his first solo card.

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Bobby Rose, 2B

The California Angels drafted Bobby Rose out of San Dimas High School in the fifth round in 1985, and he made his Major League debut four years later. He was young at just 22 and touted in some circles as the Halos’ second baseman of the future, but Rose managed just 73 games over the course of the next four seasons. Still, he makes the cut at the keystone for our team, and he looks awfully good — in a Junk Wax sort of way — on his 1992 Topps card.

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Coco Laboy, 3B

OK, this one may be a stretch, but …

“Coco” is not far from “cocoa,” and you can’t have all those tasty Valentine chocolates without cocoa. Besides, Coco was the third baseman for the original rendition of the Montreal Expos, and he has some cool early 1970s baseball cards. It’s hard to argue against the 1971 and 1972 issues, but I’ll take 1970 for all the dugout-in-the-background-golden-Topps-All-Star-Rookie-red-white-and-blue-first-year-Expos-uniform goodness it imparts.

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Bobby Valentine, SS

Before Bobby Valentine was playing cards and dress-up between innings in the New York Mets dugout, he was forging a 10-year career as an actual Big League player. Like (Pete) Rose, Bobby V. played a lot of positions, though nowhere near as well as Pete did, at least if you consider the bat side of things. Among all those slots, Valentine spent the most time at shortstop, so he gets that hole for us, too.

Valentine had some solid 1970s cardboard, but we’re going with his 1972 Topps issue here because it’s so psychedelic and because Bobby looks like a shortstop in the shot.

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Ellis Valentine, RF

In ten Big League seasons with the Expos  (6+), Mets (1+), Texas Rangers(1), and Angels(1), Ellis Valentine collected an All-Star appearance, some MVP votes, and a Gold Glove, along with 123 home runs and some other statistical goodies.

He also gave collectors a variety of baseball card looks, from scowls to smiles to poses to blank stares.

But if you know anything about baseball cards from the 1980s, you know the only choice for this list is his 1981 Topps issue. You know, the one where he has welded a dinosaur bone onto the front of his batting helmet to protect his grill? Yeah, that one.

That card, plus Valentine’s actual baseball skills, make him our right fielder.

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Fred Valentine, CF

According to Baseball Reference, Fred Valentine’s nickname is, “Squeaky.” I’ll leave it to you to find out why.

For us, Valentine’s nickname is “center fielder,” by virtue of appearing in that slot more than just about anyone else on this list, even though he spent more time in right field. Sometimes, you just have to take one for the team.

You might be interested to know that Valentine picked up some MVP votes with the 1966 Washington Senators, who were a pretty awful team under a just-warming-up Gil Hodges. That nugget is all the more relevant when you realize that his beautiful 1967 Topps card, celebrating that ’66 campaign, is our pasteboard of choice here.

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Candy Maldonado,  LF

Candy Maldonado was one of those guys who hit a decent amount of home runs (18 for the Giants in 1986) fairly early in his career (age 25), flashing promise that made us come back to his cards over and over, waiting for the BIG breakout.

That never came, but Candy did turn in a 15-year career that included three 20-homer seasons and 146 overall. His fielding was nothing to write home about, but he logged enough time in both right and left to make him a solid choice as our left fielder.

He’s also showcasing that powerful swing, while flashing some Los Angeles Dodgers blue, on his 1984 Topps card.

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Jim Ray Hart, DH

Jim Ray Hart was a bona fide star beginning at age 22 for the San Francisco Giants in 1964. You may not know that, though, because he was generally overshadowed by a couple of ho-hum teammates name Willie McCovey and Willie Mays. Nevertheless, Hart finished second (to Dick Allen, tied with Rico Carty) in the ’64 National League Rookie of the Year award voting.

Hart also had five straight seasons with 20+ home runs, including two with more than 30, from 1964-68 before tailing off sharply thereafter.

And, while Hart’s primary position was at third base, his defense was generally considered … um … atrocious. So, left field, here he came!

And then DH, once he made the transition to the New York Yankees, as all aging sluggers must eventually do.

Still, he had some great cardboard, including a rather brutal 1974 Topps rendition where he’s actually listed as a designated hitter. Good enough to make him our DH.

But that’s not our card here … nope, we’re going with his sparkling 1965 Topps card, which reminds one (me) of the awesome ’65 Topps Tony Oliva issue.

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Corky Valentine, Starting Pitcher (RHP)

Corky Valentine was a big (for the time), mean right-hander for the Cincinnati Reds who signed at age 19 and then spent six years working his way through the minor leagues and a stint in the Army before finally landing on the Big League roster in 1954. Sorta like the anti-Joe Nuxhall. Valentine pitched like a mini-workhorse (194 1/3 innings) as a rookie at age 25, but then fell off to less than 30 innings in 1955 … and never appeared in the Big Leagues again.

Corky did, however, garner one more or less perfect baseball card in that short time frame — this 1955 Topps beauty.

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John Candelaria, Starting Pitcher (LHP)

If you don’t know why The Candy Man is on this list, it’s possible you’re on the wrong website. But, just in case you’re not and just haven’t spent much time pouring through this particular corner of baseball history, John Candelaria was a monstrous (6’7″) starting pitcher who toiled in the Majors from 1975 though 1993. In 1977, at age 23, he went 20-5 for an NL-leading .800 winning percentage and with an NL-leading 2.34 ERA for the always competitive Pittsburgh Pirates.

He cooled down considerably after that, but the big lefty still managed 177 career wins against 122 losses on the strength of a solid 3.33 ERA.

Oh, and his nickname was The Candy Man, but you already knew that if you were paying attention above.

Candelaria’s career spanned well into the hobby’s boom years, so there are plenty of cards to pick from, but I’m going with 1976 Topps, where Candy channels Christopher Cross and models his “Ride Like the Wind” hairdo.

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Don Rose, Relief Pitcher (RHP)

Don Rose might have been the most celebrated flower-named dude in the game in the early 1970s were it not for that hustling booger down on the Riverfront. As it was, Rose made his debut for the Mets in 1971 … then pitched for the Angels in 1972 … then spent 1973 in the minors … then pitched in two games for the San Francisco Giants in 1974.

All told, Rose made 19 Big League appearances, including four starts, and saved zero games in his 15 relief appearances.

Even with just 45 2/3 innings of total work, Rose still appeared in the 1973 Topps set on a pasteboard that may hold the record for the most total white space of all time

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Vance Lovelace, Relief Pitcher (LHP)

Sure, phonetically Vance Lovelace is the opposite of what you’d want for a Valentine’s day pitcher, but his last name is quite, um, lovely if you break it down — Love + Lace.  How delightful.

Which is not to say that Lovelace himself was so delightful on Big League diamonds, because his 0-0 record with 0 saves and a 5.79 ERA in 4 2/3 innings pitched for the Angels and Mariners is not the stuff of dreams. Except it is the stuff of dreams, because he played in the Major Leagues.

Did you?

The dream was only enhanced by the fact that Lovelace made his way onto a 1989 Fleer Major League Prospects card, right alongside Terry Taylor.

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Candy Harris, Pinch Runner

The Baltimore Orioles selected Candy Harris in the third round of the 1966 January draft, and then lost him to the Houston Astros in the Rule 5 draft that November.

As per the rules of Rule 5, the ‘Stros put Candy right onto their roster and kept him there through 1967. During that summer, he made one plate appearance over six games.

Huh? That math doesn’t work, does it?

Well, it does if you’re a pinch runner, Skippy!

And so, seven years before Charlie O. Finley made waves by signing Herb Washington to be a PR for the Oakland A’s (for PR), Candy Harris filled the role for Houston. Never mind that he struck out in his only at-bat, attempted zero stolen bases, and scored zero runs.

Dude was a pinch runner in the Major Leagues.

And, appeared on a 1968 Topps Rookie Stars card as “Alonzo” Harris, right alongside Tom Dukes.

And then was done in the Majors. Which is beside the point entirely.

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Fast forward a few decades, and you could find baseball players here and there all over the dial — from variety shows to sitcoms to game shows to dramas.

To celebrate that history, here is a list of 1970s TV shows — and specific episodes — that featured Major League players in one way or another.

Enjoy the memories, and let me know in the comments if you have other favorite baseball player cameos to share.

The Brady Bunch, “The Dropout” – September 25, 1970

The Brady Bunch featured a lot of baseball content over the years, not surprising considering that the Los Angeles Dodgers played in the Bradys’ backyard and that Greg was a hotshot high school player.

When young Mr. Brady decided his future was on the diamond and he didn’t need school, though, Daddy Mike called in the big guns to set him straight.

In this case, “Big Gun” was Dodgers righty and future Hall of Famer Don Drysdale.

That Girl, “There Sure Are a Bunch of Cards in St. Louis, Part II” – November 6, 1970

In this two-parter, Ann headed to St. Louis to meet her future in-laws and to act in a play. While there, she bumped into Cardinals legend Stan Musial, which was bound to happen considering that Stan the Man basically owned the town.

Mission: Impossible, “Catafalque” – February 6, 1971

In February of 1971, Johnny Bench had just won his first National League Most Valuable Player award and was just about the best baseball player on the planet. He was able to parlay that status into this cushy role on Mission: Impossible, where he played the leader of a group of guards charged with protecting a dead body.

Guess that’s sorta like blocking the plate, right?

Sale of the Century – 1971-74

Joe Garagiola wasn’t much of a baseball player, but he was affable, articulate, and an overall great guy by most accounts.

That combination of goodness got him in front of the camera plenty in the last two-thirds (or so) of his life, beginning as a sports announcer and working his way onto the game show circuit before landing on big-time news programs.

By 1971, Garagiola was popular enough to secure a gig as the first host of Sale of the Century.

Would you buy from Joe?

Hee Haw, Episode 94 – January 20, 1973

By January of 1973, Johnny Bench was back in the MVP winner’s circle and also had a Hee Haw credit under his belt (February 1972).

With that much going for him, how could the country-music hoedown not invite him back, this time to sing Jim Croce’s “Big Jim”?

Why, JB was the next Elvis, I tell you! Wonder whatever happened with that.

Ryan’s Hope – Episode #1.46, September 8, 1975

Nolan Ryan struck out 367 batters in 1974, but then made only 29 starts in ’75. Judging by his appearance here on Ryan’s Hope, his absence from the diamond may have had something to do with the crappy hospital where he sought treatment.

And, possibly, being attacked by a group of sneaky kids.

Ball Four, September 22-October 27, 1976

Did you know that Ball Four is not just a tell-all book written by former Major League pitcher Jim Bouton?

Nope, Bouton managed to develop the tome (not to be confused with Thome) into a CBS sitcom in 1976 and even landed the starring role of Jim Barton (original!).

It lasted five episodes, so you’re actually some sort of 70s/baseball trivia genius if you did know about this thing.

Fantasy Island, “Superstar/Salem” – March 28, 1978

May, how great would it have been to visit Fantasy Island and have Mr. Roarke grant your wish? Or maybe just kick back with Tattoo and sip some lemonade?

Pretty darn great, and I’ll bet at least some of your fantasies would have involved baseball.

That’s what Radar … um … Joe (played by Gary Burghoff from M*A*S*H wanted, too — to play with some Major Leaguers.

He got his wish, too, when Roarke set him up with the likes of Steve Garvey, George Brett, Ken Brett, Fred Lynn, Tommy Lasorda, and Ellis Valentine.

Who knows? Maybe this is the episode that engendered all those real fantasy baseball camps in the ensuing decades.

Diff’rent Strokes, “Father and Son Day” – November 14, 1979

Mr. Drummond may have been Daddy Big Bucks, but his physique didn’t exactly inspire visions of athletic greatness.

Adopted son Willis noticed that puniness, too, with a YMCA father-and-son competition fast approaching. So … he reached out to a jacked neighborhood dude named Larry.

And who do you think played Larry?

None other than Mr. October himself, Reggie Jackson.

The expected hilarity, hurt feelings, reconciliation, and lessons learned ensued.

WKRP in Cincinnati, “Sparky” – December 24, 1979

Cincinnati lost an icon when the Reds fired manager Sparky Anderson on November 28, 1978, after two straight second-place finishes in the old National League West division.

Just over a year later, Sparky made a return engagement to the Queen City when Mr. Carlson hired the new Detroit Tigers skipper to host a sports talk show on WKRP.

Sparky was a mess on the air and got the ax — again.

Said Anderson afterward:

Every time I come into this town, I get fired!

M*A*S*H, “A War for All Seasons” – December 29, 1980

OK, technically this episode did not air in the 1970s, but M*A*S*H was one of the great television shows of the decade, so it counts.

Anyway, though no ballplayers actually appeared in this one, the fabled 1951 National League pennant race played a key part of the plot, with Klinger and Charles wagering on the Giants and Dodgers.

In the end, Bobby Thomson clubbed his famous home run, and Charles took it in the proverbial financial shorts.

(Check out some of our other fun, whimsical, irresistible posts here.)

Here at Wax Pack Gods, Sunday means it’s time to check in on the vintage card market to see what sorts of big-ticket items changed hands this past week.

And, as always, the eBay crowd didn’t disappoint.

Read through the listings below and you’re sure to be amazed, tantalized, energized, and — doubtless — driven to envy.

No matter what, though, you should be encouraged that the hobby is still alive and well, as evidenced by these amazing lots that sold during the week ending July 8, 2018.

(Note that these listings contain affiliate links, which means if you click over to eBay and buy something, I’ll receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.)

1964 Topps PSA 10 Gordy Coleman

Gordy Coleman was a fine player.

He started at first base for the Cincinnati Reds throughout much of the early-to-mid 1960s and helped lead the team to a World Series appearance in 1961.

That season, Coleman hit 26 home runs and followed up with another 28 in 1962.

But the strength of this 1964 Topps card (#577) does not lie solely — or even mostly — with Coleman’s own merits.

No, this card is special because it’s from a high-number series issued 54 years ago (!) and because it graded out at a perfect 10 by PSA.

In case you’re wondering, there are only two PSA 10 Colemans in existence as of this writing even though 183 of the Gordy cards have been sent for grading.

For that condition scarcity, some lucky buyer plunked down north of $3200 and was doubtless happy to do it.

See the original eBay listing here (affiliate link).

1966 Topps Baseball Wax Pack 2nd Series

For many years, before Nolan Ryan rounded out his Hall of Fame career, the 1966 Topps Jim Palmer rookie cards was right at the top of the heap for 1960s pitcher rookie cards, with the 1965 Topps Steve Carlton as its trusty companion.

That began to change when Palmer retired in 1983 and the late-career heroics — and numbers — of Ryan, Carlton, Tom Seaver, and others pushed the Baltimore Orioles great out of the limelight.

But the Palmer rookie is still there, in all its glory, and it taunts condition-seekers: out of more than 2800 of the cards graded by PSA, none have rated a 10.

So what does the Palmer rookie have to do with this lot on eBay? Simple, this is a 2nd Series wax pack, which means it gives you a shot at not only Palmer, but also Tug McGraw, Boog Powell, the Alou brothers, Lou Brock, and others.

For this hunk of 52-year-old cardboard, 22 bidders ran the price to just over a grand.

See the original eBay listing here (affiliate link).

1968 Topps 3-D Roberto Clemente (PSA 9)

Of all the dozens of funky test and parallel issues that Topps produced throughout the 1960s, the 1968 Topps 3-D set is one of the most elusive and iconic.

It’s also darn handsome, and this “Bob” Clemente card would look right at home sliding out of a modern pack.

Vibrant colors, tall aspect ratio, and simple but effective 3-D schemes really pop the player out from his background, making these especially popular among player collectors.

But the problem has always been scarcity, and this Clemente in PSA 9 is one of only eight to ever receive that grade (an additional six have landed a PSA 10).

Add set popularity to Clemente’s legend and overall scarcity of the card, and you’re left with a specimen that eBay reports gaveled down for $30,000.

See the original eBay listing here (affiliate link).

1974 Topps Baseball Complete Master Set PSA Graded

The 1974 set was the first one Topps ever issued all at once as opposed to in series, but that didn’t stop the old gum company from providing collectors some excitement.

In particular, buzz before the season had the San Diego Padres leaving for Washington, D.C., and Topps bit hard. Their “Washington Nat’l League” cards have been a legendary gaffe in the hobby for more than 40 years now and are some of the most sought-after variations in the game.

This master set contains all 660 base cards, plus all the San Diego/Washington variations, for a total of 678 cards.

And every one of them is graded by PSA, with all but one ranked an 8, 9, 0r 10.

Wow!

What would something like that be worth?

Well, according to the winning bidder of this lot … just under $13,000.

See the original eBay listing here (affiliate link).

1975 Topps Mini Partial Set (348) – PSA 8

Speaking of Topps test issues (see the Bob Clemente 3-D card above), not many have stirred the imagination and debate more than the 1975 Topps Mini set.

Issued mostly in Michigan in the heart of the Big Red Machine years, Topps Minis are identical to the base cards, except scaled down to 2-1/4” by 3-1/8″.

While scarcer than the normal sized cards, the Minis have been up and down the multiplier scale over the years, but there is no denying that high-grade versions are hard to come by.

For example, 138,000 cards from the base set have graded out at PSA 8, while just 54,000 of the Minis cleared that bar.

And 348 of those NM-MT beauties were offered up in this eBay lot, which includes copious superstars and Hall of Famers.

When 25 bidders finally finished their business, this partial set sold for a bit more than $2000.

See the original eBay listing here (affiliate link).

(Check out our other posts about card values here.)

One look at some baseball cards will tell you all you need to know about the player depicted.

For instance, the 1977 Topps Dave Kingman tells you that Kong is a smasher.

The 1973 Topps Brooks Robinson reminds you that you’re not getting anything past him at third base.

And the 1984 Fleer Glenn Hubbard solidifies your resolve to keep him away from your daughter.

But other cards don’t tell you the whole story, no matter how great they look.

Take the 1966 Topps Joe Morgan, for example.

If you were a young collector in 1966, chances are you didn’t know much about Morgan unless you lived in the Houston area.

Sure, Morgan turned in an excellent rookie season in 1965, smacking 14 home runs in 601 at-bats to go along with a .271 batting average, 100 runs, and 20 stolen bases. That effort earned him second place in the National League Rookie of the Year balloting, well behind Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Jim Lefebvre.

But just look at that gorgeous card that Topps used to celebrate Morgan’s rookie year.

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Born to Be 2B

There he is on the front of his 1966 Topps card, crouched down and ready to scoop up the ground ball that is surely screaming his way. The battered glove on his left hand looks older than Joe himself, who was only about 21 in the picture.

Morgan gazes intently in the direction of the phantom batted ball, neither anxious nor excited for the play about to unfold. He’s going to handle whatever comes his way and toss the horsehide on a rope to first base to get the out.

No question about it.

His Houston Astros jersey from 1965, the first year after they renamed themselves from the Colt .45s, is understated compared to the explosion of orange, blue, and yellow that would come a decade later. The only hint of gawd here is the Astros patch on Morgan’s left sleeve, already threatening to become garish.

Behind Morgan, blue sky invites you to the ballpark to watch this young team and its Topps 1965 All-Star Rookie second baseman. Besides the golden trophy denoting that same distinction, the card design is unassuming and keeps your focus on the the promise in Morgan’s eyes.

The back of card #195 reinforces your impressions from the card front and fills in some missing pieces.

Morgan stands just 5’7″ tall and weighs a scant 150 pounds. He throws from the right side but bats lefty.

And, according to Topps,

Joe has all the credentials to become one of the best second-sackers in the majors.

He’s also apparently “an excellent billiard player.”

That pretty much sums up the situation, doesn’t it?

Here we have a tiny, pool-sharp second baseman who looks perfect in the standard 2B crouch.

This man was built for defense, and that’s where he’ll make his mark. Maybe he’ll be able to maintain his run-scoring output from 1965, and the stolen bases are sure to bump up as he hits his prime.

But those 14 dingers, modest as they were,couldn’t be much more than a one-year aberration. Beginner’s luck.

If Morgan develops into anything like a top second baseman, as Topps predicts, it will be in the classic mold: good fielder with any offensive contribution a decided bonus.

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The Little General is Born

Unless you just landed here from 1966 in your time machine, of course, you already know that Joe Morgan had other plans.

His home run output did dip into the single digits for most of his remaining six years in Houston, and his stolen base totals climbed as high as 49 by 1969. He made two All-Star teams and was generally one of the best second basemen in the Major Leagues.

Then, in late November of 1971, Morgan was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in a blockbuster trade that also netted Cincy Ed Armbrister, Jack Billingham, Cesar Geronimo, and Denis Menke in exchange for Tommy Helms, Lee May, and Jimmy Stewart.

As it turned out, this was the deal that put the finishing touches on The Big Red Machine.

Billingham claimed a slot in the rotation and Geronimo soon established himself as the Reds’ starting center fielder. Armbrister developed into a valuable role player whom manager Sparky Anderson played in all three outfield spots.

But Morgan was the prize of the trade who paid off more handsomely than anyone could have imagined.

Hitting second in the Reds lineup, Morgan got down to business the way he always did — getting on base, stealing bases, scoring runs. And, at age 28, he recorded a career-high 16 home runs in 1972 and landed fourth in the race for NL MVP.

The next year, he upped that homer total to 26 while remaining excellent everywhere else. He also won the first of five straight Gold Glove awards.

The power stuck with him and by the time the Machine was revving at full throttle to start the 1975 season, Morgan was batting third.

That 1975 team was one of the greatest to ever take the field, and the lineup was loaded like few others in Major League history. Despite sharing the dugout and diamond with unbelievable talents like Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, George Foster, Dave Concepcion, and Ken Griffey, “Little Joe” Morgan was the best of the lot.

He won the National League MVP award and led the Reds to a World Series title in 1975 at age 31, then did it all again in 1976.

When Morgan finally hung up his spikes at age 41 in 1984, he had amassed 268 home runs among his more than 2500 hits. He scored more than 1600 runs and drove in more than 1100. His 689 stolen bases put him in eighth place when he retired.

As Topps predicted way back in 1966, Morgan had indeed become one of the best second baseman in baseball, and for all time.

Not bad for a guy who looked like for all the world like a light-hitting middle infielder waiting to happen on his 1966 Topps card.

(Read all about this 30-day challenge — and jump in on the fun — right here.)

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Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan spent parts of nine seasons with the Houston Colt .45s and Houston Astros, but did you know he appeared in only one Memorial Day game for them?

It’s the truth, and Morgan’s one Memorial Day appearance in Astros’ road grays seemed to foretell the trade that would change his career.

Here’s how it happened …

Unofficial Holiday

Although Americans began collectively honoring our fallen soldiers in the years after the Civil War through the observance of Decoration Day, it wasn’t until 1971 that Memorial Day became an official holiday.

As it happened, the Cincinnati Reds hosted the Houston Astros on that inaugural holiday, which fell on May 31, 1971.

In a game that lasted a scant two hours and 19 minutes, the Astros downed the Reds by a final score of 4-1.

Larry Dierker went the distance for the Astros, giving up seven hits and two walks, and improving his record to a sterling 9-1.

The Houston attack was led that day by Cesar Cedeno, who smacked a 3rd-inning homer off Tony Cloninger and drove in three runs on the day.

Not far behind was Little Joe Morgan, Houston’s sparkplug of a second baseman, who recorded two hits in four at-bats, stole a base, and scored a run.

By the end of that last day of May, the Reds found themselves nine games under .500, a far cry from the pennant-winning pace that saw them win 102 games in 1970.

By contrast, the Astros entered June with a 25-24 record, but both clubs languished behind the red-hot San Francisco Giants, who would eventually win the National League West division.

Reds brass must have been paying attention to both their own sputtering offense and Morgan’s motor because big changes were in the works.

The Big Red Machine Gets Its Ignition Switch

The Astros and the Reds both finished as also-rans in 1971, but Cincy General Manager Bob Howsam was not about to let his big stars languish through another tough season in 1972.

So, on November 29, 1971, Howsam traded Tommy Helms, Lee May, and Jimmy Stewart to the Astros for Ed Armbrister, Jack Billingham, Cesar Geronimo, Denis Menke … and Joe Morgan.

This deal essentially put the final pieces in place for the Reds to become The Reds — The Big Red Machine that steamrolled the National League and all of baseball during the middle 1970s.

Of course, since baseball cards always depicted what happened the previous year, the 1972 Topps Joe Morgan card (#132) showed him as a member of the Houston Astros.

But Topps upped the bar in 1972, releasing series after series and pushing their offering to a mind-stretching 787 cards. That last series was issued late enough in the year for them to capture certain players in their new uniforms.

Thanks to Topps’ ambition and Morgan’s growing status with the Reds, Little Joe made his Cincinnati debut on card #752, which also featured the “TRADED” facsimile stamp across the front.

For the rest of the decade, Morgan made the Reds “go” and captured two NL MVP awards as Cincinnati pulled off consecutive World Series victories in 1975 and 1976 in one of the most dominant two-year runs of all time.

For long-time Reds fans, many of our most significant “memories” revolve around Joe Morgan, and those would have started way back in 1971 if we’d been paying attention.

What About the Return?

Astute readers have no doubt remembered by this point that Morgan returned to the Astros for the 1980 season. Didn’t he make a Memorial Day appearance that season?

Even though Morgan played in 141 games for Houston in 1980, he did not take the field on Memorial Day (May 26). In his place?

The immortal Rafael Landestoy, who would himself land with the Reds the next season.

The beautiful symmetry of baseball never ceases to amaze.

(Check out our other player card posts here.)