81 - Whitey Lockman MGR

About This Manager
Whitey Lockman only managed the Chicago Cubs for parts of three seasons, but he had a career in baseball that spanned more than 59 years.

Lockman started his 15-year playing career with the New York Giants in 1945 at the age of 18.  He hit a home run in his first Major League at bat. During his career, Lockman played in two World Series (losing to the Yankees in 1951 and winning against the Indians in 1954) and was named the starting first baseman in the 1952 All-Star Game. In addition to his time with the New York and San Francisco Giants, Lockman also played with the Cardinals, Orioles, and Reds before playing his final game in 1960.

Immediately after his playing career ended, Lockman started coaching. He joined the Reds coaching staff in 1960 and, then, joined the Giants as a third base coach in 1961. Lockman joined the Cubs in 1965, first, as a minor league manager, then an MLB coach, and later as supervisor of player development.

Lockman succeeded Leo Durocher to manage the Cubs in 1972 and revitalized the team with a 39-26 record to finish the season and jump two places in the standings. However, poor records in 1973 and 1974 cost Lockman his job and he moved back to the front office.

For more information:
Sports Illustrated - May 28, 1973 - First Place Always Rattles A Cub Fan

Lockman served as the Cubs' vice president of player development in his front office return and remained in the role through 1989. Lockman also served in front office roles with the Expos (1990-1992) and Marlins (1993-2001). Lockman retired from baseball in 2001.

Lockman died March 17, 2009 at age 82.

About This Card
In addition to Whitey Lockman, this card also features Hank Aguirre (16-year All-Star pitcher), Ernie Banks (19-year Cubs Hall of Famers), Larry Jansen (9-year All-Star pitcher) and Pete Reiser (10-year All-Star outfielder).

603 - Rookie Third Basemen (Terry Hughes / Bill McNulty / Ken Reitz)

About These Players
Terry Hughes was only in the big leagues briefly in three seasons.  Hughes played in only two games with a total of three at bats for the Chicago Cubs in 1970.  He returned to the Majors in 1973 with the St. Louis Cardinals with whom he spent only 11 games and spent 1974 in 41 games with the Boston Red Sox.

Bill McNulty played in a total of nine games with the Oakland A's in 1969 and 1972.  Though he was traded to the Texas Rangers in 1973, he never played a game on the big league roster.

Out of the three players, Ken Reitz had the most successful career.  Reitz made his big league debut in 1972 and earned the starting third base spot immediately after being called up.  In his 11-year career, Reitz played with the St. Louis Cardinals in eight of them.  Known for his defense, Reitz won the Gold Glove in 1975 and led all National League third basemen in fielding percentage in six seasons.  Reitz earned his only All-Star selection in 1980.

About This Card
Hughes, McNulty and Reitz all appear for their first times in the 1973 set.  Hughes appears as a Cub, even though he was on the Cardinals roster and appeared in some games in 1973.  McNulty was in the Rangers organization in 1973, but never played a game for Texas.

139 - Carmen Fanzone

About This Player
Carmen Fanzone enjoyed five seasons in the big leagues and four of them with the Chicago Cubs.  Fanzone made his Major League debut with the Boston Red Sox in 1970 and played in 10 games that year.

Fanzone was traded the following year to the Cubs and responded with a home run in his first National League at-bat against Astros' pitcher, Ken Forsch.  He spent his tenure as a utility infielder and pinch hitter.  His best season came in 1972 in which he substituted for an injured Ron Santo at third base.  In his 86 games that year, Fanzone set career highs in home runs, RBIs and runs.

Also an accomplished trumpeter, Fanzone spent his nights after day games at Wrigley Field looking for gigs.  Occasionally, he played the National Anthem before Cubs home games.  After his playing career ended, Fanzone continued to pursue music professionally.

Currently, Fanzone works as a business representative for Professional Musicians Local 47 in Los Angeles, California.

For more information:
Los Angeles Times - July 3, 2011

About This Card
Although Carmen Fanzone made his Major League debut in 1970, he would not make his Topps debut until 1973.

645 - Bob Locker

About This Player
Locker, known for his sinker ball, pitched in 576 games in his career and all of them in relief.  Locker made his big league debut with a Chicago White Sox bullpen that included knuckleballers Hoyt Wilhelm and Eddie Fisher.  Locker became the White Sox' most used reliever with a league leading 77 appearances with 20 saves and a career low 2.09 ERA in 1967.  He made 70 appearances with 10 saves in 1968.  Locker was traded in 1969 to the Seattle Pilots.  He moved with the team the following year when they became the Milwaukee Brewers and was traded in the middle of the season to the Oakland A's. 

Locker became a key piece in Oakland's bullpen quickly after his arrival.  He allowed no earned runs in his first seven innings with the A's.  On August 12, 1970, Locker pitched 5-and-2/3 scoreless innings in relief, the longest outing of his career.  He was a key member of the 1972 World Series team often pitching in the seventh and eighth innings to set up closer, Rollie Fingers.

After the 1972 World Series, Locker was traded to the Chicago Cubs.  Though pitching in the National League for the first time, Locker experienced one of his finest seasons earning 10 wins and 18 saves with a 2.54 ERA.  Because of a request Locker made to the Cubs' general manager, John Holland, he would only play one season with Chicago and then get traded back to Oakland where he planned to live and work after his baseball career.  Locker was traded back to the A's, but would sit out the entire 1974 season due to injury.  He was traded back to the Cubs in 1975.  After poor performances, he was released by the club.

An alumni from Iowa State University where he played baseball and basketball and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Geology, Locker was inducted into the ISU Hall of Fame in 2008.

About This Card
I'm really not sure what to make out of the picture on this card.  Locker was traded to the Cubs and, therefore, would need to be airbrushed into a Cubs uniform even to the point where his old uniform number was removed (although he did wear the same #36 in Chicago as he did in Oakland.)  Even the outfielder on the background needed to be airbrushed into a Cubs uniform.

285 - Don Kessinger

About This Player
Don Kessinger played 16 seasons in the Major Leagues and his first 12 with the Chicago Cubs.  Kessinger made his big league debut in 1964.  He established himself quickly as the team's starting shortstop in 1965 and played the first of nine consecutive seasons in which he would share the middle infield tandem with second baseman, Glenn Beckert.  During his tenure with the Cubs, Kessinger earned six All-Star selections, including four in the starting lineup.  Regarded as one of the game's best defensive specialists during his time, Kessinger led the National League in assists three times and received two Gold Glove Awards.  In 1969, he set a Major League record at that time with a streak of 54 consecutive games at shortstop without committing an error.

After the 1975 season, Kessinger was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals.  After one-and-a-half seasons with the Cardinals, he was traded again to the Chicago White Sox, with whom he would finish his career.  In 1979, Kessinger was named the White Sox' player-manager and served in this role until his retirement on July 31.

Kessinger's son, Keith, played briefly for the Cincinnati Reds in 1993.

About This Card
Don Kessinger is shown here in his "lefty" pose.  As an accomplished switch-hitter, Kessinger can be seen on Topps cards in both "left" and "righty" poses.  After hitting .201 in 1965, Cubs' manager, Leo Durocher, encouraged Kessinger to become a switch hitter.  His batting average improved greatly and Kessinger soon became the Cubs' lead off hitter in Durocher's lineup.

262 - Jack Aker

About This Player
Jack Aker pitched in relief in 11 big league seasons with six different teams.  Originally signed by the Kansas City Athletics as an outfielder, Aker was converted as a pitcher and made his Major League debut in 1964.  Aker's finest season came in 1966 in which he pitched to a record of 8-4 with a 1.99 ERA, earned 32 saves and was named the American League Fireman of the Year by the Sporting News.

After several run-ins with A's owner, Charlie Finley, Aker, the team's union representative was made available for the expansion draft for the 1969 season and was selected by the Seattle Pilots.  Aker was soon elected as the Pilots' union rep.  Aker earn the save in the Pilots' first game in franchise history.  In the middle of the season, Aker was traded to the Yankees.  Akers remained with the team until he was traded to the Cubs in 1972 to complete a trade for Johnny Callison.  Aker remained with the Cubs through 1973.  In 1974, Aker played for the Braves and Mets until retiring his baseball career.

Aker managed in the minor leagues from 1975-1985 and served as the Indians' pitching coach from 1985 through 1987.  In 1988, Aker left professional baseball and founded Jack Aker Baseball, Inc. offering camps, clinics and private instruction to children.  Aker devotes a lot of his work at teaching at-risk Native American youth on reservations in Arizona and New Mexico.  In 1997, Aker was honored by President Clinton with the "Giant Steps Award" for his service.

About This Card
Jack Aker was given the nickname "Chief" because of his American Indian heritage.

393 - Jose Cardenal

About This Player
Jose Cardenal played in 18 big league seasons with nine different teams.  Cardenal was a line drive hitter with good bat speed, an aggressive baserunner with excellent speed and a versatile fielder with good range and a strong throwing arm.  Cardenal stole 20 or more bases ten times and spent his career playing the three outfield positions.

Cardenal made his Major League debut with the Giants in 1963.  Cardenal had his longest tenure with his sixth team, the Chicago Cubs, for six seasons.  As the Cubs' right fielder in 1973, Cardenal led the team in batting average (.303), doubles (33) and steals (19) and was named Chicago Player of the Year by the Chicago baseball writers.  He might be better known to Cubs fans as the player who missed one Spring Training game because of a cricket in his room and another game because his eyelids were stuck.  Cardenal retired in 1980 with the Kansas City Royals after the team had reached the World Series.

For more information:
"Jose Can You See?" - Chicago Now

Jose Cardenal is a cousin of Bert Campaneris.

About This Card
Jose Cardenal displays his classic bunting form.

61 - Batting Leaders (Billy Williams / Rod Carew)

About These Players
Billy Willams played 18 seasons with the Cubs and A's.  A Rookie of the Year in 1961 and a six-time All-Star, Williams won his only batting crown in 1972.  Williams was selected to the Hall of Fame in 1987.
Rod Carew played 19 seasons with the Twins and Angels.  A Rookie of the Year in 1967, an American League Most Valuable Player in 1977 and an 18-time All-Star, Carew led the American League in batting average seven times.  Carew won his second batting title in 1972 and another one in 1973.  Carew was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.

About This Card
For a League Leader card, you will no finer combination of two pure hitters in Rod Carew and Billy Williams: both Rookies of the Year and both Hall of Famers.  While Williams was nearing the end of his career, Carew was continuing to reach his peak.

527 - Dan McGinn

About This Player
Dan McGinn was a left-handed pitcher who enjoyed five seasons in the Major Leagues.  McGinn made his rookie debut in 1968 with the Reds.  McGinn was later drafted by the Expos in the expansion draft and was an inaugural member of the team in 1969.  McGinn also belted the first home run in Expos history on Opening Day that year.  McGinn played his final season with the Cubs in 1972.

About This Card
This 1973 Topps card would be McGinn's final baseball card.

464 - Chicago Cubs TC

About This Team
The Chicago Cubs are one of the original National League teams established in 1876.  In 1972, the Cubs finished the season in 2nd place in the National League East.  In 1973, the Cubs would finish in 5th place.

About This Card
I enjoy the stats on the backs of cards and I enjoy especially the team stats on the back of the team cards.  In the case of 1973, the team cards show each team's all-time stat leaders and the records for each of the pennant winning teams.  Topps quit printing team cards in 1990 and brought back the team cards in 2001.  The team stats are finally appearing again in 2010.