177 - Bill Plummer

About This Player
Bill Plummer spent ten seasons in the Major Leagues.  Plummer made his big league debut with the Cubs, but spent most of his playing career catching with the Cincinnati Reds and backing up Johnny Bench. Plummer was a member for five of Cincinnati's playoff teams, including their two World Series wins, but never played in the World Series.  

Despite being a .188 hitter, Plummer had some big moments. In 1974, Plummer slammed two home runs in one game against Philadelphia's Steve Carlton. 

For more information on Plummer's career with the Reds:

Sports Illustrated - July 18, 1977 - Few Things Come To Him Who Waits

Plummer spent his final season with the Seattle Mariners in 1978. Plummer stayed with the Mariners coaching and managing throughout the minor league system.  Plummer became manager of the Seattle Mariners in 1992, but was fired after one season.  

Afterward, Plummer continued to manage in both independent and minor league baseball.  He joined the Arizona Diamondback system in 2000 and was last coaching in 2013 with the Single-A Visalia Rawhide.

About This Card
Although Plummer debuted with the Cubs in 1968, he did not have an appearance on a Topps card until five years later.

204 - World Series Game 2

About This World Series Game
Jackie Robinson made his final public appearance before Game 2 of the 1972 World Series.  (He would pass away nine days later.)  In his speech, he expressed his desire to see a black manager of a Major League team, a barrier not yet broken at the time.

Game 2 became a close low-scoring match-up in which Catfish Hunter pitched eight strong innings and Rollie Fingers notched the save in the 2-1 win.  Joe Rudi was the hero of the game with a home run in the first inning off of Ross Grimsley and a game-saving catch against the left field wall in the ninth inning of a ball hit by Denis Menke.  The Reds futility showed with lead runners on in five innings but only scoring one run in the ninth.

This Fall Classic loss marked the Reds' seventh straight home loss in a World Series, including three losses in the 1961 World Series against the New York Yankees and two losses against the Baltimore Orioles in the 1970 World Series.

About This Card
The photograph shows a fielder's choice play in the bottom of the sixth inning.  With Dick Green playing second base and Mike Hegan manning first, Tony Perez grounded the ball which forced Johnny Bench out.  In this case, Perez beat the relay to first.

533 - Larry Stahl

About This Player
Larry Stahl played in ten Major League seasons as a back up outfielder and pinch hitter.  Stahl made his big league debut with the Kansas City Athletics in 1964.  He would later play for the New York Mets and San Diego Padres and spend his final season with the Cincinnati Reds.  Stahl finished his career with the 1973 National League Championship Series in which he hit 2-for-4 as a pinch hitter in the series loss to the Mets.

Stahl, while with the Padres, might be best known for his part in breaking up a perfect game against Milt Pappas of the Cubs.  September 2, 1972, after retiring the first 26 batters, Stahl is brought in to pinch hit against Pappas.  After two strikes calls, the home plate umpire calls the next four pitches balls and Stahl is walked.  The following batter is retired on a pop-up leaving Pappas with a no-hitter.

For more information:
What Really Happened? An Interview with Major League Pitching Great Milt Pappas

About This Card
The illustration on the back of Stahl's card highlights his 503 foot home run hit at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City in 1966.  To add more to details of the dimensions in Municipal Stadium, A's owner Charlie Finley had a tendency to experiment with moving the fences in and out during the seven seasons the A's resided in Kansas City.

Sports Illustrated described Stahl's home run as follows:

In KANSAS CITY (4-3) there is a 40-foot screen atop the fence to frustrate sluggers, but Larry Stahl hit a 503-foot homer and Ken Harrelson hit one 425 feet, giving the team a total of three at home for the season. - Sports Illustrated: May 23, 1966

203 - World Series Game 1

About This World Series Game
The 1972 World Series matched the Cincinnati Reds against the Oakland A's.  The Reds would play in their second World Series in three years and the A's would play in the World Series for the first time since moving to Oakland. 

With the series opening at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, the A's would get off to a good start.  Unexpectedly, A's catcher Gene Tenace hit home runs in the second inning and in the fifth inning and drive in all three runs to give the A's a 3-2 victory.  Tenace was the first player ever to hit home runs in his first two plate appearances in a World Series; the feat was later matched by Andruw Jones of the Braves in 1996.

About This Card
The photograph shows Gene Tenace scoring after his first home run in the second inning with George Hendrick waiting to congratulate him at the plate.  Reds catcher, Johnny Bench looks on.

202 - N.L. Playoffs

About This Playoff Series
The 1972 National League Championship Series paired the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Cincinnati Reds.  In a five-game series, the first two games were played in Three Rivers Stadium and the final three at Riverfront Stadium.  This series went back and forth through the first four game until the pinnacle of the match in the final game.  This series would also be the last on-field appearance of Roberto Clemente.

Game 5 would prove to be one of the most memorable games in postseason history.  The Pirates took the early 2-0 lead with an doubel from Richie Hebner to score Manny Sanguillen and a single right after from Dave Cash to score Hebner.  The Reds would drive in a run in the third inning off of a double from Pete Rose to score Darrel Chaney.  Reds starting pitcher, Don Gullett would be knocked out of the game at the beginning of the 4th inning and Cash would single to score Sanguillen.  Cesar Geronimo would hit a home run in the 5th inning off of Pirates starter, Steve Blass, to cut the Pittsburgh lead at 3-2.

However, the Pirates brought in closer, Dave Guisti in the bottom of the 9th and Pittsburgh would collapse.  Johnny Bench hit a lead off home run tie the game.  Right after, Guisti gave us consecutive hits to Tony Perez and Denis Menke.  George Foster was brought in to pinch-run for Perez and Bob Moose was brought in to relieve Guisti.  Foster would advance to third base on a sacrifice fly from Geronimo.  Moose would retire Chaney with a pop up for the second out.  With pinch-hitter, Hal McRae, at the place, Moose would throw a wild pitch and Foster would score the winning run to end the game and advance the Cincinnati Reds to the World Series.

About This Card
The photograph shows the final play of the series: George Foster after scoring the winning run with Pete Rose and third base coach, Alex Grammas, out to congratulate.

68 - Leading Firemen (Clay Carroll / Spark Lyle)

About These Players
Clay Carroll played 15 seasons in the Major Leagues and eight with the Cincinnati Reds.  A two-time All-Star, Carroll lead the National League in 1972 with 37 saves (20 more saves than his previous best number in one season.)  Sparky Lyle spent 16 seasons in the Majors and seven with the New York Yankees.  A three-time All-Star and a Cy Young Award Winner in 1977, Lyle recorded his best save total in 1972 with 35 saves.

About This Card
Early on after the Save had been recognized as an official stat by Major League Baseball in 1969, statisticians and baseball enthusiasts debated often on how to value closers.  In this case, Topps valued a combination of saves and wins by a reliever to recognize their leading "firemen."  Whether or not you count wins in addition to saves, Carroll and Lyle still stood out compared to their peers in the 1972 season.

8 - Tom Hall

About This Player
Tom Hall enjoyed ten seasons at the Major League level with four different teams.  Hall made his big league debut with the Twins in 1968.  Hall established himself as a reliever and spot starter, but he had his best years after he was traded to the Reds for Wayne Granger in 1972.  That year, Hall pitched to a 10-1 record with 8 saves and a 2.61 ERA.  Hall followed his performance the next year with an 8-5 record with 8 saves and a  3.47 ERA.  In 1975, Hall pitched in two games before he was traded to the Mets for Mac Scarce.  Hall would be traded again to Kansas City the following year and help the Royals to their first divisional crown.

About This Card
Hall received his nickname "The Blade" for his six-foot 150-pound stature.

335 - Bob Tolan

About This Player
Bobby Tolan played 13 seasons in the Major Leagues and four of those seasons with the Cincinnati Reds.  Tolan made his big league debut in 1965 with the Cardinals.  Tolan was traded to the Reds before the 1969 season and began to flourish as a star outfielder in Cincinnati.  Tolan enjoyed his finest season in 1970 in which he hit .316 and lead the National League with 57 stolen bases.  Tolan missed the entire 1971 season after rupturing his Achilles tendon playing basketball, which violated a clause in his contract.  Tolan came back strong in 1972 with winning the Hutch Award and the Comeback Player of the Year Award; he was the second player to win both awards and the first to do so in the same year.

His 1973 season, however, was disastrous.  His batting average plummeted to .206 and Tolan became a distraction on the team.  Struggles grew between him and management, who were still unhappy about his 1971 injury.  Tolan left the team without two days notice in August and grew a beard, which violated team rules.  Tolan was suspended by the team on September 27 and missed the remainder of the season and the post-season.  After the season, the Reds traded Tolan to the Padres, but the MLBPA filed a grievance on his behalf.  Tolan won the grievance and demanded a public apology from the Reds, but never received it.

Tolan also spent time with the Phillies and Pirates and played one year in Japan before playing his final game in 1979

Bobby's son, Robbie Tolan, was a prospect in the Washington National's organization.  On December 31, 2008,  Robbie was shot by a policeman allegedly investigating reports of a stolen car after a confrontation in the Tolan driveway. The younger Tolan was unarmed and driving his own vehicle. The bullet lodged in Tolan's liver; the injury may have ended his professional baseball career. An investigation into the shooting is on-going.

For more information:
CNN: Questions surround shooting of baseballer's son

About This Card
Tolan has always been recognized as "Bobby" in official Major League records and throughout baseball, but Topps has always displayed his name as "Bob" on all of his cards.

Also interesting that the cartoon on the back refers to Tolan playing basketball in the off-season to keep in shape since he missed the entire 1971 season from playing basketball and playing basketball violated a clause in his contract.

318 - Jim McGlothlin

About This Player
Jim McGlothlin played nine seasons in the Major Leagues and four of them with the Cincinnati Reds.  McGlothlin began his career with the California Angels in 1965.   He enjoyed the best season of his career in 1967 with the American League lead in shutouts, including three straight shutouts and a streak of 36 scoreless innings, and an All-Star selection.  McGlothlin pitched in two World Series with the Reds in 1970 and 1972.  McGlothlin was traded in the middle of the 1973 season and pitched in his last game with the White Sox.

For more on Jim McGlothlin's third straight shutout:
The Free Lance-Star - June 8, 1967

McGlothin passed away on December 23, 1975 at the age of 32 from leukemia.

About This Card
Out of all of the designs for the 1970's Topps cards, the 1973 design is the simplest.  Simply: black outline to frame the photograph with player name, team, position and the player icon related to that position.  One of my challenges in create this blog was to develop a design in homage of the 1973 set.