76 - Doug Rader

About This Player
Doug Rader played 11 seasons in the Major Leagues and his first nine with the Houston Astros. Rader made his big league debut in 1967 starting at first base as the Astros were considering trading an aging Eddie Mathews. When Mathews was traded, Rader became the regular starter. In 1968, Rader became the starting third base taking the job from Bob Aspromonte, who had been the starter at third since the Astros' inception. As a defensive star, Rader earned the first of five straight Gold Gloves in 1970. Rader finished his final two seasons with the San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays.

Rader had a reputation for being easy going and never letting the game get him down. He's been accused of being a "flake," which he would debate.

"A 'flake' to me is someone who is willfully irresponsible. I'm not. Possibly I've been said to be one because I feel people take the game too seriously at times. Fans and players alike. I think they have a tendency to lose perspective. We play it for money and it is our profession but baseball is still a game. That's the way I try to look at it, and I feel I should derive some pleasure in what I'm doing. I'm happy to say I do. How? By being myself."
- Doug Rader

For more information:
The Hour (Norwalk, Connecticut) - September 19, 1972 - Baseball Still A Game: Doug Rader

After his playing career ended, Rader went on to manage. He managed the Rangers (1983-1985), White Sox (1986) and Angels (1989-1991) before retiring from the game.

About This Card
As the cartoon states, Rader was called "The Red Rooster." He received the nickname because of his red hair.

446 - Jerry Reuss

About This Player
Jerry Reuss pitched in 22 seasons for eight different Major League Baseball teams.  Reuss is a two-time All-Star with a start in 1975 with the Pirates and a selection in 1980 with the Dodgers.

Reuss made his big league debut in 1969 for the St. Louis Cardinals.  Reuss joined the Houston Astros in 1972 in a trade that included Scipio Spinks.  After two seasons with the Astros and a 1973 season in which he led the league in walks, Reuss was traded again to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Milt May.

Reuss' career took after arriving in Pittsburgh.  He pitched the next five seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, which included a start in his first All-Star Game in 1975 and starts in the National League Championship Series in 1974 and 1975.  

Reuss was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1979 with whom he pitched nine seasons.  His finest season came in 1980 in which pitched to a 18-6 record, threw a no-hitter, was selected to his second All-Star Game and finished the season as the Comeback Player of the Year and second for the Cy Young Award.  He also pitched in the World Series with the Dodgers in 1981.

In 1988 while with the Chicago White Sox, Reuss earned his 200th win become only the second pitcher with 200 wins without a 20-win season.  Milt Pappas was the first and Reuss was later joined on that list by Charlie Hough.

Reuss ended his career back with the Pirates and pitched his last game in 1990.

After retiring from baseball, Reuss worked in broadcasting as a color analyst for ESPN and the Anaheim Angels.  Since 2006, Reuss has been working in radio and TV for the Los Angeles Dodgers broadcasts.

For more information:
Jerry Reuss

About This Card
In 2013, the Houston Astros, along with their move to the American League, will be wearing uniforms and hats designed similarly to what Reuss is wearing in his photo.

589 - Ken Forsch

About This Player
Ken Forsch pitched 16 seasons in the big leagues and 11 of them with the Houston Astros.  Forsch made his made his Major League debut with the Astros in 1970.  After the 1980 season, Forsch was traded to the California Angels for Dickie Thon.  Throughout his career, Forsch pitched both as a starter and a reliever.  He was selected as an All-Star in 1976 and 1981.

On April 7, 1979 Forsch pitched a no-hitter and shut out the Atlanta Braves.  His brother, Bob Forsch, threw two no-hitters with the Cardinals.  Thus, both pitchers became the only set of brothers to pitch no-hitters in Major League history.

Forsch pitched his final game in 1986.

About This Card
Bob Forsch passed away suddenly last night at the age of 61.  It just seemed fitting to feature his brother, Ken, today.

110 - Bob Watson

About This Player
Bob Watson played in 19 seasons in the big leagues and his first 14 seasons with the Houston Astros.  Nicknamed "Bull," Watson was original a catcher in the minors but converted to a first baseman and left fielder by the time he made his Major League debut in 1966.  While with the Astros, Watson hit .297, drove in more than 100 runs twice and was selected to the All-Star team twice.  Watson is credited in Major League Baseball history as scoring the 1,000,000th run.  On May 4 at 12:32 PM with Watson on second base, Milt May hit a three-run home at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.  Despite the lack of in-game urgency, Watson sprinted to home plate.  At the same time, the Cincinnati Reds' Dave Concepcion had just hit a home run and Watson scored the 1,000,000th run four seconds before Concepcion reached home plate.

For more information on baseball's one millionth run:
The Machine Director's Cut: The Millionth Run - Joe Posnanski

Another highlight of Watson's career: September 15, 1979, after having been traded to the Red Sox, Watson hit for the cycle.  Watson had already hit for the cycle with the Astros in 1977, thus, becoming the first player to hit for the cycle in both the American and National Leagues.

Watson also spent parts of three seasons with the Yankees, with whom he would have his only postseason experience.  He later spent parts of his final three seasons with the Braves before ending his playing career.

Watson continued to remain in Major League Baseball in the front office.  After the 1993 season, he was named general manager of the Houston Astros, becoming the first African-American to serve as a GM in the Major Leagues.  He also served as the GM for the Yankees in 1996 and 1997.  After retiring as the GM of the Yankees, Watson became Vice President of Rules and On-Field Operations for Major League Baseball.  Watson retired from this post in 2010.

About This Card
The back of Watson's card remarks his highlight as one of four Astros to hit over 20 homers and drive in more than 80 runs in 1972.

UPDATE: However, Watson only hit 16 home runs that season.  Lee May (29), Jim Wynn (24),  Doug Rader (22) and Cesar Cedeno (22) are the four Astros who his over 20.

17 - Fred Gladding

About This Player
Fred Gladding enjoyed 13 seasons pitching relief for the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros.  Gladding made his big league debut with the Tigers in 1961 and became of heart of the bullpen staff.  Gladding still holds a franchise record of a .703 winning percentage for pitchers with over 200 innings.  After seven seasons and his best season as a Tigers, Gladding was sent to the Astros to complete the Tigers' earlier acquisition of Eddie Mathews.  After missing most of the 1968 season, Gladding led the National League with 29 saves in 1969.  Gladding still remains in third place in the Astros' all-time saves list with 109.  After six seasons with the Astros, Gladding was released.

About This Card
This card is Gladding's last Topps card.

93 - Jesus Alou

About This Player
Jesus Alou played 15 seasons in the Major Leagues with four different teams.  Alou made his Major League debut with the Giants in 1963 where he joined his older brothers, Felipe Alou and Matty Alou.  On September 10, 1963, the three Alou brothers become the first trio of brothers to bat in the same inning, as well as the same team.  On September 15, all three started in the same outfield.

Alou was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 1968 expansion draft and was part of the infamous trade to the Houston.  Prior to the 1969 season, Alou and Donn Clendenon were traded to the Houston Astros for Rusty Staub.  However, Clendennon refused to report to Houston.  To satisfy the trade, Jack Billingham, Skip Gunn and cash were sent along with Alou to Houston and Clendenon remained in Montreal.

Alou spent seven seasons with the Astros, but his playing time decreased significant in 1972 with only 14 starts in the outfield (versus 103 starts the year before) and being used most frequently as a pinch hitter or pinch runner.  Alou was sent to the A's in the middle of the 1973 season and played on their 1973 and 1974 World Series teams.  Alou signed with the Mets in 1975 and was released before the start of the next season.  After a two year hiatus, Alou signed with the Astros in 1977 and played his last game in 1978.

In addition to his two brothers, Jesus' cousin, Jose Sosa, and nephews, Moises Alou and Mel Rojas played in the Major Leagues.

About This Card
On his left sleeve, Alou bears the classic Houston Astros logo patch.  This was the first logo the Houston ball club used when they moved into the Astrodome.

158 - Houston Astros TC

About This Team
The Houston ball club was first established in 1962 as part of a National League expansion, along with the New York Mets.  For their first three seasons, the team was called the "Houston Colt .45's."  The team changed its named to the "Houston Astros" to emphasize Houston's role in the space program in 1965 as they moved indoors to the Astrodome, baseball's first indoor stadium.

About This Card
As you can see on the back, the Astros have had a dismal first 10 seasons.  Not until 1972 would the Astros have a winning record.

313 - Jim Ray

About This Player
Jim Ray enjoyed nine seasons in the Major Leagues and eight of them as reliever for the Houston Astros.  Ray made his big league debut in 1965.  He established himself as one of the team's key relievers in 1968 and earned the occasional win and save.  In 1974, Ray was traded to the Tigers and played his final game.
 
About This Card
A pitching pose for Jim Ray, but appears to have been taken just before game time at a Major League ballpark.

495 - Tommy Helms

About This Player
Tommy Helms enjoyed 14 big league seasons, including four with the Houston Astros.  Helms made his Major League debut in 1964 with the Cincinnati Reds.  Helms won the National League Rookie of the Year.  With the Reds, he was a two-time All-Star and a two-time Gold Glove winner.  Helms joined the Astros as part of a ten-player trade that sent the future Hall of Fame second baseman, Joe Morgan, to the Reds.  Helms later played with the Pirates and the Red Sox to close out his playing career.

Helms served as a coach on Pete Rose's staff when Rose was named manager of the Reds in 1984.  Helms served briefly as the Reds' manager in 1988 while Rose was serving a 30-game suspension and, again, in 1989 after Rose accepted placement on baseball's ineligible list after his accusations of gambling.

About This Card
Trying to pick out the locations of the pictures on the cards in this set is a challenge for me.  I assume the picture is at a Spring Training park somewhere.  While Spring Training ballparks have changed dramatically since 1973, the ballpark still resembles many minor league ballparks today.