502 - Bobby Valentine

About This Player
Bobby Valentine enjoyed ten seasons as a utility infielder and outfielder for five different clubs.  Valentine made his Major League debut in 1969 with the Dodgers; in the season, Valentine had only been brought in as a pinch-runner in five different games.  Valentine remained in the big leagues in 1971 and started in five different positions that year.

Valentine was traded to the Angels in 1973, though his season was shortened from a multiple compound leg fracture when his spikes got caught in the chain link fence at Anaheim Stadium while attempting to catch a home run ball hit by Dick Green.  Though the injury robbed him of his speed, Valentine returned the following season and played in 117 games and made 414 plate appearances, the second most of his career.

Just before the end of the 1975 season, Valentine was traded to the Padres.  On June 15, 1977, Valentine, along with pitcher Paul Siebert, were traded to the Mets for Dave Kingman as part of "Saturday Night Massacre."  On that night, Tom Seaver was also traded to the Reds for four players and Mike Phillips was traded for Joel Youngblood.  To make room on the roster for the new players, player-manager Joe Torre retired as a player.

Valentine's playing time was limited with the Mets and we was released just before the 1979 season.  He signed with the Mariners shortly after and finished his playing career in Seattle.

Valentine might be better known in baseball circles as a Major League manager.  Valentine managed the Rangers for eight seasons and managed the Mets for seven seasons, which include a National League Championship in 2000.  He has also been successful as a manager in Japan with a Pacific League Championship in 2005 with the Chiba Lotte Marines.  Currently, Valentine serves as a color analyst for ESPN.

About This Card
Bobby Valentine played the entire 1972 season with the Dodgers.  As such, here is another example of a picture having been airbrush with the stripes on the pants, the red color over the stirrups and the "Dodgers" whited out of the jersey.  Still you can see a trace of Dodger blue in the shirt underneath the jersey.

571 - Rusty Torres

About This Player
Rusty Torres enjoyed nine seasons in the Major Leagues with the Yankees, Indians, Angels, White Sox and Royals.

Torres also has the unique distinction of playing in three games that resulted in forfeits: the final Washington Senators game in 1971, Rangers' Ten-Cent Beer Night in 1974 and White Sox' Disco Demolition in 1975.  Torres describes his experience from the first forfeit on the Bronx Banter blog:

"It just so happens that I was supposed to hit [in the ninth inning]. Bobby Murcer hits a ground ball. He gets thrown at first. They thought it was three outs. It was only two outs. And they rushed us! They rushed the field. They took dirt. People were taking dirt, taking the bases. They were tearing up the seats. It was unbelievable. That was a real scary experience." - Rusty Torres

Currently, Torres is the president and a founder of Winning Beyond Winning, a charity organization that prepares athletes for their careers after their sports participation and provides outreach to school-aged children on the benefits of healthy living that can be achieved through participation in sports.

About This Card
On the front, another airbrushing job from Topps.  Just as with many of the photographs in the set, this one also takes place in Yankee Stadium.  The Indians hat is added even though the Yankee home pinstripes remain.

On the back, as the cartoon on the back of the card states, Torres did play on the same Brooklyn youth team that Sandy Koufax and Joe Torre has also played, though not at the same time.

520 - Mel Stottlemyre

About This Player
Mel Stottlemyre pitched his entire 11 year career with the New York Yankees.  Stottlemyre was called up from the minors in the middle of the 1964 season and was soon thrust into the spotlight as the Yankees' ace pitcher.  In the 1964 World Series, Stottlemyre made three starts against Cardinals' ace Bob Gibson: Stottlemyer earned the win in Game 2, received a no-decision in the Yankees' loss in Game 5 and received the loss in Game 7 as the Cardinals won the World Series.

Stottlemyre would continue to rise as one of Major League Baseball's premier pitchers.  Stottlemyre won at least 20 games in three of his seasons, was selected as an All-Star five-times (including the start in the 1969 All-Star Game) and had a career ERA of 2.97.  However, the Yankees would never reach the postseason during his career.  A torn rotator cuff would force an early end to Stottlemyre's pitching career in 1974 at the age of 32.
Stottlemyre would continue working in baseball as a pitching coach for a number of teams throughout the years.  Stottlemyre returned to the Yankees as the pitching coach for manager, Joe Torre, from 1996 through 2005 and would be a part of four World Series Championships.

Mel's sons, Mel Jr. and Todd, also played in the Major Leagues.

About This Card
One of my favorite portraits in the 1973 set, Stottlemyre is featured in his throwing pose with the Yankee Stadium bleachers and the skyline in the background and frames by the possible opposing pitcher on the left and the American flag on the right.

450 - Joe Torre

About This Player
Joe Torre enjoyed 18 seasons as a Major League catcher, third baseman and first baseman.  A nine-time All-Star, Torre spent his playing career with the Braves, Cardinals and Mets.  Torre's finest season came in 1971 in which he led the league in hits, RBIs and batting average and was selected the National League Most Valuable Player.

Torre might be better known for his managerial success.  In 1977, Torre played as a player/manager for the Mets.  He later went on to manage five different teams, including leading the New York Yankees to four World Series championships.  Torre also received Manager of the Year recognition in 1996 and 1998.

Joe also has a brother, Frank, who enjoyed seven seasons with the Braves and Phillies.

About This Card
Joe Torre is listed as a third baseman in the 1973 Topps set.   While Torre did play mostly 3rd in the previous season, he started most of his games at 1st base in 1973.