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.

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.

542 - Pat Corrales

About This Player
Pat Corrales spent nine seasons as a backup catcher.  Corrales made his Major League debut with the Phillies in 1964.  After another season with the Phillies and one with the Cardinals, Corrales spent the majority of his career with the Reds backing up Johnny Bench.  He played in two games for the Reds in 1972 before being traded for another backup catcher, Bob Barton, to the Padres.  Corrales closed his playing career with the Padres in 1973.

Corrales later spent another nine seasons as a Major League manager for the Rangers, Phillies and Indians.  Corrales is the first Major League manager of Mexican-American decent and also the only manger to be fired from a team in first place.  He was fired from the first-place Phillies in 1983 and, 13 days later, managed the last-place Indians.

About This Card
The photograph on this card shows game action that took place on June 14, 1972.  In the bottom of the 2nd inning, the Cubs #31, Fergie Jenkins, attempts to score when he is called out after, what appears to have been, a mighty collision at home plate.  This game was Corrales' second with the Padres and Jenkins would earn the win in a 12-9 Cubs victory.

582 - Darrell Porter

About This Player
Darrell Porter spent 17 seasons in the Major Leagues and his first six with the Milwaukee Brewers.  Porter was the Brewer's first round draft pick in 1970 and made his pro debut in 1971.  Porter finished third in Rookie of the Year voting in 1973 and was selected to the All-Star team for the first time in 1974.

His finest seasons, however, came after he was traded to Kansas City in 1976.  As a member of the Royals, Porter was selected to three more All-Star teams, including a start in 1979.  Also in 1979, Porter scored 101 runs, drove in 112 and walked 121 times to become only the sixth catcher in Major League history to with 100 runs and 100 RBIs in the same season (preceded by Mickey Cochrane, Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Johnny Bench and Carlton Fisk) and only the second also with 100 walks (preceded only by Mickey Cochrane).

Porter signed as a free agent with St. Louis in 1981 and earned NLCS MVP and World Series MVP honors to lead the Cardinals to the championship in 1982.

Porter signed with the Texas Rangers in 1986 and played his final game in 1987.

Off the field, Porter was known to have substance abuse problems and one of the first American athletes to admit his problem publicly.  He fought to overcome his problems, became a born-again Christian and served actively with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as a spokesman for the "One Way To Play Drug Free" program.  Unfortunately, Porter died August 5, 2002 from complications of cocaine use.

For more information:
Associated Press Sports Editors: Darrell Porter's sad final chapter

About This Card
This is another portrait shot from Yankee Stadium, a common locale for Topps photography.  I will have to go through the set again and count the portraits were shot from Yankee Stadium.