422 - Bob Robertson

About This Player
Bob Robertson enjoyed 11 seasons in the Major Leagues and nine of them with the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Robertson made his big league debut in 1967.  He missed the entire 1968 season because of a kidney obstruction and returned the following year.  Once Robertson established himself in the starting lineup in 1970, he appeared to have a bright future ahead of him.  Robertson hit 26 and 27 home runs in 1970 and 1971 respectively.  Robertson, described by Pirates announcer Bob Prince as "The Mount Savage Strongboy", was also the first ever to hit a home run in the upper deck at Three Rivers Stadium; the home run came off of San Diego Padres pitcher Steve Arlin in 1971.

His finest moment came in the 1971 postseason.  Robertson hit .438 with four home runs (three of which came in Game 2) and six RBI in the NLCS against the San Francisco Giants.  He later hit two home runs in the World Series against the Baltimore Orioles.  Robertson might be best known for the bunt sign he missed.  With Roberto Clemente on second, Willie Stargell at first and Mike Cuellar pitching, the third base coach called for a bunt.  With Robertson never having bunted and the Pirates down 2-0 in the series, his plan was to hit as far as possible.  In the replays, Clemente can be seen calling a time out, but Cuellar had thrown the pitch and Robertson had hit the ball into the right-center bleachers.  Robertson never knew his "mistake" until returning to the bench and seeing manager, Danny Murtaugh, with his cap over his face and laughing.

For more information:
Pirates remember Bob Robertson; so do O's

However, the following season, Robertson began experiencing chronic back problems and his production declined. After having surgery done on both knees in 1974, Robertson was reducing to being a backup player. Robertson later went on to play one season with the Seattle Mariners and another season with the Toronto Blue Jays before retiring in 1979.

About This Card
Out of all of the members of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bob Robertson probably looked most like a real life pirate.

109 - Doyle Alexander

About This Player
Doyle Alexander enjoyed 19 seasons in the Major Leagues pitching for eight different teams.  Alexander was also the fourth pitcher to get a win against all (at that time) 26 teams.

Alexander made his big league debut with the Dodgers in 1971.  After he was sent the following year to the Orioles as part of a trade that sent Frank Robinson to the Dodgers, Alexander established himself as a Major League starting pitcher.  Alexander spent the next five seasons in Baltimore and earned his first winning season in 1973. 

However, Alexander would experience his finest seasons afterward.  He would spent time with the Yankees, Rangers, Giants, Blue Jays and Tigers.  His finest seasons came in 1984 and 1985 with the Blue Jays in which he would earn 17 wins in each of those seasons.  Alexander also won eight straight games while in Toronto, a club record.  Alexander would be selected to his only All-Star Game in 1988; his 18th season.  In 1989, Alexander pitched an American League leading 18 losses and gave up a league leading 28 home runs to end his final season.

About This Card
The back of the 1973 card describes Doyle Alexander as "one of the best young hurlers in the majors."  Alexander was in good company on an Orioles pitching staff that included perennial 20-game winners Jim Palmer and Mike Cuellar.

34 - Pat Dobson

About This Player
Pat Dobson pitched 11 seasons in the Major Leagues spending time with the Tigers, Padres, Orioles, Braves, Yankees and Indians.

Dobson's finest season came in 1971 as part of the Orioles' "Big Four" pitching staff, along with Dave McNally, Mike Cueller and Jim Palmer, who each won 20 games that season.  Dobson pitched to a record of 20-8 with an ERA of 2.90 and 187 strikeouts.  He posted a twelve game winning streak (including nine consecutive complete games) and a scoreless inning streak of 23.  Later that fall, Dobson threw a 2-0 no-hitter against the Yomiuri Giants at Tokyo, the first no-hit game in the Japanese-American baseball exhibition history.

Dobson was traded before the 1973 season to the Altanta Braves and later traded again in the middle of the season to the New York Yankees.

After his playing days, Dobson remained in baseball, working as a pitching coach, advance scout and later as a baseball executive.  Dobson joined the Giants as a special assistant to the general manager in 1997 and remained in that position up to the time of his death.  Dobson died a day after he was diagnosed with luekemia on November 22, 2006 at the age of 64.

About This Card
Despite a 20-win season in 1971, I would have thought Topps could have found more to say about Dobson on his card than he "suffered a broken toe."

470 - Mike Cuellar

About This Player
Mike Cuellar was a Cuban-born pitcher who played in 15 big league seasons.  Cueller was a four-time 20-game winner, a four-time All-Star and the Cy Young Award winner in 1969.  He played his best years with the Orioles with whom he pitched in three World Series.  He was also one of four Orioles pitchers in 1971 to win 20 games.

Cuellar passed away on April 2, 2010 at the age of 72.

About This Card
It cannot be seen in the photo, but there is a crease down the middle of the card.  For the most part when building the set I have not really been concerned about condition.  Usually when I start building from lots, I expect to find cards in varying conditions.  The condition adds to the flavor and the history of the card itself.