493 - Duffy Dyer

About This Player
Duffy Dyer spent 14 seasons as a catcher with the Mets, Pirates, Expos and Tigers.  Prior to his professional baseball career, Duffy Dyer was a member of the Arizona State University baseball team, alongside Sal Bando and Rick Monday, that won the 1965 College World Series. 

The Mets drafted Dyer the following year as their number one pick.  He made his Major League debut to start one game in 1968.  Dyer returned to the big leagues again in 1969 and made one pinch hit appearance in the 1969 World Series.  Dyer was established as the Mets' backup catcher the next season and served as the back up to Jerry Grote through 1974.

Dyer was traded to the Pirates for Gene Clines the next season and served as the back up to Manny Sanguillen in 1975 and 1976.  After Sanguillen was traded to the A's, Dyer platooned with Ed Ott at catcher in 1977 and 1978.  Dyer played with the Expos in 1979 as a backup to Gary Carter and with the Tigers in 1980 as a backup to Lance Parrish.  Dyer played two games for the Tigers in 1981 before he was released.

Since the end of his playing career, Dyer has served as a coach, manager and scout at about every level of professional baseball.

About This Card
The back of the card states that Duffy Dyer took over the starting job in 1972.  In truth, Dyer played more games that season because of injuries that starting catcher, Jerry Grote, was suffering that year.  However, the opportunity allowed Dyer to show off his defensive prowess.  Dyer led the National League in his position at range factor and caught stealing, 2nd in assists, 3rd in fielding percentage and 4th in putouts.

320 - Lou Brock

About This Player
Lou Brock enjoyed 19 seasons in the Major Leagues.  Brock made his big league debut in 1961 with the Cubs.  Brock established himself as a starting outfielder the following year.  However, Brock set himself apart as one of baseball's elite superstars after he was traded to the Cardinals in the middle of the 1964 season.  As a Cardinal, Brock was selected to the All-Star Game six times; he started twice in left field in 1967 and 1975. 

Brock became famous for his base stealing skills.  He lead the National League in stolen bases eight times.  In 1973, Brock broke a record set by Ty Cobb when he stole his 50th base for the ninth time in a season.  (Brock has 12 consecutive seasons of 50 or more stolen bases.)  In 1974, Brock broke the single-season record of 104 held previously by Maury Wills.  (Brock ended the season with 118 stolen bases.  His record has since been broken by Rickey Henderson.)  In 1977, Brock broke Ty Cobb's record of 802 stolen bases to become baseball's all-time stolen base leader. (Brock finished his career with 936 stolen bases.  His record has also been broken by Rickey Henderson.)

Brock was had a career of solid hitting.  Brock has a ten-year span of getting at least 180 hits in a season.  He also led the National League in doubles and triples in 1968.  Brock became the 14th player to get 3,000 hits in his career; his milestone hit came against his former team, the Chicago Cubs.

After retiring from baseball in 1979, Brock's number 20 was retired by the St. Louis Cardinals.  In 1985, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

About This Card
A classic shot of Lou Brock at the old Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

33 - Jim Breazeale

About This Player
Jim Breazeale spent most of his playing career in the minor leagues with a few brief stints in the Majors.  Breazeale was drafted in the first round of the 1968 amateur draft.  He made his big league debut in 1969 at the age of 19 and played in three games that season.  He returned to the big leagues in 1971 and played in ten games.  Breazeale remained on the Braves' roster for the entire 1972 season used primarily as a pinch hitter and a backup first baseman.  Breazeale would remain in the minors until 1978 when he was drafted by the White Sox in the Rule 5 draft.  He would see only minor playing time with the White Sox.

About This Card
The cartoon states that Jim Breazeale is the backup first baseman to Hank Aaron.  Breazeale played 16 games at first base and was used more often as a pinch hitter.  Teammate, Orlando Cepeda, played more at first, 22 games, before he was traded to the A's.

This card is Breazeale's only Topps card.

537 - Bill Slayback

About This Player
Bill Slayback enjoyed a very brief pitching career with the Detroit Tigers from 1972 through 1974.

Slayback is better known as the voice behind the song, Move Over Babe.  Recorded in 1973 and written by long-time sports broadcaster, Ernie Harwell, the song celebrates Hank Aaron's journey toward baseball's home run record.

For more information:
Move Over Babe (Here Come Henry)

About This Card
This card is Bill Slayback's only Topps card.

The cartoon about Slayback's skill outside of baseball is an understatement.  In the book, Hank Aaron and the Home Run that Changed America, author Tom Stanton described Slayback's many talents.

Slayback who provided the music, was something of a Renaissance man. He sang, played numerous instruments, painted, sketched, and made furniture.

216 - Toby Harrah

About This Player
Toby Harrah played 17 seasons in the big leagues with the Rangers, Indians and Yankees.  Harrah was signed as a minor league free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies, but later traded to the Washington Senators and made his Major League debut in 1969.  Harrah had established himself as the team's starting second baseman in 1971 and moved with the team when they became the Texas Rangers.  In 1972, Harrah earned his first All-Star selection, but could not play because of injury.  Harrah also earned an All-Star selection in 1975 and a start at shortstop in 1976.  In 1977, Harrah moved to third base after the Rangers acquired Bert Campaneris and had his finest season with a career-high 27 home runs and 27 stolen bases and an American League leading 109 walks.  Harrah was traded to the Cleveland Indians for Buddy Bell in 1979.  He would later be selected to the All-Star Game in 1982.  Harrah played briefly for the New York Yankees after he was traded.  Attempting to replace a popular Craig Nettles at third place, Harrah slumped at the plate and was later replaced by rookie Mike Pagliarulo.  Harrah returned to Texas in 1985 and played second baseman, alongside Buddy Bell.  Harrah played his final game in 1986.

Toby Harrah has the distinction of being the last active player to have played for the Washington Senators after Jeff Burroughs had retired in 1985. 

Harrah was also the last player to see a pitch in their final game on September 30, 1971. He was at-bat when Tommy McCraw was caught stealing for the final out in the bottom of the 8th inning.  Fans stormed the field with two outs in the top of the 9th and the Senators were forced to forfeit the game to the Yankees.

Harrah was also involved in three of the most unusual feats in Major League Baseball.

• On June 25, 1976, Harrah played an entire double-header without making a single fielding play and did so at shortstop.
• On August 27, 1977, Harrah and teammate, Bump Wills, hit back-to-back inside-the-park home runs at Yankee Stadium, the only time for this feat to occur.
• August 6, 1986, Harrah hit a grand slam in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles.  Orioles hitters, Larry Sheets and Jim Dwyer hit grand slams in the nine-run fourth inning.  Altogether, they established a record for most grand slams hit in one game.

Harrah currently works as a hitter coordinator for the Detroit Tigers.

About This Card
Maybe it's just me, but the photograph appears a little surreal.  Harrah is standing straight, but the stadium background appears tilted left.  As if a picture of him was cut out and pasted on the stadium background.  The little patch of white between his right arm and chest also makes me wonder.  Again, maybe it's just me.

136 - Earl Weaver MGR

About This Manager
Earl Weaver spent 17 seasons as manager of the Baltimore Orioles.  During his tenure, the Orioles won four American League Championship and the World Series in 1970.  In addition to his winning success, Weaver is known for his managerial philosophy and tactics.  His oft-quoted philosophy was "Double-Plays and the Three Run Homer" and instead of using aggressive tactics such as the stolen base, hit and run or sacrifice bunt, preferred waiting for the home run.  Weaver made extensive use of statistics to create favorable matchups for his pitchers and batters and to take advantage of his bench effectively.

Weaver's number 4 was retired by the Baltimore Orioles in 1982 and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996.

About This Card
In addition to Earl Weaver, this card also features George Bamberger (former Giants and Orioles pitcher who would later manage the Brewers and Mets), Jim Frey (who would later manage the Royals and Cubs), Billy Hunter (former All-Star shortstop who would later manage the Rangers) and George Staller (one-time A's right fielder).

Team Checklist - Milwaukee Brewers

About This Card
The Team Checklists were included only in the last series of the set.  Considering the low print run of cards in the last series compared to the rest of the set, the checklists were also printed in smaller numbers and, therefore, harder to come by in building a complete set.