CLOSED...1971 Topps Progressive Auction - Day 10

[HercDriver]

Day five brings us a World Series record holder in Darold Knowles. Most of you probably know that Knowles appeared in all seven games of the 1973 World Series, against the Mets. It would lead you to believe that he was the stud out of the bullpen in that series, but far from it. Rollie Fingers was the true hero out of the pen that fall. Knowles, in seven trips to the mound, pitched 6 1/3 innings, mostly in relief of Fingers, after Rollie had thrown a couple innings to get them out of the jams. Fingers appeared in six games, and threw 13 2/3 innings. To put that in perspective, the three Oakland starters threw the following: Vida Blue (11 IP in 2 games started), Ken Holtzman (10.2 IP in 3 GS), and Catfish Hunter (13.1 IP in 2 GS). Fingers had a 0.66 ERA, while Knowles was perfect. Reggie Jackson was the MVP, with a .310 BA, and a homer. How Rollie Fingers didn't win it, with a win and two saves, is beyond me.

I was just a wee lad in 1973, and barely remember watching the Series, other than remembering I loved the A's mustaches and green/yellow uniforms. I never got to see them, as a seven year old Cubs fan, watching WGN. But a couple years later, Knowles ended up in Chicago, after being traded for Billy Williams, amongst other pieces. Knowles joined a fearsome Cubs pen of Oscar Zamora, Paul Reuschel, and Tom Dettore. Zamora gave up 17 homers in relief that year, 1975, and I think I remember every one of them. It seemed about ten of them came off the bats of Schmidt and Luzinski. Anyway, Knowles was good enough to be the closer on a Cubs team that rarely won, because Bruce Sutter was a year away. I really miss those days of the Cubs bullpens right there, next to the fans. It's just not the same behind the wall. I loved watching the relievers play foul ball chicken. If you don't know that is, it's trying to not move, as the ball comes whistling down the line. In later years, Travis Wood was the king. Watch this clip of Wood getting hit, and not flinching...classic!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjCVhJHGgfI