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

[jimmysuitcase]

...is the House of Wagner! So thrilled to see another progressive Geno auction in full anecdotal effect. Hopefully this one will go on and on for several rounds. (Sorry!)

Heck, I have 2 '71 sets already, but I vow to bid if we keep Geno rolling until he runs out of dupes or steam.

Finally, in case anyone else needs more anecdotes before Geno's next post, here's one from his "archives."

https://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=279359

Hope you are well, buddy. Keep up the fine work!

James

[HercDriver]

Haha! Thanks for the good words, my friend! Too bad all the pictures are gone from that one. I had a 36 day one once, which you can see if you click on “views,” since it’s the second highest viewed in the auction thread. It’s fun to dig stuff up when I have time, instead of just posting the cards. Have fun, James and everyone else!

Cheers,
Geno

[rjackson44]

Terrific geno

[HercDriver]

Day Six is here, and four more cards to add to the list! Bill Stoneman is probably not on the tip of anybody’s tongue, when asked to name pitchers who threw multiple no-hitters, but it can be now. Stoneman also held the record as a batter for most consecutive games striking out, with 37 games in a row of being punched out. The sad thing about that, as we can all attest to, watching today’s batters, is that it was tied a few years ago by...Aaron Judge. The Phillies left Connie Mack Stadium and moved into their new digs in Veterans Stadium in 1971. Other than Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, I think the Vet was the worst park I’ve ever been to. Olympic Stadium, because of the vibe and total lack of interest in the game by the fans...the Vet because it was a dump, but the fans certainly had the vibe. They were usually against both teams when I saw the Phils there. I’m not sure which stadium that team card photo is from, if it’s the 1970 team, or the 1971 team. The 1970 team had a catching problem, that started when Tim McCarver broke his finger on a foul tip by Willie Mays. Two batters later, Mike Ryan, the backup catcher, had his finger broken on a slide by Willie McCovey. Eventually, the Phils had to activate the bullpen coach, Doc Edwards, to finish out the season. And then they released him, prior to the move to the Vet. What?!? I can imagine he’s thinking, I want a do-over! I retire from baseball, because I don’t have it anymore, get this sweet coaching gig, then get released, because you make me play, and then say I’m not good enough anymore? I already knew that...why do you think I was the friggin’ bullpen coach!! Oh well...don’t worry Phillie fans, Mike Schmidt is not far away. He debuted in Reading, while all this was going on. Have an awesome day, N54 pholk...

[999Tony]

Thanks geno how do I subscribe to your newsletter? Oh and the strangest award ever is dick green who got the babe Ruth award as best post season player and almost 74 ws mvp despite going 0-13 in ws!

[HercDriver]

It’s Day Seven, and I have to fly from San Diego to Seattle, to Tampa today, which is rather grueling. However, I have a few seconds to type with my hotel coffee, so I’ll tell you about Pete Richert’s MLB debut. Richert came up with the Dodgers in 1962, and got his first shot on the bump against the Reds, in Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers were down 4-0 in the 2nd inning, and I guess Walt Alston had seen enough, or just wanted to see this new kid, so he brings Pete in to face Vada Pinson. As we all know, Pinson was no slouch, unlike Judge Schmelz, who was a tremendous slouch. Yes...Caddyshack references are allowed in my auctions. But Pete, fired up on rookie adrenaline, whiffs Vada. And with that, MLB history is about to begin. I would cue a John Bonham drum solo here, but I don’t have 20 minutes, so let’s just say that the next inning, Frank Robinson leads off against ol’ wily Pete, as he’s known by now. Now FRobby was known to be a pretty prolific hitter back then, yet down he goes on strikes, as well. Gordy Coleman is next, and he strikes out, too...but Johnny Roseboro lets the ball go by, and Coleman is safe at first. Wally Post and Johnny Edwards are next, and both go down on strikes. Pete strolls off the hill, thinking this game is pretty easy...four outs, and five strikeouts in my career. When he comes back out for the fourth inning, he K’s Tommy Harper, for his sixth in a row. He would go on to retire the next six, setting an MLB record for retiring the most batters in a row, in a debut, for a reliever. Max Scherzer notched 13 a few years ago, but it stood for about 50 years. He’s also the only pitcher to get four strikeouts in an inning in his debut. Not a bad way to head to the bar with the boys, after the game, I’d say. I’m off to the airport...have an awesome day!