#138 Mark Lee, Padres

 

 

 

Card Front: I still think this has to be one of the most iconic cards from the 1979 set. I think by now every collector know of guys like Mark and his stunning glasses. I think that they compliment the brown in his hat and his killer moustache quite well. I know they are vilified, but I still love the old Padres jerseys like this one. I guess we should say hello to Shea Stadium in the background.

 

Card Back: It is always fun to see a player's progression through the minor leagues. A partial season in A ball after being drafted, next brings a full season in AA Amarillo. After starting with a brief layover in Hawaii for the start of 1978, Mark went straight to the Padres and never looked back. Do you think the opposing team was afraid of Mel Ott to intentionally walk him five times in one game?

 

Six degrees or less to Seattle: After the 1979 season, Mark was sent to the World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates. During his first season as a Bucco in 1980, Mark would pitch with John Candelaria. The Candy Man was a guy that seemed to last forever, and during the 1992 season, John was a Los Angeles Dodger along with Carlos Hernandez. If you fast forward six years to 1998, the San Diego Padres would be National League Champions with Carlos on the team, and another player for them was Andy Sheets. Andy had been in the M's system since 1992, and saw time in 1996 and 1997 before being drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, only to be traded to San Diego that same day.

 

Next Card: #139 Luis Pujols, Astros

#116 Ozzie Smith, Padres

Card Front: Welcome to the most celebrated Rookie Card of the 1979 set. There are just so many cool things about the front of this card. Just look at Ozzie, he was so bad ass that he made the hat/helmet cocked to the side cool before we see it today. We all know that we wish that was some way we could wear those sideburns and cool like Ozzie instead of looking like a dork. The Padres jerseys of '78, how many other teams have had city and team name on their jerseys?

Card Back: That's what a RC should look like on the back. One line of minors, and one of majors. You can tell the Padres saw something out of this kid coming out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. One year in short season rookie ball, and the the next year he makes the team as a NRI. Who would have thought is would lead to a Hall of Fame career that would last through the 1996 season. I would say it safe to say Ozzie was the star in Walla Walla in '77 since only he and three other guys would make the majors, but none with his impact.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: Ozzie only would ever have two homes, one in San Diego and the bulk of it being in St. Louis. During his swan song season of 1996, Ozzie was a Redbird with Mike Difelice. Mike would make his way to the Motor City, and be a member of the 2004 Detroit Tigers with Ryan Raburn. Ryan would stay in Detroit, only to be a part of the 2009 Tigers with Ramon Santiago. Ramon had been a Tiger before coming to Seattle in 2004 for Carlos Guillen. After seeing time in 27 games in '04 and '05 he was released and went back to the comforts of being in Detroit City.

Blog related to the team: Where have all the Friars fans come from lately? There used to be two Padres bloggers but not much else. Now there are five that I know of, and maybe more that I haven't found yet. One of the guys that has burst on the scene since last year is Marcus. He was a guy that grew up with the Padres only to find himself in Texas. He writes about the All the Way to the Backstop Cards. He is always putting out good posts, and if you've never done a trade with him you are missing out. He's heading on trip but give him some love and catch up on some great Swingin' Friars!!

Next Card: #117 Grant Jackson, Pirates

#57 Eric Rasmussen, Padres

Card Front: The look that Eric is giving off frightens me. I have a feeling it either scared me or made me laugh back when I was 8 years old. I must admit the big eyes and moustache are definitely different. I can't say enough about how much I love the Padres jerseys from 1978 with the two tone and the All Star patch- nice look!

Card Back: It didn't take him too long to make it to the bigs and stick around. While his numbers weren't off the charts, the Padres saw something in him. They were willing to give up a good hitter in George Hendrick. Eric would be a Padre, play in Mexico and make his way back to the Cards in 1981, nice work San Diego.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: At the end of Eric's big league career he spent a couple months as a Royal in Kansas City in 1983. One of his fellow Royals Butch Davis. Butch would move on, and in 1994 be part of the Texas Rangers with Darren Oliver. Darren has been everywhere, but in 2010 was back with the Rangers. A new guy on that Rangers squad was Mark Lowe. Mark came to Texas with Cliff Lee in a trade with the Mariners.

Blog related to the team: Even with asking people to sign up for a team, some teams got no love. The Padres got have one guy, but we will feature the other today. One of the few that have love for the Brown and Gold is an on again off again. When he's on, he is dynamite! That's right the other Padre lover is the great Punk Rock Paint. He comes and goes, but he does cool stuff and has some great custom cards.

Next Card: #58 Bob Randall, Twins

#30 Dave Winfield, Padres

Card Front: A nice close up of an always smiling Dave. I know that most people want to always make fun of the Padres uniforms from the 70's, but I liked this look. Dave wore the old flapless helmet, which makes me wonder who was last player allowed to wear one. I think the Padres were one of the only teams to have the city and team both on the front of their jerseys.

Card Back: The beginnings of the start of a long, HOF career. Nothing like going 2 for 2 in the 1977 All Star game. Dave would get to be the Padres representative for the '78 game in San Diego. Getting drafted in '73 and getting into 56 games is no easy feat. One hit per game is a darn good average.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: Dave would spend plenty of time hurting the Mariners as a hitter in the AL. As a member of these 1979 Padres, Dave would play with Jay Johnstone. In the year before in 1978, Jay would team with Todd Cruz as 1978 Philadelphia Phillies. Todd would play Shortstop as a Mariner in 1982 and '83 before heading off to Baltimore.

Blog related to the team: There are some classic Padres blogs out there. I had to flip a coin to decide to who got the honor of the first blog push. The winner go to Rod of Padrographs. He is a wealth of knowledge on many subjects including baseball and books. I don't think there are many autographs of Padres players or execs he doesn't have. Give him a read, it's Swinging Friar-alicious!!

Next Card: #31 Tom House, Mariners

#8 1978 Leading Firemen

Card Front: A less intimidating looking "Goose" Gossage without the moustache. While Goose would eventually have the trademark big Fu Manchu, it was no match for the masterpiece that Rollie is probably most famous for. You have to love the old colors of the Padres from 1978.

Card Back: Just look at the names and some of the numbers from back in '78! Guys were not only getting 37, 31, 28, 27, and 25 saves but also racking up 6, 8, 10, up to 13 wins in relief! Most "firemen" nowadays would probably not know what to do if they had to pitch more than one inning. Many of these guys back in those days would do from 1 to3 innings every day.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: Gossage would finish his career in Seattle in 1994. How about Dave LaRoche in Seattle? Maybe not directly, but in 1982 he was a Yankee with Lee Mazzilli. Lee would play with a young John Olerud in Toronto in 1989, and John would team up with Bucky Jacobsen in 2004. Rollie would pitch against the Mariners in his career. Luis Salazar war a Padre with him in 1980. Luis would hook up with Greg Maddux on the north side as Cubs in 1989, and before leaving the Padres in 2008, Greg would play with recent Mariner trade victim Cha-Seung Baek in San Diego.

Next Card: #9 Dave Campbell, Braves

#5 1978 Victory Leaders

Card Front: The Yankees make their first appearance in the 1979 set with the "Louisiana Lightning" in Ron Guidry. Nice also to see an appearance by the brown and yellow of the Padres. Perry would make many stop in his career including Seattle for his 300th win.

Card Back: Look at the names on this bad boy. Lots of stars from both leagues, and a few that who would ask who by looking at the last name. Four out of the ten in the NL are in the Hall, and three for the AL are represented. Even the bottom 5 in each league would be welcome on just about any roster today.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: Obviously Gaylord would spend some time in Seattle. How about Guidry to the Mariners? Ron would play with Tommy John in New York in 1980, Tommy would team with future Mariner Mike Blowers in 1989 with the Yankees. Also Angel Frank Tanana played with Bill Bean in Detroit in 1988, Bill would team up with Rich Rodriguez in San Diego in '93, and play alongside Chone Figgins in Anaheim in 2003. Another is Phil Niekro who was with Jeff Burroughs in Atlanta in '79, Jeff played with Mariner broadcaster Bill Krueger in Oakland in 1983, and Bill was part of the magical 1995 run along with Arqumediez Pozo. Lastly, Vida Blue spent 1970 in Oakland with Diego Segui. Diego was the only player to be with both the Pilots and Mariners, throwing the first pitch in Mariners history.

Next Card: #6 1978 Strikeout Leaders