#149 Manny Sarmiento, Reds

Card Front: Welcome to an action shot from Pittsburgh. I would say those yellow unis are a dead giveaway. You have to wonder if it was a foul ball, a pop up, or a deep drive and who was the batter? I know that most people were not fans of the double knits of the 70's, but I still believe the Reds has a very sharp and classic look with these outfits.

Card Back: Who would know that Manny's second season with the AAA Seattle Rainiers would be a pre-cursor to future things in Seattle. While his first go rounds with the Reds were not the longest, Manny was in the Queen City to stay in 1978 making 63 appearances. I guess hitting 2 consecutive pinch hit homers for Carmen Fanzone would be his claim to fame.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: Sadly, due to injuries Manny didn't have the long career that was expected from him. Manny would come to Seattle before the 1980 season, but would spend most of the season with the AAA Spokane Indians before making it into 9 games in September and being traded to Boston in 1981 for Dick Drago. After Manny would come back with the Pirates in 1982, one of his catchers was Steve Nicosia. Steve would eventually move north and be part of the 1985 Expos in Montreal with John Dopson. John would play part of the shortened 1994 season as a California Angel with Harold Reynolds. HR was one of the first in the wave of upcoming stars in Seattle seeing time from 1983 through his departure in 1992. Harold spent the 1993 season in Baltimore and would finish with the Angels in 1994 before becoming a well known broadcaster on ESPN, and now MLB Network.

Next Card: #150 Wayne Cage, Indians

#126 Doug Bair, Reds

Card Front: Here we see Doug doing the standard pitching pose for a spring training shot. He was early in the start of a long major league career that would have see the dugouts of many teams. I wonder what his teammates in the background walking away are thinking of Doug right now....

Card Back: It is pretty obvious that Doug took the slow road to get to the big leagues. After being drafted in 1971 he saw 4 games at the end of 1976 before being dealt to Oakland, only to land in Cincinnati. Doug would travel well, playing for seven teams in 15 seasons including St. Louis twice and Pittsburgh to bookend his career start and end.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: Doug did spend a few seasons in the Queen City. While a member of the 1980 season in Cincinnati, Doug played with Bruce Berenyi. Bruce would eventually hook up with the World Champion version of the 1986 New York Mets with every one's teammate in Jesse Orosco. Jesse being the ageless wonder that he was would be part of the 2003 San Diego Padres with little known catcher Wiki Gonzalez. Wiki was part of a six player dealer to come to Seattle to see time in 14 games behind the plate during the 2005 season at Safeco Field.

Next Card: #127 Thad Bosley, White Sox

#100 Tom Seaver, Reds

Card Front: Finally Topps decides to give us some "action shots." While I like being able to see Tom's form with the left arm bent down, and the right arm in good from not to blow out his elbow. I'm going to take a wild guess and say with the road grays and all the green on the walls that we might be looking at Three Rivers in Pittsburgh? I don't get how a yellow banner works with the Reds color scheme though.

Card Back: Just look at all those career stats that would lead to Cooperstown! That is a model of consistency always in the mid 30's in starts and mostly all in the 2's in ERA. Of course the trade from the Mets in June of 1977 was part of the famous "Midnight Massacre" when the Mets traded everybody. Is it cool or creepy to see the day you were born on the back of a baseball card? Not only did Bob Bailey have those assists on my day, but he also did it in a game against Tom and the Mets in Montreal.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: If you decide to look ahead to Tom's final season in the Queen City, you will find that that 1982 also included Charlie Liebrandt as a Cincinnati Red. Charlie would move down South and in 1990 be part of the Atlanta Braves with a young player by the name of John Smoltz. During the final season of Smoltzie's soon to be Hall of Fame career in 2009, John was a Cardinal in St. Louis with Josh Kinney. Josh has spent time in the Mariners bullpen during this 2012 season.

Blog related to the team: There is a very happy Reds fan out there right now. His team recently punched their playoff ticket for this year, and yesterday Homer Bailey throws a no hitter for the Reds. I would like to introduce you to TheHitKing who writes for us at Spoke Bait and the Game. All you have to do is read the man's bio and how could you not admire him. I appreciate the fact that he is like me in loving a team that doesn't get much love from the media unless they are doing something great. Go over and read his stuff, and make sure to thank him for his service to our great nation!

Next Card:  #101 Roy Howell, Blue Jays

#73 Ken Henderson, Reds



Card Front: Ken is showing off his new duds as a Red in San Francisco in 1978. This must have been taken not long after Ken came to the Reds either in June or it could be from late September in 1978. Ken does not appear to be happy at all and just wants to get this over with. I remember how the Reds jerseys in those days didn't have much room for a long last name.

Card Back: It is hard to figure out Ken's playing time through the years. Some years he would play everyday, and some years were hit and miss. It looked as though he would stick with the Giants, but then bounced around to many teams. Ken would spend part of 1979 in Cincinnati before being traded to the Cubs only to be released and retire midway through the 1980 season.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: During Ken's first season in Cincinnati, another of those 1978 Reds was Dan Driessen. Dan would move to be part of the 1985 San Francisco Giants with a young Chili Davis. During Chili's time as a 1997 Kansas City Royal one of his teammates was Hector Carrasco. Hector would be part of the inaugural season of the 2005 Washington Nationals with Brad Wilkerson. Brad made it nearly a month as the Mariner DH in 2008 before being released.

Blog related tot he team: There are few fans of the Redlegs out there. I would think with their long rich history there would be more. One fan that is out there should be in a rock band. Doesn't his blog sound like a band with a name like Potch Wheeler and the Cardboard Heroes. Go over and show him some love, maybe you can work out a trade for some good stuff you both need.

Next Card: #74 Shane Rawley, Mariners

#47 Fred Noman, Reds

Card Front: Fred has done his time with photographers in his career. He looks none too happy to be standing in the sun on the road before a game to please the picture guy. I really have a hard time deciding what's worse: the big chew in the left cheek, the stare of death, or those monster eyebrows Fred has working.

Card Back: Now that's what I call a healthy career! From Kansas City, to Chicago, LA, St. Louis, San Diego and Cincinnati in the span of 16 years with a few years in the minors. It's hard to tell if it's bad teams, or Fred just wasn't all that great. His highest wins in any year is 14. Fred did win two rings with the Reds as part of the Machine though.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: Since Fred would see the country by playing in many places, he had many connections to the Emerald City. During Fred's time as a member of the 1970 Cardinals, one of his battery mates was Ted Simmons. Ted would move on to be part of the 1986 Atlanta Braves along with Jim Acker. Jim would finish his career in 1992 with Seattle. Ted now works in the front office with the Mariners also.

Blog related to the team: I know that the Reds are down from their heydays, but I'm surprised they are hard to find in the blog world. One die hard that is blogging about his team has a good one. The title is simple: Cincinnati Reds Baseball Card Collector. He is working on some old cards and new cards, so go give 'em a look.

Next Card: Merv Rettenmund, Angels

#20 Joe Morgan, Reds

Card Front: The first card with the All Star ribbon. I liked these much more than the newer cards in the Update set. You have to love the old flapless batting helmet, those aren't legal anymore. Joe looks like a fireplug.

Card Back: Nothing like having 15 years of stats. There is so many numbers Topps doesn't even give any interesting factoids about Joe. It's not often you seen much reference to the Colt .45's anymore. It's too bad the Astros couldn't bring back that name. I'm sure it would be deemed violent and insensitive nowadays.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: Joe would move around alot in the final years of his career. During his year in Philadelphia in 1983, Joe played along side "the Sarge" Gary Matthews. Gary would come to Seattle in 1987 and play with catcher Bob Kearney.

Blog related to the team: I know there are many Reds fans out there. One of the most well known, and home of many group breaks is the great Nachos Grande. Not only does he love his Reds, but he is also a huge Barry Larkin collector.

Next Card: #21 Kevin Kobel, Mets

#3 1978 RBI Leaders

Card Front: Once again we see the same players from card #2. It is obvious who the power hitters were in 1978. It looks like the picture was taken the same day as the one on the previous card, just put a bat in their hands.

Card Back: Once again we see guys in the Hall of Fame. I guess you can expect it on a 33 year old card. There is a nice mix of teams for both leagues. Pittsburgh and Los Angeles dominated the NL in '78. A 38 year old Rico Carty would be with two teams and still get nearly 100 RBI's-nice work old man.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: While most guys can find a link to the Mariners, I decided to dig deeper this time. AL #3 Larry Hisle would play with Bob McClure in 1979 with Milwaukee, McClure would team up with Jamie Moyer in St. Louis in 1991, and Jamie would play with Jaime Bubela in Seattle in 2005. At the bottom of the NL list is "the Penguin" Ron Cey. Ron would spend 1986 in Chicago with Cubs teammate Rafael Palmiero. Palmiero would team with Erik Bedard in Baltimore in 2004, and Erik spent a little time in 2011 with Dustin Ackley in Seattle before getting shipped to Boston last year.

Next Card: #4 Stolen Base Leaders

#2 1978 Home Run Leaders

Card Front: The big boppers for 1978 looking tough. Jim Rice with the classic red Boston hat. George is giving his best mean mug as the two time NL homer champ.

Card Back: There is guys in the hall all over these lists. In all there are 6 HOF'ers. Jim Rice would lead all players with 46 bombs in 1978. George's power numbers dropped from 1977 when he hit 52 homers. In a period from 1966-1989, George was the only player to hit more than 50 in a season. The steroid era would obliterate those numbers.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: Doug DeCinces would play with Dennis Martinez in Baltimore in 1978. Dennis would play for the Mariners in 1997. He also spent time with Gary Roenicke in Charm City. Gary would play with his brother Ron on the San Bernadino Pride in 1990. Ron would spend the 1983 season with the M's.

Next Card: #3 Runs Batted In Leaders