#150 Wayne Cage, Indians

Card Front: One of your very standard glamour shots form the 1979 set. I have to admit that as much as they were hated, the red pullovers go with the Indians cap from the 70's. It is strange to look through and some Indians have the slanted C hat and some wear the block C. Obviously, Wayne's pic comes from the 1977 season or earlier since the Tribe only went with red shirts and slanted hats from 1973-1977 and went block C in 1978.

Card Back: It is strange to me that Topps would give a card with a "star" number like 150 to a guy that had less than 100 AB's in the majors. It does make the mind wonder about a guy that is selected in the 3rd round in 1971 and didn't make it until 1978. These were the days before the big power slugging first basemen, and guys were taught to hit for average but Wayne was kind of off on that too.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: During those first 36 games of Wayne's career in Cleveland, one of his Indian teammates in 1978 was Dennis Kinney. Mr. Kinney would find himself as a part of the Detroit Tigers in 1981. Another of the Motor City Kitties in that strike shortened season was Dave Rucker. Eventually, Dave would leave the Motor City for the Steel City and be part of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1988. A rookie on that team was Scott Medvin. Scott would be traded to the Mariners in May of 1990, and would see 5 games after a call up from AAA Calgary in September. After that season, Scott would spend the next three seasons pitching in the Mexican leagues.

Next Card: #151 John Hiller, Tigers

#146 Duane Kuiper, Indians

 

Card Front: There are so many things going on with this card that catch my eye. One of the things that you didn't see much of in the 70's was black batting gloves. Duane's look like the infamous OJ Simpson black gloves, but I'm sure Kuip is a much nicer guy. My other issue is with Topps using a pic of a uniform that was last worn in the 1977 season. With all the flack the Tribe has caught for Chief Wahoo, this would be a good compromise look to bring back full time.

Card Back: I don't think you could say these are any kind of eye popping stats, but they are definitely solid. Duane definitely was no power hitter with only one HR, but sometimes you need guys to get on base and Kuip did that. It looks like George Hall was able to get hit more homers in one game in 1876 than Duane could in five seasons.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: Duane would eventually move on to be with the San Francisco Giants, a team that he continues to be with today as a broadcaster. During his time in Candlestick, one of his 1983 teammates was Atlee Hammaker. Atlee would spend time in the 1995 season on the south side of Chicago as a White Sox with Roberto Hernandez. Roberto would be part of the 2006 Pittsburgh Pirates with Oliver Perez. Both Oliver and Roberto would be traded together to the New York Mets during that season. Before the 2012 season, Oliver signed with the Mariners and spent two seasons in the M's bullpen before being let go to find a new team for 2014.

Next Card: #147 Dave Hamilton, Pirates

#122 Mike Paxton, Indians

Card Front: Hey Mike, the hidden ball trick doesn't work when we all can see your hand is empty. You do have to love the pullover jersey and the fact that we get pics on cards from Cleveland Stadium. I guess it didn't matter if you saw the equipment that is out during warm ups, because kids want cards of all their favorite Indians players of the 70's.

Card Back: Here we see nearly all of Mike's career stats. He would pitch in 33 games in 1979, and see time in 4 games in early 1980 before being gone from baseball at the age of 26. One of the players that the Indians sent to Boston was none other than Dennis Eckersley. If you look back all the way to Willie Keeler in 1897 and getting his 5 hits or more for the 4th time in a season, you would only have to wait another 74 years from then to have me be born.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: The first time Mike saw the big leagues was with the Red Sox in 1977. Another guy that would take the mound in Beantown was Don Aase. During many years in the big leagues, Don played for a few teams including the 1989 version of the New York Mets. Another of those guys from Shea was Kevin Tapani. Fast forward to the 1996 season, and Kevin was part of the Chicago White Sox with Greg Norton. Greg saw time in 6 games for the Mariners before being sent to Atlanta for Nelson Payano who never made it past AA, but continues to pitch in the Mexican Leagues.

Blog related to the team: Indians fans are kind of like Mariners fans. Our team had a run of success and we had some great players for a time. The last run of years have been difficult to be a fan of either team. One guy that still loves his Tribe is Dan. He writes what was one of the first blogs I got hooked on way back in the day. He is a Saint of the Cheap Seats. He is a man that loves his team, knows what he like to collect, will show what he's got and writes a damn good blog. Go over and give a friend of the feather some Chief Wahoo love today!!

Next Card: #123 Lou Whitaker, Tigers

#96 Cleveland Indians, Jeff Torborg

Card Front: Boy oh boy, doesn't this look like a happy bunch of Indians? Is it the continuous losing seasons or the great Mistake by the Lake? You do have uniformity with everybody having their arms crossed, but some guys are looking off to the right, some smiles, and bad cropping of half the guy on the far left. I must know why Jeff has an old wishbone C hat in the little photo, while the team picture has everyone in the block C caps? The two different polo shirt guys, and Mr. suit and tie not happy to be in the picture just make this fun!

Card Back: As far as Mariners go, it is pretty slim pickings on the back of this card. The only guy that would actually don a Mariners uniform was Ted Cox. Ted was in Seattle for the blink of a eye during the 1980 season. I guess except for a few guys, the Tribe was pretty bad back then.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: Jeff Torborg had a playing career in Southern California. During his time as a member of the 1970 Dodgers, Jeff played with Don Sutton. Fast forward to 1983, and Don is part of the Milwaukee Brewers with HOF'er Paul Molitor. Paul would take his travels to north of the border to be a Toronto Blue Jay in 1995 with Giovanni Carrera. Giovanni spent the 2003 season in the Mariners bullpen.

Blog related to the team: It really is becoming harder to find blogs for teams. Some have thousands of bloggers that are fans, and some are like me. Lone  voices rooting for an empty team that seems to flounder. The only new one that had a post or two about cards was called Cleveland's Rocks. They do talk about all three of Cleveland's teams but there is some stuff about the Tribe.

Next Card: #97 Sam Mejias, Expos

#79 Ted Cox, Indians

Card Front: Even though I'm looking far away from you, behold the gaze of my blue eyes.... It is strange how we can have the Indians two cards apart and look so different. Ted is staring off at something and it looks as though the Marlboro man is checking out the same thing since he looking there too. Ted spent as much time in the outfield as the infield in '78 but is only listed as OF.

Card Back: I have always been a sucker for card with lots of minor league stats on them. I also love one that are jammed with 20+ seasons of stats too. Kind of cool to set a record in the Red Sox history since they've been around. I didn't know that "Campy" hit 2 bombs in his first big league game, if it was me I would have retired and gone out on top!

Six degrees or less to Seattle: As you may or may not know, Ted was a Mariner. He would spend the 1980 playing 3rd base for the M's. He would spend most all of 1981 in AAA before being sent to Toronto. As a member of these 1979 Indians though, Ted played with Ron Hassey. Ron would be a part of the 1990 Oakland A's with Mike Moore. Mike was an anchor for the Mariners mound from 1982-88. Ron also was the Mariners bench coach in 2005-06 under manager Mike Hargrove.

Blog related to the team: I found a new way to get other bloggers love too. Ted was a Mariner in 1980 with Shane Rawley, and Shane played with Don Baylor in New York in 1983. Don was the first manager of the Colorado Rockies. The biggest Rockies fan I know out there is hiflew who loves purple rocks. Actually he writes the great Cards from the Quarry. He is doing a great countdown of the past Topps sets, but sadly the '79 set came in at #53 in his countdown but show him some love anyways.

Next card: #80 Jason Thompson, Tigers

#77 Dan Briggs, Indians

Card Front: I could be wrong on this one, but does it not look like Dan might be airbrushed into his Indians logo? It is hard to believe that Topps would get a photographer to Cleveland in September to get a shot of Dan in his Tribe uniform. I think with all the controversy the Indians have had with the Chief Wahoo logo they could have gone back to this old wishbone C instead.

Card Back: It is hard to believe that a guy with such little big league time got a low number card. Do all Indians fans remember Dan's great 15 game history? Those were his only games in Cleveland. On March 31, 1979 the Indians and the Padres got a deal done that sent Dan to San Diego to be Friar. How about BIG Frank Howard with 10 homers in six games?!

Six degrees or less to Seattle: During Dan's last season in 1977 with the California Angels, Dan played with Sid Monge in Anaheim. While Sid would also eventually move down Interstate 5 to San Diego to be a Padre also it wasn't at the same time. Sid was a part of the 1983 Padres with a guy named Tony Gwynn. Mr. Padre would spend his whole career in Padre colors and be with Roberto Petagine in San Diego in 1995. Roberto spent a blink of an eye with the 2006 version of the Mariners. He went 5 for 27 with 1 HR and 10 K's for a .185 average before the Mariners let him go.

Blog related to the team: I really thought that a team with a long and rich history would have many more fans out there blogging. I decided to go in a different direction for a change. Dan didn't have too many cards in his career, but he did have back to back cards with this one, and a spot in the great 1980 Topps set. Dean Family just recently got to Dan's 1980 beauty in Padres colors and posted it. If you like this set and the set from 1980 go and read up on his posts on that set.

Next Card: #78, Elias Sosa, A's

#61 Bo Diaz, Indians



Card Front: Dude, that's one tough catcher! No padding, no mask, just crouch and catch it. I know it is offensive to some, but I've always liked the Chief Wahoo logo better than the block C. I like how back in the day Topps didn't care if us kids saw the Marlboro man, now it is so taboo for kids to see that.

Card Back: Bo would platoon with Ron Hassey as the Indians catcher, but also spend alot of time at AAA Tacoma. His hot start in 1981 would also earn him an All Star selection that year. Bo would play through the 1989 season, but tragically he was killed at his home in Venezuela at age 37 when he was adjusting his satellite dish and it fell on his head and neck. 

Six degrees or less to Seattle: After Bo left Cleveland, he was a part of the 1982 Philadelphia Phillies playing with a young Julio Franco( who hasn't played on a team with Julio?). Mr. Franco would make an appearance on the 1999 version of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Another player in Tampa in 1999 was Quinton McCracken, who would spend a whopping 19 games with the 2004 Mariners.

Blog related to the team: I still am having a hard time finding Indians card collectors. I have featured the two I know of. I decided to go with the first Indians blog to pop up on Google. Let's Go Tribe was the first pop up. It looks to has good info for the friends of the feather as Harry Doyle would call them.

Next Card: #62 Randy Moffitt, Giants 

#38 Bernie Carbo, Indians

Card Front: A nice tight close up of Bernie in Cleveland's old Municipal Stadium. It's hard to tell what Bernie is staring off at. The shot is so close in, it doesn't leave much in details. You can see the light standard against the nice blue sky.

Card Back: As you can see Bernie had been around for awhile. While he had bounced from team to team, the final years of his career were filled with more travel. In November of 1978 he was released by the Indians. He would play in 52 games in '79 for the Cards. The next year would see 14 for the Cards, and 7 for the Pirates. He tried Detroit in 1981 but was forced out of the game.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: Bernie had many teammates in all of his travels. As a member of the 1977 Boston Red Sox, Bernie would team with Fergie Jenkins. Earlier in Fergie's career, he was a member of the 1972 Chicago Cubs. Also on that '72 team was Joe Decker. Joe was 0-1 in 9 games for the 1979 Mariners. Joe was here and gone in the blink of an eye.

Blog related to the team: It's fun to try and find new blogs for teams. Some have many followers, some teams have very few, and some like teams that weren't around in 1979. One blogger that I found that was here for the '79 Tribe, the Baseball dad of All Tribe Baseball. I enjoy to read his work, and he is a dedicated Indians fan through and through.

Next Card: #39 Dale Murphy, Braves

#13 Paul Dade, Indians

Card Front: How can you not just love the all red Indians uniforms? The classic wishbone C on the is something they should definitely bring back. What is with the tape just below the knuckles on his left hand? I don't know where the Indians trained back then, but the field does look good.

Card Back: It seems the Angels couldn't decide to Paul up with big club, or keep sending him to Salt Lake City. His best move was to sign with the Indians instead. It is interesting to see that Paul is form Seattle, and went to Nathan Hale High School. 

Six degrees or less to Seattle: Paul can be linked to a player from last year's team in Michael Saunders. The Condor played with Wily Mo Pena last year. Wily played with one time Mariner prospect Jason Varitek as a Red Sox in 2008, and Jason would team with Dennis Eckersley in Boston in 1998. If you then go all the way back to 1977, Dennis and Paul were members of the Indians together.

Blog related to the team: One of the few Indians centered blogs that I know of is Indians Baseball Cards. While it is predominately Indians, there is planty of other good stuff to read also.

Next Card: #14 Rafael Landestoy, Astros