196(9) At A Time - Page 55

#482 – Jim Gosger The Pilots grabbed this outfielder from the A’s. I guess Oakland wasn’t too concerned about losing his .180 average. After hitting .109 for the Pilots in 39 games, he was traded to the Mets, where he raised his average all the way up to .114!

#483 – Ted Abernathy The Cubs reliever gets a separate post tomorrow.



#484 – Joe Gordon The Hall of Fame second baseman hadn’t managed in the majors since 1961, but the Royals thought he was their man. Joe only lasted one season, but did guide the expansion team to 4th place. But they only won 69 games and were lucky enough to be in a really bad division.



#484 - Gaylord Perry The Hall of Famer still had an arm at this time and didn’t yet rely on the vasoline pitch. He tossed a no-hitter agains the NL champ Cardinals in 1968. He won 19 games in 1969 and led the NL with 325 innings pitched. Compare that to this years leader, Adam Wainwright who pitched 233 innings.



#485 – Paul Casanova The Senators starting catcher in 1966 and 1967 struggled in 1968 and even spent some time at AAA. The time in the minors didn’t help much as he hit only .216 in 1969



#486 – Denis Menke The Astros picked Menke up from the Braves (he pictured in a Braves jersey) after the 1967 season. He blossomed in 1969, making the All Star team as he hit .269 and drove in 90 runs.



#487 – Joe Sparma He was 10-10 for the World Champs in 31 starts in 1968, but really tailed off in 1969, going only 6-8 with a 4.76 ERA. The Tigers gave up on him and traded him to the Expos after the season. He lasted only 9 games in Montreal and was finished.



#488 – Clete Boyer He bounced back from a poor 1968 by hitting .250 with 14 HRs as the Braves starting third baseman.



#489 – Matty Alou This is the Alou brother I knew most. He always seemed to get a hit agains the Cubs. The card shows him at Wrigley Field, with the scoreboard behind his head. I seem to remember him choking up on the bat more that shown on the card. He was an All Star in 1969 for the second straight time and led the league in plate appearance, at bats, hits, singles and doubles. His .331 average was good enough for 4th place. Not a bad season!

Overall Set Totals (player cards only)
Hall of Famers - 33
Hatless - 109
Airbrush - 91
Cubs (includes past, present, or future) - 65