The ’74 Topps Project

Flipping through the boys of ’74... one autograph at time. (1974 Topps Auto set build status: 540/660) Click the link for my current wantlist...

[The ’74 Topps Project @74toppsproj]

@gilthurmond (April fools)

[The ’74 Topps Project @74toppsproj]

@Tec872 @romerosoranges Dude promised me Willie Mays actually signed it. That was all the certification I needed. You meet some great people on Craigslist.

[The ’74 Topps Project @74toppsproj]

@mlandkam @JohnnyBench_5 @SABRbbcards Very cool.

[Ashley @JunkWaxQueen]

Not for long, watch out 😏😏 #thehobby

[The ’74 Topps Project @74toppsproj]

@Lonzo95Pal Wow!

[The ’74 Topps Project @74toppsproj]

With the Giants in 1968, Bolin has a career year as a swingman, going 10-5 with a 1.99 ERA. Only Bob Gibson’s historically-low 1.12 ERA was better in the NL. Prior to the 1974 season, Bolin was released by the Red Sox, ending his career.

[The ’74 Topps Project @74toppsproj]

After five years in the majors with California, Llanas was a part of 19 title-winners with the Águilas Cibaeñas of the Dominican Winter League as a player, coach, and manager. He was inducted into the Caribbean Hall of Fame in 2008.

[The ’74 Topps Project @74toppsproj]

Barber was a 15-year veteran and two-time all star. Although he went to spring training as a member of the 1970 Pilots, he was released before the team moved to Milwaukee. In 1974, he came to the Crew in a trade, but was similarly dumped in spring and never appeared as a Brewer.

[The ’74 Topps Project @74toppsproj]

A vet of 16 seasons and the ‘74 AL saves champ, Forster gained notoriety for his weight later in his career. After David Letterman referred to him as a ‘fat tub of goo,’ Forster made an appearance on Letterman’s show and later recorded a song called “Fat is in.”

[The ’74 Topps Project @74toppsproj]

“The Bulldog” was one of baseball’s top relievers from 1970-71 with a 1.85 ERA over 228 innings. He recorded just two RBI in his career, but one came off Hall of Famer Jim Palmer. He wore nine different uniform numbers during his career.

[The ’74 Topps Project @74toppsproj]

@DaleoChris I’ll disagree with that, but in a smaller hall, I’d probably agree.

[The ’74 Topps Project @74toppsproj]

Between 1963 and 1969, Ron Santo went to 6 All Star games, won five gold gloves, and placed in the top ten of MVP voting four times. Based on WAR, his career peak is fourth best all time for third basemen. In 1964, he led the league in both triples and walks.

[The ’74 Topps Project @74toppsproj]

@DaleoChris Such a shame. They’re gonna do the same thing to Dick Allen too.

[The ’74 Topps Project @74toppsproj]

A career backup catcher, Oates made his mark as a manager. He led the Rangers to three division titles and was named the AL’s manager of the year in 1996. The Rangers retired his number and inducted him into their Hall of Fame. Sadly, he died from a brain tumor at age 58.

[The ’74 Topps Project @74toppsproj]

For all my ‘74 heads… I wrote a book!

[Matthew J. Prigge @mjpmke]

I have a draft, ladies and ghouls. Still plenty to do - including starting the damn 2022 season - but this feels pretty good.

[The ’74 Topps Project @74toppsproj]

@Derwillibx Indeed!

[The ’74 Topps Project @74toppsproj]

Tim Foli debuted at a 19-year-old with the Mets in 1970 and, after being traded to Montreal for Rusty Staub, became the Expos regular SS at 21. It was the first of six times Foli would be traded in his career. He had a two-decade coaching career after his playing days ended.

[The ’74 Topps Project @74toppsproj]

@StrangedeBill1 @TimJenkins1962 Bud didn’t steal the pilots.. he was just holding them for a friend.

[The ’74 Topps Project @74toppsproj]

Bud Selig was the driving force behind bringing big league baseball back to Milwaukee. He was the team’s president from 1970 to 1998, when he became baseball’s 9th commissioner. He was inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 2017. He got his love of baseball from his mother.