1981 Topps Mike Flanagan

The front: Kudos to Topps for using an action shot, though the cropping and shadows indicate the difficulties they had in getting these kinds of shots back then. Almost certainly looks like Yankee Stadium. Flanagan pitched in one day game at the Stadium in 1980. Matched up against Tommy John, Flanagan allowed four runs, two earned, in 5.2 innings, but Baltimore won 6-5 with two runs in the top of the ninth. (John pitched a complete game, allowing six runs in a loss– times were different then!) Five days later the two pitches matched up again in Baltimore, this time with John outdueling Flanagan 4-3.

 

The back: According to Baseball-Reference, Edward Flanagan pitched from 1947 to 1951, going 63-50 with a 3.38 ERA. Mike’s grandfather, Ed Flanagan Sr., was signed to the Boston Braves organization in 1913.

The player: Flanagan had a career year in 1979, going 23-9 with a 3.08 ERA. He won the American League Cy Young award that year. In no other year in his solid 18-year big league career with Baltimore and Toronto did he get another Cy Young vote.

 

The man: After his career he went on to be an Orioles executive and broadcaster. He battled depression for most of his life, seeing a psychiatrist for more than 20 years. He committed suicide on August 24, 2011.

 

My collection: I have 55 of his cards, ranging from 1978 to 1993. I would be interested in trading for 1976 Topps #589 and 1977 Topps #106.