1981 Topps Floyd Bannister

The front: I am pretty sure this is Yankee Stadium. If so, this would be August 31, 1980. In that game, Bannister was taken out of a 0-0 game in the sixth inning after giving up singles to Reggie Jackson and Lou Piniella. Shane Rawley relieved Bannister and retired Rick Cerone and Bucky Dent to end the inning. With the game still tied 0-0 in the ninth inning, Ron Guidry relieved Luis Tiant. Reggie Walton led off with a double, went to third on a bunt and scored on an error by Willie Randolph, with what would turn out to be the only run of the game.

The back: Two of the last four cards have been #1 overall picks. Bannister had a more successful career than Almon, though he really couldn’t be called a star, either.

The player: Drafted #1 overall in 1976 at the age of 21, Bannister quickly made the majors, but after two seasons in Houston, the Astros quickly gave up on the struggling lefthander, trading him to the Mariners for Craig Reynolds. He found a rhythm in Seattle and became a consistently good pitcher there. In 1982 he was an American League All Star and led the league in strikeouts. After that season he signed as a free agent with the White Sox, and quickly helped them win the division, going 16-10 with a career-best 3.35 ERA in 1983. After five solid seasons in Chicago the White Sox traded him to the Royals for Melido Perez. After a difficult 1988 season he hurt his elbow in 1989, ending his career as an effective starter. After a season in Japan he had stints in the bullpen for the Angels and Rangers before retiring.

The man: Floyd and his son Brian, also a former major league pitcher, own Loft 19 Studios, a major photography production center in Phoenix. Clients include corporations like Google and Pepsi, famous photographers like Walter Iooss, and celebrities like Mike Trout, Kurt Warner, Selena Gomez and Beyonce Knowles.

My collection: I have 50 of his cards, from 1978 to 1992. I would be interested in trading for 1983 Fleer Star Stickers #182.