1976 SSPC Fred Norman

 

The card, in brief: Looks like early evening, the sun having just set (we are looking west past Norman's shoulder). I really like the color of the sky and the lights visible beyond the outfield wall. I feel transported into the picture a little more, it feels more realistic somehow.

The player, in brief: Fred Norman had an interesting arc to his career. He came up with the KC A's in 1962 at the age of 19, and struggled in brief stints with the A's and Cubs between '62 and '67, pitching in 15 games. The Cubs traded him to the Dodgers after the 1967 season. In the Dodgers minor league system, Norman received help from noted pitching coach Roger Craig, and he returned to the major leagues to stay in 1970. He had a few solid but unspectacular seasons for the Dodgers, Cardinals and Padres before being traded to the Reds in 1973. There he rounded into form as a key member of the Big Red Machine's underrated pitching staff. From 1973 to 1979 he won 10+ games each year with ERAs in the low 3's. His best season was 1976, when he went 12-7 with a 3.09 ERA. He ended his career with one season with the Expos in 1980. Overall in 403 games he went 104-103 with a 3.64 ERA.

Post-playing career, in brief: After his career he was a Reds minor league coach for a few years, then opened a garbage removal business in California. He is now retired and living in North Carolina.

My collection: I have 21 of his cards, from 1964 to 1981. I would be interested in trading for 1978 SSPC #109.