Cake or gum? 1977 Hal McRae

Last time it was an easy 9-0 win for gum. Will cake get on the board here?

Usually Hostess cards have more of an interesting background, but here they just go with the batting cage shot at Anaheim Stadium. Meanwhile, Topps has a rich background in this spring training shot. The trees and cages give an illusion of a seaside resort, but what I'm drawn to are the cards on the outfield grass!

Hal McRae was one of the key players of the great Royals teams of the mid-1970s through mid-1980s. McRae was a solid hitter with excellent power, playing in a home park that was more conducive to doubles than home runs. In 2084 games he hit .290 with 484 doubles (leading the AL twice), 191 HR and 1,097 RBI. (He is 80th all-time in doubles.) McRae was very aggressive on the basepaths, known for frequently trying to get an extra base on a hit, and especially for very hard slides (some would say flying tackles) to break up double plays. In 48 postseason games he hit .294, including .400 in four World Series.McRae managed the Royals from 1991 to 1994 and the Devil Rays from 2001 to 2002. With a 286-277 record with some mediocre teams, you would have thought he would have gotten more opportunities to manage. He is now retired.