1981 Topps Gene Tenace

The front: Shea Stadium again. Tenace played in three day games at Shea in 1980. We can see the batter in the on-deck circle. On May 3, Barry Evans, a white man with a mustache, batted behind Tenace. On May 4, Jerry Mumphrey, who is black, batted behind him, so we can rule out that game. The last one is the most interesting. On August 26 the Padres needed 18 innings to beat the Mets, one of the longest games of the year. In the 10^th inning, Craig Stimac, the catcher who started the game, was lifted for pinch hitter Broderick Perkins, after which Tenace came in as a defensive replacement, batting 8^th. In the 12^th inning, the pitcher whose spot behind Tenace was Rollie Fingers, though Dave Cash pinch hit for him. Could that be Fingers on deck? In the 15^th inning pitcher Mike Armstrong hit after Tenace (no pinch-hitter). Armstrong had a mustache too (that was the style in 1980) but his hair is too light to be the on-deck batter, I think. Tenace batted once more in the 17^th, in that inning Barry Evans pinch-hit for Armstrong. So that’s probably Barry Evans in the background, but wouldn’t it be cool if it was Rollie Fingers?

The back: Twelve seasons in the major leagues make it a little tight, but there’s enough blank space on either side that Topps could probably have fit in a blurb.

The player: Tenace was a key member of the A’s dynasty of the 1970s, winning the World Series MVP in 1972. With Oakland he split time between catcher and first base. One of many A’s to depart by free agency, Tenace signed with San Diego as their full-time catcher. After the 1980 season the Padres traded him to St. Louis, where he served as a platoon catcher for two more seasons, winning his fourth World Series ring in 1982. He ended his career with the Pirates in 1983.

The man: Tenace was a long time major and minor league hitting coach, retiring after the 2009 season.

My collection: I have 25 of his cards, from 1970 to 1984. I would be interested in trading for 1971 Topps #338, 1972 Topps #189, 1973 Topps #524, 1976 Topps #165, and 1977 Topps #303.