I got two team sets from the 1980 TCMA set, the classic red-bordered design.
Holyoke Millers (Brewers)
Most of the cards look like they were taken in a residential neighborhood, with people's houses clearly visible, or just off the parkway.
This second baseman hit 4 home runs in 651 minor league games, so probably was never called "Big Hurt".
But this is the Kevin Bass that starred for the Astros in the late '80s. The Brewers traded him for Don Sutton.
I was intrigued that there were two Asians on the Millers, at a time when they were a rarity in American pro baseball. Seems to be a bit of a coincidence that they were on the team at the same time; Ogawa was a Japanese league veteran who tried to make it in the US but struggled at AAA. Ako was American; a Hawaiian schoolboy sensation in the 1970s who pitched professionally for a couple of years.
Tidewater Tides (Mets)
Several players in this set went on to notable careers.
Mookie Wilson cards are always fun.
Mike Scott was another member of that team who became pretty prominent, was a big star for a short time. He was on enough cards that I remember what he looked like, and I'm pretty sure this isn't him.
Closing out with some Oscar Gamble-like hair from Jose Moreno.
Did a post on my blog about Ogawa a few years back. He lied about his age when he signed with the Brewers, saying he was 27 when he was actually 32. He had played for the Yomiuri Giants for five years before coming to the US and spent three with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp after parting ways with the Brewers organization. He later played one year in the Mexican League.
ReplyDeleteWow two Hall of Fame lesser knowns and yeah that can't be the same Mike Scott.
ReplyDeleteAnother Frank Thomas? That poor guy didn't stand a chance!
ReplyDelete