1981 Topps Frank Taveras

 

The front: Taveras squares up to bunt at Shea Stadium, judging by the uniform of the guy sitting in the dugout, looks like it's against the Expos. In three home day games against Montreal Taveras had four hits, including two doubles, in 12 at-bats.  He didn't have any sacrifices in those games, and Baseball Reference does not indicate that either single was a bunt. 

The back: Taveras accomplished that rare feat due to a midseason trade to a team that had played fewer games. It is still the major league record for most scheduled games played in a single season. Maury Wills's 165 games in 1962 include the three game "playoff" against the Giants after the teams ended the regular season tied, and those games counted in regular season statistics.

The player: Frank Taveras was a flashy shortstop with great range who could make a lot of great plays, but also made a lot of errors. Speed was his best asset as an offensive player, leading the NL in steals in 1977. On August 5 of that year he had his most eventful day in the majors. In the first game of a doubleheader in Cincinnati, Taveras stole third base with the Pirates already up 7-0. The next time up he was hit by a pitch from Joe Hoerner. Taveras threw his bat at Hoerner and in the brawl that followed, Hoerner punched Taveras in the face. Taveras got revenge in the nightcap, hitting his first major league home run, an inside-the-park grand slam. (Two years later Taveras hit his only other big league homer in Cincinnati, the only time he cleared the wall as a big league hitter.) Overall in 1,150 games for the Pirates, Mets and Expos, he hit .255 with 2 HR, 214 RBI and 300 SB.

The man: After his career he was a coach in the Pirates organization for a while. He now lives in his native Dominican Republic where he is heavily involved in religious activities.

My collection: I have 15 of his cards, from 1974 to 1982. I would be interested in trading for 1982 Topps Traded #118.