In 1975 we started to see a couple of pitchers wearing unusually-colored gloves. I think Freddie Patek's blue glove is the first one by a position player.
I think ROMO's glove has one of the biggest names on a glove yet.
Vern Ruhle was released by the Tigers at the end of 1978 Spring Training, and was signed by the Astros. His glove says RUHLE 31. He wore #31 for the Tigers but #48 for the Astros. I'm guessing he hadn't changed the number on the glove at the time Topps took his picture. At first I thought this was spring training but it might be Shea Stadium.
Something similar for Jim Dwyer. You can see him wearing #36 but holding bat #11. He wore #11 for the Cardinals but was traded to the Giants in June, and was assigned #36.
A couple of Mariners stealing bats. Bob Stinson #15 has the bat of #36 Leroy Stanton.
#9 Ruppert Jones is one number off, holding bat #8, which was worn by Leon Roberts.
One more sticky-fingered player, in this case, literally. Look at those gloves! I'm guessing #14 Jim Wohlford didn't want to get all that pine tar on his own bat, so he took bat #2. Nobody wore #2 in 1978, perhaps thinking it was bad luck after manager Alex Grammas, who wore #2, was fired after the 1977 season.
I don't think Ruhle is in Shea. The scoreboard doesn't seem tall enough and there's too much open space.
ReplyDeleteI guess it's just the angle of the photo, but Romo's glove looks oversized too.
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