The front: Cruz is completely locked in as he waits for a pitch in BP. No batting helmet though! Meanwhile two Mariners and a Tiger are chatting near the cage.
The back: As of 2020, the California League errorless streak record for a second baseman was 67 by Bakersfield's Matt Howard in 1991. Howard later played briefly for the Yankees in their 1996 World Championship season.
The player: Cruz was an excellent fielder and a great base-stealer who did not hit for average or power. In 1,156 games for the Mariners and White Sox, he hit .237 with 23 HR, 279 RBI and 343 SB. His 290 stolen bases as a Mariner was the team record until broken by Ichiro Suzuki in 2008.
The man: After his playing career he was an announcer for the Mariners. He died of cancer in 2022.
My collection: I have 32 of his cards, from 1978 to 1987. I would be interested in trading for 1979 Hostess #58.
Props to Howard for that errorless streak. I used to drive through Bakersfield whenever I drove down to Vegas to visit my parents. It is hot as blazes during the summer. Can't imagine playing baseball and setting records in those temperatures.
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