How about a couple weeks off?

February 8-24, 2024

The first six weeks of this writing project of mine were going great. I had a schedule, and I left myself some time each day to find something to say, write it all down, and still get some sleep at night. But I knew it wasn’t going to last because, well, it’s a big world out there and, as much as I enjoy writing, I’m not taking a computer along with me on a trip.

So after some much-needed R&R, I’m going to try getting back into that routine. But before I do, here’s some of the players that I skipped over during my hiatus, as arranged by the six groups that I established at the start of this project:

For the Michael Anthony Clique (which is players from the 1970s who haven’t reached the age of 70 yet), Chet Lemon celebrated his 69th birthday on February 12. He was a member of the White Sox “Southside Hitmen” in 1977, the year this card appeared, and won a World Series ring with Detroit in 1984. His 16 seasons in the majors included just under 2,000 games played.

A new member of the Jimmy Buffett Society (which is major leaguers from the 1970s who died while in their 70s) was created when Don Gullett passed away on February 14, at the age of 73. I referenced his birthday in one of the earliest posts here. My condolences are offered to anyone who knew him.

For the Order of Lyman Bostock (which is players from the 1970s who died before reaching the age of 70) I missed a number of players.

February 10th was the anniversary of the violent death of Tony Solaita, who played in one single game in the majors in 1968, but then disappeared from the big leagues until 1974. That’s a lot of minor league ball. He then played until 1979 in the States, and also played four seasons in Japan after that. He was murdered in a dispute over a real estate transaction in 1990, at the age of 43.

February 10th was also the anniversary of Jim Spencer’s passing from a heart attack, at the age of 54. He also began his career in the majors in 1968, and he played continuously there until 1982, or 15 seasons in all. He was a teammate of Don Gullett’s on the 1978 Yankees team that won the World Series, and was also part of the “Southside Hitmen” with Chet Lemon for the White Sox in 1977.

February 12 was the date in 2009 that Ted Uhlaender passed away from a heart attack, at the age of 69. He had been acquired by the Reds after the 1971 season ended, so the 1972 card shown here is another instance of Topps airbrushing a cap onto a player which he had not worn before. The “C” here is actually pretty credible. The Reds won the National League pennant in that year, Uhlaender’s last in the majors. His final appearance was as a pinch hitter in Game 7 of the World Series, when he flied out against Catfish Hunter of the Oakland A’s.

On February 13, 2005, longtime pitcher Nelson Briles passed away at age 61. The 1979 Topps card shown here is ironic, because he had been released by the Orioles before this card ever appeared on any shelves. But he was with the Mets that year for Spring Training, and even made a short appearance in a Chico Escuela skit. He also won two World Series rings, one with St. Louis in 1967 and another with Pittsburgh in 1971.

February 16 marked the 12-year anniversary of the passing of Hall of Famer Gary Carter, at the age of 57. The Kid only played in one World Series, but it was a doozy. In Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, his Mets team was down to their final out when Carter keyed what might be the most improbable rally in all of baseball history.

February 16 was also the date in 2010 that Jim Bibby passed away from bone cancer, at the age of 65. He was the first Rangers pitcher to throw a no-hitter in 1973, won a championship with the Pirates in 1979, and gave up a leadoff single in a game during the 1981 season, and proceeded to retire the next 27 hitters after that.

February 17 was the date, in 1990, that Larry Cox died of a heart attack at age 42 while playing racquetball (and for the record, I played a fair amount of racquetball in those days. Not any more, though). The Cubs cap is indeed airbrushed on, as he had been acquired from the then-expansion Seattle Mariners before this 1978 card appeared. As a back-up catcher in 1978, he didn’t really play enough to be counted as one of my baseball droids, and he was traded back to the Mariners before the 1979 season.

For the Tina Turner League (players from the 1970s who passed away while in their 80s), February 16 was the first anniversary of the passing of Tim McCarver at the age of 81. Most people, myself included, know him from his long career as an announcer, but he won two World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, and is one of a very few players to play in four different decades in the major leagues.

There are 27 players—18 in the Neil Young Club (major leaguers from the 1970s who are currently alive and in their 70s) and 9 more in the Moves Like Jagger (major leaguers from the 1970s who are alive in their 80s)—that I could mention here, but I’ll save them for another day, in the interest of sleep. Hopefully I’ll be back on track tomorrow. Until then…..