Monday, December 14, 2009

1979 Topps Giants - Part 2 (infielders)

  • Mike Ivie had his best season in 1979. He batted .286 with 27 HR and 89 RBI. He started 76 games at 1B, 24 games in LF, 2 games at 3B and even played part of a game at 2B.


  • Darrell Evans played in 160 games and batted .253 with 17 HR and 70 RBI in 1979.


  • Johnnie LeMaster batted .254 in 343 at bats in 1979. It was his best offensive season.


  • The 41-year-old Willie McCovey batted .249 with 15 HR and 57 RBI in his last full season.


  • Bill Madlock batted .261 in 69 games before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He went on to be a big part of the "We Are Family" World Championship Pirate club.


  • Roger Metzger played in 94 games and batted .251 in 259 at bats. Oddly, he had more triples (9) than doubles (8). After the 1979 season Roger lost parts of four fingers in a chainsaw accident. He tried to come back in August 1980 but the comeback was unsuccessful. Roger was released by the Giants after batting .074 in 28 games.

  • Rob Andrews batted .260 in 154 at bats as the backup second baseman. He was released by the Giants after the 1979 season. Andrews tried to hook on with the New York Mets in 1980 but he didn't make the club and retired.

    Others who played infield in 1979 but didn't get a 1979 Topps Giants card:

  • Joe Strain (pictured on the "rookie stars" card in the previous entry) became the starting second baseman after the Bill Madlock trade. He batted .241 in 257 at bats.
  • Hector Cruz (.120 in 25 AB)

No comments: