Who is the man: Felix Millan was the Braves' starting second baseman, and he had just completed his most successful season in what was then a five-year major league career.
Can ya dig it: Millan is most known for how severely he choked up on the bat during his at-bats. But he wasn't featured by Topps with a bat in his hand until the 1970 set. And then not again until the 1976 set.
Right on: Is Millan pictured at Shea Stadium? It'd be appropriate as he was traded to the Mets in 1973.
You see this cat Millan is a bad mother: Millan got into a famous brawl with Pirates catcher Ed Ott in 1977. After Ott slid hard into Millan trying to break up a double play, Millan shouted at Ott and hit him with the baseball. It didn't turn out to be a smart bad-ass move because Ott drilled Millan to the ground, injuring his shoulder and ending his career.
Shut your mouth: What Ott was probably saying when he sent Millan to the turf.
No one understands him but his woman: Millan and the Mets lost to the A's in 7 games in the 1973 World Series. Millan still blames himself somewhat for the Mets' defeat, saying he didn't play well. Millan made a crucial error in Game 1 of the Series that led to two unearned runs and a 2-1 Mets loss.
(A word about the back): There's a mathematical error in Millan's write-up. Millan's lifetime batting average at the time was .284 and he hit .310 in 1970. That means he topped his lifetime batting average by 26 points, not 37.
It all depends on the average at the beginning of 1970. It's possible that Millan was batting .273 and that his 1970 performance brought his lifetime mark to .284.
ReplyDeleteThe single-year stats don't show that, though.
I guess that's what the write-up meant as his lifetime batting average was .273 after the 1969 season. But that's not the way I read it. (The write-up isn't specific enough).
ReplyDeleteSomeone get that man a new glove.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly looks like Shea.
ReplyDeleteI was told there would be no math.
ReplyDeleteThe Mets led that '73 series 3 games to 2 and led in game 6, it certainly wasn't his fault they lost.
Yup, Topps is located in NYC. NL pix tended to be taken at Shea back then, AL at Yankee Stadium.
ReplyDelete