no. 194 - mike lum

Who is the man: Mike Lum was entering his fifth season with the Braves in 1971. He was on the verge of becoming a regular outfielder for Atlanta.

Can ya dig it: A white school bus in the background! Terrific! (It's possible it isn't a school bus, but let's pretend it is).

Right on: Lum is posing with a bat in his hand on 8 of his first 9 Topps cards. The 1974 card is the only exception, as he's posing with a first baseman's mitt.

You see this cat Lum is a bad mother: Lum is one of six players to have pinch-hit for Hank Aaron (the others are Lee Maye, Johnny Blanchard, Johnny Briggs, Marty Perez and Mike Hegan). Lum batted for Aaron during a blowout of the Mets on May 22, 1969, hitting a double. At the time, it was reported that Lum was the first player to pinch-hit for Aaron, but that was untrue.

Shut your mouth: Lum's starting role disappeared after injury in the mid-1970s and he started backing up Earl Williams at first base. By 1975, he had it, saying in The Sporting News, "If that's the way they feel, they can get rid of me. I've kept my mouth shut for eight years now, but I'm sick and tired of all this."

No one understands him but his woman: Lum was the first American with Japanese ancestry to play in the major leagues.

(A word about the back): Well, since Topps provided the date, let's see what happened with Lum on Oct. 2, 1969:

He doubled in the first inning, singled and drove in a run in the third, doubled to lead off the fifth, grounded out in the seventh, and then singled in the ninth.

And the Reds beat the Braves 8-3 to end Atlanta's season.