no. 396 - dick schofield

Who is the man: Dick Schofield was entering his final season in the major leagues in 1971. He came over to the Cardinals from the Red Sox in late October, 1970.

Can ya dig it: Schofield is wearing a Red Sox jersey in this photo. Schofield changed teams so often, particularly late in his career, that he appears cap-less four times between 1967-1971.

Right on: You can find a card of Schofield in the 1954 and 1955 Topps sets. It blows my mind when lesser known players like this span cards from the '50s to the '70s. For some reason, I can adjust to an Aaron or Killebrew or Robinson doing that, but Schofield?

You see that cat Schofield is a bad mother: Schofield has received credit for fixing the broken Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960, when future season MVP Dick Groat was struck on the wrist by a pitch from Braves hurler Lew Burdette in September of that year. Groat was done for the season, but Schofield stepped in at shortstop and batted .403 for the rest of the month and the Pirates clinched the pennant and then the World Series.

Shut your mouth: Schofield was ejected just once in his 19-year major league career. As a bonus baby for the Cardinals in 1953, he sat the bench most of the season. Manager Eddie Stanky got in an argument with umpire Augie Donatelli during a game against the Giants. As they argued a couple of towels flew out of the dugout. As Stanky returned to the dugout, Donatelli warned him that if he saw another towel emerge from the dugout, there'd be an ejection. Stanky told Schofield, who he knew wouldn't play, to throw a towel. Schofield did, and Donatelli threw him out.

No one understand him but his woman: Schofield and his wife Donna raised three athletic children. Son, Dick, would have a 14-year MLB career of his own. Daughter, Kim competed in the 1976 Olympic track and field trials. Another daughter, Tammy, was a standout golfer. Kim's son is Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth.

(A word about the back): This card has been worked over, front and back. It is one of those 1971 Topps hand-me-down cards that my friend had and I obtained through a trade for some late '70s Yankees.