Thursday, July 30, 2015

no. 436 - wilbur wood


Who is the man: Wilbur Wood had just finished the last of three seasons in which he appeared collectively in 241 games for the White Sox. He averaged 80 appearances from 1968-70 and in 1971 he would become a starter and win 22 games.

Can ya dig it: What is that structure behind Wood's left shoulder, a mausoleum?

Right on: Wood looks rather formal with the collared look.

You see that cat Wood is a bad mother: Wood won at least 20 games four straight seasons between 1971-74.

Shut your mouth: Wood won 24 games for Chicago in 1972. Late in September, manager Chuck Tanner told a reporter, "There's no way Wood can miss the Cy Young Award. He is just incredible ..." Wood finished second in the Cy Young voting, losing out to fellow 24-game winner Gaylord Perry.

No one understands him but his woman: Wood is the last pitcher to start both ends of a doubleheader, doing so on July 20, 1973 against the Yankees. He lost both games.


(A word about the back): I'm sure this isn't the first card to mention saves on the back, but it does make me wonder which card was the first.

2 comments:

  1. Love You Wilburrrrrrrrr. What a Workhorse.

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  2. I happened to be watching the night of July 20, 1973. It was a Friday night Twi-light doubleheader, and being a New York resident but a White Sox fan I was looking forward all week to seeing my hero Wilbur and my beloved Sox. Wilbur got bombed out early in the first game. He wasn’t originally scheduled to pitch both games, but since he hardly pitched at all in the first game, Chuck Tanner improvised and brought him back in the second. One of the more disappointing nights of my childhood baseball watching career.

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