no. 660 - ray culp

Who is the man: Ray Culp was pitching in what would be the last of his four straight seasons of double-figure victories when this card was issued. He won 64 games between 1968-71.

Can ya dig it: That collar, created from the windbreaker under his uniform, makes it appear as if Culp is participating in something more formal than a ball game.

Right on: I remember seeing Culp's 1969 Topps card, looking at the back, and thinking, "hey, this guy is good." Outside of the superstars, I knew very little about 1960s players as a kid. Culp was one of the first notables that I discovered.

You see that cat Culp is a bad mother: Culp pitched seven straight complete-game victories to close out the 1968 season, including four straight shutouts. His final shutout was a one-hitter against the Yankees in Yankee Stadium.

Shut your mouth: Culp tied an MLB record in 1970 by striking out the first six batters he saw in a game against the Angels. But the Angels won the game, 2-1, in 19 innings.

No one understands him but his woman: Culp played a part in the Phillies' famous 1964 collapse by not playing a part. Depending on your source, Phillies manager Gene Mauch skipped over Culp in favor of repeatedly starting Jim Bunning and Chris Short on two days' rest because Culp was hurt or Mauch was mad at Culp. The Phillies' catcher at the time, Clay Dalrymple, said Mauch held a grudge against Culp because Culp gained 10 pounds during the season.

(A word about the back): That's quite the praise by the bio writer. It's true that the Red Sox fleeced the Cubs by obtaining Culp for minor leaguer Bill Schlesinger. A lot of time has passed since 1971 though and the Red Sox did acquire Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek from the Mariners for Heathcliff Slocumb.