Tuesday, July 17, 2012

no. 74 - twins rookie stars


Who is the man: Both Pete Hamm and Jim Nettles appeared in their first major league games in 1970. Hamm pitched in 10 games, all in relief, with 16 innings pitched. Nettles appeared in 13 games, getting 21 plate appearances and hitting .250.

Can ya dig it: More old-school pinstriped uniforms that I like. First it was the Braves and now it's the Twins.

Right on: Pete Hamm should not be confused with Pete Ham, the lead singer and songwriter for the group Badfinger. Hamm is still around. Ham is not.

You see these rookies are bad mothers: Not in 1971 they aren't. This was long before Bryce Harper war paint. Rookies ain't bad-ass.

Shut your mouth: Nettles spent a lot of time in the minors. He played four years in the minor leagues before reaching the majors. Then, after his career ended, he managed nine years in the minors. His final season was for Bakersfield in 1996. The team went 39-101. I guess he knew it was time to quit.

No one understands him but his woman: Nettles' daughter is married to former Royals player Mike Sweeney. That means Nettles' wife, Carol, is the wife of one former major league player, the mother-in-law of another, and the sister-in-law of another (Graig Nettles).


(A word about the back): Topps goofed in Nettles' bio information. It starts out describing Nettles' performance in 1970 and then ends in mid-sentence.

4 comments:

  1. I always like a good Badfinger reference.

    Sadly, Tom Evans (another member of the band) met the same demise as Ham, a few years later.

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  2. mmmm ham...

    and a cliffhanger. this card has everything.

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  3. Carol really gets around, but not in a bad way. Never mind.

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  4. I think they are referencing that he played in thirteen tilts with the Twins. Also, 6-5 with a 1.31 era? Hamm should sue for lack of support!

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