no. 258 - dick green

Who is the man: Dick Green was entering his eighth season as the Oakland A's second baseman in 1971. He batted a meager .190 in 135 games in 1970.

Can ya dig it: Those green-and-gold A's unis from the early 1970s are glorious. Look at that thing. Doesn't it make you want to invent a time machine?

Right on: This is another case of a photo showing an infielder looking to backhand a ball from the general direction of the backstop. This just doesn't happen for infielders, Topps.

You see this cat Green is a bad mother: Green received the Babe Ruth Award for the 1974 postseason despite going 0-for-13 over the five games. Green was honored with the award because of his fielding. It would also be the last time he played in the majors. That's a pretty bad-ass exit.

Shut your mouth: During the 1970s, Green repeatedly said he was going to retire only to change his mind. It wasn't until 1974 when he actually went through with it, taking with him three World Series rings. Like I said, bad-ass exit.

No one understands him but his woman: Green was upended at second base by Johnny Bench and especially Hal McRae during the 1972 World Series. Green barely responded to being bulldozed and claimed he relished the contact.

(A word about the back): Green was not even 30 when he was the oldest-serving member of the A's. That fits with my perception of Oakland as a team that is constantly rotating players in and out of the organization and has been for decades.