no. 321 - tom matchick

Who is the man: Tom Matchick had completed his first major league season with someone other than the Tigers in 1970. He split the season between the Red Sox and the Royals.

Can ya dig it: Actually, I can't. This is one of my least favorite cards in the entire set. The sloppy blacked-out cap and the super close-up view does not make me happy.

Right on: I announced on the blog way back that I would start keeping track of the blacked-out caps and then I forgot about it. So now it's updated, and I promise I won't forget again.

You see this cat Matchick is a bad mother: When Bob Gibson struck out a record 17 batters in Game 1 of the 1968 World Series, Matchick was not one of them. A pinch-hitter in that game, he grounded out to first base. Matchick and fellow pinch-hitter Gates Brown were the only Tigers to not strike out in that game.

Shut your mouth: Matchick was traded from the Red Sox to the Royals for first baseman Mike Fiore in May of 1970. Topps was able to get Fiore into his new team's uniform (he was featured earlier in the set), but it couldn't do the same for Matchick. Also this is the second straight card of Matchick in which he's wearing a blacked-out cap. He's listed with the Red Sox in the 1970 Topps set, but his cap is airbrushed.

No one understands him but his woman: Matchick and his wife, Linda, have offered foster care for more than 30 children.

(A word about the back): The home run referenced  in the write-up happened on July 19 of that year. His home run came with two outs in the ninth and Moe Drabowsky on the mound for the Orioles. It was a highly anticipated game as the Tigers attracted more fans for the game than they had in seven years.