Who is the man: Jim Bunning was in his final major league season when this card was issued. He had returned to the Phillies in 1970 after bouncing between the Pirates and Dodgers in 1968 and 1969.
Can ya dig it: Bunning senses a disturbance in the stands.
Right on: This is the final card issued during his career.
You see that cat Bunning is a bad mother: Lots to cite for the Hall of Famer, but I didn't know that when Bunning retired, he was second only to Walter Johnson in career strikeouts with 2,855.
Shut your mouth: Bunning was elected to the city council in his native Kentucky in 1977. That started a political career that would include terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate until he stepped away in 2009. During the state Senate race in 2004, Bunning said his opponent "looked like one of Saddam Hussein's sons" and later accused one of his opponent's staffers of roughing up his wife during an event.
No one understands him but his woman: Bunning pitched the fifth perfect game in major league history, against the Mets in 1964. He's the only player to throw a perfect game on Father's Day, which is appropriate as he has nine children.
(A word about the back): The bio is correct. Bunning did indeed reach 100 career National League victories during the 1970 season. He finished 1970 with 101 career NL wins.
I was going to say that the disturbance Bunning noticed in the stands was probably the fans' "ad-hoc demolition" (as broadcaster Richie Ashburn called it that day) of Connie Mack Stadium at the final home game in 1970 as the fans jockeyed for souvenirs during the late innings of the game.
ReplyDeleteOn second glance however, that is not Connie Mack Stadium in the photo.
Nope he’s pictured at the site of his greatest game.
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