Who is the man: Rob Gardner spent most of the 1970 season pitching for Triple A Syracuse in the Yankees' organization. Playing an hour away from his hometown of Binghamton, he put on a sterling display, going 16-5 with a 2.53 earned run average.
Can ya dig it: Gardner is wearing a Cubs uniform, which he had not worn since the 1967 season. This is an ooold photo.
Right on: This is Gardner's first Topps card since the 1968 set.
You see that cat Gardner is a bad mother: Gardner pitched 15 scoreless innings in his fifth major league appearance, a no-decision against Chris Short and the Phillies in 1965. The game between the Mets and Phillies was called a tie after 18 innings due to curfew.
Shut your mouth: Rob's first name is actually Richard. His mother called him "Robin" as a nickname but Gardner hated it, so it was shortened to "Rob" and stuck.
No one understands him but his woman: Gardner found out he was starting his first major league game from watching TV in his hotel room. He was called up from Buffalo and arrived too late to to go to the ballpark. He went to his hotel, switched the game on and saw on the scoreboard that he was starting the next day.
(A word about the back): That one victory that Gardner received for the Yankees in 1970 was his 20th victory of the season.
In April of 1971 Gardner was traded by the Yankees to the A's for Felipe Alou.
ReplyDeleteIn November of 1972 Gardner was traded by the Yankees to the A's for Matty Alou.
Gardner was out of the majors before the Yankees could trade him to the A's for Jesus Alou.
Second old pic Topps used in a row. Lee Maye's pics on the previous card were from when he played for the Braves. Gardner's pic on the back of this card is an actual Yankees press pack pic.
ReplyDelete