no. 450 - bob gibson

Who is the man: Bob Gibson won his second Cy Young Award in 1970 after winning 23 games and striking out a career-high 274 batters. It was his last great season (although '72 was pretty good, too).

Can ya dig it: One of those weirdly cool action shots from '71 Topps. Gibson is just beginning his wind-up, not something you see a lot on cards. I like it.

Right on: I might have been more excited on the day that I got this card than any other in the '71 set. ... well, except for the one that completed the set anyway.

You see that cat Gibson is a bad mother: Damn straight. His whole career was bad-ass. You want me to cite just one moment? He threw at batters standing in the on-deck circle!

Shut your mouth: Gibson refused to talk to the opposition. Even during All-Star Games, when he played on the same team as his NL opponents, he would not talk to his all-star teammates.

No one understands him but his woman: Gibson had difficulty getting jobs in baseball after his career. He believed it was because of his reputation for being outspoken and hard to get along with.

(A word about the back): Nolan Ryan had 15 years of 200 or more strikeouts, far surpassing Gibson's record.

no. 72 - 1970 national league strikeout leaders

Who is the man: Tom Seaver is the man, for winning the first of his five strikeout titles in 1970. The 283 batters he struck out in 1970 would be his second-highest total ever.

Can ya dig it: That is quite a trio right there. Hall of Famers through and through and through.

Right on: Each player gets the hero sky shot on this card. It's pretty fitting.

You see these cats are bad mothers: If you can't find bad-ass-ness in these three, then you're doing something wrong. But I'll get into detail later.

Shut your mouth: I was just watching Seaver make a guest broadcasting appearance at the Triple A All-Star Game on the MLB Network. I heard a familiar voice and I couldn't place it at first. I was pleased to learn it was Seaver. I always enjoyed his broadcasting, even if he comes off as a crotchety old man at times (he was complaining repeatedly about how all batters these days swing the same).

No one understands him but his woman: It is a toss-up over whether the first baseball wife I knew by name was either Nancy Seaver or Cyndy Garvey. But Nancy wins out in that she is still calling herself Nancy Seaver.

(A word about that back): Some dude named "Ryan" struck out 125 for New York. Pssssh, he couldn't even get into the first column.

no. 70 - 1970 national league pitching leaders

Who is the man: Bob Gibson was the man (he was always the man). But, once again, Gibson and Gaylord Perry had the same amount of wins with 23 apiece. Gibson gets top billing because his name comes first in the alphabet.

Can ya dig it: This is the other leaders card that I obtained as a youngster. That's right, I had both Pitching Leaders cards in my possession at an early age.

Right on: Both Perry and Fergie Jenkins appear to be concerned about whatever is going on off to their left.

You see these cats are bad mothers: I can assure you, without a doubt, that they are. But I'm not going into detail now.

Shut your mouth: When Tim McCarver came out to the mound once to talk to Gibson famously told him: "The only thing you know about pitching is that you can't hit it."

No one understands him but his woman: Gibson used to be a baseball broadcaster for ESPN, but he stopped working there because he was concerned it was taking him away from time with his wife and family.

(A word about the back): Jim Merritt would win 20 games for the Reds in 1970. But the following year he went 1-11.