no. 749 - ken szotkiewicz

Who is the man: Ken Szotkiewicz made his major league debut in 1970. He managed to stay with the Tigers for the entire season despite hitting just .107.

Can ya dig it: Check out that signature. He's got 19 letters in his name and you can read just about every one.

Right on: Szotkiewicz is listed strictly as a shortstop in 1970 on his baseball-reference page and indeed he filled in for starting shortstop Cesar Gutierrez when Gutierrez was injured. I'm not sure why Szotkiewicz's position reads "infield".

You see that cat Szotkiewicz is a bad mother: In his first collegiate baseball game for Georgia Southern University, Szotkiewicz hit a home run in his first at-bat and went 4-for-4 against Kentucky.

Shut your mouth: Szotkiewicz's name is pronounced SOCK-uh-witz.

No one understands him but his woman: Sztokiewicz was the 35th of 55 players born in Delaware to make the major leagues.

(A word about the back): Those are Szotkiewicz's career stats. He didn't make it back to the majors after this card was issued.

no. 732 - bob reed

Who is the man: Bob Reed enjoyed his longest stay in the major leagues in 1970, appearing in 16 games for the Tigers.

Can ya dig it: I love seeing wide expanses of green with the grandstand in the distance, as well as a vehicle and possibly palm trees.

Right on: Those giant "TV" numbers are so 1960s.

You see that cat Reed is a bad mother: Reed was a fourth-round selection by the Tigers in the very first major league draft in 1965. He was one of just nine players selected by the Tigers that year that made the majors.

Shut your mouth: This is Reed's only solo Topps card. He also appears on a two-player rookie prospects card in the 1970 set.

No one understands him but his woman: Reed was done pitching in the majors in 1970 and through with pro baseball period by 1972. There's not much else out there about him.

(A word about that back): That "Life" line truly is. That's the life of his major league career.

no. 708 - russ nagelson

Who is the man: Rusty Nagelson played in 45 games for the Indians and Tigers in 1970, the most playing time he'd enjoy in a single major league season.

Can ya dig it: That might be the most tilted background I've ever seen on a baseball card. The Yankee Stadium bleacher seats are at a 30 degree angle.

Right on: Nagelson's only solo card. He also appears on an Indians' two-player rookie card in the 1970 Topps set.

You see that cat Nagelson is a bad mother: Nagelson played on the 1966 Ohio State national champion baseball team. It's the last baseball team from the Big Ten to win an NCAA championship.

Shut your mouth: Nagelson was traded during the 1970 season for the player featured in the previous post, Fred Lasher. That's pretty neat.

No one understands him but his woman: When Nagelson was recruited by Ohio State, he was a star quarterback in high school. He wanted to be a quarterback at Ohio State. But Buckeyes football coach Woody Hayes said Nagelson would be a guard. Nagelson ended up playing baseball instead.

(A word about the back): Other major leaguers on that 1966 Ohio State team are Steve Arlin and Chuck Brinkman.

no. 695 - joe niekro

Who is the man: Joe Niekro was coming off his best season with the Tigers when this card was issued. In his first season in Detroit, he won 12 games in 38 appearances. But he was entering the lowest point of his career, which would last until the Astros acquired him in the mid-'70s.

Can ya dig it: I like to pretend the air bubbles are sparkles in the sky. It's better than running right out and buying another high-numbered Niekro card.

Right on: I've mentioned this before, but it's very weird seeing Niekro as anything but an Astro.

You see that cat Niekro is a bad mother: Niekro pitched back-to-back 20-win seasons in 1979 and 1980.

Shut your mouth: After Niekro was famously ejected from a game in 1987 after umpires caught him discarding an emery board from his pockets, he went on David Letterman's show to discuss the incident. Equipped with a tool belt and carrying a sander, he insisted he didn't scuff baseballs. "You're telling me you don't doctor baseballs," Letterman quizzed. "Do I look like a doctor to you?" Niekro said.

No one understands him but his woman: Niekro was purchased by the Astros from the Braves in 1975 for a mere $35,000, that's how washed up he seemed. He proceeded to win 135 games over the next 10 years.

(A word about the back): Well, this is a particularly timely (and painful) write-up. Niekro lost his no-hitter after 8 1/3 innings when the Yankees' Horace Clarke singled.

no. 669 - ike brown

Who is the man: Ike Brown played in 56 games for the Tigers in 1970, his second year in the majors after eight seasons in the minors.

Can ya dig it: As you can tell, this card is significantly off-center. With the high numbers, you sometimes take what you can get.

Right on: Brown is listed as a second baseman here, but he was really a man without a position. He played regularly at every nonpitching position except for catcher and center field.

You see that cat Brown is a bad mother: Brown did play all nine positions in a single game in the minor leagues.

Shut your mouth: Brown was often mistaken as the brother of Tigers teammate and roommate Gates Brown. They weren't related.

No one understands him but his woman: Brown was one of the last remaining former Negro League players in the major leagues. When he retired in 1974, only Hank Aaron was left.

(My observation on the back): Love those glasses ... Brown's first home run came off of the Yankees' Mike Kekich in the fourth inning. It was the second game of a doubleheader and the Tigers swept.

no. 629 - john hiller

Who is the man: John Hiller was at a turning point in his career when this card was issued. He suffered three heart attacks on Jan. 11, 1971 and there was no guarantee when kids were pulling his card from packs that he would ever play again.

Can ya dig it: Any Hiller card that is not the 1975 Topps Hiller card doesn't look like a Hiller card to me. I pulled the '75 Hiller out of the first pack I ever bought and it was an immediate favorite. I still hold an attachment to that card.

Right on: Hiller wearing the jacket over the uniform makes me think it's going to rain there at Yankee Stadium.

You see that cat Hiller is a bad mother: After Hiller's heart attacks, the Tigers took it easy with the pitcher. They kept him on to be an instructor during the spring of 1972. But Hiller wanted to pitch. By July of '72 Hiller and manager Billy Martin had convinced the Tigers' brass to let Hiller play. He threw better than ever and in 1973 set what was then a major league record 38 saves in a season.

Shut your mouth: Hiller grew up in Scarborough, Ontario, and naturally played hockey. He also played baseball, and during a tryout in Toronto, former major league manager Charlie Dressen told him, "son, I hope you haven't thrown out your hockey skates."

No one understands him but his woman: When Hiller retired in 1980, he was the last remaining member of the 1968 World Series champion Tigers team.

(A word about the back): Hiller's mark of six straight strikeouts to start a game was matched by four other pitchers until the White Sox's Joe Cowley began a game with seven straight strikeouts in 1986. Later in '86, the Astros' Jim Deshaies struck out eight in a row to begin a game and that's where the modern-day record stands. The Mets' Jacob deGrom also struck out his first eight batters in 2014.

no. 599 - norm cash

Who is the man: Norm Cash's career seemed to be on the decline after the 1970 season as he managed just 15 homers and a .259 average in 130 games. But he had one more great season in his holster and that would be the 1971 season.

Can ya dig it: Love the first baseman's stretch pose. The glove looks huge and Cash's back leg tiny.

Right on: It looks like someone left Cash to pick up all the equipment.

You see that cat Cash is a bad mother: Cash produced one of the best underappreciated seasons of the last 60 years. In 1961, Cash led baseball with a .361 average, hit 41 home runs, drove in 132, recorded a .662 slugging average and a 1.148 OPS. Unfortunately, someone else hit 61 home runs that year.

Shut your mouth: Cash later admitted he used a corked bat in 1961.

No one understands him but his woman: Cash was the first Tiger to hit a ball completely out of Tiger Stadium.

(A word about the back): Cash was 36 when this card came out. He doesn't look 36 in the photo.

no. 575 - bill freehan

Who is the man: Bill Freehan was enjoying a bounce-back season when this card was issued. His 1970 season was rough. His stats plummeted, his season ended early so he could undergo back surgery, and fans booed him after the release of his diary of the Tigers' 1969 season called "Behind the Mask".

Can ya dig it: I don't know why the crop is so tight on Freehan. Did he spill his lunch on his jersey? Makes for a distinctive card though.

Right on: Yankee Stadium all the way.

You see that cat Freehan is a bad mother: Freehan was known for his defensive ability and handling of the Tigers' pitching staff. He finished second in the AL MVP voting in 1968 to teammate Denny McLain.

Shut your mouth: Freehan's diary wasn't nearly as scandalous as Jim Bouton's "Ball Four," which came out the same year. But McLain had been suspended over a gambling investigation and Sports Illustrated published excerpts of Freehan's book, referring specifically to McLain and whether the team gave him special treatment. While the Tigers struggled, Freehan was viewed as airing clubhouse secrets.

No one understands him but his woman: Freehan recorded the final out of the 1968 World Series, catching Tim McCarver's foul pop up.

(A word about the back): Freehan set all kinds of old-timey catching stat records during his career (putouts, chances, etc.). When he retired, he owned the best career fielding percentage for a catcher at .993. He is now 30th all-time as catchers like Mike Redmond, Damien Miller and Chris Snyder have surpassed him. There are 13 active catchers in the majors with a better career fielding percentage than Freehan.

no. 553 - kevin collins

Who is the man: Kevin Collins was entering his final major league season when this card was issued. He'd play in just 35 games for the Tigers in 1971.

Can ya dig it: Collins is wearing an "I'm just happy to be here" expression there in Yankee Stadium.

Right on: The "infield" designation is interesting. Collins did play all over the infield in his minor and major league career, mostly skipping between third, short and second. But in 1970, Collins was used almost exclusively as a pinch-hitter for Detroit and the lone position he played was first base. So "infield" should read "first base."

You see that cat Collins is a bad mother: Collins was 18 years old when he made his MLB debut for the Mets in September 1965.

Shut your mouth: Collins was involved in a pivotal trade between the Mets and Expos in midseason 1969. The Mets traded Collins, pitcher Steve Renko and minor leaguers Jay Carden and Dave Colon to the Expos for first baseman Donn Clendenon, who helped lead New York to the World Series title that season. The next spring, when Collins saw his old Mets teammates, he said, "I did more work for you guys than anybody on the Mets. I was the one who got traded for Donn Clendenon."

No one understands him but his woman: Collins gave up pro ball in 1974 to help raise his family. His team at the time, the Indians, wanted him to go into coaching, but he declined.

(A word about the back): Collins' pinch home run came in a game against the Angels on Aug. 25, 1970. It was a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning and at the time had turned a 4-3 Angels lead into a 6-4 Tigers lead. But the Angels scored six runs in the ninth to win 10-6.

no. 524 - mickey stanley

Who is the man: Mickey Stanley was coming off a fine season with the Tigers when this card was issued. He led Detroit in hits, runs, triples, stolen bases (a whopping 10) and won his third straight Gold Glove in center field.

Can ya dig it: You're getting a fine look at that windbreaker Stanley is wearing under his uniform.

Right on: I like the bare-bones scoreboard in the background.

You see that cat Stanley is a bad mother: Stanley helped the Tigers win the World Series in 1968 when he was moved from the outfield to play shortstop, a position he had never played in the majors. After the Tigers clinched the pennant, Stanley was moved to short by manager Mayo Smith, who was seeking another bat in the lineup for the postseason. With Stanley replacing weak-hitting Ray Oyler at short, that allowed Al Kaline, Willie Horton and Jim Northrup to play the outfield. Stanley, who regularly took infield practice before games, made just two errors during the Series and neither had an impact.

Shut your mouth: Stanley played 15 years for the Tigers and was still with the club in 1977 when the Tigers were bringing up future '80s superstars. Catcher Lance Parrish once said to him, "Hi, Mr. Stanley. I was in eighth grade when you were in the World Series."

No one understands him but his woman: Despite the fame Stanley received for playing shortstop in the Series he said he didn't enjoy it because he was "just waiting to screw up."

(A word about the back): That photo appears to be fairly old. Stanley looks quite a bit younger here than he does on the front.

no. 503 - gates brown

Who is the man: Gates Brown was entering another season as the Tigers' primary pinch-hitter when this card was released. He was going through a bit of a low period as the previous two years he had hit under .230.

Can ya dig it: Brown has an extraordinarily tall head. Or at least it seems so on his cards.

Right on: Brown is pictured with a bat in his hands on all of his Topps cards from 1965-1974. I don't know if that's a record, but it makes me want to do research.

You see that cat Brown is a bad mother: Brown hit an extraordinary .370, mostly as a pinch-hitter, during the Tigers' World Series championship year in 1968.

Shut your mouth: Brown served time for breaking-and-entering when he was a teenager. When he started his baseball career, he spent his second year in the minors in the Southern League. The combination of being black and an ex-con in the South was too good for heckling fans to resist. But Brown led the league in hitting that year in 1961, and "by the end of the year, they were all on my side," Brown said.

No one understands him but his woman: Brown was the Tigers' first designated hitter.

(A word about the back): The noted halfback didn't play baseball in high school.

no. 481 - daryl patterson

Who is the man: Daryl Patterson had completed his third season as a relief pitcher for the Tigers when this card came out. But he probably wasn't a Tiger anymore when this card hit packs. He was traded to Oakland in May of 1971 and then purchased by the Cardinals the following month.

Can ya dig it: From where Patterson is looking, his fake pitch may have sailed over the fake right-handed hitter's head.

Right on: This is Patterson's final card.

You see that cat Patterson is a bad mother: Patterson pitched in two games of the 1968 World Series during his rookie year. He pitched three innings, allowed just one hit and didn't allow a run.

Shut your mouth: Patterson was the victim in a famed brawl incident during his final year in 1974. As a member of the Pirates, Patterson was pinned to the ground by the Reds' Pedro Borbon. Borbon pulled out some of Patterson's hair then bit him in the side. The Pirates gave Patterson a precautionary tetanus shot.

No one understands him but his woman: Patterson started just three games in his career. His final start was Sept. 30, 1971 against the Mets and Tom Seaver. Patterson lost the game and Seaver won his 20th of that season.

(A word about the back): OK, floating heads on cards never bothered me, but this one is a little creepy.

no. 464 - aurelio rodriguez

Who is the man: Aurelio Rodriguez played for the Senators in 1970. In his only season with Washington during his 17-year career, he set career highs in home runs (19), RBIs (83) and stolen bases (15).

Can ya dig it: Rodriguez is airbrushed out of an Angels helmet there in Yankee Stadium. He played for the Angels from 1967-69 and I guess Topps never got him in a Senators uniform.

Right on: Rodriguez was traded to the Tigers in the big eight-player deal with the Senators that famously sent Denny McLain to Washington. With this card, this blog has now featured seven of the eight players in the deal. The only one yet to be featured -- McLain -- won't be seen for awhile.

You see that cat Rodriguez is a bad mother: Rodriguez  won the Gold Glove in 1976, signaling the end to Brooks Robinson's 16-year reign as the Gold Glove third baseman for the American League.

Shut your mouth: Rodriguez is the original A-Rod.

No one understands him but his woman: Rodriguez is famously absent from his 1969 Topps card. In his place is the California Angels' bat boy Leonard Garcia. Some have surmised that Rodriguez was playing a prank, although that's doubtful because he barely spoke English when he came up to the majors in the late '60s. The mistake more likely happened in a mix-up in the Topps archives as it searched for a photo of Rodriguez (this was during the time when current players were not posing for Topps because the players union believed they were not being adequately paid).

 (A word about the back): The Mexican Center League was a feeder league for the Mexican League and lasted from 1960-78. Among the other future major leaguers who began there was Fernando Valenzuela.

no. 444 - jimmie price

Who is the man: Jimmie Price had completed a fourth season as a backup catcher for the Tigers when this card came out of packs. He was entering his final season in 1971.

Can ya dig it: Price has four Topps cards. He's referred to as "Jimmie," his given name, on three of them (1968, 1970, 1971) and as "Jim" on one of them (1969).

Right on: Price looks like he just spotted a pterodactyl circling Yankee Stadium.

You see that cat Price is a bad mother: During the Tigers' World Series-winning season in 1968, Price hit a 10th-inning game-winning homer off of the White Sox's Wilbur Wood during a late August clash.

Shut your mouth: Price has been a member of the Tigers' broadcast team for more than 20 years. He's spent much of that time as the color guy for Detroit's radio team.

No one understands him but his woman: Price and his wife, Lisa, founded "Jack's Place for Autism" in 2002. Their son, Jack, has autism.

(A word about the back): "Was AL's top-rated 2nd string catcher for 1968 World Champs ..."

I wasn't aware of a ratings system for second-string catchers.

no. 423 - tigers rookie stars

Who is the man: Both Dennis Saunders and Tim Marting spent most of 1970 playing in the minors. Marting spent all of 1970 with the Tigers' Triple A team in Toledo. Saunders played in Toledo as well as in Double A Montgomery, Ala.. He also appeared in eight games for the Tigers.

Can ya dig it: This is the fourth one of these Rookie Stars cards in which neither player would have another card. Rookie Stars? Ha!

Right on: This is the second Tigers Rookie stars card in the set. The players on the first one fared better than these two did.

You see these rookies are bad mothers: Nope, nope and nope. No wonder the Tigers would go in the tank four years from the time this card appeared with rookies like this. Both players were out of baseball by the time 1972 was done.

Shut your mouth: Marting worked in a degree at Florida Southern College while he was playing in the minors for the Tigers. Single at the time, he told the paper in Toledo, "There's no way I could work a wife into my schedule."

No one understands him but his woman: Saunders looks like he's going to be sick.

(A word about the back): Topps doesn't tell you that Marting's .308 batting average at Lakeland in 1967 came in 15 games.

no. 403 - joe coleman

Who is the man: Joe Coleman was on the brink of the greatest period of his career. In a pivotal decision, he was traded from the Senators to the Tigers on Oct. 9, 1970.

Can ya dig it: Coleman is wearing a Senators uniform and cap. The airbrushing makes the cap look very odd. Who has a red stripe going down the side of a blank cap?

Right on: That's horrible airbrushing. It looks like an ink blot up there. Blend it in, man!

You see that cat Coleman is a bad mother: After Coleman arrived with the Tigers, he became one of the best pitchers in the American League. He won 20 games twice and struck out 200 batters each year between 1971-73.

Shut your mouth: While in high school, Coleman attended a camp run by Ted Williams, who reportedly taught Coleman how to throw a curve ball. Years later, Williams was Coleman's manager with the Senators.

No one understands him but his woman: In 1978, Coleman was sold from the A's to the Blue Jays after A's owner Charlie Finley flipped out because Coleman gave up a home run (Finley was trying to get rid of Coleman anyway). A's manager Bobby Winkles resigned because Finley had just sold the A's best reliever.

(A word about the back): I'm trying to envision the state of frenzy that would occur today if a pitcher went 3-0 in his first three games with a complete game in each of them.

no. 389 - ed brinkman

Who is the man: Ed Brinkman spent the last of his 10 seasons with the Washington Senators in 1970. He was traded on Oct. 9, 1970 in the eight-player deal that sent Denny McLain to the Senators.

Can ya dig it: Brinkman is wearing a Senators jersey in this very photo. Topps thought it could fool ya by taking off Brinkman's cap.

Right on: Brinkman can barely contain the tobacco chaw in his mouth. I'm sure if my mother saw this photo, she would have never bought me my first packs of baseball cards.

You see that cat Brinkman is a bad mother: Brinkman established four single-season fielding records for shortstops when he won a Gold Glove with the Tigers in 1972: consecutive errorless games (72), consecutive errorless chances (331), fewest errors (7) and fielding percentage (.990).

Shut your mouth: When the Tigers clinched the AL East pennant in 1972, Brinkman said to a reporter live on local TV, "This is the best bunch of f---ng guys I ever played with."

No one understands him but his woman: Brinkman was activated as a member of the District of Columbia National Guard in 1968 to help halt riots in the city. He missed half the season that year.

(A word about the back): Notorious for his inability to hit, Brinkman's career batting average was at its peak on this card. He batted in the .260s in 1969 and 1970 and those were the only seasons in his 15-year career in which he batted above .240. Just two seasons prior, his career batting average was .206.

no. 367 - dalton jones

Who is the man: Dalton Jones had completed his first season with the Tigers when this card was issued. He played in 89 games as a utility infielder.

Can ya dig it: I have no idea who the man is walking in the background. Head groundskeeper maybe? That's an interesting crossing guard stripe on his jacket.

Right on: Love, love, love tractors on baseball cards.

You see that cat Jones is a bad mother: Jones tore up the 1967 World Series for Boston, batting .389 in 17 at-bats, which was the best batting average after Carl Yastrzemski in the Red Sox's lineup.

Shut your mouth: Jones ended his career with the Texas Rangers in 1972. The Rangers were a horrid 54-100 that year and Jones (.159) was one of 10 position players on the team to bat below .200.

No one understands him but his woman: After his career ended, Jones had trouble finding a job outside of baseball. He convinced the Expos to give him a minor league contract and batted just .208 in Triple A. That officially ended his career.

(A word about the back): Topps apparently didn't think the .220 batting average was horrifying enough and relayed the grand slam story for which Jones is famous. Jones passed runner Don Wert between first and second because Wert thought he had to go back to first to tag up on what turned out to be Jones' home run.

no. 336 - tigers

Who is the man: After six years of prosperity and a World Series title, the Tigers suffered their first losing season since 1963, going 79-83 in 1970. Manager Mayo Smith was shown the door after the season.

Can ya dig it: Those are some beautiful old style seats in the background. They look about as comfortable as cement steps.

Right on: Guys in suits don't belong in team photos.

You see that cat Smith is a bad mother: I believe Mayo Smith is seated in the middle of the first full row, which is the customary position for the manager in a team photo. Good to see he's protecting his crotch here.

Shut your mouth: Since the Tigers don't feature uniform numbers on the front of their jerseys, I'm going to forgo trying to identify anyone here. Eagle eyes are more than welcome to take a shot.

No one understands him but his woman: When Smith was fired, he surprisingly fumed about the Tigers fan base, saying, "The baseball fans in this town are ignorant. They couldn't tell a baseball player from a Japanese aviator. And that's a quote."

 
(A word about the back): The Tigers were setting one team pitching record per season at this point. In 1970 it was games pitched, in 1969 it was shutouts, and in 1968 it was strikeouts.

no. 316 - fred scherman

Who is the man: Fred Scherman had just enjoyed his first complete season in the major leagues when this card was issued. He appeared in 48 games, all in relief, in 1970.

Can ya dig it: Still not believing there's a ball in that glove.

Right on: Rookie card!

You see this cat Scherman is a bad mother: Scherman led the Tigers in saves with 20 and American League relief wins with 10 in 1971.

Shut your mouth: Scherman was a figure in the firing of Tigers manager Billy Martin in 1973. Martin ordered pitchers Joe Coleman and Scherman to throw spitballs in retaliation for the Indians' Gaylord Perry doing the same. Three days later, after it became known that Martin issued the order, the Tigers fired their manager.

No one understands him but his woman: Scherman surrendered Frank Robinson's 500th career home run.

(A word about the back): I missed posting on Scherman's 70th birthday by 10 days.