no. 751 - al weis

Who is the man: Al Weis appeared in 75 games for the Mets in 1970. It was enough to earn him a roster spot in 1971, but by the time this card was issued, he had been released by the Mets and his career was over.

Can ya dig it: Weis was chiefly a second baseman and shortstop. I'm not sure the "infield" listing is necessary.

Right on: This is the highest-numbered card I received in a trade for my first group of 1971s when I was a teenager. I recall sorting the cards on the floor -- as I often did -- and noting the Weis card was numbered so much higher than all the other cards I had (I had no clue how many cards were in the set at the time). This card became a point of pride for me for several years.

You see that cat Weis is a bad mother: One of the heroes of the Miracle Mets, the lifetime .219 hitter walloped the Orioles for five hits in 11 at-bats (.455) in the 1969 World Series.

Shut your mouth: When the Mets released Weis on July 1, 1971, manager Gil Hodges told him it was one of the toughest decisions he ever had to make.

No one understands him but his woman: Weis hit eight home runs in his career. Two of them came off of Orioles ace Dave McNally.

(A word about the back): After Weis hit the first of his two surprising home runs against the Cubs, he said: "I'm no home run hitter. I'm not even a hitter."

no. 725 - gary gentry

Who is the man: Gary Gentry endured a bit of a sophomore slump in 1970 with all of his numbers dipping from his rookie year in '69.

Can ya dig it: Two things: It's great to see the windbreaker under the uniform again. It classes up the joint. Also, Gentry signs his name like I do, before I got sloppy.

Right on: I regret to say that I think of Gentry as a mustachioed Atlanta Brave. That's from coming of baseball age during the 1975 season.

You see that cat Gentry is a bad mother: Gentry won Game 3 of the 1969 World Series as a rookie. He hit a two-run double in that game.

Shut your mouth: The Angels sought Gentry in a trade that would send Jim Fregosi to the Mets. But the Mets wouldn't bite. The Mets sent the Angels Nolan Ryan instead.

No one understands him but his woman: Gentry had a temper during his career and let it show during games. A native of Arizona, he once complained "New York is a dirty, dirty town. I can't leave soon enough when the year's out."

(A word about the back): Some weird capitalization in that write-up, especially "in 1969, he Shutout Cards." (Also, it's "shut out" when used as a verb).

no. 687 - ron taylor

Who is the man: Ron Taylor was in the middle of his fifth and final season with the New York Mets when this card was issued. He appeared in 57 games in 1970, saving 13.

Can ya dig it: Taylor was one of the older members of the '69 Miracle Mets and it looks that way in the photo. Even though he had to be just 32 when this picture was taken, he seems older.

Right on: Awesome signature, especially for someone who would later become a doctor.

You see that cat Taylor is a bad mother: Taylor played an important part in two World Series games that proved key for his team, the eventual champion. In 1964, Taylor threw four no-hit innings of relief against the Yankees to give St. Louis the Game 4 victory and tie the series 2-2. In 1969, Taylor saved Game 2 of the Series, allowing the Mets to tie the series 1-1 with the Orioles.

Shut your mouth: Taylor retired from the majors in 1972 and entered medical school, inspired by overseas USO trips he took with fellow ballplayers that included visiting recovering soldiers in U.S. hospitals in Vietnam. He attended the University of Toronto but only after being interviewed by the dean of student affairs who looked over his resume and noted Taylor had graduated with a degree in 1961. "What have you been doing the past 11 years?" he asked. Taylor said: "Playing major league baseball." The dean responded by saying, "What's that?"

No one understands him but his woman: Taylor is the only person to have won four World Series rings, two as a player and two as a team doctor. He was the Blue Jays' team doctor when they won the World Series in 1992 and 1993.

(A word about the back): Taylor is not the first Canadian to play for the Mets but he was one of the first. He was raised in Toronto.

no. 651 - jerry robertson

Who is the man: Jerry Robertson had already played his final major league game when this card appeared in packs. He was traded from the Tigers to the Mets in March of 1971 and spent the year pitching for Triple A Tidewater. So he never played an actual game for the Mets.

Can ya dig it: This is one of the more prominent airbrushed caps in the 1971 Topps set. For starters, it's color-coded. And it's very close up. We'll see more of this look as the set moves along.

Right on: I wonder if the guy behind Robertson can tell us what team Robertson is really playing for here? I suspect it's the Tigers, Robertson's 1970 team. The guy in the background looks like a Tiger.

You see that cat Robertson is a bad mother: Robertson pitched in the first Montreal Expos game, throwing 1 1/3 innings of relief in the Expos' 11-10 win over the Mets on April 8, 1969. Robertson would finish the season with the best earned-run average (3.96) of any regular Expos starting pitcher.

Shut your mouth: The Topeka Golden Giants, a summer collegiate league baseball team in Kansas in 2010, renamed their field after Robertson during a ceremony on June 2 of that year. Robertson, a native Kansan, died in a car accident in 1996.

No one understands him but his woman: After the season in the minors in 1971, Robertson left baseball to become the assistant executive director of the Topeka YMCA and then became the executive director. He later was the athletic director at Washburn University, his alma mater.

(A word about the back): The "Life" line displays Robertson's final career major league statistics.

no. 648 - mets rookie stars

Who is the man: Of the three players here, Jon Matlack was the only one who had not reached the majors by 1971. Both Rich Folkers and Ted Martinez played briefly with the Mets in 1970, spending the rest of the season in Triple A Tidewater. Matlack pitched the entire 1970 season at Tidewater.

Can ya dig it: Three Mets caps. I like it. No airbrushing. No hatless dudes. It's a rarity with the rookies stars cards in this set.

Right on: This is the fourth three-player team rookie card, which started relatively late in the set (No. 576). I'm interested to see which teams get one of these and which don't. So far the Cubs, Cardinals, Indians and Mets have one.

You these rookies are bad mothers: Nope. Talk to me in 1981 when Matlack has been in the league for a decade.

Shut your mouth: Matlack gave up Roberto Clemente's 3,000th hit and he wasn't too happy about it. He had no idea Clemente was nearing the record and he was more upset that he gave up the double. As they stopped the game to present Clemente the ball, Matlack fumed on the mound. "I was just an oblivious rookie," he admitted later.

No one understands him but his woman: Martinez, a native of the Dominican Republic, had difficulty overcoming the language barrier according to several reports. In Tug McGraw's book "Screwball," he recounted a time during Martinez's rookie year when McGraw motioned to Martinez, playing shortstop, that he was going to attempt to pick off the runner at second. Confused, Martinez cried out "no comprendo!" causing manager Gil Hodges to storm out of the dugout and yell at McGraw.

(A word about the back): Folkers' stats list just five games in the minors in 1970, and he appeared in just 16 games for the Mets. Folkers missed all of the 1969 because he was serving in the military. I'm wondering if he missed part of 1970 for the same reason.

no. 641 - mets

Who is the man: The Mets were not so miraculous in 1970, coming down from their World Series championship high in 1969 to finish third in the NL East.

Can ya dig it: I'm assuming this photo was taken outside since I see grass. The white background, though, makes it look like it's inside somewhere. Maybe they simply erected one of those white backdrops behind the team.

Right on: Trainers/clubhouse men bookend the bottom row.

You see that cat Hodges is a bad mother: Manager Gil Hodges is seated in the middle of the second row, fifth from the left.

Shut your mouth: Finally some visible numbers. They stuck the poor coaches on the ground. Yogi Berra is the third guy from the left in the first row. Rube Walker is the third guy from the right. I hope it didn't take them too long to get up afterward. In the second row, catcher Duffy Dyer is three guys from the right. In the third row, the first guy on the left is Tommie Agee and he has his hands on the shoulders of the player in front of him. I don't know who that is, but I think the guy next to him is infielder Al Weis. In the top row, Tom Seaver is third from the left. Ron Swoboda is standing next to Seaver and Jerry Koosman is next to Swoboda.

No one understands him but his woman: I think the player to the left of Seaver is Donn Clendenon even though Clendenon wore No. 22 and the number here appears to be 28, which isn't listed on the 1970 Mets roster. I don't know who else it could be (Ken Singleton wore No. 29 and was the tallest guy on the Mets --6-4 -- but the guy next to Koosman looks more like Singleton).

(A word about the back): Tenth, tenth, tenth, tenth, ninth, tenth, ninth, FIRST.

no. 618 - tug mcgraw

Who is the man: Tug McGraw was coming off the most active season to date in what was then a five-year major league career. He appeared in a then-career high 57 games in 1970, all in relief. He was about to enter two of his most productive seasons for the Mets, in 1971 and 1972.

Can ya dig it: McGraw's signature is "Frank McGraw". Fantastic.

Right on: I grew up with McGraw as a long-haired Phillies pitcher. It took me awhile to discover this particular version of McGraw.

You see that cat McGraw is a bad mother: There aren't many players who can take credit for spurring a team to a championship with a single coined phrase, but that's what McGraw and his "Ya Gotta Believe" saying did for the 1973 Mets according to baseball lore.

Shut your mouth: Early in his career McGraw was asked whether he preferred natural grass or Astroturf, and McGraw responded with "I don't know. I never smoked Astroturf."

No one understands him but his woman: McGraw's famous son, country singer Tim McGraw, was born out of a relationship between Tug and Betty D'Agostino, who McGraw met when he was pitching for Triple A Jacksonville in 1966. He had three other children with wives Phyllis and Diane.

(A word about the back): The bio write-up reads like McGraw just made the major leagues the day before this card was created. Thirty-three words on his high school career. Sheesh.

no. 596 - mike jorgensen

Who is the man: Mike Jorgensen was coming off his first season entirely in major league baseball when this card was issued. He appeared in 76 games for the Mets in 1970. But his .195 average meant he'd spend part of 1971 in the minors.

Can ya dig it: The card is way off-center, but dig that Mets shoulder patch.

Right on: Wish I knew who was signing autographs in the background.

You see that Jorgensen is a bad mother: Jorgensen won the first Gold Glove for the Montreal Expos as a first baseman in 1973.

Shut your mouth: During a game against the Expos in 1980, Montreal pitcher Bill Gullickson threw a pitch near Jorgensen's head. Jorgensen angrily gestured at Gullickson and then Mets catcher John Stearns charged from the dugout and tackled Gullickson, starting a brawl.

No one understands him but his woman: Jorgensen was the only non-Dodger to win a Gold Glove at first base between 1967-77. Wes Parker won Gold Gloves from 67-72 and Steve Garvey won from 74-77.

(A word about the back): You can see that Jorgensen's home at the time was Bayside, which is in Queens. He lived with his parents when he played for the Mets then.

no. 573 - ed kranepool

Who is the man: Ed Kranepool was coming off a difficult season when this card was issued. After batting a mere .118 the first two months, the veteran Kranepool was demoted to Triple A. When he returned in August, he didn't play much and finished the year batting .170.

Can ya dig it: I always enjoy the old-fashioned grandstand in the picture.

Right on: Kranepool was my grandfather's favorite New York Met.

You see that cat Kranepool is a bad mother: Kranepool remains the Mets' all-time leader in games played with 1,853. David Wright is a little under 300 games behind him at 1,583.

Shut your mouth: Kranepool appeared on Gillette Foamy commercials on New York television when I was a kid watching Mets games. I remember him shaving in the dugout during the commercial because it supposedly improved his hitting.

No one understands him but his woman: Kranepool said he was the only Mets player invited to the funeral of Mets owner Joan Payson when she died in 1975. The team came apart after her death as it fell into the hands of club chairman M. Donald Grant, known for trading Tom Seaver.

(A word about the back): The series of extra-inning games referred to in the bio write-up was basically the start of Kranepool remaining in the major leagues for good (except for that demotion in 1970). The 23-inning game ended at 11:20 p.m., prompting Kranepool to quip that he wished the game had lasted 40 more minutes, so he could say he played a game that started in May and ended in June.

no. 527 - cleon jones

Who is the man: Cleon Jones had one heck of a beginning and ending to his 1970 season. He struggled so mightily at the start that he was hitting .167 at the end of May. But he ended the season with a 23-game hitting streak, a record for the Mets at the time.

Can ya dig it: I've said this before, but Jones ages very quickly on his cards. This is the first card in which he appears visibly older than his earlier cards.

Right on: Probably should get a version of this card with a bottom border.

You see that cat Jones is a bad mother: Jones was the Miracle Mets' hitting star, batting a blazing .340 in 1969 and blasting the Braves in the NLCS with a .429 average.

Shut your mouth: Jones' Mets career ended in 1975 after a dugout shouting match with manager Yogi Berra. Jones was unhappy that he was pulled for pinch-hitter Ed Kranepool and refused to go back out on the field, instead storming off to the clubhouse. Berra was so upset over the incident that he told management, it was "him or me." The Mets tried to trade Jones but didn't succeed and he was released. Berra was fired two weeks later.

No one understands him but his woman: Jones was charged earlier in '75 for indecent exposure as police said he was found nude in a vehicle with a 21-year-old woman,  who was also charged with indecent exposure and narcotics possession. In an odd press conference after the charges were dropped, Jones appeared at press conference with his wife, Angela, while Mets chairman M. Donald Grant ripped Jones for soiling the Mets' image of "having clean ballplayers." By the way, I'm finding out for the first time that the 21-year-old unemployed waitress was from Johnson City, N.Y., which is the next town over from where I grew up. That was probably big news in the Binghamton Press at the time. I wouldn't know. I was 9 years old.

(A word about the back): The write-up is in error. Jones hit .429 in the 1969 NLCS. He hit .159 in the World Series, but did catch the final out.

no. 513 - nolan ryan

Who is the man: Nolan Ryan was entering his final season with the New York Mets when this card was issued. He made some modest gains in the 1970 season, starting in what was then a career-high 19 games.

Can ya dig it: What a fantastic card. I could stare at it for hours. For my money it's the best Ryan card ever made, I don't care what this says. I've often wondered whether there was any intent behind the Royal Crown Cola banner being featured so prominently behind Ryan.

Right on: I'm very pleased that I managed to trade for this card as a teenager. No cents were spent on this rather pricey item.

You see that cat Ryan is a bad mother: I'll take the easy way out and say there ain't nothing more bad-ass than leading the entire world in career strikeouts.

Shut your mouth: Enjoy this action shot. It's one of the last ones in the entire set.

No one understands him but his woman: After the 1971 season, Ryan reportedly told his wife he was considering retiring because the results weren't there. There are conflicting reports on whether Ryan said he would retire if the Mets didn't trade him or whether he was simply considering retiring.

(A word about the back): Has one player done so much for putting a town on the map like Ryan has with Alvin, Texas?

no. 492 - ken boswell

Who is the man: Ken Boswell had completed his second season as the Mets' primary second baseman when this card was issued. He appeared in 105 games, with switch-hitter Al Weis playing at second in most of the Mets' other games.

Can ya dig it: Ken Boswell is retiring the Cardinals' Vic Davalillo in this photo.

Right on: This photo appears to be taken from the same game as the photo on this card. Same teams and pretty much the same angle.

You see that cat Boswell is a bad mother: Boswell slammed a pair of two-run home runs during the 1969 NLCS against the Braves. He hit .333 in that series, helping the Mets to the sweep.

Shut your mouth: Boswell admitted in the Stanley Cohen book "One Magic Summer" that he couldn't focus at the plate when there wasn't anything on the line. "I bet I never got a hit with two out and nobody on. I just couldn't concentrate in those situations. I liked to hit when there were men on base and it meant something."

No one understands him but his woman: Boswell was one of the few bachelors on the '69 Mets team. He said New York women would come on to him, offering to cook him spaghetti. "They'd have a better chance if they fixed spare ribs and chicken," he said in the New York Times.

(A word about the back): Now you know why Topps showed Boswell fielding. Notorious for being a good-hit, no-field player, Boswell erased that reputation by setting the NL errorless mark in 1970. That record is now at 141 games and held by former Cub Darwin Barney.

no. 469 - bob aspromonte

Who is the man: Bob Aspromonte played in just 62 games for the Braves in 1970, batting .213. After the season he was traded to the Mets for pitcher Ron Herbel.

Can ya dig it: Aspromonte appears to be trying very hard to see the blacked-out logo on his helmet. I'm assuming it's a blacked-out Braves logo, as Aspromonte is wearing a Braves helmet on his previous two Topps cards.

Right on: It is totally cool that Aspromonte spent most of his career with the Astros, and I know everyone agrees because he became known as "Aspro the Astro."

You see that cat Aspromonte is a bad mother: Aspromonte supplied the first hit and the first run in the history of the Houston franchise in 1962, when they were known as the Colt .45s.

Shut your mouth: Aspromonte is part of a famous story about a young boy who was blinded by a lightning strike during a Little League game. Aspromonte was the boy's favorite player and Aspromonte visited the boy in the hospital. The boy asked Aspromonte, who was not a home run hitter, to hit a home run for him. Aspromonte hit a home run that night. A year later, the boy returned to Houston for a second round of eye surgeries. Aspromonte visited him and the boy asked his favorite player to hit another home run. The boy was there at the game to see that home run. Six weeks later, the boy came back again for a third and final set of surgeries and asked again for an Aspromonte home run. Wouldn't you know, Aspromonte hit a home run that game, too -- a grand slam.

No one understands him but his woman: Aspromonte was the last Brooklyn Dodger to retire. He managed one at-bat for Brooklyn in 1956.

(A word about the back): Aspromonte's pinch-hit home run in 1969 came on the last day of the regular season. He was pinch-hitting for the pitcher Mike McQueen in the third inning, even though McQueen had given up just one run.

no. 445 - art shamsky

Who is the man: Art Shamsky had completed his final season as a full-time player when this card was issued. He appeared in a career-high 122 games in 1970 and set highs in a number of other categories.

Can ya dig it: I've always been intrigued by this photo. I'm guessing that it's a game against the Houston Astros, particularly since another card, taken in a similar fashion and from a similar angle, shows an Astros batter and a Mets catcher.

Right on: I'm also interested in what Shamsky is doing. As a left-handed batter myself, I know all about lefties' love for pitches low and over the plate. This pitch appears to be quite high, and inside. I have no idea why Shamsky is thinking about swinging.

You see that cat Shamsky is a bad mother: Shamsky hit four consecutive home runs over the span of two games and didn't start either game. He is the only major leaguer to do that.

Shut your mouth: Shamsky worked as a color broadcaster for the Mets in the early 1980s.

No one understands him but his woman: Shamsky was a well-loved Mets player. He played on the 1969 Miracle Mets and the fact that he was Jewish made him a big favorite among the city's large Jewish community. But all hell broke loose in 2009 when his second wife, Kim, sued him, charging him with unfaithfulness and revealing all kinds of sordid details (the New York Post was in heaven). The case was settled out of court.

(A word about the back): The bio recounts Shamsky's first three home runs in his four-homer feat. The fourth straight home run came on Aug. 14.

By the way, the game that is mentioned in the bio? Shamsky's team lost, 14-11 in 13 innings.

no. 428 - jim mc andrew

Who is the man: Jim McAndrew was coming off the most prolific season of his seven-year major league career, appearing in 32 games in 1970 and pitching in 184 innings.

Can ya dig it: This is an early favorite of mine from the '71 set. I acquired it in those early bunch of cards I landed in a trade as a youngster and I couldn't have been more thrilled with this card, even though I had no idea who he was.

Right on: The crowd makes the shot. It looks like a well-attended game.

You see that cat McAndrew is a bad mother: McAndrew began the 1972 season with a 9-3 mark for the Mets.

Shut your mouth: McAndrew lost the first four starts of his career because the Mets were shut out in each game. The scores of those games were 2-0, 2-0, 1-0 and 1-0. He began his career with an 0-4 mark and a 1.82 ERA.

No one understands him but his woman: McAndrew pitched in 146 games for the Mets between 1968 and 1973 but didn't appear in a single inning in the Mets' postseason appearances in 1969 and 1973.

(A word about the back): "Co-holder of Mets' club mark with 23 consecutive scoreless innings, August 1969, Jim is a veteran of Little League ball." ... Those two things have nothing to do with each other.

no. 406 - ray sadecki

Who is the man: Ray Sadecki had just completed his first season with the Mets after coming over in a trade with the Giants in December, 1969.

Can ya dig it: That is a terrific action shot for the first year in which individual players' cards featured action photos. Fantastic.

Right on: It's a little eerie how you can't see any players besides Sadecki, the catcher (who I believe is Duffy Dyer), and the umpire. No batter, nobody in the infield or outfield.

You see that cat Sadecki is a bad mother: As a 23-year-old, Sadecki won 20 games and the first game of the 1964 World Series against Whitey Ford.

Shut your mouth: Sadecki struggled during the 1962 season and during a June 5 game with the Cardinals, he came in for the sixth inning and proceeded to give up five runs on three hits, make two errors and get no one out. Afterward, manager Johnny Keane said it was the "poorest exhibition of effort I've ever seen on a major league diamond" and fined him $250. Sadecki showed up late the following day and was suspended by the general manager.

No one understands him but his woman: Thanks to that incident and an easy-going style on the field, Sadecki received a reputation as a slacker that he didn't really shake until he played for the Mets and helped them to the 1973 World Series.

(A word about the back): Sadecki skipped college ball to sign with the Cardinals. He not only received the $50,000, but $18,000 more over the next three years.

no. 355 - bud harrelson

Who is the man: The man is the guy applying the tag on the left, none other than Derrel McKinley "Bud" Harrelson. He played in a career-high 157 games in 1970.

Can ya dig it: This card is known less for being Harrelson's card and more for Nolan Ryan editorializing at right, giving the out call before the ump has made his decision. (This writer says the Astros runner is Jim Wynn and that he was actually safe).

Right on: The second baseman backing up the play is Ken Boswell.

You see this cat Harrelson is a bad mother: Well, other than appearing on one of the more memorable cards in the 1971 Topps set, Harrelson famously fought Pete Rose during the 1973 NLCS.

Shut your mouth: The dust-up between Rose and Harrelson was initiated when the Reds took offense to Harrelson's remark about how the Reds batted in the Mets' 9-2 victory in Game 2 of the NLCS. Harrelson said of the Reds: "They looked like me hitting." That caused Joe Morgan to threaten to punch out Harrelson during pregame warm-ups and then tell him that Rose would try to take him out at second base if he had a chance.

Baseball is so weird.

No one understands him but his woman: Harrelson is the only Met to be in uniform for their two World Series titles in 1969 and 1986. He was the third base coach in 1986.

(A word about the back): This nicely-ripped back mentions Harrelson's 54-game errorless streak, which has since been broken several times and has now been doubled. Mike Bordick holds the mark at 110 straight games.

no. 335 - jerry koosman

What a card: Jerry Koosman had completed his third full season with the Mets when this card arrived in packs. It wasn't as flashy as his first two seasons (all-star rookie, World Series-winning pitcher) as he endured injuries that would follow him for the next couple of seasons.

Can ya dig it: This might be my only card in the set that is suffering from border loss. I've had a heck of a time with condition and this card. The Koosman card before this one looked like someone had balled it up in his pants pocket.

Right on: Koosman looks thrilled.

You see this cat Koosman is a bad mother: Koosman pitched a complete-game victory in the clinching game of the 1969 Miracle Mets' World Series. The pinnacle of baddom right there.

Shut your mouth: Mets teammate Ron Swoboda remembers Koosman as a tough pitcher. "Jerry Koosman threw a 90-plus fastball, and when he hit you, you stayed hit ... And Koosie would hit ya."

No one understands him but his woman: Koosman is the last pitcher to lose 20 games the year after he won 20 games. It happened in 1976 and 1977.

(A word about the back): As a kid, I would have loved to have been born on Dec. 23rd. As a youngster, I always considered that the dullest day of the year.

no. 310 - tommie agee

Who is the man: An appropriate question. In this photo, "the man" is second from the left, sliding into second base. There's a lot going on in this photo.

Can ya dig it: One of the classics of the 1971 set, I've owned this card for a long time and it's always been a favorite.

Right on: With a minimal amount of research, I settled on May 30, 1970 as when this play likely occurred. In that game at Shea Stadium, Tommie Agee stole second base twice, once in the first and once in the sixth. It could be either play. The fielders match up because in that game, the Houston second baseman was Joe Morgan, shown at right, and the shortstop was Denis Menke, who is No. 11, second from right. The clincher for me is that Nolan Ryan was the Mets pitcher that day, and he is featured on another action card in the '71 set that I believe is from the same game. I know I'm making a few assumptions to arrive at this game, but it's not like there's any grant money riding on this. The only thing in the photo that gives me pause is that the umpire (who would be Ken Burkhart if this is the right game) looks like he's making an out call, or preparing to make one. However, it also looks like it's a wild throw, which would indicate Agee was safe.

You see this cat Agee is a bad mother: Agee went down in history as a star for the 1969 Miracle Mets with his performance in Game 3 of the World Series that year. He hit a home run in the first inning. Then he made two standout catches in center field with runners on base to preserve the Mets' win. He made a running backhand, sno-cone catch off Ellie Hendricks with runners on first and third, and later made a diving catch on the warning track on a drive by Paul Blair with the bases loaded.

Shut your mouth: Mets outfielders disliked Shea Stadium because of the swirling winds and poor visibility. "I hated it," said former Met Cleon Jones. "Every guy before me hated it. But Tommie never complained."

No one understands him but his woman: Agee was dealt to the Dodgers after the 1973 season and is featured with the Dodgers in the 1974 Topps Traded set. But he never played a regular season game for Los Angeles, getting released before the season began. He finished his career one hit short of 1,000.

(A word about the back): This is the first Mets floating head. Out of 25 floating heads so far, 18 have been either Reds or Phillies.

no. 278 - jerry grote

Who is the man: Jerry Grote was entering his sixth season as the Mets' regular catcher as this card hit packs. He batted .255 in 1970, but he was really in there for his defense.

Can ya dig it: This has to be one of the few times that this image has appeared on a baseball card. It's not exactly flattering to the card subject. Grote appears to have popped up and has cast his bat aside in disgust as he dutifully runs it out.

Right on: I believe the Cardinal in the dugout is coach Dick Sisler, who wore No. 5 for St. Louis in 1970.

You see this cat Grote is a bad mother: All you need to know is Johnny Bench thought he'd be playing third base for a living if he and Grote played on the same team.

Shut your mouth: Grote was involved in a flap with home plate umpire Bruce Froemming in 1974. The Mets thought umpires were pocketing baseballs when they rubbed them up before the game and it was reported in the local paper. Froemming then delivered five dozen baseballs to the Mets with a note that said "count them." During that game, a pitch from the Mets' Harry Parker got by Grote and hit Froemming. Froemming accused Grote of letting it past him on purpose. Grote said he was crossed up and also "all I consider is where the accusations come from. That article about the missing baseballs must have really hit home."

No one understands him but his woman: Grote retired in 1979 to spend more time with his family. But his wife filed for divorce and Grote returned to the majors in 1981.

 

(A word about the back): I would assume that one of the people who shares the catching mark with Grote is Hal King, who also caught 24 innings without an error for the Astros in that game. Houston won 1-0.