no. 712: jose martinez

Who is the man: Jose Martinez played in the final 19 games of his major league career in 1970.

Can ya dig it: Don't you think the two guys behind Martinez should be facing him? He's the star of the show here!

Right on: This is the second of just two Topps cards of Martinez. The other is in the 1970 Topps set. That card was No. 8, while this is No. 712. It makes me wonder if this is the widest disparity between card numbers for someone who had just two Topps cards.

You see that cat Martinez is a bad mother: Martinez reached the majors after nine years in the minor leagues. He hit .268 as a bench player for the Pirates in 1969.

Shut your mouth: Royals general manager Dayton Moore remembered Martinez fondly after his death in 2014. Moore said during spring training when both Martinez and Moore were with the Braves, Martinez would cook fish late at night and tell stories.

No one understands him but his woman: Martinez worked for 20 years as a special assistant to the general manager with Atlanta. He'd work with getting foreign-born minor leagues acclimated to baseball in the U.S.

(A word about the back): That's interesting. Martinez played third, second and shortstop in 1970, so three different gloves then.

no. 690 - bob moose

Who is the man: Bob Moose became a full-fledged member of the Pirates' starting rotation in 1970. In and out of the bullpen prior to this, Moose made starts in 27 of his 28 appearances.

Can ya dig it: One of my best-conditioned high-numbered cards in this set. Just beautiful.

Right on: How tremendous is it to have your own built-in nickname? Nobody had to deem Bob Moose "Moose" like with Mussina or Moustakas. His name was already Moose!

You see that cat Moose is a bad mother: Moose no-hit the soon-to-be Miracle Mets in late September of 1969.

Shut your mouth: Moose died on his 29th birthday. He was driving to a golf course owned by teammate Bill Mazeroski where they were going to celebrate his birthday. But Moose crashed into another car on a winding road. I didn't know until researching this that there were two women in Moose's car when he crashed. He had given them a ride after their car broke down. They were unhurt.

No one understands him but his woman: Moose's most memorable on-field moment is probably the wild pitch he threw that allowed the Reds to score the winning run and clinch the 1972 NLCS.

(My observation on the back): Gee whiz, bio writer, Moose actually did throw a no-hitter another time. Maybe mention that?

no. 630 - roberto clemente

Who is the man: Roberto Clemente struggled with a wrist injury and continued back problems in 1970, limiting him to 108 games. But he led the National League in batting right up until September until his back restricted his playing time.

Can ya dig it: Clemente's signature is a piece of art.

Right on: This is the last card I needed to complete this set. I didn't receive it until after I started the blog, but I was confident I'd land it before 629 cards had passed. I was fortunate that Captain Canuck sent me this copy.

You see that Clemente is a bad mother: One of the most revered ballplayers of all-time. The demand for Major League Baseball to retire his number 21 remains strong and that doesn't happen without being a bad-ass.

Shut your mouth: Clemente says he was kidnapped while on a road trip with the Pirates in San Diego during the 1969 season. Four men forced him into a car at gunpoint, stole his wallet and All-Star ring and Clemente feared he would die. The men eventually returned Clemente's items and brought him back to his hotel. He didn't discuss the incident publicly for more than a year. And it's the first time I've heard about it.

No one understands him but his woman: Topps, after calling Clemente by his proper first name in his first two cards (1955 and 1956), inexplicably starting referring to him as "Bob" in the 1957 set and didn't stop with that nonsense until he was back to "Roberto" in the 1970 set.

(A word about the back): Clemente is one of only two players to compete post-1950 to finish in the top 30 all-time in triples (166). The other is Stan Musial (177).

no. 603 - pirates

Who is the man: The Pittsburgh Pirates won their first division title since 1960 when they took the NL East by five games over the Cubs in 1970. Pittsburgh was then swept by the Reds in the NLCS. But the Pirates would have the last laugh in 1971.

Can ya dig it: This was an organization on the cusp of their greatest decade since the 1920s. It's cool to see them at the beginning.

Right on: Just in case you didn't know who the bat boy was, he's seated in the front wearing three bats.

You see that cat Murtaugh is a bad mother: Pirates manager Danny Murtaugh is seated directly above the bat boy.

Shut your mouth: I was practically giddy because this team photo is the first to feature players with jersey numbers on the front in a long time. But then I found the same team photo with ID's underneath, so it's very easy to spot everyone. Roberto Clemente is the first guy seated on the left in the front row. Bill Mazeroski is at the opposite end of that row. Manny Sanguillen is two people to the left of Mazeroski. Al Oliver is the first player on the left in the middle row. Steve Blass is standing near the center of the back row between two large pitchers, Bob Veale on the left and Dock Ellis on the right. Finally, Willie Stargell is the second guy in from the right in the back row.

No one understands him but his woman: The traveling secretary never gets IDed. Let's get him in here. He's John Fitzpatrick and he's standing at the far right of the middle row next to pitcher Luke Walker.

(A word about the back): A little surprisingly (although not that much if you really look at the numbers), almost all of the Pirates' individual all-time season marks remain intact on this card. The only more recent player to crack the list is Kent Tekulve, who now holds the Pirates mark for most games pitched in a season with 94 in 1979.

no. 582 - dave cash

Who is the man: Dave Cash played about two-thirds of the 1970 season with the Pirates and a third with Triple A Columbus. His 64 games in the majors was good enough for Topps rookie honors at second base.

Can ya dig it: What a great card. Dave Cash looks absolutely committed to knocking the little baseball player off the trophy.

Right on: This is Cash's first solo card. He appears on a 1970 rookie stars card with Johnny Jeter.

You see that Cash is a bad mother: Cash played the heck out of the game between 1974-76, appearing in 162 games in '74 and '75 and 160 in '76. He averaged 684 at-bats and 203 hits in the span.

Shut your mouth: Cash came up with a slogan, "Yes We Can," when he arrived with Philadelphia in 1974, writing it on T-shirts for his teammates. He also appeared on a song called "Phillies Fever," in which Cash, Garry Maddox, Larry Bowa, Greg Luzinski and Mike Schmidt talk over a funkified, '70s beat.

No one understands him but his woman: Cash left his first managing job, with the Batavia Clippers, in mid-season in 1990 after his wife had a run-in with the team's mascot. His wife had missed a Batavia home run because Chipper the Clipper was in front of her. When she asked the mascot to move, the large blue bird shook its butt at her, causing her to complain to the GM, and an argument ensued.

(A word about the back): This is the ninth Topps rookie all-star we've come across in the set. By my count we're missing an outfielder and that's it.

no. 562 - dave giusti

Who is the man: Dave Giusti was in the middle of his second season with the Pirates when this card was issued. His first season was a smashing success. Converted to a reliever, he saved 26 games in 1970.

Can ya dig it: The mind reels over who the Pirates in the dugout might be. Sanguillen? Stargell? Clemente?

Right on: Whoever those guys are, I think one of their moms should show up and tell him to sit up straight.

You see that cat Giusti is a bad mother: Giusti led the league in saves with 30 in 1971 and got the save in Game 4 of the World Series that year. Between 1970-74, he finished in the top 10 in Cy Young Award voting three times.

Shut your mouth: Giusti was passed over for an All-Star berth by Reds manager Sparky Anderson in 1971. Anderson instead picked his team's reliever, Clay Carroll, saying, "My guys got me the job of managing All-Stars. Clay was one of them."

No one understands him but his woman: Giusti's wife, Virginia, said Dave's first word was "ball". Someone must have relayed that to her, as I don't think his wife was around when he was a year old.

(A word about the back): Giusti's Astros RBI mark lasted for 23 years. In that game, he also pitched a complete-game shutout.

no. 534 - luke walker

Who is the man: Luke Walker was at the peak of his career when this card was issued. He won 15 games for the NL East-winning Pirates. He finished third in the league in ERA (3.04).

Can ya dig it: Not an attractive card. Walker is wearing his cap so high he appears to have a 3-foot tall head. And that jacket collar tucked into the uniform jersey look is fairly hideous.

Right on: Lots of neutral space for Walker's signature at least.

You see that cat Walker is a bad mother: Walker gave up just six home runs in 163 innings pitched in 1970, which was the best in the National League.

Shut your mouth: Elated over his 1970 season, Walker was quoted in spring training the next year that he could potentially win 25 games in 1971. "Why 20 victories?" he said. "I think I can win 25 games." Walker would win 10 games that year. And 26 for the rest of his career.

No one understands him but his woman: Walker threw the first pitch in a night World Series game. That was in Game 4 of the '71 World Series. But the atmosphere didn't suit him. He opened the game by giving up three straight singles to load the bases, then watched a run score on a passed ball. After an intentional walk, he gave up back-to-back sacrifice flies and was pulled from the game.

(A word about the back): Walker's 2.03 ERA in 1968 came almost exclusively in relief. He started just 2 of 39 games and saved three games.

no. 509 - jim grant

Who is the man: Jim "Mudcat" Grant enjoyed his most productive season as a relief pitcher in 1970. He appeared in 80 games (no starts), saved 24, and recorded a 1.82 ERA.

Can ya dig it: Thanks to good timing, Topps was able to sneak in a card of Grant as a Pittsburgh Pirate. He was dealt from Oakland to Pittsburgh in mid-September 1970. Then, in August 1971, the A's purchased Grant back from the Pirates.

Right on: This was part of the first '71s I traded for in a deal with a friend (this is an upgraded version). I didn't fully appreciate Grant's mutton chops at the time.

You see that cat Grant is a bad mother: Grant pitched two victories in the 1965 World Series for the Twins -- both complete-game victories -- and in one of the games, he hit a three-run home run.

Shut your mouth: Grant wrote a book in 2005 called "12 Black Aces," which covered the 12 black pitchers who had won 20 games in a season at that time (they are: Grant, Vida Blue, Al Downing, Bob Gibson, Dwight Gooden, Fergie Jenkins, Sam Jones, Don Newcombe, Mike Norris, J.R. Richard, Dave Stewart and Earl Wilson). The group organized formally, partly in a bid to help develop more African-American players.

No one understands him but his woman: Grant received his nickname in an Indians tryout camp. A fellow camper and future minor leaguer, Leroy Bartow Irby, decided Grant was from Mississippi (he was actually born in Florida) and decided to call him "mudcat."

 (A word about the back): That is one righteous stat line for 1970.

no. 480 - manny sanguillen

Who is the man: Manny Sanguillen was coming off a season in which he finished third in the National League with a .325 batting average. But he was overshadowed by fellow NL catcher Johnny Bench, who had an MVP season in 1970.

Can ya dig it: A one-of-a-kind photo with this card. I don't know what Sanguillen is doing, but it seem like he's taking dinner orders for the entire stadium.

Right on: Love the double-hat look. That's a '70s/'80s staple.

You see that cat Sanguillen is a bad mother: Sanguillen hit .379 in the Pirates' victory in the 1971 World Series. He produced 11 hits and also caught every inning of all seven games.

Shut your mouth: Sanguillen's name was pronounced "San-GHEE-yen" when he played, but the Spanish pronunciation is actually "Sangee-YEN." The accent is over the "e" in his name.

No one understands him but his woman: Sanguillen was a very enthusiastic player, who swung at almost everything. He was sometimes accused of being a "hot dog" for the way he played.

(A word about the back): Sanguillen started his pro career in the New York-Penn League in Batavia, N.Y., a town I know very well. He's talked about not being able to speak English and trying to order in a Batavia restaurant. I'm dying to know which restaurant it is because I'll bet I've been in it.

no. 437 - danny murtaugh

Who is the man: Danny Murtaugh was entering what would be his second World Championship season when this card was issued. As an appetizer, he had led the Pirates to the NL East title in 1970.

Can ya dig it: I like how managers can just stand there in the dugout and that's good enough for a photo for a baseball card.

Right on: This photo was used again on Murtaugh's 1974 Topps card.

You see that cat Murtaugh is a bad mother: Murtaugh managed the Pirates to World Series titles in 1960 and 1971.

Shut your mouth: After Bill Mazeroski blasted the Pirates to the Series with his Game 7 walk-off home run in 1960, Murtaugh's wife, Kate, said he had never seen his husband so happy. Murtaugh said to her, "If you had been standing on one side of me and Bill Mazeroski on the other side and somebody said I had to kiss one or the other, it wouldn't have been you."

No one understands him but his woman: Murtaugh left the Pirates managing job only to return again three times.

(A word about the back): I may have mentioned this before, but "first game in majors" here applies to his managing career. Murtaugh played nine years in the big leagues, starting in 1941 and ending in 1951.

no. 416 - gene alley

Who is the man: Gene Alley produced another rather unspectacular season in 1970, batting .244 in 121 games with mediocre numbers in every category. But he was in there for his glove, you know.

Can ya dig it: Apparently, Alley has spotted a bird with a freakishly large wingspan.

Right on: Alley's eyes are bluer than the word "shortstop" on this card.

You see that cat Alley is a bad mother: The two-time Gold Glove winner helped the Pirates turn 215 double plays in 1966, a National League record that still stands.

Shut your mouth: Sometimes second baseman Bill Mazeroski would field a ball and flip it to Alley at shortstop instead of throwing to first because he knew Alley's arm was better. Alley would then rifle it to first for the out, causing teammate Jose Pagan to say, "They can make double plays with nobody on!"

No one understands him but his woman: Alley went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts as the starting shortstop in the All-Star Game in 1967. That might be something you never see again. Players aren't allowed to even come to the plate five times in an All-Star Game anymore.

(A word about the back): "A veteran of Pony League and American Legion ball" ... whoop-di-doo. I'm a veteran of swimming classes at the Y. I don't want to see it on my list of accomplishments.

no. 388 - al oliver

Who is the man: Al Oliver received an abundance of playing time in 1970 after finishing second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting in 1969. He played in 151 games for the Pirates.

Can ya dig it: Oliver is listed as a first baseman first and he basically split time between first and the outfield in 1970. His early cards show both positions until 1976 when he's listed exclusively as an outfielder all the way to 1983, when it reverts to first base again.

Right on: Oliver always looks tough on his cards. Always.

You see that cat Oliver is a bad mother: Oliver was part of five Pirates division champion teams between 1970-75. The only other players to compete on all of those teams were Willie Stargell, Manny Sanguillen, Richie Hebner and Bob Robertson.

Shut your mouth: Oliver is on record as saying that owners' collusion in the mid-1980s prevented him from reaching 3,000 hits. (Oliver retired at age 38 in 1985 with 2,743 hits). In a 1992 story in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, he recalled watching teammate Roberto Clemente reach 3,000 hits. "We were close friends and it was such a great accomplishment. But I will never forget saying to myself that some day, I would do that. I knew that barring physical injury I would reach that same point. I knew that because of the way I conditioned myself mentally and physically. I said the only thing that could stop me from playing a long time was the system. Unfortunately, it turned out I was right."

No one understands him but his woman: Oliver's first wife, Donna, was black, but because of her light skin tone, Oliver received hate mail from people who thought they had a mixed-race marriage.

(A word about the back): The first time Oliver would receive a card number ending in a "5" or a "0" would be the following year as card #575 in the 1972 Topps set. He would get a hero number for most of the rest of his career, except in 1974 and 1979.

no. 368 - bob veale

Who is the man: Bob Veale pitched what would be his last season as a starter in 1970. He was placed in the bullpen for the 1971 season after eight full years of starting.

Can ya dig it: Those dad glasses just don't look right on Veale. I'm used to his horned-rim and goggles look from the '60s.

Right on: I see that style of Pirates cap and Dock Ellis comes to mind instantly.

You see that cat Veale is a bad mother: Veale led the National League in strikeouts in 1964, throwing five more than Bob Gibson (245), 13 more than Don Drysdale (237) and 27 more than Sandy Koufax (223).

Shut your mouth: Veale could throw hard and was intimidating on the mound, but he didn't try to knock people down. Former teammate Gene Clines called him a "gentle giant." When the Pirates placed Veale on waivers in 1972, manager Bill Virdon said, "It wasn't an easy thing to do. Everybody liked Bob."

No one understands him but his woman: Veale grew up with 13 brothers and sisters. He didn't marry until his late 30s because he was waiting until he was done helping all of his siblings attend college.

(A word about the back): The game in which he struck out 16 batters came against the Phillies. He threw a five-hit shutout even though the game was interrupted twice by rain.

no. 365 - bob johnson

Who is the man: Bob Johnson pitched as a rookie during the 1970 season for the Kansas City Royals, striking out 206 in 214 innings. He impressing the Pirates enough that they traded for him in December of 1970.

Can ya dig it: Pretty sure Johnson is wearing a Royals uniform in this photo. In fact, it's probably from the same session as the photo on this card. This particular picture is cropped so tightly that he can barely squeeze in his signature.

Right on: I'm sure if I was a kid collecting in 1971, this card would have freaked me right out. Me and my friends would have been trying to pass it off on each other.

You see that cat Johnson is a bad mother: Johnson's ability allowed the Royals to acquire outfielder Amos Otis (in a deal with the Mets that set Johnson and Otis to the Royals for Joe Foy) and shortstop Freddie Patek (in the deal with the Pirates).

Shut your mouth: Johnson suffered from a drinking problem during his career. It led to him being waived by the Indians in 1974 after he had several incidents during team flights in which he hassled airline personnel.

No one understands him but his woman: Johnson was a last-minute replacement for Nelson Briles as a starter in Game 3 of the 1971 NLCS. After Briles bowed out with an injured groin, Johnson, who had struggled all year, threw eight innings and allowed one run. He got the win over Juan Marichal as the Pirates won 2-1.

(A word about the back): Here we go again: "An outstanding rookie campaign was 1970 for Bob ..." Someone find a copy editor.

no. 343 - pirates rookie stars

Who is the man: Both Ed Acosta and Milt May spent the vast majority of their 1970 season in the minor leagues. Acosta pitched in Double A and Triple A, while May was a slugger (21 home runs) for Triple A Columbus. May played in five games for the Pirates in '70, while Acosta pitched in three games.

Can ya dig it: I'll call this card "mesmerized in the clouds".

Right on: This is the second Pirates Rookie Stars card of the set. This was the first. The Pirates are the first team to have two Rookie Stars cards, but that doesn't mean we've cycled through all the teams. The Orioles, for example, have not had their rookies featured yet.

You see these rookies are bad mothers: If the first Pirates rookie stars weren't bad-asses, then these two certainly aren't.

Shut your mouth: Ed Acosta had exactly one hit in his major league career. He legged out a bunt against the Giants' Ron Bryant on Sept. 6, 1972.

No one understands him but his woman: Milt May was credited with driving in the one millionth run in major league baseball history. That was later determined not to be true through updated record-keeping techniques. But nobody apparently knows who really drove in the millionth run.

(A word about the back): It's too bad I wasn't collecting cards in 1971 as a youngster, because I'm sure someone named "Pinky" would have thrown me into hysterics. May's father's given name was Merrill.

no. 298 - jim nelson

Who is the man: Jim Nelson was entering his second season in 1971 after completing a fairly memorable rookie year in 1970.

Can ya dig it: Maybe if I had put my name on my glove I wouldn't have had it stolen in fourth grade.

Right on: Rookie card! Only card!

You see that cat Nelson is a bad mother: Nelson won the first three starts of his career, a feat that wouldn't be duplicated by a Pirates pitcher until Gerrit Cole in 2013.

Shut your mouth: In a book about Forbes Field, Nelson is quoted as he recalls the mayhem at the end of the final game at the stadium in 1970. "After the game, the fans stormed the field and took everything, grass, bases, numbers off the scoreboard," said Nelson who was the winning pitcher that day. "I even saw some old ladies with parts of chairs. It was a real scene."

No one understands him but his woman: According to his obituary -- Nelson died in 2004 -- he enjoyed handing out $5 bills to the homeless every Christmas.

(A word about the back): If it wasn't for all that time in the minors (seven years), Nelson wouldn't have had much of a baseball career. He pitched just 2 years in the majors and according to this write-up, played for just one year in high school.

no. 282 - jose pagan

Who is the man: Jose Pagan was a part-time player and superb pinch-hitter for the Pirates in 1970.

Can ya dig it: Pagan is listed as playing shortstop on this card, but the record shows that he didn't play a single game at short in 1970.

Right on: This photo, in which Pagan appears to be in the middle of a conversation with the photographer, is a lot like the photo on his 1969 Topps card, right down to the black batting glove on his right hand.

You see this cat Pagan is a bad mother: Pagan delivered what would be the game-winning hit in Game 7 of the World Series in 1971. With the Pirates ahead 1-0 in the eighth inning, Willie Stargell led off with a base hit against Mike Cuellar. Pagan followed with a double to score Stargell with the Pirates' second run. The Orioles would score in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 2-1, but that would be the final.

Shut your mouth: Pagan was the starting shortstop for the Giants when they went to the World Series in 1962. "People talk about shortstops and don't mention Jose Pagan," Orlando Cepeda said after Pagan's death in 2011. "He was a hell of a shortstop."

No one understands him but his woman: Pagan wanted to manage after his playing career ended and set his sights on being the major leagues' first Puerto Rican manager. But he didn't get a chance, coaching with the Pirates in the 1970s and managing in winter ball.

(A word about the back): Pet peeve of mine. The first sentence connects years a decade apart, yet they have no connection whatsoever. OK, carry on.

no. 255 - bob robertson

Who is the man: Bob Robertson enjoyed a breakout season in 1970, reaching career highs in home runs (27), RBIs (82), batting average, slugging and several other categories. He'd never be as productive as he was in 1970.

Can ya dig it: This is the first time that Robertson is featured on a card with a bat in his hand. Given his reputation as a hitter, he should have a bat in his hand on every card.

Right on: That's a pretty good batting stare there. Too bad the stands are empty.

You see this cat Robertson is a bad mother: Robertson hit four home runs in the 1971 NLCS, a record that has been only equaled (once by Steve Garvey and once by Jeffrey Leonard).

Shut your mouth: Legendary Pirates announcer Bob Prince called Robertson "the Mount Savage Strongboy."

No one understands him but his woman: Robertson still holds the record for most assists by a first baseman in a single game with eight. He did it against the Mets on June 21, 1971.

(A word about the back): OK, the sentence about his first home run measuring 440 feet is a nice little fact, but you don't spell "traveled" with two "Ls."

no. 230 - willie stargell

Who is the man: Willie Stargell was entering what would be a ferocious season for him. He'd pound out 48 home runs, knock in 125 runs and help the Pirates to a World Series title in 1971.

My observation on the front: I've mentioned this before, but Stargell looks rather skinny on his early '70s cards, at least when you compare him with, say, 1977 through the end of his career.

Right on: There was a lot more concrete showing in 1970s stadiums.

You see this cat Stargell is a bad mother: One of my favorite baseball quotes is about Stargell. It came from pitcher Don Sutton. "He doesn't just hit pitchers," Sutton said., "he takes their dignity."

Shut your mouth: When Stargell was a coach for the Braves in the late 1980s, a young Barry Bonds started heckling him during a visit to Pittsburgh, telling him "I'm what it's all about now." When Stargell stormed off, Bonds scrambled after him to apologize, saying he was joking. Stargell said: "You better get some more lines on your baseball card before you talk to me like that."

No one understands him but his woman: Stargell was called both "fat" and "old" during his career, but enjoyed the best moments of his career (1969-74 and 1978-79) immediately after those insults.

(A word about the back): The record for extra base hits in one game is still five, held by several players.

no. 212 - rich hebner

Who is the man: Rich Hebner was two full seasons into his 18-year major league career when this card arrived. He had just made his first appearance in the postseason, going 4-for-6 in two games for the Pirates in the 1970 NLCS.

Can ya dig it: That's a pretty cool angle for the photo. Hebner almost looks 3-D against the backdrop of the stadium.

Right on: I know Hebner with a mustache. This just looks weird.

You see this cat Hebner is a bad mother: Hebner's biggest claim to fame was that he was a gravedigger at a cemetery that his family ran. He dug graves in the offseason and continued to do it after his baseball career ended. That is pretty bad-ass.

Shut your mouth: Ask a Mets fan who was around in 1979 about Hebner and you'll likely hear a mouthful. Hebner was acquired by the Mets in 1979 and didn't like it. Having played for nothing but winners with the Pirates and Phillies, he made it known he wasn't happy and the fans let him have it. Think they still hold a grudge?

No one understands him but his woman: Hebner had a few quirks when he came to bat. He would always pull on the back of his collar. Also, when he missed a pitch, he would flip his bat and try to catch it.

(A word about the back): This has got to be one of the few players that has his batting average as a high school freshman on a Topps baseball card.