no. 738 - russ gibson

Who is the man: Russ Gibson had completed his first season with the Giants when this card was issued. He played in a mere 24 games, much less than he was used to playing for his hometown Red Sox.

Can ya dig it: Gibson has five Topps cards. This is the only one in which he isn't squatting in a catcher's pose.

Right on: Gibson is a circle dotter.

You see that cat Gibson is a bad mother: Gibson nearly caught a no-hitter in his major league debut. The Red Sox were playing the Yankees and fellow rookie Billy Rohr was pitching. Rohr had a no-hitter until the final out in the ninth when Elston Howard hit a single. Rohr finished with a one-hitter and the Red Sox won, 3-0. Gibson went 2-for-4 and scored a run.

Shut your mouth: Gibson spent 10 years in the minors before he made his big league debut. In 1966, he was a late cut by the Red Sox and drove from Florida to Arizona to join the minor league team. When he got there, he told Red Sox manager Dick Williams that he was thinking of quitting. Williams told Gibson, "Don't quit. I'll make you a player-coach." But instead Gibson didn't quit and was on a major league roster the next year.

No one understands him but his woman: Gibson was the starting catcher in Game 1 of the 1967 World Series. He's noted for a play in which he tagged out the Cardinals' Julian Javier, although photos showed he may have tagged Javier with an empty glove.

(A word about the back): The Giants' starting catcher, Dick Dietz, played in 148 games in 1970, so there wasn't much room for a backup catcher.

no. 691 - bob heise

Who is the man: Bob Heise appeared in 67 games in 1970, his first year in the majors when he wasn't a September call-up. But by the time this card was issued, he had already been dealt to the Brewers in June 1971.

Can ya dig it: This is the last time that Heise is referred to as "Bob" on his cards. After this, he's "Bobby."

Right on: One of those people who dots his eyes with a circle. I notice that on his 1975 Topps card he doesn't do that.

You see that cat Heise is a bad mother: Heise played for the AL champion Boston Red Sox in 1975, although he didn't get into the postseason. During a doubleheader against the Indians in July of that year, he went 4-for-7 with five runs batted in.

Shut your mouth: Heise hit the only home run of his career off of the Padres' Danny Coombs while playing for the Giants. He received a phonograph record of the home run call.

No one understands him but his woman: Heise played for four pennant-winning teams -- the 1969 Mets, 1971 Giants, 1975 Red Sox and 1977 Royals but never made the postseason.

 (A word about the back): Heise's position is listed as "infield" and in 1970 he did play second, shortstop and two games at third.

no. 621 - ron bryant

Who is the man: Ron Bryant was coming off the most active season of his career to date. He appeared in 34 games, mostly in relief in 1970, posting a forgettable 4.78 ERA.

Can ya dig it: I'm pretty sure this photo was taken at Shea Stadium. I don't know what those twin spires in left field are, something to do with lighting I'm guessing. Perhaps the lights are cropped out.

Right on: Bryant is more formal with this signature than on a later card. In the '75 set, his signature reads "Ron Bear Bryant".

You see that cat Bryant is a bad mother: From out of nowhere, Bryant won 24 games for the Giants in 1973, finishing third in the NL Cy Young Award voting.

Shut your mouth: At age 27, Bryant announced his retirement from baseball on April 4, 1975. "It's a big relief to me to have made my decision now," he said. "I'm just not enjoying baseball anymore."

No one understands him but his woman: Bryant would bring a teddy bear to the ballpark, dressed in its own uniform, to sit on the bench.

(A word about the back): Ed Montague signed Willie Mays, who was playing for the Negro League's Birmingham Black Barons at the time.

no. 600 - willie mays

Who is the man: Willie Mays entered the 1971 season the newest member of the 3,000-hit club. He delivered his 3,000th hit on July 18, 1970 against the Expos' Mike Wegener. It was part of resurgent season for Mays, who had struggled with injuries in 1969.

Can ya dig it: Any card of Willie Mays is exciting, but this certainly is not the most exciting photo.

Right on: The expression on Mays' face is one that appeared quite a bit on his cards. He seems a bit sore about something, but he also might be in the middle of ribbing someone for all I know.

You see that cat Mays is a bad mother: Widely considered the greatest all-around player in baseball history. Likely the most famous five-tool player ever. What's more bad-ass than that?

Shut your mouth: Mays was playing for the Negro League's Black Barons of Birmingham, Ala., in the late 1940s when Giants scout Eddie Montague noticed his play while scouting another player. Montague told the Giants: "You better send somebody down there with a barrelful of money and grab this kid."

No one understands him but his woman: Mays' famous over-the-shoulder catch of Vic Wertz's drive with the score tied 2-2 during Game 1 of the 1954 World Series is considered Mays' best catch by many. But Mays has said his best catch was probably a diving catch of a wicked drive by the Dodgers' Bobby Morgan in 1952. With two men on base and two out, Mays caught the ball in Ebbets Field outstretched, while parallel to the ground, then knocked himself out when he fell into the wall.

(A word about the back): What I am guessing was an ill-placed piece of tape has torn away a portion of the write-up. Here it is in full: "The only player with more than 300 Homers to top 300 Stolen Bases, Willie holds NL mark with 6,662 Putouts in outfield. Hit 20 or more Homers 17 times to set big league record. Voted Sporting News Player of 1960's."

no. 563 - giants

Who is the man: The San Francisco Giants dipped a bit in 1970. After five straight years of finishing second, they dropped to third, behind the Reds and Dodgers, with an 86-76 record. Manager Clyde King was fired in May and replaced with Charlie Fox.

Can ya dig it: Whoever cropped this photo heartlessly chopped out half of an equipment manager or trainer from the photo on the right-hand side.

Right on: You probably can tell that this card is miscut -- diamond cut, in fact. If you can't tell, you will be able to when I show the back of the card.

You see that cat Fox is a bad mother: It's difficult to make out faces in this photo, but I'm guessing that manager Charlie Fox is not in this picture, since he didn't show up until May, and team photos were typically shot during spring training. If previous manager Clyde King is in the photo, the odd thing is the guy who looks most like him, is the guy in the glasses standing up next to the second row on the left. But he's not wearing a uniform.

Shut your mouth: The Giants of this period featured some notable players -- and some tall players. Bobby Bonds is the first guy on the left in the third row. Move three players to the right and that's Willie McCovey. Gaylord Perry is over on the other end of the row, second guy from the right. I'm fairly sure Willie Mays is the first guy on the left in the second row, next to that guy who really looks like Clyde King. But the blurriness makes me less certain.

No one understands him but his woman: I think they mixed some bat boys with some regular players on the bottom row. It makes the second guy from the left look like a giant (get it?).

(A word about the back): There's that diamond-cut action. ... The Yankees and Dodgers have met a record 11 times in the World Series. But the Yankees and Giants are right behind with seven meetings, all before 1963.

no. 545 - dick dietz

Who is the man: Dick Dietz enjoyed the year of his career in 1970. Allowed to become the Giants starting catcher for the first time, Dietz set career highs in virtually every category.

Can ya dig it: That's the calmest expression ever for someone attempting to throw out a runner.

Right on: Every time I think of Dietz, I think of a cartoon on the back of one of his cards.

You see that cat Dietz is a bad mother: Dietz was named to the Topps all-rookie team in 1967. Other players on that team included Tom Seaver, Rod Carew, Reggie Smith and Lee May.

Shut your mouth: Dietz may have been blackballed by baseball for his enthusiastic support for the players' union and the strike in 1972. Giants owner Horace Stoneham released Dietz, the Giants' playe representative, as soon as the strike ended. And after he was released by the Braves in the spring of 1974, despite a decent 1973, nobody picked him up.

No one understands him but his woman: Dietz is remembered for not attempting to avoid a pitch that hit him during Don Drysdale's record-setting scoreless streak. In the ninth inning of what would be Drysdale's fifth straight shutout, the bases were loaded when Dietz was hit on the elbow by a pitch. But umpire Harry Wendelstedt ruled Dietz failed to get out of the way. Dietz proceeded to fly out to end the game. The Giants argued the call, but teammate Ron Hunt remembered that Dietz "stood there like a post. It was a high slider and he didn't make an attempt."

(A word about the back): 159 walks -- that's almost Barry Bonds territory.

no. 517 - charlie fox

Who is the man: Charlie Fox was coming off his first season as the Giants' manager when this card was issued. He'd go on to lead the Giants to the N.L. West title in 1971 and was named the league's manager of the year.

Can ya dig it: Fox's four manager cards for the Giants are very similar. About the only thing that changes is the shading on his glasses.

Right on: Fox appears to be in mid-conversation.

You see that cat Fox is a bad mother: Fox is often credited for helping to develop Hall of Fame slugger Willie McCovey.

Shut your mouth: Fox gained the Giants job when Clyde King was let go after the Giants squandered an 8-0 lead and lost to the Padres 17-16 in 15 innings. Fox, who was managing the Triple A team in Phoenix, was listening to the game on the radio when Phoenix GM Rosy Ryan walked in and asked how things were going. Fox told him about the Giants game on TV, explaining that King was using up his entire pitching staff and had a doubleheader the next day. "He's in real trouble," Fox said to Ryan. Then Ryan said, "Oh, no, you're in trouble. You're the manager tomorrow."

No one understands him but his woman: Fox punched out Expos pitcher Steve Rogers in the clubhouse during an argument in late July, 1978. Fox, the general manager for Montreal, loudly criticized shortstop Chris Speier for his game performance the previous night. Rogers, the team's player rep, took offense and an argument followed. Fox challenged Rogers several times and Rogers shoved Fox, causing Fox to belt Rogers in the jaw. After the season, Fox was demoted and the incident with Rogers was cited as the main reason.

(A word about the back): Fox really did manage way back in 1947. As the bio says, he was a player-manager for a decade in the minor leagues for the Giants.

no. 486 - steve huntz

Who is the man: Steve Huntz was coming off the most productive season of his major league career when this card was issued. He played in more than a 100 games for the only time in his career as a backup infielder for the Padres.

Can ya dig it: Huntz may be listed as a Giant, but he never played for the Giants. He was traded from San Diego to San Francisco in December 1970, then shipped from the Giants to the White Sox in March 1971.

Right on: These blacked out caps and helmets aren't nearly as jarring when the player is a Giant. Black hats, you know.

You see that cat Huntz is a bad mother: Huntz played in a whopping 1,332 minor league games for four organizations, the Cardinals, Padres, White Sox and Dodgers.

Shut your mouth: Huntz once hit two home runs in a game off of Tigers pitcher Mickey Lolich.

No one understands him but his woman: Huntz was the other player in the trade between the White Sox and the Dodgers that sent Dick Allen to the White Sox and Tommy John to the Dodgers.

(A word about the back): Love the positioning on the head of Huntz's ... um, Giants cap.

no. 461 - jim hart

Who is the man: Even though Jim Hart was a young man at the time this card came out, his career was in decline. He spent half of 1970 in the minor leagues, his first stint in the minors since 1963.

Can ya dig it: You can see by the signature, his full name is James Ray Hart, and he was most often referred to as "Jim Ray Hart." But Topps would not call him that until the very last card of Hart's career. He is "Jim Ray Hart" on his 1974 card. All other cards he is "Jim Hart".

Right on: Hart looks as if he's batting in the middle of a cow pasture.

You see that cat Hart is a bad mother: Hart finished tied for second place in the Rookie of the Year voting in 1964, and he hit at least 23 home runs each year between 1964-68.

Shut your mouth: Hart was not a good fielder and didn't like playing third base, once saying famously "it's just too damn close to the hitters."

No one understands him but his woman: Hart was out of the majors by the age of 34 and his performance fell off a number of years before that. Publicly, people blamed injuries for Hart's decline, but an alcohol problem was also a significant factor, and it followed him into his post-career life.

(A word about the back): Third place for batting .355 made me look up the California League leaders in 1961. The two players who batted better than Hart were a Dodgers prospect named Don Williams (.363) and a Phillies prospect named John Upham (.356), who played briefly for the Cubs in the late 1960s.

no. 443 - rich robertson

Who is the man: Rich Robertson enjoyed far and away his best season in the majors in 1970, appearing in 41 games, starting 26 and going 8-9 with 121 strikeouts.

Can ya dig it: This is Robertson's last card appearance in a legitimate MLB uniform. He is terribly airbrushed into a White Sox cap and uniform in the 1972 set, and Robertson didn't even play for the White Sox.

Right on: Robertson has a bit of an Elvis smile.

You see that cat Robertson is a bad mother: Robertson could get a little wild. He led the majors with 18 wild pitches in 1970. In 1968 in Triple A, he threw 27 wild pitches.

Shut your mouth: There is another Rich Roberston who pitched for the Pirates, Twins and Angels in the 1990s.

No one understands him but his woman:  Do you think if I called him Rob Richardson just once anyone would notice?

(A word about the back): Robertson had some mighty impressive numbers in '68, but they just didn't translate.

no. 412 - jerry johnson

Who is the man: Jerry Johnson was acquired by the Giants from the Cardinals in May 1970 and was entering what would be the best season of his career when this card hit packs.

Can ya dig it: Johnson had appeared on three Topps cards at this point and on each one he is with a different team (1969: Phillies; 1970: Cardinals).

Right on: I believe Johnson is posing in Dodger Stadium.

You see that cat Johnson is a bad mother: Johnson finished sixth in the Cy Young Award voting in 1971 as he appeared in 67 games (all in relief) and saved 18.

Shut your mouth: Johnson had issues with his temper, especially early on in his career. Longtime manager Roy Hartsfield worked with Johnson in controlling his emotions.

No one understands him but his woman: Johnson began his career as a third baseman in the Mets organization in 1962. He began pitching in the minors by 1964.

(A word about the back): Not sure what's going on with Johnson's face here. He looks like a doll.

no. 378 - tito fuentes

Who is the man: Tito Fuentes enjoyed his second straight respectable season in 1970 after being sent down to the minors in 1968. For the man who finished third in Rookie of the Year voting in 1966, he was working his way back.

Can ya dig it: Topps wants to make sure you see that Fuentes is bunting, that's why his signature is squeezed into the corner. Also, he apparently hadn't started dotting the "I" in his name with a star yet.

Right on: Fuentes' position is listed as "infield" because he played second, short and third in 1970.

You see that cat Fuentes is a bad mother: The man wore headbands over his cap with his name written on them. Of course he was bad ass.

Shut your mouth: Fuentes has been known to refer to himself by his uniform number "23," as in "How are you, this is '23'". He legally changed his name when he became a U.S. citizen so that "23" reads like it's his middle name: Tito 23 Fuentes.

No one understands him but his woman: In the famed Dodgers-Giants brawl in which Juan Marichal clubbed John Roseboro with a bat, nobody mentions that Fuentes also brought a bat into the melee. Fortunately, he didn't hit anyone with it.

(A word about the back): I'm not clear on which two Dominican League records Fuentes tied after reading that write-up. I'm assuming most hits in a game (5) and most doubles in a game (3).

no. 354 - don mc mahon

Who is the man: Don McMahon, pitching for his seventh and final major league team, appeared in 61 games in relief for the Giants in 1970 and saved what would be a career-high 19 games.

Can ya dig it: Is that a police officer in the distance?

Right on: I'm always impressed by players who appeared on cards in three decades during their careers. McMahon was in the 1958 Topps set, the 1972 Topps set and all the sets in between.

You see this cat McMahon is a bad mother: When McMahon retired, he had accumulated 874 games pitched and only Hoyt Wilhelm, Lindy McDaniel and Cy Young had pitched in more. McMahon is now 33rd on the all-time list.

Shut your mouth: McMahon was traded from the Milwaukee Braves to the Houston Colt .45s after the season had started in 1962. McMahon was upset that Braves manager Birdie Tebbetts hadn't used him much that year before he was traded and told the press about it. McMahon later received a letter from his mother telling him to stop saying bad things about Tebbetts.

No one understands him but his woman: McMahon served as both a pitcher and the team pitching coach for the Giants in 1972. In 1973 and 1974 he was officially just the Giants' pitching coach, but San Francisco activated him each year to pitch in games.

(A word about the back): The old firemen standings were delightfully simple: wins + saves = Rolaids Relief Man Award.

no. 325 - juan marichal

Who is the man: Juan Marichal endured probably the worst season of his career to date in 1970. After back-to-back 20-win seasons, he managed just 12 victories (against 10 losses) and his ERA sailed over 4 for the first time. It was pretty much the beginning of the end, although Marichal would bounce back for one more good year in 1971.

Can ya dig it: With the way Marichal pitched and fell off to the left side of the mound, I don't think he was ever as ready for a comebacker as he is displaying in this here photo.

Right on: I'm pretty certain if I was a Dodger rooter in the 1960s that he would be my least favorite player.

You see this cat Marichal is a bad mother: Dude bludgeoned a catcher over the head for tickling his ear with a return throw to the mound.

Shut your mouth: One of Marichal's nicknames was "Laughing Boy" because he always seemed to be smiling.

No one understands him but his woman: Marichal never won a Cy Young Award and was passed over for the Hall of Fame twice.

(A word about the back): It still bothers me that '71 Topps in its write-ups would go all the way back to minor league statistics for established veteran players.

no. 295 - bobby bonds

Who is the man: Bobby Bonds just got finished doing a lot of things when this card hit packs. In 1970, he appeared at the plate 745 times, reached 200 hits for the only time in his career, hit .300 for the only time in his career, stole a career best 48 bases, and established a longstanding record for strikeouts in a season with 189. It amazes me he didn't get a single MVP vote.

Can ya dig it: For a long time, I owned Bonds' second-year card, in the 1970 set. I probably should have never traded it away.

Right on: It appears that Bonds is staring into the distance while standing in Shea Stadium.

You see this cat Bonds is a bad mother: Not only did Bonds become the first to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in a single season twice, but he accomplished the 30/30 feat five times. He also brought Barry Bonds into the world.

Shut your mouth: Bonds was always hounded by comparisons to Willie Mays and that word that drives everyone crazy -- "potential." He once said, "all the writers kept talking about was potential. You haven't reached your potential yet, they say. Well, unless you win a Pulitzer Prize, you're not living up to your potential either, are you?"

No one understands him but his woman: By the end of his career, Bonds suffered from image problems. He was accused of being a troublemaker, drug user and drinker. Between 1978 and 1981, he spent no more than one season each with the White Sox, Rangers, Indians, Cardinals and Cubs.

(A word about the back): There's a typo in the write-up. Bonds did not play for both the Western Carolinas League and the Giants in 1970 as the bio says. Bonds actually played in the Western Carolinas League in 1965.

no. 276 - giants rookie stars

Who is the man: Guess which player spent more time with the big club in 1970? It wasn't George Foster. Mike Davison pitched in 31 games for the Giants, while Foster managed just nine and five at-bats. He played in 114 games for Triple A Phoenix.

Can ya dig it: George Foster's rookie card, man. Doesn't get much better than that.

Right on: Foster is either about to kill someone or he's smelled something that's already died.

You see these rookies are bad mothers: How many times must I say that rookies aren't bad ass ... well, maybe I can permit this one exception because of Foster. That's possibly the most bad-ass rookie card of all-time.

Shut your mouth: Davison would not appear in another major league game after this card came out, which is totally unfortunate because he should have received a card to himself in the 1971 set. There are plenty of players in this set that didn't pitch in as many as 31 games in a season the previous year and still received a solo card.

No one understands him but his woman: Davison missed three years in pro ball by serving in the Vietnam War from 1966-68.

(A word about the back): Davison should have had his 1970 major league stats on the back of this card instead of his minor league ones. I bet that was annoying.

no. 251 - frank reberger

Who is the man: Frank Reberger was entering his second season with the Giants as kids were pulling this card out of packs in 1971. The reliever and sometimes starter was acquired from the Padres for three players in December, 1969.

Can ya dig it: Reberger has just three solo cards from his career and he looks semi-solemn in all of them.

Right on: Time to play "ball or no ball?" And as is often the case, I say "no ball."

You see this cat Reberger is a bad mother: Reberger didn't get drafted, but the Cubs signed him after a tryout. He was working as a rancher in Idaho (he majored in zoology) at the time. Being a rancher is difficult, bad-ass work.

Shut your mouth: Reberger got into coaching about eight years after his career ended. By the early '90s he was working with the Angels as the bullpen coach under pitching coach Marcel Lachemann. In a story in the L.A. Times, he said he had to keep quiet around Lachemann at first. "I was stepping lightly very early, feeling my way," he said. "Marcel isn't easy to get to know. He's very intense."

No one understands him but his woman: Reberger was hired as pitching coach by the Uni-President Lions, a professional team in Taiwan in 2008.

(A word about the back): Hey! There's a grin! I knew he had it in him.

no. 224 - alan gallagher

Who is the man: Alan Gallagher broke into the Giants' lineup after five years in the minors and hit .266 in his first 109 major league games in 1970.

Can ya dig it: When I was first learning about players who appeared on cards just before I started collecting, I was fascinated by players like Gallagher, who began their careers just a few years before I started buying cards but were no longer on cards anymore. Who was this Alan Gallagher? And why was his career so short?

Right on: This is the fifth rookie trophy shown so far on the blog. Right now, we have a catcher, pitcher, two outfielders and a third baseman.

You see this cat Gallagher is a bad mother: Gallagher's nickname was "Dirty Al," which he received when he played in college. During a 25-game hitting streak, he refused to change his uniform or even his underwear.

Shut your mouth: Gallagher was a prized draft pick by the Giants, but struggled to meet expectations. Sent to instructional league in 1969, his manager, Hank Sauer told Gallagher that he couldn't take instructions. Gallagher decided to show his manager and appeared at 8 a.m. each day to work with Sauer.

No one understands him but his woman: Gallagher was regarded as flaky during his big-league career (perhaps the not-changing-the-uniform thing may have tipped them off). He wore wildly colorful clothes that didn't necessarily match and sometimes would practice his slide techniques in the airport terminal when the team was waiting for a flight.

(A word about the back): That's the rare profile shot. I should see how many of those are in the set.

no. 181 - hal lanier

Who is the man: Hal Lanier was entering his last of eight seasons as a regular with the Giants. He'd play a lot less in the Giants' pennant-winning season of 1971 as Chris Speier would take over at shortstop, Lanier's primary position since 1966.

Can ya dig it: I'm not sure where Lanier is fake fielding, but unless it's the coach's box, the territory between the field and the dugout looks rather torn up.

Right on: Lanier is obscuring the Mets logo, but you can't miss old Shea Stadium.

You see this cat Lanier is a bad mother: Lanier won a NL pennant in his first year as a major league manager, leading the Astros to their first title in 1986.

Shut your mouth: When asked to describe his rookie manager in '86, colorful Astros reliever Charlie Kerfeld said: "He's what you call a red ass. He's fiery if you know what I mean."

No one understands him but his woman: Lanier married his wife, Mary, in spring training of 1986. He then managed the Astros to the National League West title, and when the Mets eliminated them in the NLCS, he then went on to his honeymoon to Hawaii.

(A word about the back): The write-up and the career batting average are everything you need to know to call Lanier a "good-field, no-hit" infielder during his career. Yet between 1965-69, he averaged more than 150 games a season.

no. 155 - ken henderson

Who is the man: Ken Henderson was coming off his best season as a major leaguer as he saw his playing time jump in 1970. The player heavily touted from all the way back to his high school days had finally arrived.

Can ya dig it: This is another well-worn item from that first batch of '71s I acquired as a young teenager.

Right on: Henderson signed his name "Kenny," but I don't remember anyone calling him that.

You see this cat Henderson is a bad mother: Henderson was touted by some writers as "the next Willie Mays" when he hit the majors in 1964. Mays seemed like he had lost a step in his mid-30s, and Henderson was being groomed as a potential replacement in center.

Shut your mouth: Of course, Mays re-emerged with an MVP season in 1965 and performed well for the Giants for the next seven or eight years. "There was nobody that could replace Willie Mays," Henderson said years later.

No one understands him but his woman: Henderson performed as a regular starter for the Giants between 1969-72, but then was traded to the White Sox. The man once thought as Mays' replacement had been pushed out of the outfield by Bonds, Garry Maddox and Gary Matthews. After a strong season in '74, Henderson transformed into a journeyman player, performing for the Braves, Rangers, Mets, Reds and Cubs.

(A word about the back): Bobby Bonds led the 1970 Giants in stolen bases with 48.