no. 748 - john purdin

Who is the man: John Purdin spent all of the 1970 season with Triple A Spokane and Hawaii as he played in the Dodgers and Angels organizations.

Can ya dig it: Here is another super high-numbered guy who is actually wearing a Dodgers uniform. Purdin's only major league time came with the Dodgers. He hadn't appeared in a Topps set since 1969, when he was with L.A. Also, he is airbrushed into an old White Sox cap since Chicago changed to red-themed uniforms in 1971, which was reflected on Chuck Tanner's card earlier in the set. (It's also the fourth straight airbrushed White Sox card).

Right on: It's quite the eerie background. I'm not sure what time of day that photo was taken. Night? Dusk?

You see that cat Purdin is a bad mother: John Purdin threw a two-hit shutout against the Cubs two weeks into his first year in the majors in September 1964.

Shut your mouth: Purdin had already made his final major league appearance ... in 1969 ... by the time this card was released.

No one understands him but his woman: Purdin's move from the Dodgers to the Angels continues to be listed as an unknown transaction (and an approximate date) on his baseball-reference page, even though all of the blanks were filled in here. Who do we need to contact at baseball-reference to get this straightened out?

(A word about the back): Tanner seemed to like Purdin, but Purdin didn't make the team out of spring training.

no. 747 - rookie stars n.l. pitchers

Who is the man: Balor Moore was the only one of the three players on this card to make his MLB debut in 1970. But all three spent most of 1970 in the minors. Al Severinsen spent the entire year with Triple A Rochester while in the Orioles' chain. He came to the Padres in the deal that landed the O's pitcher Pat Dobson.

Can ya dig it: Severinsen is airbrushed from an Orioles cap (which he wore on a rookie stars card in the 1970 Topps set). That reddish brown thing is supposed to be Padres hat wear. It's so realistic it appears on Severinsen's baseball-reference page.

Right on: This is the N.L. version of the rookie pitchers card. We saw the A.L. version earlier.

You see these rookies are bad mothers: For the last time (really), they are not. They're just rookies.

Shut your mouth: Scipio Spinks is one of the classic baseball names of the 1970s. Spinks' father was also named Scipio and all of the first-born sons in the family had the name.

No one understands him but his woman: Moore was the first player drafted by the Expos in the 1969 MLB draft.

(A word about the back): Congratulations to me and happy birthday to Balor Moore. I am posting this card on his 67th birthday. This is always a goal of my set blogs.

no. 740 - luis aparicio

Who is the man: Some would say Luis Aparicio had a career year in 1970. In his 15th year, he set career highs in doubles, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging and OPS. What'd he get for it? A trade from the White Sox to the Red Sox in December 1970.

Can ya dig it: Dig that White Sox uniform that Topps didn't try very hard to hide.

Right on: It was a happy day when I landed this card. I remember going into the coin and collectibles shop downtown when I was first starting to get back into cards. One of the random cards for sale was this '71 Aparicio. I thought about getting it many times even though I had no intent to collect the '71 set at the time.

You see that cat Aparicio is a bad mother: A Rookie of the Year in 1956 and a Hall of Famer in 1984, Aparicio was the heart-and-soul of the Go Go Sox and known as one of the greatest shortstops to ever play the game.

Shut your mouth: Aparicio was released by the Red Sox during spring training in 1974. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner sent him a letter with an open contract and a note that said, "you put in the amount to play for the New York Yankees." Aparicio sent the envelope back with a note that said, "Thank you very much for your offer but I just get released once in my lifetime."

No one understands him but his woman: Aparicio is the first Venezuelan to make the Hall of Fame.

(A word about the back): Oof. That last part should read: "Set record by leading AL in stolen bases 9 consecutive years, 1956 thru 1964."

no. 733 - lee maye

Who is the man: Lee Maye played most of the 1970 season with the Senators. He was acquired off of waivers by the White Sox in September of that year.

Can ya dig it: This is subtle airbrushing compared with some of the other final-series airbrush jobs.

Right on: This is Maye's final card of his career.

You see that cat Maye is a bad mother: Maye's best season came in 1964 with the Braves when he led the National League in doubles with 44.

Shut your mouth: Maye also tried to hold down a singing career while playing baseball. His song "Half Way (Out of Love)" that came out in 1963 sold nearly 500,000 copies. Maye said he would go home from the ballpark and sing into a tape recorder. That's how he wrote songs.

No one understands him but his woman: Maye struggled to find a job in baseball after his playing career ended. He had several fights with teammates and disagreements with others in the game and he encountered racism as well.

(A word about the back): One of the more interesting write-ups in 1971 Topps, but I don't think Maye was actually a member of the Platters. He sang with friends of his, a few of which went on to become part of the Platters, the Penguins, and other singing groups.

no. 731 - jim qualls

Who is the man: Jim Qualls spent most of 1970 in the minors in the Cubs and Expos organizations. He was then traded to the Reds on March 31, 1971.

Can ya dig it: I'm certain that on a clear day you can spot this card from 10 miles away.

Right on: I just love this card for the ludicrously loud airbrushed cap. Yep, that's definitely a RED(s) hat!

You see that cat Qualls is a bad mother: Qualls is known in Mets history as the guy who broke up Tom Seaver's perfect game with a one-out single in the ninth inning in July, 1969.

Shut your mouth: Qualls said he received hate mail after breaking up Seaver's no-hitter -- from kids. "You could tell by the handwriting it was just kids, little Mets fans: 'You bum, don't show up in New York.'" Qualls said.

No one understands him but his woman: Qualls played two years in Japan after his major league career ended in 1972. He said he enjoyed playing there, but once when he was asked to play right field in Hiroshima, he said, "No way, not a white guy, not there. There were bottles coming out of the stands!'"

(A word about the back): The late trade has Topps all confused: "Jim is Expos' only switch-hitter." The bright red cap says otherwise.

no. 723 - vicente romo

Who is the man: Vicente Romo pitched for the Red Sox in 1970. He spent most of the time in the bullpen with a spot start or two. But he didn't fair as well in his starting assignments as he did in 1969 and was traded to the White Sox in March 1971.

Can ya dig it: We are in prime "magic hat" territory in the 1971 set. Here is another one. Topps wants you to believe that this is anything major leaguers were wearing in 1970-71.

Right on: Romo is sporting some prime sideburns.

You see that cat Romo is a bad mother: A star of the Mexican League, Romo made a comeback with the Dodgers in 1982, eight years after his last major league appearance. He won his first game since 1974 with a seven-inning shutout against the Expos in July 1982.

Shut your mouth: Romo's nickname is "huevo," which is "egg" in Spanish. It originated when he was a child as others thought his face was egg-shaped.

No one understands him but his woman: Romo disappeared from the team while with the Red Sox. He told his roommate, Jose Santiago, he was going out for dinner. He didn't return until 11 a.m. two days later, saying he became ill after drinking and forgot to alert the team. He was docked only a day's pay.

(A word about the back): "One of the few successful graduates of Mexican League ball" ... that is a questionable statement given that Romo said he and other Mexicans were not given opportunities during that period to succeed in the majors. Players like Fernando Valenzuela and Teddy Higuera opened the door for the current group of Mexican MLBers.

no. 718 - billy wynne

Who is the man: Billy Wynne appeared in 12 games for the White Sox in 1970 before being traded to the Angels in a six-player deal on Nov. 30.

Can ya dig it: Another comical airbrush with vertical lines.

Right on: This is the last of the six players in that trade to be shown from this set. All of them except Jay Johnstone featured an airbrushed hat. Johnstone isn't wearing a hat.

You see that Wynne is a bad mother: Wynne started 20 games for the White Sox in 1969. He went 7-7 in 128 2/3 innings.

Shut your mouth: Wynne was also involved in another large trade. He went from the Mets to the White Sox in a deal that landed New York two key Miracle Mets players, Tommie Agee and Al Weis.

No one understands him but his woman: Wynne's first major league victory came in Milwaukee's County Stadium -- against the Seattle Pilots. The White Sox played several home games in Milwaukee in 1968 and 1969 in an agreement to help Milwaukee's cause for a major league team to replace the Braves.

(A word about the back): Four of Wynne's eight major league wins were versus the Angels and he won none while with the Angels, appearing in just three games for them.

no. 714 - dick williams

Who is the man: Dick Williams spent the 1970 season as a coach with the Expos. He was hired by Oakland owner Charlie Finley to lead a bunch of hard-headed talents for the 1971 season. The A's would win 101 games in Williams' first year.

Can ya dig it: One of the most memorable painted caps in any baseball card set. That hat is straight out of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?"

Right on: You can see the hint of Red Sox lettering on Williams' jersey. Williams managed the Red Sox until 1969.

You see that cat Williams is a bad mother: Williams led three teams -- the Red Sox, the A's and the Padres -- to the World Series. Only one other manager can say that.

Shut your mouth: Williams looked at the Oakland A's as 25 versions of himself and said the animosity they held for the team's owner, Finley, worked in his favor. "It's impossible for even baseball players to truly hate two of their bosses at once," Williams said.

No one understands him but his woman: Williams was married to his wife, Norma, for 57 years. They died 28 days apart in 2011.

(A word about the back): Williams was on the verge of his second AL Manager of the Year award when this card was issued.

no. 656 - gerry nyman

Who is the man: Gerry Nyman spent the majority of the 1970 season pitching for the Triple A Salt Lake City Bees. He appeared in just two games for the Padres.

Can ya dig it: As you can tell by Nyman's UPS cap, he was traded. The White Sox sent him to San Diego in late March 1970.

Right on: Nyman is also listed as a Padre but visibly wearing a White Sox uniform on his 1970 Topps card. Nyman just didn't spend enough time in the majors to be captured in San Diego uniform.

You see that cat Nyman is a bad mother: Nyman, who appeared in just 30 games in his major league career, threw a one-hit shutout against the Senators on May 17, 1969. He gave up only a second-inning single to Washington's Brant Alyea.

Shut your mouth: Nyman remained in baseball after his playing career as a longtime pitching coach for several organizations. He became known for his very brief visits to the pitching mound. Once he came out to the mound and asked the pitcher where he was from. "Cincinnati," the pitcher said. Nyman then said, "Do you know what amnesia is?" And before the pitcher could respond, Nyman was headed back to the dugout.

No one understands him but his woman: Nyman is referred to as "Gerry" on his Topps cards, but he is called "Jerry" throughout his coaching career and in current record-keeping.

(A word about the back): Honestly scraping the bottom of the barrel with some of these high-numbered guys. Two games and a 16.20 ERA. Sheesh.

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. 548 - don mason

Who is the man: Don Mason managed just 36 at-bats for the Giants in 1970. He was traded to the Padres in the offseason.

Can ya dig it: This is the third straight card featuring a player in an airbrushed cap. Yup, we're getting to the higher numbers.

Right on: I have a difficult time believing that someone who played 46 games in 1970 necessitated an "infield" designation. Did he even have time to play three or four infield positions?

You see that cat Mason is a bad mother: Really digging here. Mason was acquired by the Padres partly because of his speed. He finished tied for third on the team in 1971 with six stolen bases.

Shut your mouth: He also finished third in the National League in errors committed at second with 15.

No one understands him but his woman: Mason is arguably the most productive hitter from Parsons College, a now-defunct school in Fairfield, Iowa. The school was known more for producing pitchers, including Charlie Williams, Rich Folkers and Jim Todd.

(A word about the back): Yeah, don't look at those current stats. Bask in the glory of his minor league season in 1965.

no. 546 - john matias

Who is the man: John Matias played his only season in the major leagues in 1970. He appeared in 58 games for the White Sox, batting .188.

Can ya dig it: Matias was traded from the White Sox to the Royals in October 1970. It's convenient that the White Sox wore light blue colors at the time because all Topps did was airbrush Matias' cap.

Right on: Matias' hands are strategically blocking any sign of Chicago White Sox lettering on the person behind him.

You see that cat Matias is a bad mother: Matias, a Hawaiian native, hit four home runs in four at-bats during the high school state championship game in 1962. It was such a big deal in Hawaii that the Honolulu Advertiser did a story on it 42 years later.

Shut your mouth: Matias returned to Hawaii after his career and remains there. He said of his 4-home run game, "Every time I run into someone, they swear they were at that game."

No one understands him but his woman: Matias' two career home runs both came against the Oakland A's.

(A word about the back): Matias seemed to be a streaky hitter. During the 1970 season, he went 8-for-12 in three games in late May.

no. 105 - tony conigliaro

Who is the man: Tony Conigliaro was coming off the best season of his career when this card hit packs. The Red Sox traded him anyway, in October of 1970.

Can ya dig it: The Red Sox logo on Conigliaro's cap is blacked out, which was a common practice for Topps at the time (the 1969 set is littered with blacked-out caps). This is the first blacked-out cap in the 1971 set, but there are many others, particularly in the higher numbers.

Right on: Again, I must admire how players signed their names back in the day. "Conigliaro" is a long name and you can read every damn letter.

You see this cat Conigliaro is a bad mother: Of course, the most famous moment of Conigliaro's career was when he was struck in the face by a pitch from the Angels' Jack Hamilton in 1967, causing permanent damage to his career. But it didn't stop Conigliaro at first. His comeback was so striking in 1969 that he easily won Comeback Player of the Year honors.

Shut your mouth: According to Congliaro's SABR bio, Ted Williams warned a business partner of Conigliaro's that Tony was crowding the plate too much and that "it's serious time now. The pitchers are going to get serious." That was the day before Conigliaro was hit by Hamilton's pitch.

No one understands him but his woman: Conigliaro's trade to the Angels shocked the baseball community, and Congliaro himself was stunned. Speculation is that the Red Sox sensed that Conigliaro's vision problems had returned and that the player would never be more easily traded than he was at that moment. The Red Sox didn't explain the trade much, but the deal was a smart one. Conigliaro struggled with his eye and had other injuries while with the Angels.

(A word about the back): Wow, that's a giant Angels logo airbrushed on there.