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Sunday, November 28, 2021

1980 Kellogg's Baseball Card Backs #04 - 06

 Almost done talking about the card backs that I need help reading as I get older.


#06 - Dave Kingman


Kingman had a great year in 1979 as a Cub, getting career highs in homers and RBIs.   Another good write-up - "despite a tendency for striking out, Dave still thrills the customers with the longest homers in the game. "  That was so true.  

He led the league in homers twice and in strikeouts three times.  I am guessing that by today's standards he didn't strike out that much.  I'm WRONG again.  He's 21st all time in strikeouts.  I'm guessing that some players in today's game are gaining fast on him.    



Other information - he attended a junior college that I later taught at one summer.

He was injured for much of the 1980 season and he was traded before the 1981 season.   That 1980 Cubs team was a disaster, managing only 64 wins.


#05 - Bert Blyleven



Kellogg's declared that Blyleven had the best curveball in baseball.  He led the team to wins in the playoffs and the World Series. 

The card back also mentioned that the Pirates were wise to obtain him from the Rangers in 1977.  He was traded after the 1980 season.  



#04 - Ron Guidry



After his amazing 1978 season (25-3), Kellogg's surmised that his critics wouldn't be impressed with his 1979 season.  Kellogg's offered a few reasons for his lesser stats.  First, he was used in a relief a bit since Goose Gossage was injured.  Second, Guidry had a few of his own injuries that cost him some starts.

Still, in 1979 Guidry was 18-8 after starting 30 games.  He did pitch only three games in relief.  He also won his second consecutive ERA title.

Back to his relief appearances.  He earned two saves - April 14th and May 8th.  His other relief appearance was on May 6th.

His 4/14 save was sandwiched between starts on 4/10 (ND in 6 1/3 innings) and 4/17 (W - 9 innings).

On May 6th he got a win in relief (3 2/3 innings).  Add that to the 5/08 save (2 innings).  His nearest starts were on 5/02 and 5/16.  That cost him a few starts.

His injury must have happened in June since he had no starts from 6/12 to 6/29.



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