1977 Topps, Phil Neikro

Card No. 615

I could be mistaken, but I don't think Phil Niekro ever looked like a young man....Beginning around 1973, "Knucksie" pretty much looked like one of my Pop-Pop's poker buddies on each of his baseball cards....Appearances aside, Niekro spun a Hall of Fame career, knuckling his way to 318 wins and 3,342 strikeouts over 24 seasons....He shared a 1964 "Rookie Stars" card with fellow Atlanta neophyte Phil Roof....His final Topps card was in the 1987 set....Led the majors in starts (43), losses (20) and innings pitched (330 1/3) during the '77 campaign.

*MK*

1977 Topps, Mike Cuellar

Card No. 162

A lot of folks go in for '75 Topps as their favorite design of the '70s, but I've never been conventional and, therefore, consider the '77 set as my favorite in terms of aesthetics....This happens to be the final entry for Mike Cuellar in the Topps catalog....His rookie appeared in the 1959 set as a member of the Reds....The '69 A.L. Cy Young Award winner and author of four 20-win seasons, Cuellar's career unceremoniously concluded in 1977 with the California Angels (0-1, 18.90 ERA in 2 appearances). 

*MK*