Thursday, May 28, 2015

#416 - Wayne Gross


What a card: This is Wayne Gross' first Topps base cards as a Baltimore Oriole (he's an Oriole in the 1984 Topps Traded set, too). Gross was traded from the A's to the Orioles in December, 1983 for relief pitcher Tim Stoddard.

My observation on the front: Gross is wearing Lee May's old number. Not sure if I approve.

More opinion from me: I've loved Gross' 1978 Topps card (the one with the rookie cup) since I first saw it that year. It's the only Gross card that sticks in my head, even though he had nearly 10 years worth of cards.

Something you might know: Gross hit 22 home runs in his rookie season in 1977, a total he wouldn't match or surpass until he hit 22 with the Orioles in 1984. He was named to the All-Star Game that year.

Something you might not know: Relief pitcher Ed Farmer, whose had experience with baseball brawls, once gave up a home run to Gross and watched Gross trot slowly around the bases. Farmer wanted his revenge, but as a reliever, he had to wait three years. By then, Gross and Farmer were teammates with Oakland and it was spring training. Gross faced Farmer in batting practice and Farmer's first pitch hit Gross squarely in the back. "What was that for?" Gross said. "That was for three years ago!" Farmer said.


My observation on the back: Oh, sure, now you put the Babe Ruth answer on the trivia question.

The blog wants to speak now: The News category is updated.

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