#208 - Champ Summers

What a card: You're looking at Champ Summers looking at the end of his career. This is the last card issued of him as a major leaguer. His last at-bat was in the 1984 World Series.

My observation on the front: It has a sense of finality to it.

More opinion from me: Summers wore a mustache for really only a five-year period in his career (the Reds didn't allow facial hair), but he looks so odd without one.

Something you might know: Summers was a key figure in one of the most famous brawls of the 1980s. During a game between the Padres and Braves in August 1984 that featured several brawls, Summers went to the Braves bench looking to confront pitcher Pascal Perez, who had hit Alan Wiggins earlier. Summers was tackled by the Braves' Bob Horner and two fans who came out of the stands. By the time it was all over, 19 players and coaches had been ejected and five fans arrested.

Something you might not know: Summers spent nearly a year in Vietnam. But he blames an incident in college for being there. A member of the basketball team at Nicholls State College, Summers punched out a teammate, was kicked off the team, and dropped out of school. Then the Army drafted him.

My observation on the back: OK, you can't just leave that sentence there without an investigation. Summers would tell the story that as a senior in high school, he was at the tennis court one day. A couple of women and a boy about 13 years old showed up. The one woman, who was the boy's mom, asked Summers if he'd hit the ball around with his son. Summers agreed and beat the kid, but told his mom that her son -- Jimmy Connors -- could play. (You can read more on Summers' very interesting life).

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