What a card: Mike Easler was coming off his most productive season when this card was issued. Provided the most playing time since beginning in the majors in 1973, Easler made the best of it, recording a career-high 188 hits, 27 homers and 91 RBIs.
My observation on the front: Easler appears to be saying to someone in the dugout, "hey man, I can't hit when no one is watching."
More opinion from me: I can't be the only one who spent several years wishing Easler would get more playing time. He always seemed to hit, yet received sporadic at-bats for the first half of his career.
Something you might know: "The Hit Man" batted .338 for the Pirates in 1980 in his breakout season. He parlayed his hitting success into a career as a hitting coach after his playing days ended.
Something you might not know: When Easler was traded from the Red Sox to the Yankees in 1986, it was the first time in history a trade included nothing but designated hitters.
My observation on the back: Easler did not receive a card of his own until 1980 (he did appear on a four-player rookie card in the 1978 Topps set). Look at all those years listed before he received a card!
The blog wants to speak now: The News category is updated.
As a Mets fan, I didn't want Easler to get more playing time--he was a real Met killer! I always remembered him as such, but I just looked it up, and his career slash line against the Mets was .321/.369/.560. So I'd say that confirms it.
ReplyDeleteI remember him when he was the hitting coach for the Red Sox. he would give his Hit Man jacket to a deserving hitter each game. He was a smart coach who helped Mo Vaughn become an MVP level hitter.
ReplyDeleteI was right there with you wanting him to play more - the guy could hit. For unknown reasons, I always like the photo on this card.
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