The 1974 Topps Rookie All-Star Team - John D'Acquisto

Here they are - the Topps All-Star Rookie Team, selected "by the Youth of America" by a vote of fellow MLB players following the 1974 season and featured in the 1975 Topps set. 

I have completed the run of these up through 2018 Series Two, at least all regular issue cards that bear the All-Star Rookie Trophy. 

Topps decided to skip the Trophies on the 1974 Topps Set, but they made a triumphant return in 1975. I wanted to show my appreciation for this expression of good judgement, so for the 1974 Lineup, I will do a separate post for each player. This was a pretty good crop of players, so let's dive in! 

Well, at the end of the day, Topps made a pretty good run in 1975, festooning the worthy rookies with a gaudy golden bowl of greatness. But John D'Acquisto was given the short end of the stick. The Righty from SoCal worked his way up the Giants' minor league ladder for a hearty snub from Topps.

See? He was the Giants' leader in Ks in 1974 - and Topps had him on the 1974 Rookie All-Star Team, but denied him the trophy. Topps also named him the Rookie Pitcher of the Year. It's a shame!

Also a shame? I thought I had a copy of D'Acquisto's sweet 1977 Topps card as a Saint Louis Cardinal, but I can't find it in my 70s binder. It might be in a box somewhere, but who knows which one? After a couple solid seasons in San Francisco, and a brief 3 game stint in Saint Louis, D'Acquisto moved to his hometown team of San Diego. The Padres revived an injury plagued career by shifting John to the bullpen. He still wanted to start however, and found limited success that way. He was pretty good in the bullpen again in 1980, splitting time between the Padres and the Montreal Expos. In 1981, he pitched just a handful of games for the Angels before the strike hit. He would end up finishing that year in AAA Salt Lake. In 1982 he was a minor leaguer in Atlanta's system, then finished his MLB career back in the bay in 1983 with the Oakland A's. D'Acquisto also found time to appear in the Senior League, like so many other 1974 Topps Rookie All-Stars.

The 1974 Topps Rookie All-Star Team - Claudell Washington

Here they are - the Topps All-Star Rookie Team, selected "by the Youth of America" by a vote of fellow MLB players following the 1974 season and featured in the 1975 Topps set. 

I have completed the run of these up through 2018 Series Two, at least all regular issue cards that bear the All-Star Rookie Trophy. 

Topps decided to skip the Trophies on the 1974 Topps Set, but they made a triumphant return in 1975. I wanted to show my appreciation for this expression of good judgement, so for the 1974 Lineup, I will do a separate post for each player. This was a pretty good crop of players, so let's dive in! 

Washington did not play organized baseball in high school - instead he was a track and field star. Similar to the grooming of Herb Washington, Claudell was a speedster that was destined to be a pinch runner for Charlie Finley's A's. There was just one problem with that plan - the guy could hit pretty well, too!

Despite his limited experience, Washington breezed through several levels of minor league ball and wound up on the MLB roster in his 2nd full professional season. He stole 80 bases in the minors and was a major leaguer for good at age 19. He was used as the team's 4th outfielder and Lefty DH in the second half and was a key part of Oakland's third straight World Series title.

That would be his only trip to the World Series in his 17 year career. He did show impressive speed and power early on, however, and made his first All-Star appearance in 1975 at just 20 years old. While base stealing was considered his biggest asset, it was his tape measure home runs that really caused fans and rival GMs to take notice. His power potential made him an attractive trade piece 5 times in his career. He was swapped for other outfield bats like Bobby Bonds (in a trade from Texas to the White Sox) and Ken Griffey, Sr. (from Atlanta to the Yankees).

The Braves signed Washington to a five year, $3.5MM contract after the 1980 season, in which he stole 21 bases and hit 11 homers for the White Sox and the Mets. The contract had some scratching their heads, but the truth was that Washington had not been given a regular starting role at any point in his career and was motivated to show what he could do. In 6 seasons in Atlanta, Washington had 647 hits, and 115 stolen bases including his 2nd and final All-Star selection in 1984. It was also during this stint that he hit a memorable foul ball at Wrigley Field, the footage of which was used for the film Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Washington did have some off field issues in the 80s, and was one of several players implicated during the infamous Pittsburgh cocaine trial. For his part, Washington sought treatment and donated a portion of his Braves' contract to drug treatment and prevention programs. His character and reputation was damaged but not destroyed, and it was his years in pinstripes that saw a late career renaissance. His 1988 season in particular was a return to his early career form, batting over .300, while stealing 15 bases and hitting 11 homers. He had worked diligently over the years on his defense in the outfield, his one glaring weakness as a player had become a strength.

Another season of double digit homers and steals pushed his career totals to 163 round trippers to go along with 308 steals. Some highlights from his career include 3-Homer games in both the AL and the NL, hitting the 10,000th homer in Yankees' history, as well as a walk off blast in the 18th inning for a marathon victory for New York over Detroit in 1988. He would finish his career in 1990, with a brief stint with the Angels before being traded to the Yankees for his final 33 games. He finished with over 1,800 career hits, 334 doubles and 824 runs batted in. 

The 1974 Topps Rookie All-Star Team - Larry Milbourne

Here they are - the Topps All-Star Rookie Team, selected "by the Youth of America" by a vote of fellow MLB players following the 1974 season and featured in the 1975 Topps set. 

I have completed the run of these up through 2018 Series Two, at least all regular issue cards that bear the All-Star Rookie Trophy. 

Topps decided to skip the Trophies on the 1974 Topps Set, but they made a triumphant return in 1975. I wanted to show my appreciation for this expression of good judgement, so for the 1974 Lineup, I will do a separate post for each player. This was a pretty good crop of players, so let's dive in! 

Larry Milbourne is to Major League Baseball as Margo Martindale is to television and film. He's the quintessential supporting character on the diamond, playing for 6 different Major League teams over 11 seasons.

Milbourne was named the 2nd baseman for the Topps Rookie All-Star team, despite only starting 29 times for the Astros at 2nd. He did appear in 112 games, but had just 148 plate appearances. This was a tough year for rookie 2nd baseman - I tried to find a more deserving candidate, but the closest I came was the Red Sox Short Stop/2nd Baseman Rick Burleson. Burleson had a very good rookie campaign, but only had 31 games at 2nd and 88 at SS. So, Milbourne's intangibles as a defensive replacement for veteran Tommy Helms (who was the 1966 NL R.O.Y. and a Topps Rookie All-Star in his own right) made the difference.

He worked almost exclusively as a utility infielder throughout his career. By the time he made the Astros' roster, he'd already been in 4 other organizations- showing flashes of speed (21 steals for the Giants' Single A squad), average (.301 for rookie league Orioles, .305 for the Giants), and solid defense throughout. He would be drafted in the annual minor league draft 3 straight seasons before Houston selected him in the Rule V draft, securing a major league roster spot for him.

Following the 1976 season, Milbourne was dealt to Seattle for Roy Thomas. He would record the first walk off hit in Mariners' franchise history, an RBI double in the team's 2nd game ever. In 1978, he would get a much larger role, playing in 123 games for the Mariners. He responded with a respectable .278 average and a career high in runs batted in.

Milbourne was a Topps Traded darling in the early 80s, and this sequence doesn't even include his brief 29 game career in Minnesota. If you want to see proof, check out this post from a blogger that sought autographs from every Twins player. A custom card was made of Milbourne in a Twins uni.

The highlight of Milbourne's MLB career came in 1981 with the Yankees - he hit .462 in the ALCS and .327 for the playoffs overall.

His career coda came in the Senior League, playing for the short lived and poorly named St. Lucie Legends. The team lost 20 of its first 23 games, and finished dead least in the league, then went out of business in the off-season.

The 1974 Topps Rookie All-Star Team - Greg Gross

Here they are - the Topps All-Star Rookie Team, selected "by the Youth of America" following the 1974 season and featured in the 1975 Topps set. 

I have completed the run of these up through 2018 Series One, at least all regular issue cards that bear the All-Star Rookie Trophy. 

Topps decided to skip the Trophies on the 1974 Topps Set, but they made a triumphant return in 1975. I wanted to show my appreciation for this expression of good judgement, so for the 1974 Lineup, I will do a separate post for each player. This was a pretty good crop of players, so let's dive in! 

Outfield - Greg Gross

It was fitting that Greg Gross had his Major League Debut as a pinch hitter. A 4th Round Selection by the Astros in the 1970 MLB draft, Gross offered a very specific set of skills to the team. The lefty bat moved steadily through the Astros minor league system, making his first MLB appearance late in 1973.

Gross has a very solid rookie season, finishing 3rd in the NL in average. His 185 hits ranked 7th. He came in 2nd the NL Rookie of the Year Voting, just behind Bake McBride of the Cardinals. In addition to his ability to get base hits, he was also a very patient hitter. His .393 on base percentage was 5th best in the league and the best mark for a rookie since 1970. 

Gross was the Astros' primary Right Fielder as a Rookie and moved around the next few seasons from Right to Left. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs before the 1977 season for Julio Gonzalez. In Chicago he was used as a bench player and reserve outfielder. In Chicago, Gross found his power stroke - he hit 6 of his 7 career homers as a Cub. He hit home runs in back to back games in a road trip to Atlanta in August of 1977, the second being his only career leadoff home run. 

Gross found a home in Philadelphia, coming to the City of Brotherly Love in 1979 in the same trade that sent fellow 1974 Topps Rookie All-Star Barry Foote in the opposite direction. In Philly he became the club's premier Lefty bench bat, and along with another 1974 Topps Rookie All-Star, Bake McBride, helped the Phillies win the 1980 World Series. Gross went 3-4 in his 4 NLCS appearances, scoring 2 runs and driving in another. 

Gross would remain a steady presence in Philadelphia off the bench as a pinch hitter and filling in as a corner outfielder and first baseman. He became the Phillies' all-time leader in pinch hits. 

Score provides the deep cut factoids, mentioning his first of two career pitching appearances. He probably should have quit while he was ahead, a scoreless 2/3rds of an inning including strikeouts of Casey Candaele and Herm Winningham. In his final season, he would return to the mound again, in the ninth inning of another blow out. This time, he was roughed up by the Pirates, surrendering 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk. He was quoted in the Sporting News following his adventure on the mound, "The worst part is how close you are to the batter after you throw the ball [. . .] I throw batting practice, but you've got the screen. I was looking for a way to sneak the screen out there."

His final 60 games came as a member of the Houston Astros, hitting just .200 for the season. He was not able to secure a tryout in 1990 and sat out the season. He accepted a Spring Training invite with the Padres in 1991 and was the final cut prior to Opening Day. There were rumors that he would be picked up by the Red Sox, but he officially retired. 

Gross may not have been fleet of foot, or hit for power, but his ability to make contact and reach base via any means necessary made him an integral part of the 1980s Phillies. He struck out just 250 times in his 4,355 career plate appearances, and his career .371 OBP ranks just ahead of Kenny Lofton and Roberto Alomar on the all-time list.

The 1974 Topps Rookie All-Star Team - Bucky Dent

Here they are - the Topps All-Star Rookie Team, selected "by the Youth of America" following the 1974 season and featured in the 1975 Topps set. 

I have completed the run of these up through 2018 Series One, at least all regular issue cards that bear the All-Star Rookie Trophy. 

Topps decided to skip the Trophies on the 1974 Topps Set, but they made a triumphant return in 1975. I wanted to show my appreciation for this expression of good judgement, so for the 1974 Lineup, I will do a separate post for each player. This was a pretty good crop of players, so let's dive in! 

Shortstop - Bucky Dent

Bucky Dent was the 6th overall pick in the June 1970 MLB Draft, though he had already been drafted twice before by Saint Louis without signing a contract. Dent would agree to sign with the White Sox and became the heir apparent to the position long held by Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio on the South Side of Chicago.

Whoa - Thanks to this card, it has been revealed that the Youth of America have been disenfranchised! The Rookie All-Star team is now voted on by MLB players. Dent began his White Sox career at just 21 years old. In his first full season, he finished second in the AL Rookie of the Year voting, and led the AL in Sacrifice Hits. His batting average of .274 would be a career high.

Expectations for Chicago Shortstops would always be high - whether the player is trying to replace Aparicio or Banks. Comparisons would never really go away. He did make his first All-Star roster in 1975, this time as a reserve. He would enter the game as a pinch hitter (batting for Reggie Jackson), and struck out.

Sharing this for the cartoon - Dent's family history was complicated, I don't want to make light of it. You can read all about it in his SABR biography.  While Dent wasn't exactly setting the world on fire at the plate or in the field, there was a intangible quality to his play on the field, and it was that "grit," "heart," and/or "hustle" which appealed to the New York Yankees.

The Yankees gave up Oscar Gamble, LaMarr Hoyt, a minor leaguer and $200,000 to get their new Short Stop, and both teams went away thinking they made out like bandits. Dent would continue to play regularly at short, and despite mediocre statistics, he was widely regarded as a team leader.

I won't bore you with the details, but he's given much of the credit for the Yankees' 1978 World Series victory over the Dodgers -- He hit .417 and drove in two big runs in the deciding 6th game. 1978 of course was his 2nd World Series victory, the first coming the year prior.

Dent would be on the move again in 1982, traded to Texas for Lee Mazzilli following two straight All-Star appearances. In Texas, Dent would find it more difficult to get those fan votes. His time in Texas was unremarkable. If not for his above average defense, we would have been an exactly replacement level player, earning 0.0 offensive WAR.

In 1984, Dent was released by the Rangers in April. He was granted a mini-reunion in New York - the Yankees signed him in June. He would not appear in a single game and was granted his release in July. The Kansas City Royals called, and he played his final 11 Major League games in the City of Fountains. After his playing career ended, Dent would return to the Yankees as minor league manager, moving quickly from single A to AAA. He briefly managed the major league team at the tail end of 1989 and the start of 1990, but was caught in George Steinbrenner's coaching carousel and was fired early in the 1990 season. He would join Joe Torre's staff in Saint Louis with the team that originally drafted him from 1991-1994, then coached in the Rangers system until 2001.

The 1974 Topps Rookie All-Star Team - Barry Foote

Here they are - the Topps All-Star Rookie Team, selected "by the Youth of America" following the 1974 season and featured in the 1975 Topps set. 

I have completed the run of these up through 2018 Series One, at least all regular issue cards that bear the All-Star Rookie Trophy. 

Topps decided to skip the Trophies on the 1974 Topps Set, but they made a triumphant return in 1975. I wanted to show my appreciation for this expression of good judgement, so for the 1974 Lineup, I will do a separate post for each player. This was a pretty good crop of players, so let's dive in! 

Catcher - Barry Foote

Foote was the #3 Overall Pick in the 1970 MLB draft, selected by the Montreal Expos. Foote made his debut 3 years later, and spent his rookie season as the primary catcher for the Expos. As a rookie, Foote led the National League in Sacrifice Flies, and in addition to a bit of power (11 Home Runs), he displayed a cannon for an arm. He threw out 42 would be base stealers, and was deemed by none other than Lou Brock as one of the toughest catchers to steal against.

He was playing on borrowed time in Montreal however, as a new Kid in town would start to siphon away playing time from Foote. Future Hall of Famer Gary Carter would supplant Foote as the Expos' primary receiver by the end of 1976. He did manage to lead the NL in double plays by a catcher in both 1975 and 76.

Foote was traded to Philadelphia in 1977, but he would see very little playing time for the Phils. He would catch in just 57 games and had just 16 hits.

Image From COMC.

In 1979, Foote was given a greater opportunity, and again he showed his strong throwing arm and capable bat. Now with the Cubs, Foote caught a career high 132 games and blasted a career high 16 home runs. The following season, his playing time was ceded to one of the only players with a more impressive moustache, Tim Blackwell. 

By 1981, Foote was moving on to New York. He was acquired to fill in for an injured Rick Cerone. By the time the player's strike ended, Cerone was healthy again, and Foote would have to wait. His final season in the majors found him sharing time with Cerone and Butch Wynegar. He signed a deal with the Yankees to become a scout, and also had a pair of championship seasons as a minor league manager.

The 1974 Topps Rookie All-Star Team - Bake McBride

Here they are - the Topps All-Star Rookie Team, selected "by the Youth of America" following the 1974 season and featured in the 1975 Topps set. 

I have completed the run of these up through 2018 Series One, at least all regular issue cards that bear the All-Star Rookie Trophy. 

Topps decided to skip the Trophies on the 1974 Topps Set, but they made a triumphant return in 1975. I wanted to show my appreciation for this expression of good judgement, so for the 1974 Lineup, I will do a separate post for each player. This was a pretty good crop of players, so let's dive in! 

Outfield - Bake McBride

The 1974 NL Rookie of the Year displayed tremendous speed in Saint Louis. Alongside Lou Brock, Bake McBride combined with the All-Time Great for 148 stolen bases in 1974, a record for most steals by a pair of teammates. The mark would be surpassed when Rickey Henderson stole 130 by himself in 1982 (Teammate Davey Lopes also had 28). Bake was known for an unusual stance at the plate, placing his weight on his front foot instead of his back foot.

While he did not break Lou Brock's record, he did have a unique game winnner in his rookie campaign. In the 25th inning of a marathon against the Mets, Bake took an aggressive lead off first base. The subsequent pick off throw from Hank Webb sailed into right field, which resulted in a runaway McBride! Bake wheeled around the bases and slid safely into home as Mets' catcher Ron Hodges mishandled the throw back in. Sonny Siebert pitched a clean final inning and Saint Louis prevailed 4-3.

McBride lone All-Star appearance came during an injury filled 1976 season. He had a great year while healthy, however, including a career high .335 batting average and 91 hits in just 72 games played. Despite the injuries to his knees and his shoulder, McBride continued to provide value with his speed on the bases. His 1977 season saw a career high in homers and stolen bases, though he did not mesh well with the new Cardinals' manager. McBride signed a 3 year contract with Saint Louis in May, but was traded to Philadelphia in June.

He was an instant hit in Philadelphia, taking over Right Field and serving as a catalyst for the Phils 1977 playoff run. He hit .338 down the stretch as the Phillies surged to the postseason. After two tough defeats at the hands of the Dodgers, McBride and the Phils would again make the playoffs in 1980 and he provided clutch hitting and a steady presence in the clubhouse. He would provide the spark in Game 1 of the 1980 World Series, hitting a 3 run shot leading the team to victory. They would go on to win the Series, with McBride hitting .305 with 5 runs batted in.

The injuries to McBride's legs over the years had taken their toll, but it was an eye infection from contact lenses that derailed his 1982 season. Cleveland had just traded for McBride that Februrary, and he hit well as the starting Right Fielder, now playing in more hospitable natural grass in Cleveland. He began to have issues related to his contact lenses in May, having worn them regularly since 1970 without any problems. He would return in 1983, but more injuries forced Cleveland's hand, and he was released at the end of the season.

He went on to coach in the Mets' minor league system and even found his way back onto the diamond in the Senior Professional Baseball League in Florida.

McBride finished his career with one World Series ring, one Rookie of the Year award, and one All-Star Appearance to go along with a lot of memories.

The 1974 Topps Rookie All-Star Team - Mike Hargrove

Here they are - the Topps All-Star Rookie Team, selected "by the Youth of America" following the 1974 season and featured in the 1975 Topps set. 

I have completed the run of these up through 2018 Series One, at least all regular issue cards that bear the All-Star Rookie Trophy. 

Topps decided to skip the Trophies on the 1974 Topps Set, but they made a triumphant return in 1975. I wanted to show my appreciation for this expression of good judgement, so for the 1974 Lineup, I will do a separate post for each player. This was a pretty good crop of players, so let's dive in! 

First Baseman - Mike Hargrove

Mike Hargrove burst onto the scene in 1974, and battled the great Rod Carew for the AL batting crown all season long. He ultimately did not have enough plate appearances to qualify, but his .323 average was second only to Carew's .364 mark.

The hitting prowess was not a complete surprise- the year before his rookie season he outpaced his league in batting average by over 50 points - no other player in his league cracked .300. He finished the season with .351. Hargrove was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1974, even with teammate Jim Sundberg finishing the year with a higher WAR (most of that coming defensively as a catcher).

Things went quite well for Hargrove in his home state of Texas, making the All-Star squad in 1975 for the first and only time in his career. He was a very patient hitter. His deliberate and extensive routine before each plate appearance and between each pitch earned the ire of opposing pitchers and the nickname "The Human Rain Delay." Between each pitch Hargrove would step out of the batter's box, adjust his helmet, re-fasten each batting glove, hitch up each sleeve, and wipe each hand on his pants before returning to the box. To add to the frustration on the mound, he was also notoriously difficult to strike out and was adept at fouling off two strike offerings.

Following the 1978 season, Hargrove was included in a package of players to San Diego in exchange for, among others, Oscar Gamble. Hargove's stint in San Diego might be best described as "Forgettable." He played in 52 games, hit just .195 with no home runs. He was promptly traded in June of 1979 to Cleveland for outfielder Paul Dade. The next chapter of his career was much sunnier, away from the 17 foot high walls of San Diego and into the Mistake by the Lake, Cleveland's Municipal Stadium. In Cleveland, Hargrove had 5 more productive seasons, leading the AL in OBP in 1981, and continuing his patient approach at the plate. His career OBP is .396, 75th All-Time, which puts him in the same company as players like Rod Carew (.395), John Olerud (.398), and Richie Ashburn (.396) to name a few.

His career in baseball did not stop with his playing days. Following his retirement in 1985, he became a coach, then minor league manager. He made his way up through the Cleveland system quickly, and was named Manager mid way through the 1991 Season. He led Cleveland to AL Division titles every year from 1995 through 1999, and in 1997 was a game away from winning a World Series title. He had brief stops in Baltimore and Seattle. He left the Mariners in the midst of a 7 game winning streak in 2007. Others speculated that there was feud between Hargrove and Ichiro, but Hargove denies this and stated he left the team because he no longer felt the competitive fire he once did.

The 1974 Topps Rookie All-Star Team - Bill Madlock

Here they are - the Topps All-Star Rookie Team, selected "by the Youth of America" following the 1974 season and featured in the 1975 Topps set. 

I have completed the run of these up through 2017 Series One, at least all regular issue cards that bear the All-Star Rookie Trophy. 

Topps decided to skip the Trophies on the 1974 Topps Set, but they made a triumphant return in 1975. I wanted to show my appreciation for this expression of good judgement, so for the 1974 Lineup, I will do a separate post for each player. This was a pretty good crop of players, so let's dive in! 

Third Baseman - Bill Madlock

It was a tall task for Mad Dog in his first full major league season - replace a Hall of Fame fan favorite at a vital position. Madlock was asked to take the place of the recently traded Ron Santo as the Cubs' Third Baseman.

He responded with a tremendous rookie year at the plate, then reeled off a pair of batting titles. The Cubs couldn't agree to a contract with Madlock following 1976. They decided instead to trade him to the San Francisco Giants. They moved Madlock from 3rd to 2nd base, but the position change didn't slow down his bat. His stint in the Bay Area could be called tumultuous, and his reception chilly as a windy day at Candlestick. He managed to get into a much publicized fight with teammate John Montefusco during Spring Training. Madlock had heard that Montefusco had told the press that the Giants were a "team of losers," so he confronted "The Count" mid-interview at his locker. The two men had to be separated by teammates. 

The following season didn't start any better off the field. A rumor was passed around that Madlock was instrumental in sabotaging the team's efforts to acquire Rod Carew in the off-season. Further complicating things, the rumor seems to have started from the Giants' owner Bob Lurie. The situation seemed to leak onto the field as well. His batting average in 1979 was well below his career numbers, and his slump did nothing to improve his mood. The famously short-fused Madlock tangled with Braves' pitcher Bo McLaughlin after a night of ducking fastballs high and tight. Mad Dog's elbow ignited a bench clearing brawl. Two days later, he was traded to the Pirates.   

The change of scenery did wonders for Madlock, and he found a clubhouse that embraced him as a member of the Fam-A-Lee. His bat turned around as well, hitting .328 for the remainder of the season and .375 in the World Series. He would go on to win 2 more N.L. batting titles in Pittsburgh, and became Willie Stargell's successor as Pirates' team captain.

Madlock was traded to the Dodgers in 1985 - He finished the season hitting .360 for LA. He had some injury issues in the years that followed, limiting his effectiveness. He was released in early 1987 by the Dodgers, but found himself back in the thick of another pennant race.

The last stop in his playing career came with Detroit, making one more trip to the post season and providing a little extra veteran leadership. In 1988, he played in Japan and hit a career high 19 homers. He had over 2,000 hits in the major leagues and his 4 batting titles place him among elite company.