1978 Topps Jim Rooker

Who is this? former Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Jim Rooker
What is this? An autographed card from the 1978 Topps set
Where'd I get it? Nick from Baseball Happenings got it signed for me last year.


Why is this so special? Rooker had a solid 13-year major league career with the Tigers, Royals and Pirates, but I never saw him play since he retired after the 1980 season. His lifetime record was 103-109 and he won a World Series ring with the 1979 Pirates.

I remember Jim Rooker because of a comment he made during a broadcast of a Pittsburgh Pirates game in 1989. The Pirates put up 10 runs in the first inning of a game against the Phillies, and Rooker said on air, "If we lose this game, I’ll walk home." Sure enough, the Phillies staged a comeback and won 15-11.

After the season, Rooker followed through on his promise and walked over 300 miles while raising money for charity.

I'm glad I don't have to decipher Rooker's signature.

1978 Topps Ron Cey

Who is this? Ron Cey, a former third baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics

What is this? An autographed card from the 1978 Topps set, #630

Where'd I get it? My father gave me a small stack of cards that he picked up at a yard sale that one of his friends was holding this summer. This was one of the cards. I mailed it to Ron Cey last month and asked him to sign it, and I got it back about a week later.

How much did it cost? I'm not sure what the cards cost, but it couldn't have been much. Postage was 88 cents.

Why is this so special? Ron Cey was a very good ballplayer for the Dodgers in the 1970s. He made the All-Star team for six straight years from 1974-1979. He was the World Series MVP in 1981. He had over 1800 hits and more than 300 home runs in his career. And he was nicknamed "The Penguin" for his running style. I love nicknames.

You have to love that card, too. Check out the goofy smile, the dinged edges (and corners) and the terrible centering. It actually looks like a 30-year-old card. Cey's loopy signature adds to the appeal. It is thoughtfully signed in blue, matching the Dodger blue of Cey's uniform.

1978 Topps Rowland Office

Who is this? Braves legend Rowland Office.

What is this? An autographed 1978 Topps card.

Where'd I get it? EBay or something.

How much did it cost? Probably not a whole lot.

Why is this so special? When I was a kid Rowland Office was the Expo who looked like the photographer surprised him on his 1981 Topps card. Today, Roland Office is the patron saint of my favorite Braves blog. Rowland was actually a mainstay of the Braves' outfield in thew '70s, although I didn't know that until much later. Rowland made is debut in 1972 as a nineteen year old, then returned to the Braves in 1974. He manned the outfield for 6 years before he was granted free agency and signed with Montreal. Rowland also played two games with the Yankees and was signed by the Phillies but never got called up to to club.

Rowland never put up great numbers with the Braves, but then again, no Brave did in the late '70s. He's better known today for his odd name and, um, unique looks. That whole late 70's team has always somewhat alien to me. I didn't really get pathologically obsessed with the Braves until about 1980 or '81, And I wasn't really interested in older Braves other than the Biggies like Aaron, Mathews and Spahn. Then when I started to appreciate more the older teams I dove into the really old ones like the 1914, 1935 and 1948 clubs. Then the '91 Braves hit like a tornado and I had a new set of players to obsess over. As a result, now I'm in my 30's and the Braves of the last '70s are still as foreign to me as they were when I was a kid looking at that '81 Topps card. I've had the cards for years, Rowland, Buzz Capra, Mickey Mahler, Marty Perez, Cito Gaston, Adrian Devine... but they never really connected with me (other than Knucksie, but his career crosses though several Braves eras) like the teams of the '80s.

A few years ago I came across a lot of 1978 Topps Braves cards, all autographed, on one of the auction sites. I knew a deal when I saw one and snatched it up. Now I have about a third of that that team set signed (including this guy, no relation) including Rowland. Now, the 1978 club will never be burned into my mind as indelably as the '82 squad, but this card of one of the icons from that era helps to provide a connection for me. By the way, you can barely see it against the dark warmup jacket, but the signature is gorgeous. Thick, bold and confident. You can see the signature better here, but it's not as nice looking as mine. Cood looking card, good looking sig. Office even manages to draw a walk on the back of his card. That's the way to get on base, Rowland!

1978 Topps Jerry Royster

Who is this? Braves infielder Jerry Royster.

What is this? An autographed 1978 Topps card, number 187.

Where'd I get it? In a trade with Kris, aka AlbukwirkE.

How much did it cost? Acquired in a trade.

Why is this so special? I helped Kris complete his 2007 A&G set and this card was a surprise in the package he sent me. Kris got a couple cards signed in person last summer and sent me the extra. This is a really sweet auto on a great card. I like the 1978 set if for no other reason than for the game on the back. Jerry's card is a strikeout though. Jerry played for the Braves for 10 years and was on many of the teams I grew up with. He was also on the 1976 Topps All Star Rookie team, maybe he'll get an insert card this year. Jerry became a coach when his playing days were done and has spent many years as a minor league manager. He also managed the Brewers for one year, which was technically not a minor league team at the time. He will be managing the Lotte Giants, and is the first American to manage in the Korean league.