Hall Of Fame Debate: Cast Your Vote For Steve Garvey!!!

Hall Of Fame Debate: Cast Your Vote For Steve Garvey!!!

The number of rookie baseball players that debuted in the early part of the 1970′s that are worthy of Hall of Fame consideration is a very small group.  Names like George Foster, Cecil Cooper, Don Baylor and Thurman Munson come to mind.

And you have to throw Steve Garvey into the mix as well.

Garvey made his debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1969 and while it took him a few seasons to earn a starting job, when he did he made the best of it!!

Garvey played in the major leagues for 19 seasons.  He is more than likely most well-known for playing in 1,207 consecutive games from 1975-1983.

But, Steve Garvey was a lot more than just an injury-free player.  He was a rock-solid team leader as well!!

Garvey’s career numbers display exactly how well-rounded his offensive output was.

In summary – 2,599 hits, 440 doubles, 272 home runs, .294 batting average, 1,143 runs scored, 1,308 RBI, and 3,941 total bases.  Couple that with a very strong career fielding average of .996 with his four Gold Gloves and you have an anchor on both offense and defense.

Steve Garvey was a 10-time All-Star player.  He amassed six 200-hit seasons during his career, including two seasons in which he led the National League. 

Steve Garvey won the National League MVP Award in 1974.  His numbers from that season are superb – .312 batting average, 200 hits, 32 doubles, 21 home runs, 111 RBI, 95 runs scored and just 66 strikeouts in 685 plate appearances. 

Garvey made it to five postseasons during his career, playing in five World Series match-ups.  He won 1 of the five championships; in 1981 as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Garvey’s individual success during the playoffs is exceptional.  In 55 postseason games, Garvey collected 75 hits en route to a .338 batting average.  He drove in 31 runs in those 55 contests while also scoring 32 times.  His efforts in the postseason earned him NLCS MVP Awards in both 1978 and 1984.

But are these credentials Hall of Fame worthy?  Do Steve Garvey’s career numbers stack up well against other Hall of Fame first basemen?  Can he compete in a numbers game against other players that starred during his era??

For me, the answer is ‘YES’.  I firmly believe that Steve Garvey is worthy of enshrinement at Cooperstown.  His consistency at the plate and his ability to deliver in the postseason is well above average – and maybe just a tad below elite.  And when compared to the players that debuted in the majors around the same time as Garvey, his numbers hold up, if not stand out, against them.  Before Keith Hernandez took playing defense at first base to a new level, Steve Garvey was the standard for excellence during the mid-1970′s.

Steve Garvey is just one of five former Padres players to have his jersey number retired by the team.

So, you have my vote.

What do you have to say – Cast Your Vote For Steve Garvey’s Hall Of Fame Worthiness Now!!!

Rollie Fingers 1970 Topps

Rollie Fingers 1970 Topps

It has been more than a month since I last showed off a baseball card of Rollie Fingers from my collection.

It has not due to lack of organization or time or desire.  It has more to do with availability…

You see, I am very close to completing my collection of every major-brand release of Rollie Fingers baseball cards from his playing days.  I’m just having a little bit of a hard time securing the remaining cards of him that I need for my collection in the condition that I seek and at a price that I am willing to pay.

So, it may take me a little time to knock out the remaining cards for my Rollie Fingers PC, but I am in no rush.

In the meantime, here is his 1970 Topps baseball card – a little off-centered, but still a very nice card.

Enjoy.

Former Dodgers And Padres Great Steve Garvey Battling Prostate Cancer

Former Dodgers And Padres Great Steve Garvey Battling Prostate Cancer

From The Sports Xchange

Former Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres standout Steve Garvey is battling prostate cancer, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Garvey, a 10-time All-Star and the 1974 National League MVP, told the Times his prostate was removed at UCLA Medical Center in October after his cancer was diagnosed in September.

Garvey, 64, made the announcement in a press release in which he stated he is putting up for auction several personal baseball items, including his MVP trophy. He said 70 percent of the proceeds with go toward prostate cancer awareness.

“I was thrown a pretty good curveball by God,” Garvey told The Times’ Dylan Hernandez. “I felt I was being challenged to work for prostate awareness for men and the women who love them.”

Garvey did not declare that he was completely out of the woods regarding his cancer, “but you want to be cautiously optimistic.”

Garvey had worked for the Dodgers in their community relations and marketing department before being fired by Frank McCourt, then the team owner, in 2011 after Garvey had spent time trying to purchase the team.

Rollie Fingers 1981 Topps Traded – 1st Milwaukee Brewers Card

Rollie Fingers 1981 Topps Traded – 1st Milwaukee Brewers Card

Rollie Fingers had a crazy offseason in between the 1980 and 1981 baseball seasons.

Actually, to narrow that down even further, he had one really wild week…

On December 8, 1980, Rollie Fingers was traded from the San Diego Padres to the St. Louis Cardinals.  And then just five days later, on the 12th of Decemeber, he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers.

This is Fingers’ card from the 1981 Topps Traded set:

Wouldn’t it have been cool to see a card of him with an air-brushed Cardinals uniform as well??

 I think so…

Rollie Fingers 1973 Topps

Rollie Fingers 1973 Topps

If you look very closely at this 1973 Topps baseball card of Rollie Fingers, you will see that he has yet to fully adopt the handle-bar mustache as part of his grooming style.

The length of the mustache is starting to come in, but it is not yet ready to start being curled in the manner that we have become accustomed to over the last 30+ years.

I’ve got to check out his 1974 Topps card to track the growth…

And yes, this card is a fantastic addition to my growing collection that honors Fingers’ career.

1982 Topps – 1981 ‘Leading Relievers’ With Bruce Sutter and Rollie Fingers

1982 Topps – 1981 ‘Leading Relievers’ With Bruce Sutter and Rollie Fingers

Jeez, look at all of the hair on this card!!!

WHOA!!!  From the top of the head through the mustache and to the beard, this has to be one of the hairiest (is that a word) baseball cards in the 1982 Topps set.

At least these guys brought something else to the card too – Power Pitching!!

At the end of the 1981 baseball season, it was Bruce Sutter and Rollie Fingers that paced their respective leagues in saves.  Sutter paced the National League with 25 saves, and Rollie Fingers led the AL, and all of baseball, with 28.

Not too shabby.  Just very, very hairy!!!

1978 Topps – 1977 Leading Firemen Starring Rollie Fingers & Bill Campbell

1978 Topps – 1977 Leading Firemen Starring Rollie Fingers & Bill Campbell

By the time the 1977 baseball season was underway, Rollie Fingers already had a reputation for being one of the best closers in the sport from his time with the 3-time World Series championship winning Oakland A’s.

Fingers signed with the San Diego Padres during the offseason between the 1976 and 1977 baseball seasons.

And he quickly asserting his dominance against his National League foes.

Fingers led the league, and the majors, with 35 saves in 1977.  Bill Campbell, of the Boston Red Sox, paced the AL with 31 saves.

This card from the 1978 Topps set celebrates both guys.

1975 Topps – 1974 World Series Game 3 Highlights Starring Rollie Fingers

1975 Topps – 1974 World Series Game 3 Highlights Starring Rollie Fingers

Rollie Fingers closed the door on the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the 1974 World Series.

And while he allowed one run in his 1.2 inning performance, it was enough to capture the win and give the Oakland Athletics a 3-2 victory, and a 2-1 lead in the Fall Classic of 1974.

Rollie’s stat line looked like this – 6 batters faced, 2 hits allowed, 1 run given up, and 1 strikeout.

This card, from the 1975 Topps set, does a nice job commemorating that night of October 15, 1974.

A very nice addition to my Rollie Fingers player collection!

Rollie Fingers 1976 Topps

Rollie Fingers 1976 Topps

Jeez, talk about a card design and photo that looks like they were made for each other…

This is Rollie Fingers’ base card from the 1976 Topps set.  And it looks like it was custom-made for the mustache-wearing righty.

From the strong presentation of Oakland’s Yellow and Green to the small drawing of a pitcher that rests in the bottom-left of the card, it all points to a very nicely done baseball card.

And if you break out your magnifier and flip it to the X50 magnification, you can make out the handle-bar mustache on the drawing…  Go get your microscopes!!

1984 Donruss ‘Living Legends’ Starring Gaylord Perry & Rollie Fingers

1984 Donruss ‘Living Legends’ Starring Gaylord Perry & Rollie Fingers

Donruss really tried to honor the retiring legends of the sport in the mid-1980′s.

  Their ‘Living Legends’ set was very small, but it was a nice way to celebrate the careers of future Hall of Famers by giving their fans one more card to collect.

This card is from the 1984 Donruss set, and it was a nice send-0ff for Gaylord Perry and Rollie Fingers.

Have a look:

It’s not nearly as nice as what Upper Deck would produce years later, but we do appreciate the thought!

Thank you, Donruss!