Rest in peace Chuck Tanner

The Fam-A-Lee lost one of its great figures.
Notice I couldn't say its father figure. The 1979 Pirates had only one daddy... that would be Pops Stargell.

But Chuck Tanner was the manager of those 1979 Pirates and it was his enthusiasm and positivity that gave them a steady hand as they beat a powerful Orioles squad after trailing 3 games to 1.

He managed contenders for the White Sox and the end of the 1970s A's run where he finished second. Then was traded as a manager to the Pirates for Manny Sanguillen.

Sanguillen would return to the Pirates and help with a key pinch hit single in the 1979 World Series.

Tanner would later manage the Braves where he brought Stargell along to be on his coaching staff.

The Fam-A-Lee has a new Hall of Famer this year with Bert Blyleven and last year they lost Jim Bibby. Now Tanner is gone.

Anyone who knows me knows that the 1979 World Series holds a very special place in my heart. It was the first World Series I watched every game of and the first one I got emotional about.

I love that '79 Pirates team and as I wrote before, I thought everything about that World Series was great.

So cue up Sister Sledge and tip your star covered hat.

Rest in peace Chuck Tanner... you will always be part of the Fam-A-Lee.

Missing something, Mike?

This off season, I am going to do a bunch of posts on Sully Baseball about baseball cards and some of my favorite ones.

But I am going to jump the gun a little bit and break out this beauty... a 1977 Topps Card of Mike Torrez.

Now this was before Torrez was a Yankee and clinched the 1977 World Series.
This was before he served up Bucky Dent's homer.
This was before he basically derailed Dicky Thon's career.

Here he was, a member of the A's... part of the bounty from Baltimore from the Reggie Jackson trade.

Now I love the posed pictures that Topps used to do and this one is a beaut.

In the empty stadium, Mike is clearly asked to pose in midwindup. I am guessing this is before a game... but then again the A's drew fewer than 800,000 fans that year, so this might very well be during a game.

He of course is doing it along the first baseline. Why not on the mound? Or at least in the bullpen?

But my favorite element to how lazy this picture is... where's his hat?

Seriously. We know this isn't an action photo, but would it have KILLED Mike to put his damn hat on?

Then again look at that beautiful mane of blow dried hair.

I guess putting a bright green lid on that would mess it up!

Sully Baseball Honors UNUSUAL TEAM PICTURE CARDS

The Team Picture Checklist Card didn't suck as much as the regular Checklist Card but it was never good to get more than one in a pack.

But some teams managed to throw some variety into the dull team picture. Here are some of the better ones I found in my parents garage.


1978 Topps, Oakland A's

There was an impressive amount of organization for this picture. Usually the team shows up in uniform and they line up. But the A's had to make sure the guys who were supposed to wear the yellow uniforms didn't wear a green uniform by mistake.














1979 Topps, Chicago Cubs

The Cubs went with the radical "floating head" team picture.
I assume this was a huge pain-in-the-ass pre-Photoshop process creating this picture.
Either that or there was a giant Green room where the Cubs players stuck their heads through a hole like Whack A Mole.







The Giants of the late 1970s and early 1980s liked to mix it up and change their team picture looks.




1978 Topps, San Francisco Giants

Here the Giants rode a Trolley into left field at Candlestick Park.
This is misleading because it implies that there was any form of reliable public transportation going to the 'Stick.

A trolley like this would be good if you were trying to get from North Point to Market as slowly as possible and being squished next to tourists.

(Note the Marlboro sign clearly displayed on a baseball card... again, different times.)















1979 Topps, San Francisco Giants

The Giants ditched the trolley and decided not to take their picture by the left field wall the next year.
Here's the problem... I don't know where the hell this picture was taken.

Candlestick didn't have that green wall if I remember correctly.
Maybe it's the Spring Training complex.

Maybe they were in San Diego and the traveling secretary said "Oh shoot! Did we take a team picture?"
The picture itself looks a little disorganized. Some are standing. Some sitting on what looks like a trunk.
#39 Bob Knepper looks like he is leaning back on a bunch of other players.

Maybe it is a trust exercise.














1980 Topps, San Francisco Giants

Back to the left field wall at the 'Stick.
No trolley this time but the coaches get to wear the cool orange shirts and guys in the front row get bats.

The Giants label now covers up the Marlboro sign.
Maybe someone complained.

















1981 Topps, San Francisco Giants

My personal favorite.
No kneeling. No sitting. Everyone stand up and look up.

I'm guessing the photographer said "OK, now everyone look up like you are seeing the mother ship in Close Encounters!"

















1980 Topps, San Diego Padres

This one is the coolest.
The brown and yellow Taco Bell uniforms would make any team picture unsightly.

But this one was taken when the Padres were at the Zoo!

I never knew baseball teams went on field trips!
I hope they all remembered to bring their permission slips.