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Richard Henry Hughes
St. Louis Cardinals
Pitcher
Born: February 13, 1938, Stephens, AR
Signed: Signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent before 1958 season
Major League Teams: St. Louis Cardinals 1966-1968
World Series Appearances: St. Louis Cardinals 1967-1968
Dick Hughes pitched in parts of three seasons with the Cardinals, going with the team to the World Series twice and enjoying one magical season in 1967. Hughes made his debut with the Cardinals in 1966 as a September call-up, and earned a spot in the team's bullpen to start the 1967 season. He spent the first few months as a reliever before replacing Al Jackson (#649) in the Cardinals' pitching rotation in late May. Hughes would go on to a 16-6 record with a 2.67 ERA in 37 games overall and 27 starts. He threw 12 complete games, including three shutouts, forming a strong righty-lefty combination with Steve Carlton (#255) down the stretch drive. He was the starting pitcher for the Cardinals in Games 2 and 6 of the World Series against the Red Sox, and while he struggled in the series, his team still prevailed in seven games.
Dick Hughes pitched in parts of three seasons with the Cardinals, going with the team to the World Series twice and enjoying one magical season in 1967. Hughes made his debut with the Cardinals in 1966 as a September call-up, and earned a spot in the team's bullpen to start the 1967 season. He spent the first few months as a reliever before replacing Al Jackson (#649) in the Cardinals' pitching rotation in late May. Hughes would go on to a 16-6 record with a 2.67 ERA in 37 games overall and 27 starts. He threw 12 complete games, including three shutouts, forming a strong righty-lefty combination with Steve Carlton (#255) down the stretch drive. He was the starting pitcher for the Cardinals in Games 2 and 6 of the World Series against the Red Sox, and while he struggled in the series, his team still prevailed in seven games.
Hughes led the National League with a 0.954 WHIP, and finished as runner-up to Tom Seaver (#480) in the Rookie of the Year voting. He'd tear his rotator cuff while warming up during spring training in 1968. Hughes would battle through 25 more games and attempt a comeback in 1969, but his final big league appearance came on September 28, 1968. In 68 major league games, Hughes was 20-9 with a 2.79 ERA and 230 strikeouts in 307 innings pitched.
January 17, 2023 from Greg Morris Cards - Los Angeles, CA
On the evening of January 8th, I found myself sitting in Terminal C of the Philadelphia International Airport waiting to board my flight to Dallas. Earlier that day, I had enjoyed watching our oldest son Doug at a winter track meet as he pole vaulted for his high school. I was in a good mood despite the the fact that like most flights that day, my flight had been delayed. This was for a work trip, and I was doing my best to stay positive and keep myself in the post-holiday happiness hangover that had lingered into the year's second week. eBay seller Greg Morris Cards, based out of Los Angeles, somehow seems to post cards from various vintage baseball card set breaks on a weekly basis, with the cards typically all in fantastic condition. With time to kill, knowing that bidding on baseball cards was a surefire good mood sustainer, and having only 40 cards so far for our 1969 Topps set, I pleasantly passed the time by bidding on 62 commons, all with no previous bidders, and all ending within the next 30 hours.
The next afternoon, while on a break at our work conference in the Hilton Anatole, I checked on the auctions, noting I had been outbid on a few, but was still the high bidder for most of the 62 cards. That night, as auctions were close to ending, and as I was enjoying a few adult beverages at the fine Rodeo Goat establishment across the street from the Hilton, my Apple Watch began vibrating every few seconds as I was outbid on dozens of auctions. When the dust had settled, I had won 24 new cards at an average price of about $2.50 per card. This Hughes card was $3.25, and arrived a week after I had made the return trip home from Dallas.
The Card / Cardinals Team Set / Accuracy Index +3
1969 Season
Hughes appeared in 15 games for the Single-A St. Petersburg Cardinals, going 1-2 with a 2.31 ERA. He'd join the Arkansas Travelers, then the Cardinals' Double-A team, as their pitching coach in 1970.
Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card: 1967 Topps #384
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (3): 1967-1969
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2018 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs #ROA-RC
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 16 in the Beckett online database as of 1/22/23.
Sources:
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia
The Card / Cardinals Team Set / Accuracy Index +3
Hughes' Spalding glove seems to have his last name branded into the side. He signed reprints of this card to be included in the 2018 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs insert set. The cartoon highlighting his Rookie of the Year win refers to The Sporting News 1967 National League Rookie Pitcher of the Year Award, for which Hughes beat out Seaver. Topps was optimistic about Hughes returning to form in 1969, but by the time this card was appearing in packs of cards he had already appeared in his last big league game.
Accuracy Index: Similar to Mickey Mantle (#500) before him, Hughes scores five points for the accurate uniform, but loses two points for not actually playing with the Cardinals in 1969.
1969 Season
Hughes appeared in 15 games for the Single-A St. Petersburg Cardinals, going 1-2 with a 2.31 ERA. He'd join the Arkansas Travelers, then the Cardinals' Double-A team, as their pitching coach in 1970.
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First Mainstream Card: 1967 Topps #384
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (3): 1967-1969
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2018 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs #ROA-RC
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 16 in the Beckett online database as of 1/22/23.
Sources:
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia
Beckett Database / The Trading Card Database
#38 Zoilo Versalles - San Diego Padres / #40 Mayo Smith MG - Detroit Tigers
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