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John Michael Adamson
Baltimore Orioles
Pitcher
Born: September 13, 1947, San Diego, CA
Drafted: Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1st round (1st pick) of the 1967 amateur draft (June secondary), June 6, 1967
Major League Teams: Baltimore Orioles 1967-1969
Died: May 7, 2022, Monument, CO (age 74)
Mervin Weldon Rettenmund
Baltimore Orioles
Outfield
Born: June 6, 1943, Flint, MI
Signed: Signed by the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur free agent, November 28, 1964
Major League Teams: Baltimore Orioles 1968-1973; Cincinnati Reds 1974-1975; San Diego Padres 1976-1977; California Angels 1978-1980
World Series Appearances: Baltimore Orioles 1969-1971; Cincinnati Reds 1975
Mike Adamson was the top pick in the June 1967 amateur player draft, and he'd report immediately to the Orioles a few days after signing his contract. Adamson would play sparingly with the Orioles over the next three seasons, appearing in 11 games overall and making four starts. He was 0-4 with a 7.46 ERA in 25 1/3 innings pitched, striking out 14 and walking 22. Adamson pitched professionally through the 1971 season before retiring.
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| 1971 Topps #362 |
As a back-up outfielder and pinch-hitter for the Big Red Machine, Rettenmund won another World Series ring in 1975. After a few seasons with the Padres, he played in his final three seasons with the Angels as a back-up outfielder/designated hitter. Rettenmund batted .271 over 13 seasons, with 693 hits, 66 home runs and 329 RBIs. Following his playing days, he was a long-time and well-respected hitting coach with the Rangers (1983-85), Athletics (1989-90), Padres (1991-99), Braves (2000-01), Tigers (2002) and Padres again (2006-07). I distinctly remember Rettenmund's 1975 Topps card being one of the first my Dad and I acquired for that set build, and my Dad being amused at my inability to correctly pronounce his last name.
Building the Set / Card #117
March 12, 2023 from The Philly Show (Uncle Dick's Cards)
This is the 40th of the 193 commons and semi-stars purchased, pulled and stacked from the first two neon green binders housing 1969 Topps cards at the multi-table spread of Uncle Dick's Cards from Babylon, New York. My method was simple - I pulled up a chair, found a card I needed, picked the best of the group from the binder page and set it aside. After each 100 cards, I'd ask the dealer to tell me how much damage I had done so far. With a budget in mind, I kept going twice, continuing after card #100 and card #200, and stopping at card #298. The final amount due was 17% off the sticker price for the pile of 193 cards, with this card cost less than a dollar. If I stick to composing posts five times a week, I should go through the stack and be caught up by the end of January. But as the summer begins, that's becoming a bigger If.
The Card / Orioles Team Set / Adamson Accuracy Index +5 / Rettenmund Accuracy Index -3
This is Adamson's rookie card, and he'd appear once more in a Topps set, sharing another Rookie Stars card in 1971 with Roger Freed. It's Rettenmund's first appearance in a mainstream Topps set too, although he appeared back in 1967 in the Topps Venezuelan set.
Building the Set / Card #117
March 12, 2023 from The Philly Show (Uncle Dick's Cards)
In mid-March, Doug and I attended the Philadelphia Sports Collectors Show, held within the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania. My main focus for this show was accumulating as many 1969 Topps commons as possible, which I did by adding a grand total of 193 cards to our set. That's almost 30% of the entire set added in one enjoyable afternoon. I wrote a full summary of the show in a post over at The Phillies Room, found here.
The Card / Orioles Team Set / Adamson Accuracy Index +5 / Rettenmund Accuracy Index -3
This is Adamson's rookie card, and he'd appear once more in a Topps set, sharing another Rookie Stars card in 1971 with Roger Freed. It's Rettenmund's first appearance in a mainstream Topps set too, although he appeared back in 1967 in the Topps Venezuelan set.
Accuracy Index: Adamson scores a rare (so far) +5 for a Rookie Stars card participant, as he's in the correct uniform with an Orioles logo on his hat. Rettenmund is likely wearing a Red Wings jersey here, and he loses 3 points for the logo-less hat.
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Adamson
First Mainstream Card: 1969 Topps #66
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (2): 1969, 1971
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1971 Topps #362
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 8 in the Beckett online database as of 6/11/23.
Sources - Adamson:
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Rettenmund
First Mainstream Card: 1969 Topps #66
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (12): 1969-1980
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2004 Upper Deck Legends Timeless Teams #64
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 76 in the Beckett online database as of 6/11/23.
Sources - Rettenmund:
1969 Season - Adamson
It looks as if Adamson made the Orioles' opening day roster, pitching in six games in April and early May before his demotion back to the minors. With the Orioles, and with his final big league game coming on May 7th, he was 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in eight innings pitched. With the Rochester Red Wings, he was 11-8 with a 4.17 ERA in 23 games, including 22 starts.
It looks as if Adamson made the Orioles' opening day roster, pitching in six games in April and early May before his demotion back to the minors. With the Orioles, and with his final big league game coming on May 7th, he was 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in eight innings pitched. With the Rochester Red Wings, he was 11-8 with a 4.17 ERA in 23 games, including 22 starts.
1969 Season - Rettenmund
Rettenmund spent all of 1969 with the Orioles, appearing in 95 games and making starts at all three outfield spots - 19 in left, 13 in center and 10 in right. The Orioles' outfield was well stocked with Frank Robinson (#250) in right, Paul Blair (#506) in center and Don Buford (#478) in left. Still, Rettenmund saw plenty of playing time as a defensive replacement and occasional pinch-hitter. He batted .247 with four home runs and 25 RBIs. In the 1969 World Series, Rettenmund pinch-ran for Robinson in Game 2.
Rettenmund spent all of 1969 with the Orioles, appearing in 95 games and making starts at all three outfield spots - 19 in left, 13 in center and 10 in right. The Orioles' outfield was well stocked with Frank Robinson (#250) in right, Paul Blair (#506) in center and Don Buford (#478) in left. Still, Rettenmund saw plenty of playing time as a defensive replacement and occasional pinch-hitter. He batted .247 with four home runs and 25 RBIs. In the 1969 World Series, Rettenmund pinch-ran for Robinson in Game 2.
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Adamson
First Mainstream Card: 1969 Topps #66
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (2): 1969, 1971
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1971 Topps #362
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 8 in the Beckett online database as of 6/11/23.
Sources - Adamson:
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Rettenmund
First Mainstream Card: 1969 Topps #66
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (12): 1969-1980
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2004 Upper Deck Legends Timeless Teams #64
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 76 in the Beckett online database as of 6/11/23.
Sources - Rettenmund:
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