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George Stuart Brunet
California Angels
Pitcher
Bats: Right Throws: Left Height: 6'1" Weight: 195
Born: June 8, 1935, Houghton, MI
Acquired: Obtained by the Kansas City Athletics from Seminole (Sooner State) as part of a minor league working agreement, before 1955 season
Major League Teams: Kansas City Athletics 1956-57, 1959-60; Milwaukee Braves 1960-61; Houston Colt .45s 1962-63; Baltimore Orioles 1963; Los Angeles Angels 1964; California Angels 1965-69; Seattle Pilots 1969; Washington Senators 1970; Pittsburgh Pirates 1970; St. Louis Cardinals 1971
Born: June 8, 1935, Houghton, MI
Acquired: Obtained by the Kansas City Athletics from Seminole (Sooner State) as part of a minor league working agreement, before 1955 season
Major League Teams: Kansas City Athletics 1956-57, 1959-60; Milwaukee Braves 1960-61; Houston Colt .45s 1962-63; Baltimore Orioles 1963; Los Angeles Angels 1964; California Angels 1965-69; Seattle Pilots 1969; Washington Senators 1970; Pittsburgh Pirates 1970; St. Louis Cardinals 1971
Died: October 25, 1991, Poza Rica, Mexico (age 56)
On the strength of his left pitching arm, George Brunet played for 15 seasons in the big leagues bouncing around to nine different teams. His longest stint by far was with the Angels between 1964 and 1969. Brunet twice led the league in losses with 19 in 1967 and 17 in 1968. The Angels sold Brunet to the expansion Pilots on July 31, 1969, and he's described in Jim Bouton's book Ball Four as being "crazy." After brief stints with the Pilots, Senators, Pirates and Cardinals, Brunet was released by the Cardinals on May 10, 1971 and his major league career was over.
But his career in the Mexican League was just beginning. His Baseball Reference statistics aren't complete, but Brunet pitched into his 50s finally retiring in the late 1980s. Known as "El Viejo" or "The Old Man," he pitched a no-hitter with Petroleros de Poza Rica on June 20, 1977 at 42 years old. On June 10, 1984, at 51, he set the Mexican record for shutouts with 55. In total, he pitched for 36 years in professional baseball. He died of a heart attack in 1991 a few years after his retirement and was posthumously elected into the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.
On the strength of his left pitching arm, George Brunet played for 15 seasons in the big leagues bouncing around to nine different teams. His longest stint by far was with the Angels between 1964 and 1969. Brunet twice led the league in losses with 19 in 1967 and 17 in 1968. The Angels sold Brunet to the expansion Pilots on July 31, 1969, and he's described in Jim Bouton's book Ball Four as being "crazy." After brief stints with the Pilots, Senators, Pirates and Cardinals, Brunet was released by the Cardinals on May 10, 1971 and his major league career was over.
But his career in the Mexican League was just beginning. His Baseball Reference statistics aren't complete, but Brunet pitched into his 50s finally retiring in the late 1980s. Known as "El Viejo" or "The Old Man," he pitched a no-hitter with Petroleros de Poza Rica on June 20, 1977 at 42 years old. On June 10, 1984, at 51, he set the Mexican record for shutouts with 55. In total, he pitched for 36 years in professional baseball. He died of a heart attack in 1991 a few years after his retirement and was posthumously elected into the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.
Some text for this post originally appeared on my 1965 Topps blog.
Building the Set / Card #531
December 15, 2024 from The Philly Show (Uncle Dick's Cards)
On Sunday, December 15th, Doug and I attended the latest Philly Show, spaciously spread out inside Hall A of the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania. I wrote a full show report over at The Phillies Room, including some thoughts on attending the show with our oldest son, who first graced the Philly Show floors back in 2012.
The Card / Angels Team Set / Accuracy Index -2
1969 Season
Brunet began the season in the Angels' starting pitching rotation, going 6-7 with a 3.84 ERA in 23 games, including 19 starts. He threw two shutouts in back-to-back games with the club. His weight and lack of conditioning frustrated Angels' management, despite his relative success on the mound, and on July 31st, his contract was sold to the expansion Pilots. Brunet was 2-5 with a 5.37 ERA in 12 games, including 11 starts, with the Pilots, throwing two complete games. Opting against wearing underwear, he told Bouton, "The only time you need them is if you get in a car wreck." On December 4th, Brunet was on the move again, traded to the Senators for Dave Baldwin (#132).
Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card: 1958 Topps #139
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (10): 1958, 1963-71
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2009 TriStar Obak #54
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 39 in the Beckett online database as of 7/12/25.
Sources:
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia
December 15, 2024 from The Philly Show (Uncle Dick's Cards)
On Sunday, December 15th, Doug and I attended the latest Philly Show, spaciously spread out inside Hall A of the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania. I wrote a full show report over at The Phillies Room, including some thoughts on attending the show with our oldest son, who first graced the Philly Show floors back in 2012.
Having had success the prior two shows at Uncle Dick's Cards with his well-organized, neon common binders, I opted to pull up a chair once again at the friendly dealer's array of tables. The aim was simple: Clear out Uncle Dick's 1969 Topps commons, starting off where I had left off the year before with card #501 and going through the end of the set, card #664. In less than 25 minutes, I completed my quest, and this is the 87th of 98 commons pulled from the binder. After a generous dealer discount due to my bulk purchase, this card cost me less than $1.50.
The Card / Angels Team Set / Accuracy Index -2
Topps recycled the same hatless photo used for Brunet's 1967 card here, and ironically enough he's probably actually wearing an Angels uniform. On the back, Topps highlights how Brunet led the Angels with 13 wins and five shutouts in 1968.
Accuracy Index: Brunet's card scores a rare -2. The uniform is right (+5), but he's hatless (-3) and Topps had used this photo before (-4).
1969 Season
Brunet began the season in the Angels' starting pitching rotation, going 6-7 with a 3.84 ERA in 23 games, including 19 starts. He threw two shutouts in back-to-back games with the club. His weight and lack of conditioning frustrated Angels' management, despite his relative success on the mound, and on July 31st, his contract was sold to the expansion Pilots. Brunet was 2-5 with a 5.37 ERA in 12 games, including 11 starts, with the Pilots, throwing two complete games. Opting against wearing underwear, he told Bouton, "The only time you need them is if you get in a car wreck." On December 4th, Brunet was on the move again, traded to the Senators for Dave Baldwin (#132).
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First Mainstream Card: 1958 Topps #139
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (10): 1958, 1963-71
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2009 TriStar Obak #54
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 39 in the Beckett online database as of 7/12/25.
Sources:
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia
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