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Richard Anthony Drago
Kansas City Royals
Pitcher
Born: June 25, 1945, Toledo, OH
Signed: Signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent, September 16, 1964
Major League Teams: Kansas City Royals 1969-73; Boston Red Sox 1974-75; California Angels 1976-77; Baltimore Orioles 1977; Boston Red Sox 1978-80; Seattle Mariners 1981
World Series Appearances: Boston Red Sox 1975
Died: November 3, 2023, Tampa, FL (age 78)
Died: November 3, 2023, Tampa, FL (age 78)
George Herman Spriggs
Kansas City Royals
Outfield
Born: May 22, 1937, Jewell, MD
Signed: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent before 1963 season
Major League Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates 1965-67; Kansas City Royals 1969-70
Died: December 22, 2020, Prince Frederick, MD (age 83)
Robert Lee Oliver
Kansas City Royals
Outfield
Born: February 8, 1943, Shreveport, LA
Signed: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent before 1963 season
Major League Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates 1965; Kansas City Royals 1969-72; California Angels 1972-74; Baltimore Orioles 1974; New York Yankees 1975
Died: April 19, 2020, Rio Linda, CA (age 77)
The speedy George Spriggs tallied at least 324 stolen bases during ten seasons in the minor leagues, and appeared briefly in the majors with the Pirates and Royals. In over half of his 56 total games with the Pirates between 1965 and 1967, Spriggs was used as a pinch-hitter. His contract was sold to the expansion Royals in October 1968, and he'd be a member of the team's opening day roster before a demotion to the minors in early June 1969. Spriggs played in a career-high 51 games with the Royals in 1970, batting .208 and collecting his sole big league home run. He played for two more seasons in the Mets' minor league system before retiring. In 130 games, Spriggs batted .191 with the one home run and 12 RBIs.
Bob Oliver was a September call-up in 1965 by the Pirates, his original team, making it into three games as a late inning defensive replacement in left field or as a pinch-runner. He'd spend the next three seasons in the minor leagues before getting a shot again with the expansion Royals. Oliver was the club's opening day right fielder in 1969, and his versatility proved to be useful for the new club. He was an early stand-out for those Royals teams, driving in a career-best 99 runs in 1970 while hitting 27 home runs. Both marks led the team. Oliver was dealt to the Angels in May 1972, and he'd have his most productive two years in the majors between 1972 and 1973. In parts of three seasons with the Angels, Oliver batted .262 with 45 home runs and 214 RBIs in 395 games. He'd play two more seasons in the majors, and three more seasons in the minors, before retiring in 1979. In 847 big league games, Oliver batted .256 with 94 home runs and 419 RBIs.
His son, Darren Oliver, pitched in 20 big league seasons, with nine different teams, spending 10 years with the Rangers.
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 penultimate and 97th of 98 commons pulled from the binder. After a generous dealer discount due to my bulk purchase, this card cost me less than $3.
The Card / Royals Team Set
Drago Accuracy Index +10 / Spriggs Accuracy Index +10 / Oliver Accuracy Index +10
This is the rookie card for Drago and Oliver only, as Spriggs had already appeared in Topps sets. Spriggs shares a card with John Gelnar in 1967 and with Bill Rohr in 1968.
This is the rookie card for Drago and Oliver only, as Spriggs had already appeared in Topps sets. Spriggs shares a card with John Gelnar in 1967 and with Bill Rohr in 1968.
Accuracy Index: It's a high score of +30 for the three-player card, as all three players are showing off the new Royals hats.
1969 Season - Drago
Drago was selected from the Tigers in the expansion draft, and he made the Royals' opening day roster, initially working out of the bullpen. He'd move into the starting rotation in early May, ultimately appearing in 41 games and making 26 starts. Drago was 11-13 with a 3.77 ERA in his rookie season, pitching 200 2/3 innings. Only Wally Bunker (#137) with 12 wins and 222 2/3 innings pitched topped Drago in those categories.
Drago was selected from the Tigers in the expansion draft, and he made the Royals' opening day roster, initially working out of the bullpen. He'd move into the starting rotation in early May, ultimately appearing in 41 games and making 26 starts. Drago was 11-13 with a 3.77 ERA in his rookie season, pitching 200 2/3 innings. Only Wally Bunker (#137) with 12 wins and 222 2/3 innings pitched topped Drago in those categories.
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Other Notable Baseball Cards - Drago
First Mainstream Card: 1969 Topps #662
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (14): 1969-82
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1989 Topps Senior League #17
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 56 in the Beckett online database as of 7/27/25.
Sources - Drago:
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia
First Mainstream Card: 1969 Topps #662
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (14): 1969-82
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1989 Topps Senior League #17
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 56 in the Beckett online database as of 7/27/25.
Sources - Drago:
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia
1969 Season - Spriggs
As mentioned above, Spriggs made the Royals' opening day roster as a back-up outfielder. He'd make three starts in left field in April and a start in right field in September, before and after a summer-long minor league stint with the Omaha Royals. Spriggs batted .311 in 117 games for Omaha, collecting 15 home runs, 62 RBIs and 46 stolen bases. With the Royals in 23 games, he batted .138 (4 for 29).
As mentioned above, Spriggs made the Royals' opening day roster as a back-up outfielder. He'd make three starts in left field in April and a start in right field in September, before and after a summer-long minor league stint with the Omaha Royals. Spriggs batted .311 in 117 games for Omaha, collecting 15 home runs, 62 RBIs and 46 stolen bases. With the Royals in 23 games, he batted .138 (4 for 29).
1969 Season - Oliver
Oliver made 102 starts for the Royals in 1969 - 44 in center field, 41 in right field, four in left field, eight at first base and five at third base. In 118 games overall, he batted .254 with 13 home runs, leading the team, and 43 RBIs. Oliver hit the first grand slam in Royals franchise history, connecting off the Pilots' Jim Bouton on July 4th. He also made history with a six-hit game on May 4th.
Phillies Connection - Oliver
Oliver spent the 1976 season with the Triple-A Oklahoma City 89ers, the Phillies' top farm team. In 96 games, he batted .325 with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs. The Phillies were one of the best teams in the league in 1976 and did not need Oliver's services during the year.
Oliver made 102 starts for the Royals in 1969 - 44 in center field, 41 in right field, four in left field, eight at first base and five at third base. In 118 games overall, he batted .254 with 13 home runs, leading the team, and 43 RBIs. Oliver hit the first grand slam in Royals franchise history, connecting off the Pilots' Jim Bouton on July 4th. He also made history with a six-hit game on May 4th.
Phillies Connection - Oliver
Oliver spent the 1976 season with the Triple-A Oklahoma City 89ers, the Phillies' top farm team. In 96 games, he batted .325 with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs. The Phillies were one of the best teams in the league in 1976 and did not need Oliver's services during the year.
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Other Notable Baseball Cards - Spriggs
First Mainstream Card: 1967 Topps #472
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (4): 1967-69, 1971
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1971 Topps #411
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 11 in the Beckett online database as of 7/27/25.
Sources - Spriggs:
Baseball Reference / Wikipedia
First Mainstream Card: 1967 Topps #472
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (4): 1967-69, 1971
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1971 Topps #411
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 11 in the Beckett online database as of 7/27/25.
Sources - Spriggs:
Baseball Reference / Wikipedia
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Oliver
First Mainstream Card: 1969 Topps #662
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (7): 1969-75
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1975 SSPC #18
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 43 in the Beckett online database as of 7/27/25.
Sources - Oliver:
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia
First Mainstream Card: 1969 Topps #662
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (7): 1969-75
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1975 SSPC #18
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 43 in the Beckett online database as of 7/27/25.
Sources - Oliver:
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia
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#661 Jim Merritt - Cincinnati Reds / #663 Dick Radatz - Detroit Tigers
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