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Gary Edward Gentry
New York Mets
Pitcher
Born: October 6, 1946, Phoenix, AZ
Drafted: Drafted by the New York Mets in the 3rd round of the 1967 amateur draft, June 6, 1967
Major League Teams: New York Mets 1969-72; Atlanta Braves 1973-75
World Series Appearances: New York Mets 1969
Amos Joseph Otis
New York Mets
Outfield
Born: April 26, 1947, Mobile, AL
Drafted: Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 5th round of the 1965 amateur draft, June 8, 1965
Major League Teams: New York Mets 1967, 1969; Kansas City Royals 1970-83; Pittsburgh Pirates 1984
World Series Appearances: Kansas City Royals 1980
After pitching Arizona State University to a College World Series title in 1967, Gary Gentry was drafted by the Mets and he'd spend one full season in the minors before joining the Mets' starting pitching rotation to start the 1969 season. Manager Gil Hodges (#564) slotted Gentry behind Tom Seaver (#480) and Jerry Koosman (#90) to start the season, and he'd go 13-12 in 35 starts with a 3.43 ERA in 233 2/3 innings pitched. Gentry threw a shutout against the Cardinals on September 24th to clinch the National League East pennant. He was also the winning pitcher in World Series Game 3, besting the Orioles' Jim Palmer (#573) and throwing 6 2/3 shutout innings. The Mets would win the Championship in five games. Gentry pitched well in three more seasons with the Mets before a trade in November 1972 sent him to the Braves. His tenure with the Braves was marred by injuries, and he'd pitch in just 26 games for the club over three seasons. In 157 big league games, Gentry was 46-49 with a 3.56 ERA and 615 strikeouts in 902 2/3 innings pitched.
Amos Otis played in parts of 17 seasons in the majors, 14 of those seasons with the Royals. After a few brief stints with the Mets in 1967 and 1969, Otis was traded to the Royals before the 1970 season, and he'd be the club's every day center fielder for the next dozen years. He was a four-time All-Star with the Royals, while leading the league in doubles twice (1970 and 1976) and stolen bases (1971). A stellar defender, Otis won Gold Gloves in 1971, 1973 and 1974. He helped lead Kansas City to their first playoff berth in 1976, and Otis' best season statistically came in 1978 when he batted .298 with 22 home runs, 96 RBIs and 32 stolen bases. His sole trip to the World Series came in 1980, and while the Royals lost to the Phillies in six games, Otis batted .478 (11 for 23) with three home runs. In 1,998 big league games, Otis batted .277 with 193 home runs, 1,007 RBIs and 341 stolen bases, wrapping up his career among the Royals' all-time leaders for most offensive categories. He was inducted into the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame in 1986.
September 21, 2025 from The Philly Show (America's Pastime)
On Sunday morning, September 21st, I made the hour-long drive to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania for the latest installment of the Philadelphia Sports Card & Memorabilia Show, known to its friends as The Philly Show. The show has a legitimate official sponsor (eBay) and the advertisement for the event notes the show is in its 50th year. I hadn't attended a baseball card show since the last Philly Show in December, and I was flying solo to this one as our oldest son is in his first month of college at Villanova. I posted a full summary of the show over at The Phillies Room.
I made stops at six tables at the show, all yielding needed cards for our 1969 Topps set, and I left the show with just 16 more cards to go for my version of a complete set. The first place I stopped was a table with well-organized and well-marked binders of commons and semi-stars with 20% Off notes across the front of each binder.
I took my time and found 32 commons and semi-stars needed before asking to see the dealer's star cards from the set. It turned out this first purchase was also my biggest, as I spent over half my allotted budget here, America's Pastime from Fair Lawn, New Jersey, before moving on to my second stop. This was the third of 36 total cards bought from America's Pastime, and the third of 91 cards for set added overall on the day, and it cost a little over $4 after the dealer discount.
The Card / Mets Team Set / Gentry Accuracy Index -3 / Otis Accuracy Index -3
I'd guess both Gentry and Otis are wearing Jacksonville Suns hats here, which was the Triple-A team of the Mets and both players' team for the entire 1968 season. There's a chance Otis is wearing a hat from his early days in the Red Sox farm system. Topps recycled the same photo for Gentry on his 1970 card, blocked out hat logo and all. The back of the card touts both player's minor league accomplishments.
Accuracy Index: Both players score a -3 for the hats without logos.
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Gentry
First Mainstream Card: 1969 Topps #31
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (7): 1969-75
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1975 Topps #393
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 44 in the Beckett online database as of 9/30/25.
Sources - Gentry:
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Otis
First Mainstream Card: 1969 Topps #31
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (16): 1969-84
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2023 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs High Number #ROA-AO
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 160 in the Beckett online database as of 9/30/25.
Sources - Otis:
1969 Season - Gentry
The accolades from Gentry's rookie seasons are highlighted above. His 13 wins were third on the club behind Seaver (25) and Koosman (17). Gentry set career highs in wins and innings pitched. He struck out 154, which would be one less than the 155 he'd strike out in 1971.
The accolades from Gentry's rookie seasons are highlighted above. His 13 wins were third on the club behind Seaver (25) and Koosman (17). Gentry set career highs in wins and innings pitched. He struck out 154, which would be one less than the 155 he'd strike out in 1971.
1969 Season - Otis
Otis split the season between New York and Triple-A Tidewater. With the Mets, he appeared in 48 games, batting .151 as mostly a pinch-hitter, pinch-runner or late inning defensive replacement. With the Tides, Otis batted .327 in 71 games with 10 home runs and 43 RBIs. On December 3rd, Otis was traded with Bob Johnson (#261) to the Royals for Joe Foy (#93).
Otis split the season between New York and Triple-A Tidewater. With the Mets, he appeared in 48 games, batting .151 as mostly a pinch-hitter, pinch-runner or late inning defensive replacement. With the Tides, Otis batted .327 in 71 games with 10 home runs and 43 RBIs. On December 3rd, Otis was traded with Bob Johnson (#261) to the Royals for Joe Foy (#93).
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Other Notable Baseball Cards - Gentry
First Mainstream Card: 1969 Topps #31
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (7): 1969-75
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1975 Topps #393
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 44 in the Beckett online database as of 9/30/25.
Sources - Gentry:
Other Notable Baseball Cards - Otis
First Mainstream Card: 1969 Topps #31
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (16): 1969-84
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2023 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs High Number #ROA-AO
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 160 in the Beckett online database as of 9/30/25.
Sources - Otis:
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