#296 Andy Messersmith - California Angels

John Alexander Messersmith
California Angels
Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  200
Born:  August 6, 1945, Toms River, NJ
Drafted:  Drafted by the California Angels in the 1st round (12th pick) of the 1966 amateur draft, June 7, 1966
Major League Teams:  California Angels 1968-72; Los Angeles Dodgers 1973-75; Atlanta Braves 1976-77; New York Yankees 1978; Los Angeles Dodgers 1979

World Series Appearances:  Los Angeles Dodgers 1974

A four-time All-Star, Andy Messersmith pitched in a dozen big league seasons, peaking in 1975 with the Dodgers, and then steadily declining due to ongoing arm injuries.  Originally a first round pick by the Angels, he debuted with the club in the summer of 1968 and joined their starting rotation in 1969.  That season, Messersmith was 16-11 with a 2.52 ERA in 40 games pitched, earning MVP votes.  He was a 20-game winner with the Angels in 1971 and in November 1972 Messersmith was part of a blockbuster seven-player deal, sending him to the Dodgers with Ken McMullen (#319) in exchange for five players, including Frank Robinson (#250).  His best years came with the Dodgers.  He won 20 and 19 games in 1974 and 1975, respectively, helping his club reach the World Series in 1974.  Messersmith won Gold Gloves both seasons and led the league in complete games (19), shutouts (seven) and innings pitched (321 2/3) in 1975.

He'd play a huge role in ushering in the age of free agency, playing the 1975 season without a signed contract under baseball's one-year reserve clause.  Following a successful season, he won his arbitration case before arbitrator Peter Seitz, becoming a free agent and ultimately signing a $1 million, three-year deal with the Braves.  Although he made the All-Star team in 1976, Messersmith was never quite the same following his heavy workload season of 1975.  He'd pitch in 62 games between 1976 and 1979, going 18-22 with a 3.83 ERA for the Braves, Yankees and back with the Dodgers.  Lifetime, he was 130-99 with a 2.86 ERA in 344 games pitched, with 1,625 strikeouts.

Building the Set / Card #612
September 21, 2025 from The Philly Show (Vintage Sports)

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.  My second stop was the aptly named Vintage Sports table.  I always appreciate a dealer with clear signage explaining their pricing method, and Vintage Sports had a marker in their selection of 1969 Topps cards laying out that cards without a sleeve were $1 and cards with a sleeve were $2.  I had one "high number" in a sleeve, and that was a whopping $4. 

I found 28 commons needed before moving on to my third stop.  This was the 18th of 28 total cards bought from Vintage Sports, and the 53rd of 91 cards for the set added overall on the day.  Sleeved, this card cost less than $2 after a dealer discount, a bargain for the rookie card of a relatively well-known pitcher from his era.

The Card / Angels Team Set / Accuracy Index +5

As just mentioned, this is Messersmith's rookie card, and Topps did a nice job getting the future star into a low series of the set.  The back of the card summarizes his ascent from the minor leagues to the Angels' bullpen to their starting pitching rotation in 1968.  Topps has surprisingly never reprinted this card.

Accuracy Index:  Messersmith's card earns a +5.

1969 Season
From his SABR biography, written by Eric Golanty: 

In 1969 Messersmith broke into the Angels' starting rotation, appearing in 40 games, pitching 250 innings with a 16-11 record, 2.52 ERA, and 211 strikeouts.  At 24 years old, Messersmith was making his mark.  Opposing managers, including Billy Martin (#547), credited Messersmith with "the best stuff" in the league.

1970 Topps #430

1972 Topps #160

1975 Topps #440

1977 Topps #80

1979 Topps #278

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1969 Topps #296
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (11):  1969-79
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  1979 O-Pee-Chee #139
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards:  105 in the Beckett online database as of 1/9/26.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia

Beckett Database / The Trading Card Database

#295 Tony Perez - Cincinnati Reds / #297 Deron Johnson - Philadelphia Phillies

#157 Bob Rodgers - California Angels

Robert Leroy Rodgers
California Angels
Pitcher

Bats:  Both  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  190
Born:  August 16, 1938, Delaware, OH
Signed:  Signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent before 1956 season
Major League Teams:  Los Angeles Angels 1961-65; California Angels 1966-69

As a Manager:  Milwaukee Brewers 1980-82; Montreal Expos 1985-91; California Angels 1991-94

After being selected from the Tigers in the 1960 expansion draft, Buck Rodgers assumed regular catching duties for the Angels in the early 1960s, finishing as runner-up for American League Rookie of the Year honors in 1962 behind the Yankees' Tom Tresh (#212).  He was a light-hitting switch-hitter, known for his defense, and he led the league in runners caught stealing three times (1962, 1964 and 1967).  Rodgers caught Bo Belinsky's (#366) no-hitter on May 5, 1962.  He spent his entire big league playing career with the Angels, batting .232 over 932 games with 31 home runs and 288 RBIs.

Rodgers served as a coach with the Twins (1970-74), Giants (1976) and Brewers (1978-80) before getting his shot managing.  He took over on an interim basis for George Bamberger in 1980 when Bamberger suffered a heart attack.  Bamberger briefly returned, but resigned on September 9th.  Rodgers guided the Brewers to the best American League record during the first half of the strike-shortened 1981 season, but the team lost to the Yankees in the divisional playoffs.  He managed the Expos next for 6 1/2 seasons, winning 1987 National League Manager of the Year honors when his team improved to 91-71.  Rodgers' final managerial job saw him return to the Angels, but he was injured in a highway bus accident in 1992 missing the bulk of the season.  Rodgers was fired 40 games into the 1994 season, and his lifetime managerial record was 784-774 over 13 seasons.

Some text for this post originally appeared on my 1965 Topps blog.

Building the Set / Card #600
September 21, 2025 from The Philly Show (Vintage Sports)

Milestone card #600!  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.  My second stop was the aptly named Vintage Sports table.  I always appreciate a dealer with clear signage explaining their pricing method, and Vintage Sports had a marker in their selection of 1969 Topps cards laying out that cards without a sleeve were $1 and cards with a sleeve were $2.  I had one "high number" in a sleeve, and that was a whopping $4. 

I found 28 commons needed before moving on to my third stop.  This was the 5th of 28 total cards bought from Vintage Sports, and the 41st of 91 cards for the set added overall on the day.  Sleeved, this card cost less than $2 after a dealer discount.

The Card / Angels Team Set / Accuracy Index +5

This is Rodgers' final Topps card as an active player, and the career stats are complete except for his final 18 games in 1969 - see below.  The photo dates to at least 1966, as a photo from the same session is used for his 1967 Topps card.  The back of the card digs deep into Rodgers' past, covering highlights from 1956, 1958, 1961 and 1962.  Rodgers signed reprints of this card for the 2018 Topps Heritage release.

Accuracy Index:  Rodgers card scores a +5.

1969 Season
In his final season as a player, Rodgers appeared in only 18 games for the Angels in June, August and September, and he received his final start in the majors on the last day of the season.  The bulk of his playing time came with the Triple-A Hawaii Islanders, where he appeared in 44 games, batting .255.  I'm guessing Rodgers would have had to approve a demotion, given his veteran status, and knowing his future path, his time with the Islanders was likely also in a coaching capacity.

1962 Topps #431

1967 Topps #281

1974 Topps #447

1987 Topps #293

1992 Topps #21

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1962 Topps #431
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (20):  1962-69, 1973-74, 1981, 1985-93
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2018 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs #ROA-BRO
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards:  86 in the Beckett online database as of 12/31/25.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia

Beckett Database / The Trading Card Database
1965 Topps Blog

#156 Astros Rookies Stars / #158 Joe Gibbon - San Francisco Giants

#645 George Brunet - California Angels

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

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.

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.

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).

1958 Topps #139

1964 Topps #322

1967 Topps #122

1970 Topps #328

1971 Topps #73

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

Beckett Database / The Trading Card Database
1965 Topps Blog

#644 Chuck Hinton - Cleveland Indians / #646 Expos Rookie Stars

#621 Bill Voss - California Angels

William Edward Voss
California Angels
Outfield

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  160
Born:  October 31, 1943, Glendale, CA
Signed:  Signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent before 1964 season
Major League Teams:  Chicago White Sox 1965-68; California Angels 1969-70; Milwaukee Brewers 1971-72; Oakland Athletics 1972; St. Louis Cardinals 1972

Died:  December 28, 2023, Cornville, AZ (age 80)

Originally signed by the Tigers in 1964, Bill Voss made his big league debut as a September call-up with the White Sox in 1965.  He'd appear in 26 games over parts of three seasons with the White Sox between 1965 and 1967, before earning regular playing time in 1968.  His best season, and Voss' only full season as a major league regular, came with the Angels in 1969.  The club's opening day right fielder, Voss made 86 starts throughout the year and appeared in 133 games overall.  He batted .261 with a career-high 40 RBIs.  Voss would have his next best season in 1971 with the Brewers, clubbing a career best 10 home runs while batting .251 as Milwaukee's most regularly used right fielder.  He'd play in 40 games for the eventual 1972 World Champion Athletics, serving in a back-up outfielder role.  His final action in the majors came with the Cardinals in 1972.  In 475 big league games, Voss batted .227 with 267 hits, 19 home runs and 127 RBIs.

Building the Set / Card #514
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 70th of 98 commons pulled from the binder.  After a generous dealer discount due to my bulk purchase, this card cost me a little less than $1.50.

The Card / Angels Team Set / Accuracy Index -8

Voss is wearing a White Sox jersey here, and this is his first solo appearance on a Topps card as he shared Rookie Stars cards with a few White Sox teammates in the 1966 and 1968 sets.  The write-up on the back of the card summarizes the January deal that brought Voss to Anaheim. 

Accuracy Index:  Voss' card scores a -8, a score more frequently seen in the set's lower series.

1969 Season
As mentioned above, this was Voss' best year in the majors.  On January 20th, the White Sox traded Voss and minor leaguer Rube Rubilotta to the Angels for pitcher Sammy Ellis (#32).  Voss was excited to play for the Angels as he lived a few minutes away from Anaheim Stadium.  He led the Angels in spring training with a .477 average, earning the opening day nod.  Voss was used quite a bit as a late inning defensive replacement or as a pinch-hitter, accounting for his 133 games played with only 86 starts.  He was fantastic as a pinch-hitter, batting .353 (6 for 17) with three RBIs.

1966 Topps #529

1968 Topps #142

1970 Topps #326

1971 Topps #671

1972 Topps #776

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1966 Topps #529
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (6):  1966, 1968-72
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  1972 Topps #776
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards:  20 in the Beckett online database as of 5/25/25.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia

Beckett Database / The Trading Card Database

#620 Dean Chance - Minnesota Twins / #622 Dan Osinski - Chicago White Sox

#598 Ruben Amaro - California Angels

Ruben Amaro
California Angels
Shortstop-First Base

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'11"  Weight:  170
Born:  January 6, 1936, Nuevo Laredo, Mexico
Signed:  Signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent before 1954 season
Major League Teams:  St. Louis Cardinals 1958; Philadelphia Phillies 1960-65; New York Yankees 1966-68; California Angels 1969

Died:  March 31, 2017, Weston, FL (age 81)

A 1964 Gold Glove winner for his fine defense at shortstop, Ruben Amaro played 11 seasons in the major leagues, hitting just .234 but fielding well across the entire infield.  His Gold Glove season was also one of his top seasons at the plate as he hit career highs in batting average (.264) and RBIs (34) over 129 games, placing 21st in the National League's MVP voting.  Over a career totaling 940 games, Amaro hit .234 with the Cardinals, Phillies, Yankees and Angels.

His father, Santos Amaro, was a star in the Cuban and Mexican baseball leagues for almost three decades spanning the late 1920s through the mid-1950s.  His son, Ruben Jr., played in eight big league seasons and was the general manager for the Phillies between 2009 and 2015.

1983 Philadelphia Phillies Great Players and Managers Postcards

Following his playing career, the elder Amaro served as a scout, coach or manager within the Phillies, Cubs, Tigers, White Sox and Astros organizations between 1972 and 2016.  He was the Phillies first base coach in 1980 and 1981, earning a World Series ring with the team in 1980.  Amaro was elected into the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986.

Some text for this post originally appeared on my 1965 Topps blog.

Building the Set / Card #503
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 59th of 98 commons pulled from the binder.  After a generous dealer discount due to my bulk purchase, this card cost me a little less than $2.

The Card / Angels Team Set / Accuracy Index -8

Amaro is shown in a Yankees uniform, although he did wear #12 with the Angels.  The back of the card highlights his Gold Glove win and his status as a "slick fielding veteran."  Topps has him coming to the Angels a few weeks earlier than Baseball Reference (see below).

Accuracy Index:  Amaro's card scores a -8, and it's the first "hat, no logo" card I've added in quite a while.

1969 Season
The Yankees sold Amaro's contract to the Angels on November 6, 1968, as the Angels were looking for a back-up for Jim Fregosi (#365).  In his final season in the big leagues, Amaro appeared in 41 games, batting .222 with six singles.  He made five starts throughout the year - four at second base and one at third base.  Fregosi ended up starting the first 160 games of the season at shortstop, sitting for the final three, so Amaro never ended up filling in for him.  Amaro was released by the Angels on October 22nd.

Phillies Career
I had always assumed Amaro was a lifetime Phillie, not realizing he had been originally drafted by the Cardinals.  The Phillies acquired Amaro from St. Louis on December 3, 1958 for Chuck Essegian.  He spent the entire 1959 season playing for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, and he made his Phillies debut on June 14, 1960.  He'd spend the next decade in the majors, not returning to the Phillies' minor league system until 1970 when he was trying to make it back to the big leagues following his release from the Angels in October 1969.  With the Phillies, Amaro split time at shortstop with Bobby Wine (#648) between 1960 and 1965 and had more games at short than Wine in 1960 and 1961.  He was traded to the Yankees on November 29, 1965 for Phil Linz.

Amaro appeared in 668 games for the Phillies over six seasons and hit .234 with 135 RBIs.  After retiring as a player, Amaro had three different stints serving as a Phillies scout, coach and minor league manager between 1972 and 1982, 1999 and 2006, and finally between 2008 and 2009.  When he passed away in 2017, I paid tribute to him with a post over at The Phillies Room.

1959 Topps #178

1961 Topps #103

1964 Topps #432

1965 Topps #419

1967 Topps #358

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1959 Topps #178
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (10):  1959, 1961-69
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2003 Upper Deck Yankees Signature #74
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards:  72 in the Beckett online database as of 5/13/25.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia

Beckett Database / The Trading Card Database
1965 Topps Blog / The Phillies Room

#597 A.L. Rookie Stars / #599 John Boozer - Philadelphia Phillies

#583 Clyde Wright - California Angels

Clyde Wright
California Angels
Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  180
Born:  February 20, 1941, Jefferson City, TN
Drafted:  Drafted by the California Angels in the 6th round of the 1965 amateur draft
Major League Teams:  California Angels 1966-73; Milwaukee Brewers 1974; Texas Rangers 1975

A dominant pitcher at Carson-Newman College, Clyde Wright struck out 22 batters in a game during the NAIA Baseball World Series in 1965, leading to the Angels drafting him a few weeks following his feat.  Wright was a swingman for the Angels during his first seasons in the majors and he appeared in a career-high 41 games in 1968.  After slumping in 1969, with a 1-8 record, Wright was waived by the Angels.  But while pitching for teammate Jim Fregosi's (#365) team in winter ball in Puerto Rico, Wright learned a screwball that revitalized his career.  He was 22-12 in 1970 with a 2.83 ERA in 39 starts, and was named to his only All-Star team.  Wright threw a no-hitter on July 3, 1970 against the Athletics, and in a pregame ceremony before that big game he was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame.  Wright followed up that season with 16 wins in 1971 and 18 wins in 1972, but his struggles returned in 1973 and he lost 19 and 20 games in successive seasons.

Wright pitched in Japan for three seasons between 1976 and 1978 for the Yomiuri Giants, where he was a combined 22-18 with a 3.97 ERA in 59 games pitched.  In the majors, and in 329 appearances, Wright was 100-111 with a 3.50 ERA, 67 complete games and nine shutouts.  His son, Jaret Wright, pitched for 11 seasons in the majors with the Indians (1997-02), Padres (2003), Braves (2003-04), Yankees (2005-06) and Orioles (2007).

Building the Set / Card #491
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 47th of 98 commons pulled from the binder.  After a generous dealer discount due to my bulk purchase, this card cost me less than a dollar.

The Card / Angels Team Set / Accuracy Index +5

This is Wright's rookie card, and given he pitched 20 games in each of the 1966 and 1967 seasons, and he was a college pitching star, it's surprising he had to wait this long.  The cartoon on the back of the card highlights his college success.  The walkless streak mentioned on the back ended on July 26, 1968, when Wright intentionally walked the White Sox' Tommy Davis (#135) to get to Duane Josephson (#222).  And the combined one-hitter with Rick Clark came on August 20th.  Clark started and went 2 2/3 innings, with Wright relieving over the final 6 1/3 innings.

Accuracy Index:  Wright's card scores a now standard +5.

1969 Season
The low point of Wright's career, he was 1-8 with a 4.10 ERA in 37 games, including five starts.  His SABR biography notes the Angels tried to trade him following the season, but had no takers.  Wright's winter in Puerto Rico proved to be a turning point in this career as he added the screwball to his pitching arsenal and regained his confidence.

1970 Topps #543

1971 Topps #240

1972 Topps #55

1975 Topps #408

1976 Topps #559

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1956 Topps #63
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (8):  1969-76
Most Recent Mainstream Card:  2013 BBM Giants Legends #93
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards:  46 in the Beckett online database as of 4/26/25.

Sources:  
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia

Beckett Database / The Trading Card Database

#582 7th Series Checklist 589-664 / #584 Don Mason - San Francisco Giants