25 June 2009

mike garman through the mail success!

mike garman signed and returned his 1978 topps card to me in just over 3 weeks! garman was the 3rd overall pick in the 1967 draft, taken by the boston red sox. he made his debut two years later as a 19 year old, starting against the yankees. garman got the win, going 7 innings and striking out 6. the red sox traded garman to the cardinals after the 1973 season, and the cardinals sent him to the cubs two years later. the dodgers acquired him in the rick monday/bill buckner deal prior to the 1977 season.

1977 was the only full season garman spent with the dodgers (he was traded to the expos early in the 1978 campaign), but he made it count. garman went 4-4 with 12 saves and a 2.73 era that year as the dodgers advanced to the postseason for the first time since 1974. in the nlcs against the phillies, garman was unscored upon in two appearances, including game 3 (the davalillo game) wherein he retired larry bowa, mike schmidt and richie hebner (after beaning greg luzinski) to save the dodgers' improbable comeback victory. he was also unscored upon in the world series against the yankees, pitching 4 innings over 2 games, and striking out 3. unfortunately for mike and the dodgers, they were defeated by the yankees. mike saved 13 games for the expos in 1978 and was released at the end of spring training in 1979, ending his major league career.

this is the 8th piece in my modest 1978 topps dodgers autograph project. here's the tally:

team card
dusty baker
glenn burke
ron cey - through the mail success!
vic davalillo - ebay success!
terry forster
mike garman - through the mail success!
steve garvey
ed goodson
jerry grote
burt hooton
charlie hough
tommy john
lee lacy - through the mail success!
tom lasorda
dave lopes
ted martinez
manny mota - through the mail success!
rick monday
johnny oates - ebay success!
doug rau - through the mail success!
lance rautzhan - through the mail success!
rick rhoden
bill russell
reggie smith
elias sosa
don sutton
steve yeager
nlcs (davey lopes)

8/29 = 28%

thanks mike!

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