09 June 2009

vic davalillo ebay auto success!

i couldn't locate an address for venezuelan native vic davalillo, but i did find a couple of ebay auctions for an autographed 1978 topps card and i took full advantage. for just a few dollars i was able to obtain the sixth card in my modest 1978 topps dodgers autograph project.

davalillo began his career with the indians in 1963 and had some pretty solid seasons for them before they traded him to the angels for my namesake, jimmie hall. vic won world series rings with the 1971 pirates and the 1973 a's. after being released by the a's in 1974, vic played in the mexican professional league.

late in the 1977 season, the dodgers purchased davalillo's contract from the mexican league and began using him primarily as a pinch hitter. he hit .313 in 24 games, but saved his best for the nlcs. the dodgers and phillies split the first two games of the best of five series. in game 3, the phillies scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to go ahead 5-3. gene garber got two quick outs, and tommy lasorda sent davalillo up to pinch hit for steve yeager. in what would be his only at bat of the series, davalillo bunted safely to start a 3-run, 2-out rally. mike garman held the phillies in the 9th, and the dodgers never looked back on their way to the world series.

so, six down, 23 to go. here's the tally:

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

6/29 = 21%

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