charlie hough through the mail success!

it took about six weeks for charlie hough to sign and return the 1978 topps card i sent him. i'm not complaining, mind you. i appreciate the time that all of the ttm signers take to make this hobby a reality. at any rate, hough is pretty busy this time of year - he's the pitching coach for the inland empire 66er's based in san bernardino.

there are many things to remember about charlie hough other than his knuckleball, of course. there is the fact that he was used almost exclusively as a reliever during his dodgers career (11 seasons, 401 games, only 16 starts); that he was the dodgers' closer in 1977, saving 22 games; that he finished his career with a .500 record - 216 wins and 216 losses; that he had over 2300 strikeouts, 107 complete games and 61 saves; that he gave up one of reggie jackson's 3 consecutive world series home runs; that he is one of only 3 (now 4 with shane victorino) hawaiian born players to play in an all-star game. but perhaps the most oddly memorable thing to me about charles oliver hough is that he started the first game in marlins franchise history, which just happened to be against the dodgers. he outpitched orel hershiser to win the game and a place in marlins history.

one season later, he was finished as a player, but went on to serve in various coaching capacities in the dodger organization, including a stint as their major league pitching coach.

this is the 11th 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 - through the mail success!
burt hooton
charlie hough - through the mail success!
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 - through the mail success!
reggie smith
elias sosa
don sutton
steve yeager
nlcs (davey lopes)

11/29 = 38%

thanks charlie!