the topps dodger autograph project - the late 1970's

now we're in my wheelhouse - the dodgers of the late 1970's!  as usual, all of these cards were signed through the mail for free.

ron cey, 1975 topps

cey is easily one of the best ttm signers out there. i've had a number of successes with him; maybe too many.  i also have 1975 topps cards signed by other former dodgers, including bill buckner, manny mota, doug rau, ken mcmullen, and joe ferguson (world series card).

joe ferguson, 1975 topps mini

while not necessarily part of this project, i figured i would show it since i have it.  you'll have to take my word for it, but that is a mini.  fergie has signed through the mail for me a few times which is all kinds of awesome.  i also have 1975 topps minis signed by ron cey, al downing, jim wynn, and manny mota.

bill russell, 1976 topps

ropes is another good ttm signer whom i have hit up several times.  i also have signed 1976 topps cards from these other dodgers:  ron cey, davey lopes (with fee), al downing, joe ferguson, john hale, burt hooton, charlie hough, tommy john (in person proxy via trade), lee lacy (in person), leron lee, ken mcmullen, manny mota, doug rau, stan wall, and rick rhoden (with fee).

dusty baker, 1976 topps traded

as i mentioned in the last post - i don't consider the traded sets to be part of the 'project', but i'll show them if i have them.  johnnie b used to be a reliable ttm signer, but i haven't seen any successes from him lately.  it used to be he would sign and return cards in january or february, so maybe there's hope.  i asked him to sign at a spring training game a few years ago, and he said that he would when he got back to his dugout.  sadly, i never made it over to that side of the field.  so, i'm happy to have the few cards that he signed for me through the mail in my collection.  this is the only 1976 topps traded card i have signed in my collection.

steve garvey, 1977 topps

the garv.  how stoked was i when i learned that my favorite player signed through the mail.  very stoked.  1977 was his big power year (33 home runs), and i have learned to love this card - even with the scratch on the printing plate and the candlestick background.  other 1977 topps cards signed for me through the mail by former dodgers include bill russell, ron cey, tommy john (in person proxy via trade), davey lopes (via trade), rick rhoden (with fee), elias sosa, ellie rodriguez, and stan wall.

dave lopes, 1978 topps

i consider myself extremely fortunate that lopes signed and returned both of my 1978 topps cards (this one and the nl championship card) when i first began my humble 1978 topps dodger autograph project. they remain the only successes i have had with the former dodger second baseman/current dodger first base coach.  of course, i have some other 1978 topps cards signed by members of that dodger team, all except ed goodson.  most of those cards were obtained through the mail free of charge.

charlie hough, 1979 topps

knuckleballer (and closer) from the team of my youth, charlie hough is another good ttm signer.  i have a few of his cards in my autograph collection, including some of his non-dodger issues.  other dodgers from the 1979 topps set who have signed for me include dusty baker, pedro guerrero (with fee), bill russell, bob welch (with fee), ron cey, bobby castillo (with fee), joe ferguson, steve garvey, tommy john (in person proxy via trade), rudy law, doug rau, and lance rautzhan.  i also have a card signed by steve yeager that i picked up on the 'bay.

that's it for the 70's.  here's the list of each year's representative card (so far):

1951 topps - preacher roe (purchased)

1952 topps - rocky bridges

1953 topps - bobby morgan

1954 topps - billy herman (purchased)

1955 topps - don zimmer (purchased)

1956 topps - randy jackson

1957 topps - carl erskine

1958 topps - joe pignatano

1959 topps - fred kipp

1960 topps - chuck essegian

1961 topps - bob aspromonte

1962 topps - norm sherry

1963 topps - ed roebuck

1964 topps - ken mcmullen

1965 topps - dick tracewski

1966 topps - john kennedy

1967 topps - phil regan

1968 topps - jim campanis

1969 topps - jeff torborg

1970 topps - al mcbean

1971 topps - sandy vance

1972 topps - manny mota

1973 topps - wes parker

1974 topps - claude osteen

1974 topps traded - jim wynn

1975 topps - ron cey

1975 topps mini - joe ferguson

1976 topps - bill russell

1976 topps traded - dusty baker

1977 topps - steve garvey

1978 topps - dave lopes

1979 topps - charlie hough