Buyback Franken-set: HOF Hurlers Edition

I nearly went the entire month of September without a buyback franken-set post, so I'm sneaking one in here just in time.  Today I've got the very last of the large lot that started this project off for me, and this post will start and finish with HOF pitchers.  Let's see what we've got...

1974 Topps #330 - Juan Marichal

This fantastic Juan Marichal buyback is probably the single best card that I got out of the 97 buybacks that were included in the lot.  I love the framing on this shot of the infamous high leg kick delivery from Marichal.  This card would have probably bumped any other card #330 with little to no thought required, but as it stands now it makes the set without competition.  I really don't see this one ever being replaced in the set, but I guess you never know.

1974 Topps #404 - Jim Howarth

Two straight '74 Giants to start the post.  Unlike Juan Marichal though, Jim Howarth here actually has some pre-existing competition for his binder slot:

Wow, talk about a couple of no-namers squaring off against each other.  I don't really know the first thing about either player, but there's just more going on in the Brinkman card, plus he's rocking those killer glasses so...

You're out Jim!  Relegated to the rejected pile.

1978 Topps #54 - Tom Johnson

Tom Johnson and his curly hair are in, but only because I don't have any other #54 buybacks yet.  He played for just five seasons as a reliever, and this is a fairly boring card.  I wouldn't bet on Tom hanging around too long as my franken-set continues to grow.

1969 Topps #403 - Bob Miller

I guess nobody had a comb handy when Bob Miller was posing for this shot.  My mom would have been angry with me had my grade school pictures ever turned out this way.  I understand why Topps took hat-less photos, but as a general rule they really bother me.  I don't have any other #403 buybacks though, so Bob is safe within the binder for the time being.

1974 Topps #556 - Dave Campbell

1974 was actually Dave Campbell's final season as a player, but he carved out a decent career for himself as a broadcaster later in life.  Either way, it's nice to start filling the binder with some higher numbered cards like this.  Speaking of which...

1973 Topps #620 - Tommy Harper

This Tommy Harper represents the best Red Sox buyback I landed in the entire lot.  Tommy had a great year in the lead-off spot for Boston in 1973, swiping 54 bases (a team best mark that stood until Jacoby Ellsbury broke the record in 2009) and even getting a few MVP votes.  I'd say this is one of the top 5 cards that I received in this big lot, and I'm happy that it doesn't have any other cards #620 to compete with.

1978 Topps #543 - Larry Harlow

Larry Harlow looks about as excited in this photo as I was to pull his card from this buyback lot.  About the only interesting thing I can say about this card is that Larry pitched 2/3 of an inning in relief during a blowout in 1978.

Unfortunately for Larry he's got some competition for slot 543 too, and it's a much more interesting card in my opinion.  Not only do I like this card itself better than the '78 Larry Harlow, but Clyde also tossed a no-no in 1970, so this is an easy call...

Off to the rejected pile, a sad fate for Larry Harlow indeed.

1974 Topps #165 - Willie Davis

Willie Davis was coming off of three straight Gold Glove awards when this card was printed up.  He was actually dealt to the Expos in the 1973 off-season for Mike Marshall, who would win a Cy Young with LA in '74.  As the only #165 buyback I've got so far, he's in.

1973 Topps #446 - Jerry Reuss

Next up we've got a smiling Jerry Reuss from '73 Topps.  Jerry is probably most known for sticking around forever.  He's one of a small group of players who've appeared in MLB in four different decades, and he racked up more than 200 career wins despite never enjoying a 20-win season.

Bart Johnson was already in the binder in slot 446, but I'm not particularly attached to this one.  Between the border colors and that hair there's some kind of clown vibe going on here.

So long Bart!

1976 Topps #250 - Fergie Jenkins

Last card for today, another HOF pitcher as promised.  This one wasn't actually part of the lot, picked it up while browsing eBay late one night for $2.22 with free shipping.  Obviously it would be preferable to have a buyback in the franken-set that features Fergie with the Cubs (or even the Red Sox), but for just a couple bucks this is what I've got for now.  It's also the only #250 buyback I have, so Fergie makes the cut for the time being.

Nice to get back on track with the franken-set here, it's been a lot of fun so far.  Now that I'm finally through the initial big lot I can hopefully show off some higher quality singles that I've picked up over time as I've been working my way through posting these.  More to come soon, but for now I'm at a nice tidy 125 unique buybacks in the binder!

Franken-set Progress:  125/792 (16%)