One Card: 1972 Topps #101 – Rookie Stars Astros (Greif, Richard, Busse)

Allow me to share with you my latest eBay pickup.

J.R. Richard being one of the players that I collect, his eminently affordable rookie card was a glaring omission from the PC. Consider that remedied after picking this sharp cornered, crisply colored card with a low bid last week.

My fondness for Richard comes from stories my uncle told me as a kid. James Rodney Richard was not on my radar. I must have been talking up Nolan Ryan because Uncle Dennis cut me off, “Ryan? Fine. But his teammate was even better.”

My Uncle was stationed in Texas in the late ‘70s. To hear him tell it, Richard would walk ten, strike out twenty, and roll to victory. Hyperbole.

But Richard remains one of baseball’s great “what if” stories, and my uncle’s tellings left an impression.

Of course, J.R. shares this slab of cardboard, so…

BILL GREIF

Greif broke into the majors at age 21. By the time this 1972 card was released, this Astros “Rookie Star” was a San Diego Padre, dealt as part of a three-player package in exchange for Dave Roberts in December of 1971.

In 1974, Greif was the Padres’ Opening Day starter. He pitched to a 31-67 over six years in the majors. His last MLB appearance came in 1976 with the Cardinals. He was 26. After sitting out the ’77 season he attempted a comeback with the Mets. He appeared in three games with the AAA-Tidewater Tides. His career MLB ERA was 4.41.

J.R. RICHARD

When Richard broke into the majors in 1971, also at age 21, he made an immediate impression. A September call up, Richard debuted in the second game of a doubleheader against the Giants. He struck out 15, tying the MLB record for Ks in a first start.

His potential obvious, Richard yo-yo’d between the minors and majors over the next three seasons.

In 1975, he’d eclipse 200 innings for the first time in a season, and ’76 marked the first of four consecutive 200+ strikeout campaigns. He topped 300 strike outs in ’78 and ’79 (leading the NL each season). He had three Top-10 Cy Young finishes, and took the NL ERA title in 1979.

His 1980 (age 30) season and his career, was tragically cut short by an on-field, pre-game stroke. His season ended with a 1.90 ERA and 119 strikeouts over 113.2 innings.

RAY BUSSE

After a cup of coffee in the majors in 1971, Busse had a brutal ’72 campaign. His father committed suicide. He suffered a shoulder injury. He was limited to just 70 games for AAA-Oklahoma City (he hit .207 and committed 27 errors).

Despite this, the Cardinals targeted Busse – based on his pre-1972 track record – as a starting shortstop. He actually started Opening Day for St. Louis. It did not go well. He committed two errors.

The Cardinals got off to a terrible, 8-23 start, and Busse took much of the fans’ blame (he hit .143 and committed 11 errors in 24 games). In June, he was traded back to Houston. He hit .059 for the Astros to finish up 1973. In ’74, he hit .206 over 19 games. That age-25 season was his last in the Majors.

Over parts of three seasons for the Astros and Cardinals. He slashed .148/.205/.265 with 168 career plate appearances.