CARD
Two interesting things about this card:
1) This is the first card we've seen so far in this set that does not have a counterpart in the 1988 Topps Traded set. I'm not sure why Topps chose to ignore that Quisenberry changed teams in 1988. It happened midseason in 1988, so maybe they figured it was old news by the time they issued the traded set. Still, it's odd, given that he was still considered a star player at this time.
2) What an awesome photo!! If you look just at his right arm, it almost seems to have been Photoshopped backwards, but of course that's how he looked when he delivered the ball.
STAT
Quisenberry's 1985 total of 76 games finished is the 5th-highest total since 1901. It's interesting that many of the guys high on this list were closers. That sort of model isn't used much today, in the sense that closers are usually in games for saves, so their games finished totals rarely go above 60. Even Francisco Rodriguez, who saved 62 games in 2008, finished "only" 69 games.
CAREER
Quisenberry had a very good career, although he started in the majors pretty late at age 26. Thus, by the time he lost his effectiveness at age 37, he amassed only 10 really good years in the bigs. Thus, he was never seriously considered for the HOF and will never get in.
Quisenberry is the first deceased player we've seen so far in this set.
I loved Quiz. As good a pitcher as he was, he was an even better person. From a standpoint of integrity and "good guyness" I'd say the Top 4 Royals of all-time are Quiz, Dick Howser, Mike Sweeney and Frank White.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like Quiz is warming up with Pedro Guerrero in the background (not doing drugs with OJ's girlfriend) and Todd Worrell is standing on a bullpen mound (hopefully not getting ready to come in to face Howard Johnson).