1976 Topps - Chester Lemon

Chet Lemon was the kind of player that you couldn't not like. He played hard all the time. I was watching some Opening Day highlights tonight, and when I saw a player running from third to home and his helmet flying off I immediately thought of Chet Lemon. In my mind, he is running the bases, helmet long gone. I remember that, and him diving head-first into first base.

He seemed to log the same quality offensive stats year after year for 17 seasons. Fleet-footed in centerfield, yet he hardly ever stole bases. In 1977 Chet set the AL record for putouts by an outfielder, a record that still stands. He was also good at getting hit by pitches. At the time of his retirement he ranked 12th all-time. He is currently 24th. But the thinking about Chet was that he was was so dependable. He was good at what he did in the field and at the plate, and he was good in the same way season after season.

What isn't good is this 1976 Topps card design. By comparison to some of the other multi-player rookies cards in the 70s, I guess it isn't that bad. I'm sure it is a challenge to design a decent card when you have to fit four players on it.

Chet Lemon was the kind of player that you couldn't not like. He played hard all the time. I was watching some opening day highlights tonight and when I saw a player running from third to home and his helmet flying off I immediately thought of Chet Lemon. In my mind he is running the bases, his helmet far behind. That, and diving head-first into first base.

He seemed to log the same quality offensive stats year after year for 17 seasons. Fleet-footed in centerfield, he hardly ever stole bases. In 1977 Chet set the AL record for putouts by an outfielder, a record that still stands. He was also good at getting hit by pitches. At the time of his retirement, he ranked 12th all-time. He is currently 24th.