Alan Hobbs sent me a very thoughtful email a while back updating me on his APBA projects. He included a very fun card which was perfect for Monster Monday. It wasn’t until I researched it a bit did I realized how special this season was.
This is Willie Stargell’s 1973 APBA card and for a ’70s card, it’s pretty top-notch. The 1970s were known for a good balance of speed, power, hitting and pitching. So in some ways, it is difficult to find real “Monster” cards in that era. They’re there. In fact, 1973 has a few such as this Hank Aaron gem.
In 1973, Willie Stargell had arguably his best season of his 21-year career.
Led NL in:
- Homeruns: 44
- Doubles: 43
- RBIs: 119
- Slugging: .646
NL All-Star and 2nd in MVP voting
Pops batted .299 and because of his 80 walks, managed a .392 OBP. His Pirates had a tough lineup but they were not able to maintain a winning record for the year. It was a tough season for the East Division. Only the division-winning Mets were above .500 (just barely with an 82-79 record).
| Split | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 Totals | 148 | 609 | 522 | 106 | 156 | 43 | 3 | 44 | 119 | 0 | 80 | 129 | .299 | .392 | .646 |
Stargell’s 1973 card could be easily summarized as this: an OF-1 with five power numbers, 1-1-5-6-6 and no 7s. However, there are a couple things that may be overlooked that help its strength.
One, this card has an extra 8. Stargell has four 8s and two 9s which isn’t rare but not exactly run-of-the-mill either. That pushes his last 9 to 35.
Two, Pops has a total of five 14s. That’s pretty helpful. I have the sense that opposing pitchers were a little reticent to give him anything good to hit.
But here’s the kicker that makes this card and Stargell’s 1973 season so special…
It’s very rare that a hitter leads his league in homers AND doubles. The more I looked into it, the more I realized how infrequently it happens.
In fact, no one has done it since in either league. The last player before 1973 Willie Stargell to lead his league in both categories was Ted Williams in 1949 who had 39 doubles and 43 homeruns which led the AL. The last National League hitter to accomplish this was Tommy Holmes in 1945 with 47 doubles and 28 homers.
[correction: reader Mike Coon points out that 1995 Albert Belle led the AL in homers with 50 and was tied for the lead with Edgar Martinez with 52 doubles]
Pops earned that 44-6.
Little details
By 1973, Stargell had received a ‘S’ baserunning rating.
Stargell did not receive a 24 in 1973 and instead received a 41-13. This was based on just six GIDP for the season.
Stargell’s 1973 card has two consecutive 13s twice. I know it sounds strange to say this in the 2020s but I guarantee you, there were plenty of APBA fans who probably having conniptions about this in 1974.
For some reason during printing, the 27 on 52 on Stargell’s 1973 card impacted very heavily.
Finally, I was a Cub fan as a kid but was enamored with Stargell and his warmup swing. How many of you remember him doing this at the plate?
Thanks for contacting me, Alan!
I had thought Albert Belle did it in 1995, and he did. 52 doubles and 50 homeruns.
It is very rare though.
Hi Mike,
You are correct! I think that it was tie messed up my formula (yes, I used Excel figure to this out :) ).
thank you!
Tom