1979 andy messersmith

the dodgers signed free agent andy messersmith to a contract in february of 1979, after he was released by the yankees. here is his 1979 o-pee-chee card:

here's the topps front:

now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

4 years after the fact, andy messersmith's card gets the 'free agent' text.  having been released by the yankees, he signed with the dodgers and was given a no-trade clause which is interesting since the dodgers' refusal to give that same clause to messersmith earlier in the decade was one of the things that had led him to contesting the reserve clause in the first place.

back in la, messersmith began the season on the right track.  he pitched 7 innings, giving up 1 run, against the padres on the third day of the season.  he walked 5 but only gave up 2 hits.  unfortunately for messersmith, it was one of only 2 starts in which he gave up fewer than 3 runs.  he stayed in the rotation, and made his final start (and big league appearance) on june 1 against the cardinals.

voici à vous, 1979 andy messersmith!