1977 otto velez

otto velez was selected by the blue jays from the yankees in the 1976 expansion draft.  here's his 1977 o-pee-chee card:

here's the topps front:

now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

velez stuck with the blue jays for six seasons before he was released and picked up by the indians for 10 games in 1983.  his best year in toronto was probably 1980 when he went 20/62/.269 although his 1977 season was pretty similar to that campaign.

his two primary claims to fame are that he was the blue jays' inagural designated hitter, going 2 for 4 in that role in their first ever game, and he hit 4 home runs in a 1980 doubleheader, including 3 in the first game (the last of which was a walk-off solo shot), and totaled 10 rbi on the day.

voici à vous, 1977 otto velez!