1977 john denny

a slight difference in cropping, a rotation of the facsimile autograph, and a mean mustache combine to give us john denny's 1977 o-pee-chee card:

 here's the topps front:

ok - so the mustache is the same on the topps card.  now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

denny led the league in era in 1976 with a 2.52 mark, but wound up with a 4.51 era in 1977.  he was 8-8 in 26 starts for the cardinals and started the season strong.  he won all 5 of his starts in april, and was even 7-0 at the end of may.  he wound up missing most of july and losing his next 8 decisions before pitching a complete game to get his 8th win of the season in his final start of the year.  denny, of course, would later go on to win the cy young award in 1983 as a member of the nl champion phillies.

voici à vous, 1977 john denny!