1977 sparky lyle

here's another autograph placement variation from the 1977 o-pee-chee set.  the facsimile auto on sparky lyle's o-pee-chee card was rotated by the canadian folk such that it clashes with the pinstripes.  here is lyle's 1977 o-pee-chee card:

here's the topps front:

that's much nicer.

now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

lyle had a big year in 1977.  he wound up winning the american league cy young award with a 13-5 record and a 2.17 era.  he also saved 26 games and appeared in a league-leading 72 contests.  and, having appeared in those games, all as a reliever, lyle passed bob locker to claim the top spot as far as most career appearances for a pitcher without ever having started a game.  for his efforts, lyle got two cards in the 1978 topps set, as his record breaking achievement was deemed worthy of a record breaker card while the dodgers having four teammates each hit 30 home runs was not.  but i digress.

lyle was also dominant in the postseason in 1977.  he was 2-0 with a 0.96 era over 9.1 innings in four games of the alcs against the royals, and then posted a 1.93 era in two games against the dodgers in the world series, earning the win in game 1.

voici à vous, sparky lyle!