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!

1980 john denny

john denny was acquired by the indians in the december, 1979 bobby bonds trade. here's his 1980 o-pee-chee card:

here's the topps front:

now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

denny, who led the nl in era in 1976, had posted an era of almost 5 in 1979. in 1980, he lowered it a touch to 4.39 and then to 3.15 in 1981. in 1982, the tribe sent him to philadelphia when his era topped 5.00 late in the season. he found renewed success in philly, winning the cy young award in 1983.

voici à vous, 1980 john denny!

1986 john denny

the 1983 nl cy young award winner john denny was traded in december of 1985 to the reds.  here is his 1986 o-pee-chee card:

here's the topps front:

now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

1986 would wind up being denny's final year in the majors.  he won 11 games, including his last 4 starts.  denny's second-to-last big league start was a 3-hit shutout against the giants.

voici à vous, 1986 john denny!