SF Giants question, Mike McCormick and 1972 Topps

digicat

Looking through my Giants team sets, I noticed that Mike McCormick has a card in the 1972 Topps set wearing a Giants uniform.

According to baseball-reference.com, the last year he played with the Giants was in 1970. He spent the last half of 1970 in NY, then played a few games with the Royals in 1971 before his career ended.

His 1971 Topps card has him in a Yankees uniform, but his 1972 card has him in a Giants uniform. I looked around on the net to see if he signed one of those 1 day deals so he could retire as a Giant, but I can't find any info to suggest that.

Anyone know why he's in a Giants uniform in the 1972 Topps set?

SoonerCowboy

That's weird, maybe he was traded back to the Giants at the end of 1971 but ended up getting hurt and not playing in 1972.

pomobileclk

I found some news articles from 1972 and found that McCormick had a disc operation in June 1971 before he was released by the Royals. In 1972, he was working out with the Giants in Spring Training and played with Phoenix in the PCL hoping to be called up to the Giants or be picked up by another major league team by the June trading deadline, but neither happened so he retired.

Ahmanfan

Just got this back from PSA this week....... THANKS PSA!!

digicat

<< <i>I found some news articles from 1972 and found that McCormick had a disc operation in June 1971 before he was released by the Royals. In 1972, he was working out with the Giants in Spring Training and played with Phoenix in the PCL hoping to be called up to the Giants or be picked up by another major league team by the June trading deadline, but neither happened so he retired. >>



That's the info I was looking for. Thanks. I guess Topps really thought he'd get a call up.

GDM67

They made decisions like that every now and then, giving a veteran the benefit of the doubt. Fitting that his last card is with the Giants.

digicat

McCormick was the only SF Giant to win the Cy Young award. He still keeps himself identified with the Giants today, and helps run their fantasy baseball camps.