WHEN TOPPS HAD (BASE)BALLS!: Ed Sprague

Showing posts with label Ed Sprague. Show all posts

Monday, November 1, 2021

NOT REALLY MISSING IN ACTION- 1977 ED SPRAGUE

Up on the blog today we have a career-capping "not so missing" 1977 card for former pitcher Ed Sprague, who wrapped up an eight year Major League career with three appearances with the Milwaukee Brewers:

Sprague went 0-2 over those appearances, all out of the bullpen, allowing six runs in 7.2 innings of work, for an ERA of 7.04.

He would play another eight seasons in the Major Leagues, finishing with a 17-23 record along with a 3.84 ERA, nine saves and 188 strikeouts over 408 innings and 198 games, 23 of which were starts.

His best season would be 1974, posting a 7-2 record with a 2.39 earned run average in 20 games and 94 innings for the Brewers.

His son, Ed Sprague Jr would also play in the Majors later on in the 1990’s and 2000’s, as a third baseman for 11-years, mainly with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Thursday, February 16, 2017

MISSING IN ACTION- 1976 ED SPRAGUE

Here’s a “missing” 1976 card for pitcher Ed Sprague, who appeared in 18 games for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1975:

Sprague posted a 1-7 record in those 18 appearances, 11 of which were starts, along with a 4.68 earned run average over 67.1 innings of work.
This was after a very nice 1974 season which saw him go 7-2 with a 2.39 ERA over 20 games and 10 starts in his first full season with the organization after coming over from the St. Louis Cardinals.
In 1976 he’d appear in the final three games of his eight-year Major League career, going 0-2 with a bloated 7.04 ERA to end up at 17-23, with a 3.84 ERA over 198 big league appearances and 408 innings pitched.
Of course you’ll also recognize his name, as his son Ed Jr would be a Major League third baseman for 11-years with some power numbers for the Toronto Blue Jays in the mid-to-late 1990’s.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

MISSING IN ACTION- 1974 ED SPRAGUE

Here’s a “missing” 1974 card for former pitcher Ed Sprague (Sr.), father of future MLB player Ed Sprague Jr.:

Sprague the Senior put in an eight year career that actually saw him left out of a few Topps sets, which I hope to fix in the future.
In 1973 he appeared in 43 games split between three teams: the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals and lastly the Milwaukee Brewers.
Over those three stints he compiled a 1-4 record with a 5.43 earned run average with two saves in 56.1 innings of work.
He would go on to have a very nice 1974 season in Milwaukee, posting a 7-2 record with a 2.39 earned run average in 20 games and 94 innings, easily the best year of his career.
He’d spend the rest of his career with the Brewers, finishing up after the 1976 season with a career 17-23 record, with a 3.84 ERA in 198 games and 408 innings pitched.

Thursday, January 28, 2016

MISSING IN ACTION: 1973 ED SPRAGUE

Here’s a “missing” card for a guy who has a few of them actually, former pitcher Ed Sprague of the Cincinnati Reds:

Sprague appeared in 33 games for the National League Champions in 1972, posting a 3-3 record with a 4.13 earned run average out of the bullpen.
He would go on to play another four seasons in the Major Leagues, finishing with a 17-23 record along with a 3.84 ERA, nine saves and 188 strikeouts over 408 innings and 198 games, 23 of which were starts.
His son, Ed Sprague Jr would also play in the Majors later on in the 1990’s and 2000’s, as a third baseman for 11-years, mainly with the Toronto Blue Jays.