TTM Stats
- Sent: 6/16/2018 | Received: 6/25/2018 | 9 Days
- ’80 Topps
- Address: Home (address from Sports Card Forum)
The Story of the Autograph
Steve Busby pitched for the Kansas City Royals from 1972 through 1980. He worked as a right-handed starting pitcher and over his career he made two All-Star teams and pitched two no-hitters.
Busby grew up in southern California and went to USC. The Royals drafted him in 1971 and he was making his major league debut by the next September. By 1973 he was in the majors for good and won 16 games, pitching his first no-hitter in April of that season against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit. He was the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter without having to bat as the AL has just adopted the DH rule that year.
Steve follow is good ’73 season up with a great ’74 season. He won a career high 22 games tat year, made the All-Star team for the first time, and pitched his second no-hitter in June against the Milwaukee Brewers. He became the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter in each of his first two complete seasons. In 1975 he followed all that up with another 18 wins and his second All-Star appearance.
1976 was the beginning of a lot of trouble for Busby’s career. Rotator cuff issues led to control problems and he underwent surgery to try to correct it and was the first person to try to do so. Back in those days your career was pretty much done with that injury. Steve just couldn’t get back on track despite trying for several years after. He missed the ’77 season and then pitched in another 40 games over three years. He tried to comeback with the Cardinals in ’81 but never pitched again in the majors.
After winning 56 games in his first three full years he would only win eight in those last three years. His overall record was 70-54.
The Score on Steve Busby – 5.0
I only wish that I had a different card for Steve to sign. You know I hate those facsimile signature cards and ’80 Topps has them. This one seems even darker than normal. Steve squeezed his signature to one side and I just wonder what he might do with a different card.
Thanks Mr. Busby! This one gets a 5.
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Information gathered using Wikipedia and Baseball Reference.