TASR: 1977 Topps #58 Chet Lemon

This week we got the tough news that Chet Lemon has been having health issues. It's complicated - he has had blood clotting issues for a while and this has led to a series of strokes that has left the Major League outfielder in a near non-communicative state. You can read more about Chet Lemon's condition in Jeff Seidel's sad but interesting Detroit Free Press article here. 

1977 Topps #58 Chet Lemon

1976 was an okay year for Chet Lemon, his .245/4/38 13 SB, 0.4 WAR season beat out Ellis Valentine .279/7/39 14 SB 1.4 WAR and Jerry Turner .267/5/37 12 SB 2.1 WAR and others for cup honors. 

Regardless TASR voters must have foresaw something, after that mediocre start Chet Lemon went on to a productive 16 year career where he racked  up a 55.7 Career WAR, a number that ranks above fellow Centerfielder and first ballot Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett. Meanwhile Lemon got a single 10th place HOF vote.     

In addition to personal accomplishments that included 3 All-Star appearances Lemon's career team highlight was being a member of the 1984 World Series Champion Detroit Tigers.

Chet Lemon 2024

The Lemon family has remained private about Chet's condition until recently. They are only coming forward now because they would like to raise awareness about his condition and they also wanted fans to be aware of Lemon's condition prior to the Detroit Tigers 40th anniversary celebration honoring the 1984 World Series team this weekend. 

I hope that Chet Lemon is well enough to make the trek to Detroit this weekend and enjoy the celebration with his teammates and TIgers fans.  

1977 Topps

This is the first card we have featured from the 1977 TASR class, good design that doesn't get discussed much - The Rookie Cup looks good here, it's present but out of the way. 

Chet Lemon is featured here with his other team the Chicago White Sox. Note the Faux Collar Jersey worn by Lemon. This fashion detail was likely used to dress up the Shorts that Bill Veeck came up for the 1976 White Sox uniform. 

One last detail I want to discuss is the facsimile signature. Chet goes with his more formal full name "Chester Earl Lemon" 

Oh Canada

1977 OPC #195 Chet Lemon

Posting Lemon's 1977 OPC card here so we can take a look at the card sans Rookie Cup. This allows the aforementioned facsimile signature to run at an up angle which is more consistent with 1977 Topps commons.  Also both these cards are screen caps from eBay but the OPC has stronger color and the Marlboro sign in centerfield of Yankee Stadium is a lot more identifiable. 

Closing Thoughts

Just wanted to reiterate I hope the fans and Detroit Tigers get a great 40th Anniversary Celebration and Chet Lemon makes it to the event. 

Sources and Links

1977 TASR Index

Jeff Seidel Detroit Free Press

Detroit Tigers

NBC Sports Chicago

Baseball-Ref