One Year or Zero Year?

In my previous post, I alluded to the fact that, in addition to my awesome Thomas Ian Nicholas-autographed baseball, I was lucky enough to receive a small handful of new additions to my Cubs All-Time Roster Collection, as well.  Apparently, my family knows me and knows what I want pretty well!  I've been chasing these vintage oddball cards for a long time and the players' stories are unique enough that I feel as though it would be a disservice to cram them all into a singular blog entry; therefore, over the next few days, I'll give each individual card a moment in the spotlight, so that I might brag appropriately.

But seriously - my family rocks!

Anyway, today we will take a look at the "newest" card of the bunch, that being a single from Larry Fritsch's third series of "One Year Winners" (which was released in 1983) and features a little known pitcher by the name of John Flavin:

Larry Fritsch made his name by selling completed sets of Topps cards in the baseball publications of his day, a service which is still offered under his name today.  Additionally, Mr. Fritsch decided to fill some gaps that he'd noticed along the way with oddball card sets of his own creation.  Between 1977 to 1983, he released three series of "One Year Winner" cards, each with different designs and players on the checklist.  The concept behind the collation was fairly simple - men who had only appeared in one season of Major League Baseball.  John Flavin had a cuppacoffee in the Majors back in 1964 and thus qualified for inclusion.

However, upon examining this simply-designed card, eagle-eyed readers of this blog might have a question.  After all, I mentioned that this card was long-needed addition to my CATRC binder - in fact, I recently named it as my fifth most wanted item on my whole want list.  Furthermore, Flavin appeared in only five MLB games in '64 during his only season of action.  Lastly, on his "OYW" card - his only known baseball card - he is quite clearly sporting the uniform of one of the Cubs' National League rivals - the Cincinnati Reds.  Thus, the question becomes, "How does Flavin fit into this tome?"

As it turns out, this "One Year" card is actually a "Zero Year" card; by that, I mean that John Flavin spent exactly zero years with the Major League Reds, in an official capacity.  While he had been a prospect in the Reds' system going back to 1961, as the back of this card (obviously paying homage to 1953 Bowman) notates, piling up strikeouts and a PCL All-Star selection in '62 along the way.  John Boy was then traded to the Cubbies early in the 1964 season and it was there, in Chicago, that Flavin would make the ultimate ascent for the first, last, and only time.

The Cubs thought they were getting a live-armed prospect with a bright future as part of their rebuild - instead, they got 4.2 innings of 13.50 ERA ball, spread across a scant five innings. 

It's quite possible that John's performance suffered due to an injury of sorts, as after his embarrassing late-summer audition, he did not take the mound at any level in 1965.  Back on the hill in '66 for the Cubs' AAA affiliate in Tacoma, Flavin appeared in 13 games (4 starts) and was perfectly mediocre (2-3, 4.82 ERA) in what would be his final professional season.  His career was over at the tender young age of 24.

A photog was quick enough to get a shot of Flavin in a Cubs uni!

I cannot find confirmation anywhere, but I'm willing to bet that the old "sore arm" did Johnny in, as it did many a bright pitching prospect in the days before Tommy John surgery.  Bummer.  Nevertheless, at least he did get a taste of the Bigs and his own baseball card, courtesy of Larry Fritsch.

As brief as his career was, he still managed to play in a role in baseball history.  During his days as a Reds' minor leaguer, Flavin played the role of stopper in an amazing streak by the Orioles' Johnny Orsino.  The catcher was brought in by the birds that spring to audition for the full-time role and promptly made an impression on the club.  All he did was hammer a home run in his first FIVE STRAIGHT spring at-bats... even in exhibition ball, that is eye-poppingly astounding.  John Flavin was not having any of it though - with Orsino looking for longball number six, Flavin induced a weak pop-up to the catcher, ending the show of power.

Not on Flavin's watch!

Curses!  Foiled by Flavin!

I feel as though I should also mention that, according to my research, this John Flavin doesn't appear to bear any relation to the John Flavin that founded the ubiquitous Score trading card company in 1988.  Nor does he appear to share any blood with the John Flavin in the athletic Hall of Fame for Georgetown or the John Flavin who starred in track & field for the University of Dayton.  Apparently, "John Flavin" is quite the sporty name!

Back to the card itself, Fritsch's One-Year Winners has been a goldmine for me, in terms of my CATRC.  After all, by it's very nature, it covers several obscure and short-term Cubbies, throughout it's three editions, who would otherwise not have any baseball card representation.  At this point, I do believe the only card from that checklist which I still need is Jim Ellis' #28, from 1979's Series Two.  So, if you have a lead on that bad boy, please feel free to let me know!

The previous editions of OYW.  Left, 1979.  Right, 1979.

With that, we've pretty much covered the story of John Flavin and his 1983 Larry Fritsch One-Year Winners single.  But, like I said, this is just the tip of the iceberg - there were still two more, much older Cubs All-Time Roster Collection additions sitting under my tree on Christmas morning.

Who will we talk about tomorrow?  Stay tuned!