1976 Topps #591 - Rookie Pitchers (Grilli, Mitchell, Sosa, Throop)

• Steve Grilli
• Signed by the Detroit Tigers in 1970.
• Pitched in three games for the Tigers in 1975 (0-0, 1.35 ERA)
• Went 3-1 with three saves and had a 4.64 ERA in 36 games in 1976.
• Appeared in 30 games (2 starts) and was 1-2 with a 4.83 ERA in 1977.
• Sold to the Toronto Blue Jays before the 1978 season.
• Was in the minors (AAA Syracuse) for the entire 1978 season.
• Made 49 appearances and had a 2.01 ERA for Syracuse in 1979.
• Appeared in one game for the Blue Jays on September 17, 1979 and allowed no runs in 2.1 innings. That was the last time Steve pitched in the  majors.
• Pitched in AAA in 1980 and in 1981 before retiring.
• Steve was the losing pitcher in the longest game (33 innings) in baseball  history on April 19 / June 23, 1981 (Rochester vs. Pawtucket). Grilli was with the Blue Jays Syracuse club on April 19 when 32 of the innings were played. Steve was cut loose by the Blue Jays and had hooked on with Rochester before the remainder of the game was played. Steve started the 33rd inning and walked the bases loaded. Another pitcher was brought in and surrendered a single, making Grilli the losing pitcher.
• Now lives in Baldwinsville (near Syracuse), NY. He owns a sports bar called "Change of Pace."
• Craig Mitchell
• Drafted in the first round by the Oakland A's in 1973 (first player taken in the June draft)
• Started in one game for the A's in 1975 (0-1, 12.27 ERA in 3.2 innings)
• Pitched in one game for the A's in 1976 (0-0, 2.70 ERA in 3.1 innings)
• Pitched in three games (one start) for the A's in 1977 (0-1, 7.94 ERA)
• Continued to pitch in the Oakland system through the 1979 season but never got back to the majors.
• Jose Sosa
• Signed by the Houston Astros in 1970
• Pitched for the Houston Astros in 1975 and 1976
• Hit a home run in his first plate appearance on July 30, 1975
• Went 1-3 with one save and had a 4.02 ERA in 25 games (2 starts) in 1975
• Pitched in nine games (0-0, 6.94 ERA) in 1976.
• Pitched in Houston's system through the 1978 season.
• George Throop
• Listed as 6'7" and 205 lbs.
• Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1972
• Pitched in the minors from 1972-1975 and earned a promotion to Kansas City after going 12-9 with a 2.95 ERA for AAA Omaha.
• Pitched in seven games (0-0, 2 saves, 4.00 ERA) in September 1975.
• George couldn't break into the Royals' pitching staff and spent the entire 1976 season (and most of 1977 and 1978) at Omaha.
• 1977: 0-0, 1 save, 3.38 ERA in four games
• 1978: 1-0, 0.00 ERA in one game (3 innings)
• Started the 1979 season with Kansas City (0-0, 13.50 ERA in four games) and was traded to the Houston Astros for Keith Drumright on April 25.
• Spent the month of May in  and then pitched for the Astros from June-August 1979. 
• Pitched in 14 games for the Astros (1-0, 3.22 ERA) in 1979.