Final Card: Mike de la Hoz

Mike de la Hoz (#372) was a utility infielder for the Indians and Braves during the early-to-mid 1960s. He was signed by the Indians in 1958 and made his major-league debut in July 1960. He remained with the Indians for the rest of 1960, and all of 1961 and 1963. He spent most of 1962 in the minors, but played 12 games for the Indians that year.

Just before the 1964 season, he was sent to the Braves as the player to be named later in an earlier trade for infielder Chico Salmon. Mike spent all of 1964-67 with the Braves as a backup infielder.

From 1968 to 1970, de la Hoz toiled in the minors for the Braves' and Reds' triple-A teams. He played one last game in the majors in September 1969 for the Reds.

Really, could Topps have put a little more thought into these "posed" shots? We're to believe that Mike is poised to take a ground ball, but not only is the on-deck circle visible behind him, but there's a bat lying on the ground ready for him to trip over. On top of all that, he's in a fielding pose WEARING A BATTING HELMET!
"Few players in the majors can match Mike's determination and desire to excel." Few, indeed!