For some reason I was in awe when I first saw this card sometime in early 1980. Curtis is seen pitching at Candlestick Park with the Giants' second baseman Rob Andrews in the background. Thanks to Andrews I can narrow down the date to June 16, of 79 when four things had to happen: 1) John Curtis pitched, 2) It was an afternoon game, 3) it took place at Candlestick and 4) Rob Andrews was playing 2nd base. Curtis pitched a complete game win over the Cardinals giving up just five hits and one earned run.
Curtis was a journeyman lefty who was drafted by the Red Sox in the first round of the 1968 draft and pitched for them from 1970-73, then it was on to St. Louis and went to the Giants' in 77. In the season shown on the card he went 10-9 with a 4.18 ERA. He threw 3 CG and 2 shutouts that year. Much to the chagrin of Giants' fans he signed with the Padres who were attempting to win the pennant by going old-Dave Cash, Willie Montanez, Aurelio Rodriquez. It didn't work. In 82 he was a late season acquisition of the Angels but didn't appear in the postseason. A couple more seasons there he left after the 84 season as a free agent and that brought an end to his career.
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