Missing Player - The 70s Game & 1973 Season

I realize there have been discussion threads about missing players for the 70s Game in the past, but I came across a player today that I realized was missing, and don't recall his name being mentioned in previous threads.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... ch01.shtml

Charlie Spikes. I was researching the 1973 season, and saw his name among the HR leaders for that season. He played significant portions of five seasons, so he could qualify for a card.

The reason I was researching the '73 season is because SOM is reissuing that season in a super advanced format.

It seems that SOM could be hyping that season by setting it up as an online individual season, like the '86 and '99 seasons. Especially since they don't seem inclined to bring back the 1969 season.

I have done some research on "missing" players from both the 70s and the 60s sets. Charlie Spikes is certainly one to consider. However, the biggest problem I can see with including him is the lack of a solid 5th season card to use. 73 through 76 are locks. The 79 season is so much better than all than all except the 74 card, that it almost seems unfair to use it with only 100 atbats. The only other card which could reasonably used is 77, and he only appeared in 32 games. What I would suggest he has going for him is that he is an outfielder: it seems like a majority of the position players who could potentially be included are catchers or utility INFs.

The 79 season is so much better than all than all except the 74 card, that it almost seems unfair to use it with only 100 atbats.

Two word reply: Rick Auerbach.

He had only 55 abs during the 1978 season. One hits pay dirt if they happen to get that season.

1978 CIN 63 55 17 18 6 0 2 5 7 12 1 0 .327 .413 .545 .958 1 5L