Vintage Fridays: Nelson Briles, 1978 Topps #717

This is the fifteenth card I've featured from the 1978 Topps set. Believe it or not, that's not the highest card count for any set on this blog. I've posted 19 Orioles from the 1972 Topps set...and of course, 82 from the 1991 Crown/Coca-Cola All-Time Orioles set. That's a pretty good reminder that I've been writing this blog for a shade over ten years, and even with the slowdown in recent years, I've still racked up 2,805 entries. It all stacks up.

Nellie Briles, as I've noted before, is one of two Orioles to share my August 5 birthday. (The other is John Wasdin, a journeyman reliever who pitched in 26 games for the O's in 2001.) Topps scrambled to paint Briles into Baltimore's orange and black threads for their 1978 set; he'd spent most of the 1977 season as a Texas Ranger, joining the Birds on September 19 and making a pair of relief appearances. Nelson's 14-year big league career came to an end in Charm City in 1978. He started eight games, relieved in eight others, and posted a 4-4 record with a 4.64 ERA. Despite those modest results, he had a long and accomplished career, totaling 129 wins, 112 losses, and a 3.44 ERA. He was also a talented singer, often performing in night clubs during the offseason and entertaining teammates over the summer months. How's that for a two-way player?