#26 Juan Bernhardt

One month before your 17th birthday you sign a free agent deal with the New York Yankees in 1970. You would be of top of the world thinking you hot the lottery right? I'm sure that is how Juan felt too. You don't think you will be in the Bronx the next day, but you would have high hopes. Juan would start the journey in 1971 working his way up through the Yankees minor league system. It was a slow climb for Juan to come up through the minors before seeing time with the AAA Syracuse Chiefs in 1976. Thanks to an injury, the Yankees brought Juan up to the big club in July of 1976 and he would spend the month with the team only to finish the year back in Syracuse. Thanks to a bit of luck, Juan was left unprotected by the Yankees and was the 10th pick by the Mariners in the 1976 expansion draft. The Mariners would have Juan on the Opening Day roster for the 1977 season.

 He would get his first chance with the new team on April 10th and put his name in the team record books. Juan hit the first home run in team history off Frank Tanana of the California Angels. Juan would see time in 1977 and in 1978 at Designated Hitter, 3rd Base, and 1st Base. He would stay with the team all season in 1977, but was split between Seattle and the AAA San Jose Missions in 1978. Juan would be a pinch hitter on April 8, 1979 getting a single and being pinch ran for. That would be the last action Juan would ever see in the majors as he would be sent to AAA with the Spokane Indians. Juan would be dealt to the Chicago White Sox in July 6th that year and would spend the rest of the year with the Iowa Oaks. In 1980 Juan decided to play with the Tabasco Planteros in Mexico. For the next two years in 1981 and 1982 he would be a player/manager with the Campache Piratas. Juan would start 1983 with the Piratas but without the mam\nagging duties, and would finish that year with the Aguascalientes Rieleros. Baseball can be a cruel sport with Juan seeing his time done at the age of 30 with much promise that just never materialized.

#1 Bill Stein, 3rd Base

This is how Topps envisioned the Mariners for their 1977 set

 

The Mariners would set sail on their maiden voyage in the Kingdome in 1977. The man that would play almost the whole season that year, and most of the first four seasons was Bill Stein. Bill was chosen with the 5th pick in the expansion draft that was Mariners and Blue Jays coming in the league. Bill was the rock at the hot corner in 1977 and 1978 before being moved around and losing most of his playing time in 1979 and 1980. After the 1980 season, Bill left Seattle in free agency to go to the Texas Rangers where he would play through the 1985 season and would retire from baseball as a player. Bill would coach and manage in the minors and independent ball from the 1987 season through the mid 90's before calling it quits.

This is how Bill looked on the 1976 set. Notice the tighter shot and airbrushing to make him a Mariner for '77
pic courtesy of the Baseball Card Cyber Museum

#26 Merritt Ranew, Catcher/ Mike Ferraro, 3rd Base

Another two player number in the revolving door Pilots of the summer of '69.

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Merritt Ranew passed away in October of 2011.

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Mike Ferraro would go on to spend some time managing in the minors, and for a short time in the majors.

#11 John Kennedy 3B/SS

The other John Kennedy was a Seattle Pilot. He played short stop and 3rd base for the team, and was hurt for a good part of the year.

After his playing days he managed in the minors from 1975-1978. From 1979-2001, he was a scout for the Oakland A's. From 2003-2006, he managed the North Shore Spirit in independent ball. He is currently retired with his wife, and living in Peabody, Massachusetts.

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#9 Rich Rollins, 3rd Base

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courtesy of checkoutmycards.com

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courtesy of eBay.com

courtesy of eBay.com

courtesy of sportsmemorabilia.com