The 1973 Topps baseball card #311 features second baseman Bobby Grich of the California Angels. Born in 1946, Bobby Grich had an impressive MLB career from 1970-1986 spent mostly with the Angels and Baltimore Orioles. He made 6 All-Star teams and won 2 Gold Glove awards on defense despite career struggles with injuries.

The 1973 season was one of Grich’s best offensive years. That year with the Angels, he hit .278 with 103 runs scored, 27 home runs, and 81 RBI in 158 games played. His 27 homers tied a career high he had previously set in 1972. Grich established himself as one of the top second basemen in the American League during this time period.

The colorful 1973 Topps design depicts Grich in an Angels uniform with a solid blue and yellow border around the photo. Statistics listed on the back of the card show his 1972 totals as well as career stats through that point. His career slash line read .256/.332/.407 prior to the ’73 season. The card details include his birthdate, birthplace, how he was acquired by the Angels, and some physical details.

Grich had some breakout seasons with the Angels in the early 1970s but was traded to the Baltimore Orioles after the 1974 season in one of the most impactful player-for-player deals in baseball history. The Angels received Don Baylor and Mike Adams in exchange for Grich. Both Baylor and Grich went on to have hall of fame caliber careers, making it a truly even trade between the two clubs at the time.

With Baltimore, Grich developed into a star player and consistent .270 hitter who played gold glove defense up the middle. He was an integral part of the Orioles teams that won AL East titles in 1974, 1979, 1983. Grich made the All-Star team in 1975, 1977-1979 with Baltimore and won another gold glove in 1977. His best offensive season came in 1977 when he hit a career-high .278 with 25 home runs and 94 RBI.

Injuries began taking a major toll on Grich’s production in the early 1980s however. He suffered from chronic back issues and knee problems that required several surgeries over the years. This ultimately led to an earlier-than-expected retirement at age 40 after the 1986 season, finishing with a career .266 average, 165 home runs, and 711 RBI in 1,860 games played over 17 seasons.

Despite battling injuries late in his career, Grich’s all-around skill set and consistency made him one of the top second basemen of his era. He held the franchise record for career home runs as an Oriole until it was broken by Cal Ripken Jr. in 1996. Grich was elected to the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame in 1989. He never achieved the household name status of other stars but was a truly valuable player for the Angels and Orioles franchises during the 1970s-1980s.

In summary, Bobby Grich’s 1973 Topps baseball card serves as a snapshot of an impressive season and highlights his standing as one of baseball’s best second basemen at the time. Career stats listed on the rear of the card provide more context of his production and longevity at the MLB level. Grich experienced many successes but also injury struggles later on. He remains an important figure from the 1970s who made key contributions to two notable franchises during his playing days in California and Baltimore.