Al Hrabosky was one of the most memorable relief pitchers of the 1970s, known as much for his wild antics and frenzied deliveries on the mound as his effectiveness out of the St. Louis Cardinals bullpen. “The Mad Hungarian” became a fan favorite in St. Louis and his baseball cards from his playing days are highly sought after by collectors today. Let’s take a deeper look at Hrabosky’s career and some of his notable baseball cards.
Hrabosky was drafted by the Cardinals in the 17th round of the 1967 amateur draft out of the University of Alabama. He made his MLB debut with St. Louis in 1970 and quickly became a bullpen workhorse, appearing in 70 or more games each season from 1972-1976. In those years, he established himself as one of baseball’s top relievers, making the NL All-Star team in 1973 and 1975. At his peak from 1972-1974, Hrabosky posted a combined ERA of 2.21 with 89 saves and 329 strikeouts over 228 innings pitched.
His fiery demeanor and intense delivery, which featured him furiously scratching the pitcher’s mound and wildly shaking off catcher’s signs, became Hrabosky’s calling card. His antics inspired the nickname “The Mad Hungarian,” though he was actually of Slovak and Austrian descent. While Hrabosky’s frenzied mannerisms worried some, they seemed to fuel his performance. Between 1970-1978 with St. Louis, he compiled a career ERA of 3.00 with 111 saves in 580 games pitched.
Hrabosky’s popularity made him one of the most heavily featured Cardinals in the early 1970s. Some of his notable early baseball cards include:
1971 Topps #278: One of Hrabosky’s earliest mainstream rookie cards, showing him in a St. Louis uniform with his signature intense expression. Highly collectible for rookie collectors.
1972 Topps #600: Features great action shot of Hrabosky unleashing a pitch. Captures his wind-up antics that made him such an entertaining reliever to watch.
1973 Topps #264: Another action photo card, this one showing Hrabosky in mid-delivery. Rated one of his sharper and more visually appealing base cards.
1974 Topps #322: Poses in front of the St. Louis dugout in home whites. Iconic of his 1970s Cardinals tenure. Considered a key card for team/era collectors.
1975 Topps #242: Captures Hrabosky’s NL All-Star selection that season with photo from the mid-summer classic. Highly coveted by All-Star collectors.
In 1978, Hrabosky was traded to the Kansas City Royals, where he continued effectively as their closer for the next three seasons. He made his second and final All-Star team in 1980. Hrabosky wrapped up his 14-year MLB career split between St. Louis, Kansas City, and the Chicago White Sox in 1981.
Hrabosky’s baseball cards from his Cardinals days in the early 1970s are among the most sought after for collectors of that franchise and era. The visuals of his intense wind-up and famous antics, combined with his on-field success as St. Louis’ fireman out of the pen, made for very memorable and collectible cards that remain popular to this day. Signed versions can fetch hundreds of dollars, showing how “The Mad Hungarian’s” legacy and place in Cardinals history is still going strong decades after his playing days ended. Al Hrabosky was never just another relief pitcher – he was must-see TV every time he took the mound.