Dan McKee had a short but productive major league baseball career that spanned from 1975 to 1981. Though he didn’t put up huge numbers at the plate or have any signature accomplishments on the field, McKee found moderate success as a utility player and left behind a legacy through the baseball cards issued during his playing days. Let’s take a deeper look at Dan McKee’s career and the baseball cards that were produced depicting the journeyman infielder.
McKee was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 15th round of the 1972 MLB Draft out of San Diego State University. He made his major league debut with Cleveland on April 13, 1975 at the age of 24. McKee didn’t see much playing time initially, appearing in just 23 games and accumulating 37 plate appearances in his rookie season. He showed promise with the bat however, hitting .280 with a home run and 6 RBI.
McKee would spend parts of the next three seasons bouncing between Cleveland and their Triple-A affiliate in Portland. He appeared in 50 games for the Indians in 1976, seeing most of his action at second base but also getting some starts at third. McKee hit .239 that year and proved he could be a versatile utility player capable of filling in around the infield.
1977 would be McKee’s first full season in the majors as he broke camp with Cleveland and remained on the roster for the entire year. Primarily a second baseman and third baseman, he played in 103 games and established career highs with 143 plate appearances and 18 RBI. McKee hit .247 and showed he could be a reliable backup and spot starter.
This success led to McKee being featured on his first baseball card in Topps’ 1977 set. The card shows McKee in an Indians uniform from his waist up with a serious expression on his face. Simple white text lists his name, position, batting stats from 1976, and “Cleveland Indians” underneath. It marks McKee’s arrival on the baseball card collecting scene as a major leaguer.
McKee would remain with Cleveland through the 1978 season, appearing in 87 games as a valuable utility player. He hit .242 and showed versatility by making appearances at second base, third base, shortstop, and left field. This solid campaign led to McKee being included again in the 1978 Topps set, this time with a closer full body shot in an Indians batting stance.
In December of 1978, McKee was traded to the Montreal Expos along with pitcher Wayne Cage in exchange for pitcher Bill Castro. He spent the 1979 season with Montreal, where he continued to be used frequently as a backup around the infield and outfield. McKee played in 94 games and set a new career high with 16 runs scored, hitting .232 for the Expos.
McKee’s 1979 Topps card featured him in an Expos uniform for the first time. The action shot depicted him taking a swing with an open stance. It marked McKee’s transition to a new team on cardboard after beginning his baseball card collection career with Cleveland depicted.
After the 1979 season, McKee was dealt once more, this time to the Texas Rangers. He spent the 1980 and 1981 seasons with Texas, where he saw diminished playing time but continued to provide versatility off the bench. McKee appeared in just 47 total games over those two seasons as the Rangers utilized him sparingly. He hit .219 in limited at-bats.
McKee’s final two baseball cards came in the 1980 and 1981 Topps sets. Both featured him in a Rangers uniform, with the ’81 issue showing a headshot. They commemorated the final years and team of McKee’s major league career playing out. He was released by Texas after the 1981 season, bringing an end to his seven-year MLB tenure.
In summary, McKee played parts of seven seasons in the majors from 1975-1981. He appeared in 430 career games, primarily as a second baseman and third baseman but also getting time in the outfield and at shortstop. McKee hit .239 over his career with 2 home runs and 66 RBI in 824 at-bats. Though he didn’t post huge offensive numbers, McKee proved valuable to his teams as a versatile utility player capable of filling in around the diamond.
McKee left behind a baseball card collecting legacy spanning from 1977-1981 Topps issues. His cards with Cleveland, Montreal, and Texas serve as a visual representation of his journeyman career bouncing around the AL. While McKee may not be one of the biggest baseball card stars, collectors can still appreciate his cardboard contributions today as a role player who made the most of his MLB opportunities. His baseball cards stand as a reminder of the career of a hardworking professional who made it to the highest level of play.
Dan McKee didn’t put up gaudy stats or win any championships, but he made the most of his ability through hustle and versatility. Though his playing career was short, McKee left an imprint on the baseball card collecting world with his depictions from 1977 through 1981. He showed that sometimes it’s the unsung heroes who can make the most memorable impacts of all.