This is an odd find.

**FloridaTigers** · 06-12-2009, 01:44 AM

Found this on uniwatch. Why is Aurelio Lopez wearing one of those pillbox hats? I didn't think the Tigers wore those ever. The picture is from a late 70's Japanese all-star event.

**Corky** · 06-12-2009, 01:55 AM

Likely the same reason Lou wore the replica jersey with his number on the back in magic marker and borrowed White Shoes at the All-Start Game in Minnesota one year. Uni didn't make it so they bought what they could find. Check out George Foster and Tug McGraw also. Their lids are weird.

**Hongbit** · 06-12-2009, 02:06 AM

Chuck Tanner can barely stand up on his own and Tommy looks less than 10 minutes removed from a happy ending and to think these guys were the authority figures.

I love 70's baseball.

**Corky** · 06-12-2009, 02:26 AM

Smoke seems to be the only AL guy in that pic.

If that is Gene Garber it makes me wonder if it is early 1980s.

**Madmanrick** · 06-12-2009, 08:21 AM

AFAIK, Lopez was only ever named to an All-Star team once and that was in 1983. Although his numbers were much better in '79 (his first year with the Tigers), so I guess it is at least within the realm of possibilities that he was included on an MLB Japan visit that year?

**redshark63** · 06-12-2009, 08:40 AM

Those hats were originally synonymous w/ the Bicentennial year of 1976.

To figure out the year:

Ozzie was with SD '78-'81
Luzinski was with Philly thru '80
Roger Craig was mgr of SD '79-'80

So it looks to be either '79 or '80
(technically, I suppose it could be winter of '81 too - I didn't check trade dates).

After further digging, it seems to be from a 1979 tour of Japan.

**Oblong** · 06-12-2009, 01:31 PM

Is the guy in the suit in the back our own Jim Leyland?????

**Oblong** · 06-12-2009, 03:49 PM

This picture has made the rounds all over the country. Sent it to my friend who's company has offices in Cleveland, Houston, and Portland. They loved it.
Great find. Nearly everyone has been identified.

**ToledoTigerFan** · 06-21-2009, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by Oblong

Is the guy in the suit in the back our own Jim Leyland?????

I thought Leyland was the guy looking left and skyward with his hands on the shoulders of the guy in the brown suit.

**ToledoTigerFan** · 06-21-2009, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by ToledoTigerFan

I thought Leyland was the guy looking left and skyward with his hands on the shoulders of the guy in the brown suit.

The more I think about it, the timeline doesn't fit for him to be in the Pirates organization in the late 70's. I think he was managing in the minors for the Tigers in the late 70's.

**redshark63** · 06-21-2009, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by ToledoTigerFan

I thought Leyland was the guy looking left and skyward with his hands on the shoulders of the guy in the brown suit.

That's Chuck Tanner

**hueytaxi** · 06-21-2009, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by ToledoTigerFan

The more I think about it, the timeline doesn't fit for him to be in the Pirates organization in the late 70's. I think he was managing in the minors for the Tigers in the late 70's.

Correct. Leyland followed Stubby Overmire in managing the Lakeland Tigers in 76-78.

**ToledoTigerFan** · 06-21-2009, 09:21 PM

Who is the Pirate pitcher in the back row, middle right? His name was Jon something, I think.

**ToledoTigerFan** · 06-21-2009, 09:24 PM

John Candelaria, I think. Isn't that him?

**redshark63** · 06-21-2009, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by ToledoTigerFan

Who is the Pirate pitcher in the back row, middle right? His name was Jon something, I think.

John Candelaria

John Candelaria Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com

**ToledoTigerFan** · 06-21-2009, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by redshark63

John Candelaria

John Candelaria Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com

I knew the timelines matched, but is that him? Can you confirm it's him?

**redshark63** · 06-21-2009, 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by ToledoTigerFan

I knew the timelines matched, but is that him? Can you confirm it's him?

That's my era, I am 99.44 % sure.

**ToledoTigerFan** · 06-21-2009, 09:51 PM

It's my era, too. I can remember that, a face from 35 years ago, but I can't remember how to hook up my stereo equipment.

**redshark63** · 06-21-2009, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by ToledoTigerFan

It's my era, too. I can remember that, a face from 35 years ago, but I can't remember how to hook up my stereo equipment.

From his Topps '79 card:

**Oblong** · 06-21-2009, 09:59 PM

I"m thinking "The guy with the Padres hat looks like LBJ." Then I see someone mention Roger Craig and then I think "Yeah, that's right. I always thought LBJ looked like Roger Craig."

So the guy in the suit isn't Jim Leyland? I don't see why he'd be there considering where he was in teh 70's but it sure does look like it could be him. that guy's probably older than Jim though by 8 or 9 years though.