1977 TCMA "The War Years" Baseball #5, Dizzy Trout

TCMA produced a variety of oddball sets throughout the 70s and 80s, most that profile a specific team, decade, or list of all-time greats. This 90-card set, 1977's "The War Years," picks out those left behind to continue playing baseball when World War II claimed MLB's top-flight players. Its #5 played a marginal role on Detroit's 1940 pennant winning team, but proved essential for their 1945 championship, going 27-14 with a stupendous 33 complete games. He finished 2nd in MVP voting to teammate Hal Newhouser, himself the only pitcher to win back-to-back awards.

War Years card fronts all feature unadorned black-and-white photos. One print run lacks borders and seems otherwise identical.

This particular portrait came from a Dizzy pose during a cooler weather game, based on his longsleeved undershirt.

Backs cover player stats from 1941-45 and add "*" for league leaders, like 1944 AL ERA champ Dizzy.

Want to win some sports trivia bets? Ask which Dizzy did better in these career stats, War Years #5 Dizzy Trout or Hall of Famer Dizzy Dean.

• Total wins: Trout 170, Dean 150
• 10+ win seasons: Trout 9, Dean 6
• Strikeouts: Trout 1256, Dean 1163
• Shutouts: Trout 28, Dean 26
• Seasons led league in ERA+ (ERA adjusted for competitive context): Trout 1, Dean 0
• Career WAR: Trout 49.9, Dean 46.2

Immaculate Grid: Dizzy checks a lot of Tigers boxes!

• Played for: Tigers, Red Sox, Orioles
• < 3 ERA season Tigers
• 20+ W Tigers
• 6+ WAR season and 40+ WAR career Tigers 
• All-Star Tigers
• WS champ Tigers
• .300+ batting season Tigers

Value: Complete sets can cost $50+, at least when they turn up. Individual cards could be a dollar or two, depending on the dealer.

Fakes/reprints: TCMA itself printed this set more than once, so this depends on your definition. This set's lack of major stars no doubt limits the appeal for counterfeiters.