If ever a man was suited for a fleeting moment, it was onetime San Francisco Giant John Tamargo. The backup to the backup catcher, he wasn’t built to last. Even his name had a transitional nature to it, as iconic Dodgers announcer Vin Scully once jokingly pointed out after Tamargo struck out: “Striiiiiike three! Here today, John Tamargo.”
One year, Topps captured the well-traveled Tamargo with a look of trepidation, suggesting he was about to become the first player ever cut while having his baseball card photo taken.
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But here’s the beauty of baseball: Even a lightly-used, never heralded catcher who changed teams 17 times during an eight-year professional career can have his proverbial day in the sun.