FREE: 1973 Topps Baseball Card #545 Orlando Cepeda (HOF) Atlanta Braves oc Ex-MT *FREE S/H*

The listing, 1973 Topps Baseball Card #545 Orlando Cepeda (HOF) Atlanta Braves oc Ex-MT *FREE S/H* has ended.

For consideration is a 1973 Topps Baseball card #545 featuring Orlando Cepeda (HOF) Oakland Athletics! This card is in oc Ex-MT, Beautiful Lustre with excellent corners and edges. *FREE S/H*

In July, Cepeda was traded to the Oakland Athletics for Denny McLain. After playing for a week, he was hospitalized and underwent a second surgery on his injured knee.[42] Cepeda remained in Oakland three months before returning to Puerto Rico. Upon arriving he received a telegram from Charlie Finley, the Athletics' owner, telling him that if he didn't respond within three days he would be released from his contract. Cepeda decided not to call, intending to retire from baseball.[42] In 1973, the American League established the designated hitter role, hoping to improve attendance. The Boston Red Sox contacted him, telling him that his role with the team only required batting. Cepeda became the first player to sign a contract to exclusively play as a designated hitter.[42] Cepeda had an average of .289 with 20 home runs and 86 RBIs in 550 at bats. He was also named Designated Hitter of the Year. Cepeda's twentieth home run established a major league record, making him the first player to hit twenty or more home runs with four different teams.[43] He went to Puerto Rico and prepared to play in the 1974 season, but the team decided to release him and Luis Aparicio during spring training. After briefly playing in Mexico, he was offered a contract by the Kansas City Royals. In his last season, Cepeda had 107 at bats, batting .215 with one home run.