Cards That Never Were #46

1974 Topps - Juan Jimenez

Proving that every player deserves their own card... here's Juan Jimenez.

Juan was originally drafted by the Houston Astros in 1969. Sometime before the 1970 season, he was sent to the Philadelphia Phillies. Before the 1973 season, Jimenez was sent to the Pirates. He made his debut on September 9, 1974. I've seen players that never made it to the majors on Topps cards in the seventies, so this would not be out of the realm of possibility. I've even seen players in uniforms that they never suited up in make Topps cards in the seventies.

Jimenez's last game was on September 29, 1974. In all, his MLB career spanned four games. He pitched his debut in Chicago, where he tried to keep the game within three, but ultimately let Don Kessinger score on a ground ball double play in the seventh inning. Juan next pitched on the 14th in Montreal. He went two scoreless innings, with the only blemish being a balk when Tim Foli was at the plate, causing Larry Lintz to advance to second.

Juan entered the game on September 25th, in St. Louis, to start the bottom of the eleventh, with the Pirates up 12-9. He faced three batters, giving up a single to Ted Sizemore, walking Reggie Smith, before surrendering a double to Ted Simmons, which scored Sizemore. Jim Minshall relieved Jimenez, who got Joe Torre to ground to second, but Rennie Stennett made an error on the play, which ended up scoring two. The Pirates went on to lose the game 13-12.

Jimenez's last game was on September 29th, in New York. The Mets were leading 7-1 when Juan entered the game in the bottom of the eighth. He got Don Hahn and Felix Millan to ground to the third baseman, Richie Hebner, then was able to get Rusty Staub to lineout to Rennie Stennett at second.

Juan hung around in the Pirates organization until he was sent to the Mexico City Reds before the 1976 season.