Career: After signing with the Cubs he spent his early career switching back and forth between a starting role and the bullpen. He was traded in 1959 to the Cards and the following year to the Reds and became strictly a reliever. By any measure his five seasons with Cincinnati were his best. He helped them reach the 1960 World Series. He is now remembered as much for his writing as his playing.
In 1960: In his first full season with the Reds he went 7-2 with 12 saves and posted his best WHIP, best ERA and best k/w ratio.
WikiFacts: "A fine major league pitcher for several years, Jim Brosnan wrote the first honest portrayal of the life of a baseball player. The Long Season and subsequent works have earned him continued praise ever since. His writings paved the way for many other players’ “autobiographies,” usually written with considerable help, and filled with more tawdriness but less humor and heart. Fifty years on, Brosnan’s books remain the gold standard for baseball memoirs." - his SABR bio
The Card: Hard to tell but this has the feel of another Wrigley Field card photo. Brosnan had a reputation as a 'nerd' (or whatever term was popular back then.... egghead?) and one look at the card shows you why. The cartoon points out he was most effective versus his two former clubs. Some research is in order.
