tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33011111771059323422024-03-13T19:20:14.103-05:00'59 topps: one f/g card at a timeA look at my collection of 1959s. Every card has a story.Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.comBlogger577125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-67597416995990186542014-03-14T04:00:00.000-05:002016-10-08T14:40:00.968-05:00And That's A WrapWriting this blog has been a wonderful learning experience. The 1959 Topps set held many more stories than I even imagined when I started it back in February of 2011. It began with <a href="http://59toppsblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/439-brooks-robinson_13.html">a posting of my Brooks Robinson card</a>.<br />
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I've been looking back at those early posts recently and have noticed how things evolved over time. I seemed to have moved away from posting about the card's appearance and a brief peek at the player and more towards lengthier player bios. Not sure if that was a change for the better or not!<br />
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Overall though, I'm happy with what I've produced here. There were times I thought I wouldn't finish and indeed there was a period in early 2012 when I stepped away from posting. When I came back having decided that posting a card every day was unrealistic things became much easier.<br />
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A few closing thoughts:<br />
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I'm not <i>completely</i> done here. As time goes by I am going back and cleaning up a few things. Not that it matters much to anyone except me but when I began I was using the default 'medium' Blogger image size. Along the way I switched to 'large' and I'm in the process of changing them all to the bigger size. While I do that I am also adding 'tags' which I neglected to do for a long time back when I was just beginning.<br />
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I am also double checking to make sure I haven't missed a card along the way. I tried to keep my checklist current as I went but there is always the possibility I skipped a card. If so I will add the entry ASAP.<br />
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I also have a few projects in the back of my head but just never had the time or proper motivation to tackle. If you've read more than two or three of my posts here you know I have an (unhealthy?) obsession with the stadiums seen in the photos used in this set. Most of the stadiums can be ID'd pretty easily. But I didn't keep a running tab on them. I may just satisfy my curiosity on a rainy Sunday and then post my results. I can take a pretty confident guess that 60% of the shots were from Yankee Stadium.<br />
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And I want to do a "Best of" post. Some cards/entries are special to me for one reason or another. It might be the player on the card, the card itself, how I acquired it, or the story I dug up when looking for material to include. I plan to put that list of favorites together and tack it on here.<br />
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Finally a few words about the great people I've come to know through this blog. I haven't 'met' any of you in person but I feel I've made friends though the comments, corrections, additions, criticisms and general kibitzing all of you have thrown my way here for three years. I am continuing my blog over at <a href="http://5toolcollector.blogspot.com/">The Five Tool Collector</a> and now I can be a bit more active on the <a href="http://1963topps.blogspot.com/">1963 Topps blog </a>hosted by Jim from Downingtown. I will continue to read memorabilia blogs every day and I hope to continue to communicate with my friends.<br />
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It's been a blast and I'll see ya on the 'net.Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-79083258527313575822014-03-13T07:11:00.000-05:002014-03-13T07:11:13.866-05:00#478 Roberto Clemente<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is the last card to be posted from my 1959 Topps set. And this Roberto Clemente is one of my favorites. It doesn't show him an any sort of action pose which might reflect his skills but maybe more fittingly it's a portrait that has him with a half-smile focused off-camera. It's in 'fair' condition at best but given what they go for I think I'll pass up a chance to upgrade it. Hard to say where the shot was taken. Many Pirate cards have pictures from Seals Stadium in San Francisco but I get a vague 'L.A. Memorial Coliseum vibe' with this one.<br />
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You may have noticed that the card shows <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/clemero01.shtml">Roberto Clemente</a>'s first name as 'Bob'. I've always referred to as 'Roberto' so I'll go against my 'use what the card uses' convention and call him 'Roberto' here. I know Bob Prince called him 'Bobby' but... Bob Prince, well.... the less said the better. I understand that early in his career he was frequently referred to as 'Bob' but I have read that he didn't like it.<br />
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Just about anything I can say about the career and life of Roberto Clemente has been said in many places already by far, far better writers than me. Here are just a few highlights and a few memories of him.<br />
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From Clemente's <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Roberto_Clemente">Baseball Reference Bullpen page</a>:<br />
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<b><u>Notable Achievements</u></b></div>
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<ul>
<li>12-time NL All-Star (1960-1967 & 1969-1972)</li>
<li>NL MVP (1966)</li>
<li>1971 World Series MVP</li>
<li>12-time NL Gold Glove Winner (1961-1972)</li>
<li>4-time NL Batting Average Leader (1961, 1964, 1965 & 1967)</li>
<li>2-time NL Hits Leader (1964 & 1967)</li>
<li>NL Triples Leader (1969)</li>
<li>20-Home Run Seasons: 3 (1961, 1966 & 1967)</li>
<li>100 RBI Seasons: 2 (1966 & 1967)</li>
<li>100 Runs Scored Seasons: 3 (1961, 1966 & 1967)</li>
<li>200 Hits Seasons: 4 (1961, 1964, 1966 & 1967)</li>
<li>Won two World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1960 & 1971)</li>
<li>Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1973</li>
</ul>
I'm not sure what else there is to say after reading <i>that</i> list. I won't try to sing Clemente's praises but rather I'll recall my three most powerful memories of him.<br />
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In the summer I moved to Houston I saw the Pirates in the Astrodome a few times. One night (and I can't find the exact game) Clemente grabbed a fly with a runner on second and threw the ball on an absolute rope to third to keep the runner from moving up. Sounds routine but to see that throw and hear the crowd buzz, well, you knew that Clemente was just special.<br />
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Next is a catch he made in 1969 at Shea Stadium. In a game that was to be the only no-hitter I've ever witnessed in person he went full speed across the right-field line as he grabbed a shot by the Met's Wayne Garrett in the 6th inning. I remember him hitting the railing along the stands after the catch.<br />
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And finally I remember how he just whipped the Orioles in the 1971 World Series. I was so happy when the O's came back to tie the Series up in Game Six in Baltimore. I figured my Birds had it won with ace Mike Cuellar starting on Sunday at home. But when Clemente homered to put the Bucs ahead I got a bad feeling that he was destined to have another World Series ring. And I was right.<br />
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Here is his <a href="http://baseballhall.org/hof/clemente-roberto">Hall of Fame bio</a>:<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Roberto Clemente Walker's pride and humanitarianism won him universal admiration. Despite an unorthodox batting style, the Pirates great won four batting crowns and amassed 3,000 hits. He was equally brilliant in right field, where he displayed a precise and powerful arm. Clemente earned National League MVP honors in 1966, but achieved his greatest fame in the 1971 World Series, in which he batted .414. Tragically, Clemente's life ended at age 38 -- the victim of a plane crash while flying relief supplies to Nicaraguan earthquake victims.</i></span></blockquote>
Some other Clemente related links of interest:<br />
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<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743217810/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=">This is a terrific book</a> written by David Maraniss that explores Clemente's life and death. I've read it and it's well worth the time. Amazon has used hardback copies for a penny plus shipping.</li>
<li>MLB's Roberto <a href="http://web.mlbcommunity.org/index.jsp?content=programs&program=roberto_clemente_award">Clemente Day page</a>.</li>
<li>Clemente's New York <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0818.html">Times obituary</a>.</li>
<li>The Smithsonian Institute's <a href="http://www.robertoclemente.si.edu/english/index.htm">Clemente virtual museum exhibit</a> and classroom. </li>
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Some Clemente pics from Corbis' Clemente page:<br />
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That's the last card, but not the last post on this blog. I'll have a wrap-up tomorrow and maybe a few things brewing down the road. As always, thanks for reading!Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-25796743817832822912014-03-12T07:10:00.000-05:002014-03-12T07:10:56.943-05:00#533 Darrell Johnson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnsda01.shtml">Darrell Johnson</a> caught for seven different major league teams (if you count the Browns and Orioles as different clubs) over parts of six seasons. Only twice did he get into 40 or more games or get 100 at bats. But he apparently was gathering baseball acumen as he went since he ended up <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/johnsda01.shtml">managing in the minors and majors</a> rather successfully.<br />
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Johnson signed with the St. Louis Browns in 1949 and hit well as he made his way up the ranks of the St. Louis system. He made the Browns' roster in 1952 and after a slow start and demotion to the minors he came back and was in the starting line-up for a month or so but in July he was traded to the White Sox.<br />
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For the next four seasons Johnson was passed around through several organizations without returning to the majors. He came back in 1957 as a spare part on the Yankees' AL title team and remained there in New York for their 1958 championship. He didn't play in any post season games for the Yanks. But in 1961 he found himself in Cincinnati after stints with the Phils and Cardinals (where he was a player/coach) and he got to start in two games against the Yanks in the World Series. He did well, too, going two for four.<br />
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A very brief whirl with the Orioles in 1962 as player/coach was Johnson's last taste of a big league field... as a player. He jumped right into managing in the Orioles' chain in 1963 and piloted teams to titles in two out of four seasons. He worked for the Yankees for a couple of seasons. He moved over to coach for the Red Sox, served as pitching instructor and scout, and then managed in their chain before being named to manage in Boston in 1974. He took over that job as a replacement for Eddie Kasko and a year later he had the Sox in the World Series against the Reds in a Fall Classic for the ages.<br />
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But in July of '76 with his team three games under .500 Johnson was canned and replaced by Don Zimmer. The next season he became the first manager of the Seattle Mariners. He remained in that spot with a struggling expansion franchise until 1980 when he was replaced by Maury Wills.<br />
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Johnson's last managerial job came in July of 1982 when, in a nice little twist of baseball fate, he stepped in to finish out the season when Don Zimmer was canned as manager of the Texas Rangers. He went on to coach with the Mets and then was a part of their front office.<br />
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Johnson's story is really a fascinating one. His <a href="http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/0b066e42">SABR bio</a> is a good read and it includes background on his relationships with players and press. It also includes the story of how Johnson and Browns pitcher Cliff Fannin were a losing pitcher/catcher battery for a major and minor league team in the same day.<br />
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Darrell Johnson died in 2004. Of course that's Yankee Stadium behind Johnson on this off-center but otherwise very nice card. I'm going to miss these things.<br />
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<span style="color: red;">The next </span></h3>
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<span style="color: red;"> is the last</span></h3>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">and then we are done.</span></h3>
Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-62638626942553374332014-03-11T11:04:00.000-05:002014-03-11T11:04:31.360-05:00#532 Mark Freeman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/freemma01.shtml">Mark Freeman</a> graduated from Memphis' Christian Brothers High School in 1948 where he lettered in baseball and basketball, and was an All-State baseball pitcher. He was awarded a baseball/basketball scholarship to LSU.<br />
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Freeman signed a contract with the Yankees in 1951 and began his pro career but he continued his education and received his degree from LSU in 1953. Meanwhile he had begun a seven year climb towards the majors taking a nearly two season detour to serve in the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant and Sports Officer and manager of Ft. Jackson baseball team at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina.<br />
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He returned to civilian life and baseball in 1956 and was a double digit winner for three straight seasons in Denver where the Yanks had their AAA club. While there he established team marks for season strikeouts and shutouts.<br />
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On the eve of the 1959 season he was traded to the Kansas City Athletics and made it into three April games as a reliever for them. In mid-May he was returned to the Yanks. I cannot find anything to suggest why and given the history of the Athletics and Yankees during the 1950s it was likely another on of those deals of convenience for New York. The Yanks sent him to pitch in Seattle of the PCL and he had another fine AAA season there including a no-hitter. In September the Yanks activated Freeman and he capped his tumultuous season with a start at Yankee Stadium against the Orioles. He pitched seven innings allowing only six hits and two runs while fanning four. He left with the game tied but the Yanks lost it in 11 innings.<br />
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He was back in the minors to open 1960 but the Yanks dealt him to the Cubs in May and he spent the rest of that season pitching in the National League. He made eight starts over 30 appearances and went 3-3 with his only career save.<br />
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He retired to Denver, Colorado after that season to work full time in the mutual funds business which he had dabbled in for the last several years of his baseball career. He was a very successful business man and established an endowment fund for supporting the tutoring of student athletes at LSU in 2003.<br />
His <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/freemma01.shtml">LSU bio</a> (he was alum of 'distinction') mentions that he was founded and served as President of the Denver Broncos Quarterback Club (their official booster club).<br />
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His card shows him in a spring training shot with a retouched cap featuring the Athletics' logo but untouched Yankee pinstripes. I came across several versions of a story that goes like this:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Once, during a game when Mark Freeman was pitching for the New York Yankees, a bee buzzed his head and he balked. Casey Stengel, the Yankee manager, told him: "Next time ... swallow it."</blockquote>
<a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=p3z1M92h_woC&pg=PT60&lpg=PT60&dq=Mark+Freeman+baseball&source=bl&ots=H-vf9Ke12p&sig=5x8otq96Wuf6Lw-c2X0J5_1hOW0&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2PkLU92rG-WD2gXdoICADw&ved=0CFYQ6AEwBTgy#v=onepage&q=Mark%20Freeman%20baseball&f=false">Volume 4 of the Baseball Hall of Shame</a> series of books contains the same story but stated the game was played against the Tigers.<br />
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Two problems with this. First of all Freeman never pitched for the Yanks against the Tigers. His only game was that September '59 start against the Orioles. And second of all, according to Baseball reference game summaries he never committed a balk. Not in his big league career anyway.<br />
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My guess? It was a spring training game or it's a story that somehow evolved from some other incident and mutated in the retelling. With Casey Stengel stories that's very possible.<br />
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Here he is in his Yankee gear, unblemished by the Topps artist's brush and another spring camp shot in which he warms up while Stengel watches closely.<br />
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And here he is as a businessman years later:<br />
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Freeman died in 2006.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">Almost done,</span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8F72FyYKE50/UxYLnSAjbZI/AAAAAAAANlo/QVncXWY0e88/s1600/pMLB2-2431499dt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: red;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8F72FyYKE50/UxYLnSAjbZI/AAAAAAAANlo/QVncXWY0e88/s1600/pMLB2-2431499dt.jpg" /></span></a><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><span style="color: red;">cards remain.</span></h3>
Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-44053837829810366362014-03-10T01:34:00.000-05:002014-03-10T01:50:23.790-05:00#566 Roy Sievers The Sporting News All Star<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is the last card from any of the '59 set's subsets. And it's the last of Roy Sievers' four cards in the set. Here is his <a href="http://59toppsblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/340-roy-sievers.html">regular card</a> and we had his <a href="http://59toppsblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/465-sievers-hits-homer-mark.html">Baseball Thrills</a> card and the <a href="http://59toppsblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/74-directing-power.html">Directing the Power</a> special which he shared with Nats' Manager Cookie Lavagetto and Jim Lemon.<br />
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Roy, whose nickname was 'Squirrel', made four AL All Star Squads and played in three of the games. He represented the Senators in 1956, '57 and '59. He made the club as a White Sox in 1961. He did not appear in the 1957 game and got one plate appearance in '56 and in one of the two games played in '59 and '61. He drew a walk in the 1st game in '59 and that was the only time he reached base as an All Star.<br />
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This card has Griffith Stadium as a background and is sort of rough around the edges (like me in many ways) and that's an acceptable condition to me. I hadn't noticed until I scanned it but someone wrote a "3" to the right of Roy's name on the card. That's fitting since.....<br />
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<span style="color: red;">We are winding down with just</span></h3>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pcvxKrtK5bY/UxYLnbySz2I/AAAAAAAANlw/6aoOj3aF-YM/s1600/baberuthjersey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: red;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pcvxKrtK5bY/UxYLnbySz2I/AAAAAAAANlw/6aoOj3aF-YM/s1600/baberuthjersey.jpg" /></span></a><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><span style="color: red;">cards still to be posted.</span></h3>
Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-36538005342058442282014-03-08T00:40:00.000-06:002014-03-08T00:40:07.839-06:00#537 Rodolfo Arias<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jy39rcZF53E/UsIGVzDV1kI/AAAAAAAAMpc/FrXJS5x-lS8/s1600/IMG_0055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jy39rcZF53E/UsIGVzDV1kI/AAAAAAAAMpc/FrXJS5x-lS8/s1600/IMG_0055.jpg" height="400" width="290" /></a></div>
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If you're going to play only one season of major league baseball you might as well make it a season that ends up with a World Series, right? And so it was with lefty pitcher <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/ariasru01.shtml">Rodolfo 'Rudy' Arias</a>. A Cuban native he had pitched in his home country for several years before signing with the Chicago White Sox in 1953 as a 22 year old.<br />
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Interestingly he had been approached by Joe Cambria, the Senators' 'super scout' who had reeled in so many Cuban stars for the Nats in the 50s. But Arias, on the advice of a Cuban baseball executive, put off signing with Cambria. He had hopes of drawing interest on a baseball trip his Cuban team was about to take to the States. And he was right. Based on his play the White Sox made a much larger offer than Cambria routinely did.<br />
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Beginning with his first season in the minors in '53 Arias pitched nearly year-round as he traveled back to Cuba to play in the winter leagues there. His first minor league season was his best but he continued to climb the Sox' ladder despite less than gaudy stats until he made the club in the spring of 1959.<br />
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That year he appeared in 34 games with the White Sox, all in relief. He totaled 44 innings and posted a 4.09 ERA to go with a 2-0 record. He made his last appearance of the season late in August but was on the Sox' post-season roster when they played the Dodgers in the World Series. Arias did not get into a Series game.<br />
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He was back in the minors in 1960 and moved through several organizations, never resurfacing in the big leagues. He last pitched in Mexico in 1966 after he had 'retired' for several seasons due to an arm ailment. After retiring for good Arias worked in the Miami area in construction and security. His interesting life and career are told best on his <a href="http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/e4aef90c">SABR bio page</a>.<br />
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His oldest son, also named <a href="http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/team/coach_staff_bio.jsp?c_id=bal&coachorstaffid=608791">Rudy</a>, was a catcher in the Mariners organization and remains in baseball today serving as the Orioles bullpen catcher.<br />
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Free bonus... image of a Cuban baseball card of Rudy Arias. <a href="http://www.cubacollectibles.com/cuba-chicle-84.html">This is the place</a> that sells them.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GJjGJFpRCJQ/UwvG9x_y0KI/AAAAAAAANdA/6jYwPoGPDTE/s1600/chicle-rodolfo-arias-f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GJjGJFpRCJQ/UwvG9x_y0KI/AAAAAAAANdA/6jYwPoGPDTE/s1600/chicle-rodolfo-arias-f.jpg" height="400" width="259" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Just a few cards to go,<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKxzVYvkb5E/UxYLm8965rI/AAAAAAAANlk/YtK-6SE4wdk/s1600/EARL-WEAVER_01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKxzVYvkb5E/UxYLm8965rI/AAAAAAAANlk/YtK-6SE4wdk/s1600/EARL-WEAVER_01.png" /></a><br />to be exact.</span></h3>
Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-86693928556893185972014-03-06T05:30:00.000-06:002014-03-06T06:17:05.991-06:00#536 Dan Kravitz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Born to Russian immigrant parents, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kravida01.shtml">Danny Kravitz</a> was signed out of Lopez, Pennsylvania by the Pirates in 1949. He hit well, especially for a catcher of that era and climbed up through the Bucs' system with a two year detour to play ball while serving Uncle Sam in the U.S. Marines.<br />
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He made the Pirates' roster as back-up receiver in 1956 and debuted in the second game of the season against the Giants in New York. He went hit-less but doubled and drove in a run the next day. He was sent back to the minors that June but again made the team in 1957 only to find himself back in the minors for most of the year.<br />
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Kravitz was with the Pirates for all of the next two seasons as a reserve and began the 1960 season with them as well but he was traded to the Athletics on the first of June and he played more in half a season in KC than he had in any previous year with Pittsburgh. But while by being traded he saw the most action of his career he also missed out on that fall's World Championship run by the Pirates.<br />
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That 1960 season was to be his last in the majors as he was traded to the Reds that winter and then moved on to the Orioles' and Yankees' systems but he never again played in a big league uniform. He retired after the 1963 season. <a href="http://www.homerfuneralhome.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=2128374&fh_id=13186">His obituary</a> states that he moved 32 times during his baseball career. That's a lot of box packing. Kravitz worked for GTE-Sylvania until his retirement in 1995.<br />
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Kravitz passed away in 2013. He was preceded in death by seven brothers. All eight of the Kravitz boys had served in the U.S. military. Good for them!!<br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">There are now only five </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">more cards to go before we put it to bed.</span></i></b></div>
<br />Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-7187711230977956122014-03-04T05:30:00.000-06:002014-03-05T07:16:05.270-06:00#524 Larry Osborne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/osborbo02.shtml">Larry 'Bo' Osborne</a> is another baseball 'lifer' and sits in the middle of a three generation run of baseball men. His father, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/osborti01.shtml">Earnest 'Tiny" Osborne</a>, pitched for the Cubs and Robins (Dodgers) in the 1920s. Bo's sons Tim and Sid played college baseball and Tim has worked for the Major League Scouting Bureau for years. </div>
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Bo Osborne (he is also referred to as 'Bobo') turned down a football scholarship from Auburn to sign with the Tigers in 1953 as he came out of Atlanta's West Fulton high school. Flashing good power Osborne was able to improve his average even as he climbed through the Tigers' system for five seasons. He got a 1957 call-up when Tiger outfielder Bill Tuttle was injured but he hit only .148 in eleven games. </div>
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He was back in the minors for the bulk of the next season but made the Tigers in 1959. Playing in 86 games and getting over 200 at bats he hit less than .200 and found himself in Denver playing for the Tigers' AAA level Bears in 1960. He had a pretty memorable year. By hitting 5 fot 7 in the season's final two games he edged future Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski for the batting title. And he also led the league in homers and RBI to capture the Triple Crown.</div>
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He spent the next two seasons pinch-hitting for Detroit and occasionally filling in at first base for Norm Cash at first and playing some at third. Prior to the '63 season he Tigers sold Osborne to the Senators where he earned the starting first base job and hit 12 homers with 44 RBI. But his average was only .212 and he went back to the minors in '64 and played out the rest of his on-field career there.</div>
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When he retired he coached (one year as a player/coach) and managed in the minors in the Royals' system for the most part before moving into scouting. <a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/larry-bo-osborne-75-ex-big-league-player-scout/nQsgP/">He passed away</a> at 75 in 2011. </div>
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I like pink framed cards but that cap Osborne is wearing looks to be about three sizes too big. This is one of the least appealing cards in the set IMHO. On his '62 Topps Osborne displayed one of the great 'chaw bumps' of all time.</div>
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And now there are only<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8ptsk94zSSc/UxXaDp02e-I/AAAAAAAANkw/_BxXTGycdo0/s1600/bbpuyvgcuaaemnp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8ptsk94zSSc/UxXaDp02e-I/AAAAAAAANkw/_BxXTGycdo0/s1600/bbpuyvgcuaaemnp.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></h3>
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six cards left to go.</h3>
Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-75276895075566780952014-03-02T06:00:00.000-06:002014-03-02T06:00:06.265-06:00#525 Jim Coates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-11LLc6FXW80/UsH2IqkIQNI/AAAAAAAAMoQ/DpiP2DPuFa0/s1600/IMG_0046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-11LLc6FXW80/UsH2IqkIQNI/AAAAAAAAMoQ/DpiP2DPuFa0/s1600/IMG_0046.jpg" height="400" width="290" /></a></div>
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The back of <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/coateji01.shtml">Jim Coates</a>' '59 card states he was a 'high school sensation' in Farnham, Virginia. That may very well be true but it doesn't tell the same story that Coates himself does in his memoirs, <i>"<a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/book-review-always-a-yankee-by-douglas-williams">Always a Yankee: A Pitcher's Story</a></i>". Fact is that Coates dropped out of high school at 16 to work cutting trees and pitch in a semi-pro league against older and more experienced competition.<br />
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His skills earned him a Yankee try-out and later a contract offer. So in 1951 the tall, thin righthander found himself beginning to pitch his way up the Yankee chain. He spent five seasons in the minors and finally got a two game peek in 1956 before returning to the minors for '57 and suffering a broken arm which cost him most of the 1958 season.<br />
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Coates made the Yankee staff in '59 and won six games while showing his versatility by filling roles as short man, long reliever and starter. He hit his stride in 1960 and won 13 games against three losses in 35 games, 18 of them starts. He was named to his only AL All Star squad and pitched a couple of innings in that year's first of two ASGs. Along the way he picked up his nickname of 'Mummy' for his mound appearance which has been described as<span style="font-family: inherit;"> '<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">funereal</span>'. </span><br />
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He gained some unwanted notoriety during the 1960 World Series against the Pirates. In the deciding seventh game of that wacky Series he failed to hold a lead in the eighth inning. He had relieved Bobby Shantz following the "pebble grounder" that hit Tony Kubek in the throat. Coates, entering with two runners on and none out got two outs and forced Roberto Clemente to top a roller towards the right side of the infield but Clemente beat the play at first. Coates has been blamed, probably unfairly as has been shown, for failing to cover the bag on a play that would have ended the inning with the Yanks still ahead. Hal Smith then followed with a home run that put the Pirates up two and chased Coates.<br />
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The Yanks managed to tie the game up in the ninth but Bill Mazeroski's homer sent the city of Pittsburgh into delirium. Coates survived and pitched as well or better in 1961 and he picked up World Series rings with New York that year and the next. <a href="http://behindthebag.net/tag/jim-coates/">This blog page</a> has an interesting account of that 1960 Series' 7th Game including a couple of video clips.<br />
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In the spring of 1963 the Yanks traded Coates to Washington. After a season there he went to the Reds and then the Angels. He never matched his Yankee success but pitched through 1970 in the Angels' system before retiring to work as an electrician.<br />
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He was referred to quite a bit in Jim Bouton's book <i>Ball Four</i>. Bouton said <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Coates could pose as the illustration for an undertaker's sign. He has the personality to match..." Coates' grandson, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=priban001ben">Aaron Pribanic</a>, was a minor league prospect for the Mariners and Pirates who pitched for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. </span></span>Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-65666473318726352232014-02-28T05:30:00.000-06:002014-02-28T05:30:04.164-06:00#526 Bob Speake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Outfielder <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/speakbo01.shtml">Bob Speake</a> had a major league 'moment in the sun' in 1955. As a Cubs rookie he was given the role as a starting outfielder due to an injury to Hank Sauer and he went on a home run tear with 10 in his first 90 big league at-bats. He capped his run with five RBIs in a Memorial Day doubleheader on a 4 for 8 day that saw his average hit .304. But it was downhill from there and he ended the season with just two more homers and a .218 average.<br />
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Sports Illustrated had taken note of Speake during his hot 1955 run and published the following in this <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1129766/index.htm">June 13 issue</a> in an article on the Cubs surprising success:<br />
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<i>The lead in the melodrama has been played by a lean young man named Bob Speake, who hit all of .264 for Des Moines last year and who had been to bat only eight times for the Cubs prior to May 2. Then veteran Outfielder Hank Sauer ate tainted shrimp and became ill with food poisoning. Speake, a first baseman by trade, was pressed into service as an outfielder and promptly caught fire. He hit a three-run triple against the Giants, a two-run homer to beat the Reds, a two-run homer to beat the Phils, a tenth-inning two-run homer to beat the Braves. He hit a home run to beat the Cardinals 1-0 in the first game of a double-header on May 25 and a run-producing double that provided the margin of victory in the second game. He hit a two-run homer in a 3-0 game against the Cards the next day. On Memorial Day he hit a two-run home run and batted in four runs as the Cubs beat the Cardinals 9-5 in the first game and won the second game with a home run in the eleventh inning. It was a very merry month of May for young Mr. Speake.</i></blockquote>
Unfortunately for Speake and the Cubs, as we have seen, by the time this was on newstands the slipper had been lost and the coach was again a pumpkin on the North Side.<br />
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He had begun as a pro by signing with the Cubs in 1948. He sandwiched a two year Army stint around four seasons in the Cubs chain where he proved to be a power hitter who wasn't much for average or OBP. But a 20 homer, .264 average season at the Class A level in 1954 got him that shot with the '55 Cubs.<br />
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He spent 1956 with the Los Angeles Angels of the PCL and his 25-111-.300 stat line got him back to Wrigley in 1957. He played that year nearly full time in the Cubs lineup and hit .232 with 16 homers but the Cubs moved him to the Giants that off season for Bobby Thomson.<br />
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With San Francisco in '58 he had less that 100 at bats and a terrible start to the 1959 season resulted in a trip back to the minors, a move noted on the back of this card. He finished out that year at AA and retired. He was in the bowling business in his native Springfield, Missouri before starting up an insurance company with a partner.<br />
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What caused his short career after such a promising start? One theory, advanced on a <a href="http://www.sonsofivy.com/forum/index.php?/topic/6026-bob-speake/">Cubbie message board</a>, alleges that NL opponents discovered he had a 'blind spot' and that was the end of his salad days. Maybe, maybe not. With all the ex-major leaguers who played against Speake in the PCL in 1956 one would think his numbers would of suffered as they had in Chicago after May of 1955.<br />
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<br />Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-49766056690104298422014-02-26T06:00:00.000-06:002014-02-26T06:30:05.970-06:00#501 Bobby Tiefenauer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XsujttfyrdQ/UsH2CMsYIlI/AAAAAAAAMnM/sDRdsor7qSw/s1600/IMG_0040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XsujttfyrdQ/UsH2CMsYIlI/AAAAAAAAMnM/sDRdsor7qSw/s1600/IMG_0040.jpg" height="400" width="286" /></a></div>
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Oh, the irony! Knuckleball specialist <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tiefebo01.shtml">Bobby Tiefenauer</a> (and I'm NOT typing that again) spent from 1948 through 1969 playing pro baseball across North America and another 20 coaching but in 1959, the year this card was issued.... he was 'voluntarily retired'.<br />
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Signed by the Cardinals in 1948 he pitched in their minor league system for the better part of eight seasons getting a six game look in 1952 and a more extended 18 game stint in 1955. Those shots totaled 40 innings. In September of '56 the Cards dealt him to the Tigers in the first of a dizzying array of transactions for Tief that saw him pitch for six major league teams and in the system of a seventh in addition to being the property of several independent AAA clubs.<br />
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Rather than try to reproduce a 'map' of his career I'll let Baseball Reference lay it all out.<br />
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Teams Played For</h2>
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<span class="tooltip" style="color: #aa0000; cursor: pointer;" tip="Show a glossary for each term in the table below<br>or hold your mouse over the header">Glossary</span> · <span class="tooltip" id="share_on_standard_roster" style="color: #aa0000; cursor: pointer;" tip="Create a customizable report creator that can<br>output HTML, CSV, or a shareable link">SHARE</span> · <span class="tooltip" style="color: #aa0000; cursor: pointer;" tip="Get a widget to embed this table on your site">Embed</span> · <span class="tooltip" style="color: #aa0000; cursor: pointer;" tip="Convert the table below to comma-separated values">CSV</span> · <span class="tooltip" style="color: #aa0000; cursor: pointer;" tip="Convert the table below to pre-formatted text">PRE</span> · <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=tiefen001bob#standard_roster::none" id="a_standard_roster" name="standard_roster" style="color: #551a8b;" tip="direct link to this table in sorted form">LINK</a> · <span class="tooltip" style="color: #aa0000; cursor: pointer;">?</span></div>
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<table class="sortable stats_table" data-freeze="3" id="standard_roster" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(116, 118, 120); font-size: 0.6875em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><colgroup style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col></colgroup><thead style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">
<tr class="" style="vertical-align: top;"><th align="left" class="tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" data-stat="year_ID" style="background-color: #dadcde; border-color: rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: #aa0000; cursor: pointer; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; text-align: center;">Year</th><th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" data-stat="age" style="background-color: #dadcde; border-color: rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: #aa0000; cursor: pointer; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" tip="Player’s age at midnight of June 30th of that year">Age</th><th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" data-stat="team_ID" style="background-color: #dadcde; border-color: rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: #aa0000; cursor: pointer; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; text-align: center;">Tm</th><th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="lg_ID" style="background-color: #dadcde; border-color: rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: #aa0000; cursor: pointer; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" tip="<strong>League</strong><br><strong>AL</strong> - American League (1901-present)<br><strong>NL</strong> - National League (1876-present)<br><strong>AA</strong> - American Association (1882-1891)<br><strong>UA</strong> - Union Association (1884)<br><strong>PL</strong> - Players League (1890)<br><strong>FL</strong> - Federal League (1914-1915)<br><strong>NA</strong> - National Association (1871-1875)">Lg</th><th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="level" style="background-color: #dadcde; border-color: rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: #aa0000; cursor: pointer; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" tip="<strong>Classification of League</strong><br>Classifications have changed over time but have generally ranged from<br>AAA to AA to A and then Short-Season or Rookie and B, C, D, etc.">Lev</th><th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="affiliation" style="background-color: #dadcde; border-color: rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: #aa0000; cursor: pointer; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" tip="<strong>Affiliation</strong><br>Major league franchise(s) that either owns this affiliate or has an agreement with this team.">Aff</th><th align="CENTER" class="tooltip" data-stat="stint_order" style="background-color: #dadcde; border-color: rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: #aa0000; cursor: pointer; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; text-align: center;"></th><th align="CENTER" class="tooltip" data-stat="date_first" style="background-color: #dadcde; border-color: rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: #aa0000; cursor: pointer; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; text-align: center;"></th><th align="CENTER" class="tooltip" data-stat="date_last" style="background-color: #dadcde; border-color: rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: #aa0000; cursor: pointer; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; text-align: center;"></th></tr>
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<tr class="" data-row="0" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1948.01" style="border-color: rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: solid dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1948" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1948</a></td><td align="right" csk="18.01" style="border-color: rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">18</td><td align="left" style="border-color: rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=f84721aa" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Tallassee, AL">Tallassee Indians</a></td><td align="left" style="border-color: rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=3b2e8ab4" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">Georgia-Alabama League</a></td><td align="left" csk="170" style="border-color: rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">D</td><td align="left" style="border-color: rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">STL</td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: solid solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="1" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1949.02" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1949" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1949</a></td><td align="right" csk="19.02" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">19</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=133bc116" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Tallassee, AL">Tallassee Cardinals</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=b643e49d" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">Georgia-Alabama League</a></td><td align="left" csk="170" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">D</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">STL</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="2" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1950.03" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1950" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1950</a></td><td align="right" csk="20.03" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">20</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=815b1ef7" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Winston-Salem, NC">Winston-Salem Cardinals</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=49ba8174" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">Carolina League</a></td><td align="left" csk="150" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">B</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">STL</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="3" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1951.04" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1951" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1951</a></td><td align="right" csk="21.04" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">21</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=7b70a573" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Rochester, NY">Rochester Red Wings</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=edaea83d" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">International League</a></td><td align="left" csk="50" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">AAA</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">STL</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="4" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1952.05" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1952" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1952</a></td><td align="right" csk="22.05" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">22</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=54cc43ef" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Rochester, NY">Rochester Red Wings</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=32f5a80b" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">International League</a></td><td align="left" csk="50" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">AAA</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">STL</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="5" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1952.06" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1952" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1952</a></td><td align="right" csk="22.06" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">22</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=7f97a433" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Columbus, OH">Columbus Red Birds</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=76f16408" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">American Association</a></td><td align="left" csk="50" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">AAA</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">STL</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="6" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1952.07" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1952" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1952</a></td><td align="right" csk="22.07" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">22</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=39725548" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="St. Louis, MO">St. Louis Cardinals</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=c76e5959" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">National League</a></td><td align="left" csk="10" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">MLB</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">STL</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1952-07-14</td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1952-08-08</td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="7" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1953.08" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1953" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1953</a></td><td align="right" csk="23.08" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">23</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=d3e4101a" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Rochester, NY">Rochester Red Wings</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=dbe3191c" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">International League</a></td><td align="left" csk="50" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">AAA</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">STL</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="8" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1954.09" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1954" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1954</a></td><td align="right" csk="24.09" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">24</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=3918f02c" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Houston, TX">Houston Buffaloes</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=9a1c5907" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">Texas League</a></td><td align="left" csk="60" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">AA</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">STL</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="9" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1955.1" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1955" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1955</a></td><td align="right" csk="25.1" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">25</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=0a65710e" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Omaha, NE">Omaha Cardinals</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=0b3423e8" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">American Association</a></td><td align="left" csk="50" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">AAA</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">STL</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="10" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1955.11" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1955" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1955</a></td><td align="right" csk="25.11" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">25</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=fe90a09f" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="St. Louis, MO">St. Louis Cardinals</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=7fee5371" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">National League</a></td><td align="left" csk="10" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">MLB</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">STL</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1955-04-16</td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1955-06-22</td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="11" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1956.12" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1956" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1956</a></td><td align="right" csk="26.12" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">26</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=8434fdcf" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Charleston, WV">Charleston Senators</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=62cbeec8" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">American Association</a></td><td align="left" csk="50" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">AAA</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">DET</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="12" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1957.13" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1957" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1957</a></td><td align="right" csk="27.13" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">27</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=30b08953" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Toronto, ON">Toronto Maple Leafs</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=76934b8d" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">International League</a></td><td align="left" csk="50" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">AAA</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="13" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1958.14" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1958" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1958</a></td><td align="right" csk="28.14" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">28</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=1fc0d910" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Toronto, ON">Toronto Maple Leafs</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=d2291373" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">International League</a></td><td align="left" csk="50" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">AAA</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="14" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1959.15" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1959</td><td align="right" csk="29.15" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">29</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">Voluntarily Retired</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="15" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1960.16" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1960" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1960</a></td><td align="right" csk="30.16" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">30</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=3c852a93" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Rochester, NY">Rochester Red Wings</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=56716f8b" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">International League</a></td><td align="left" csk="50" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">AAA</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">STL</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="16" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1960.17" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1960" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1960</a></td><td align="right" csk="30.17" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">30</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=9898e6a9" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Cleveland, OH">Cleveland Indians</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=9435c4ff" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">American League</a></td><td align="left" csk="10" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">MLB</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">CLE</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1960-04-19</td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1960-05-31</td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="17" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1961.18" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1961" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1961</a></td><td align="right" csk="31.18" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">31</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=7097eafb" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="San Juan, & Charleston, WV">San Juan/Charleston Marlins</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=6a41e985" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">International League</a></td><td align="left" csk="50" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">AAA</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">STL</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="18" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1961.19" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1961" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1961</a></td><td align="right" csk="31.19" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">31</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=1bfe4fd1" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="St. Louis, MO">St. Louis Cardinals</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=2f3a4ec3" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">National League</a></td><td align="left" csk="10" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">MLB</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">STL</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1961-04-14</td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1961-05-02</td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="19" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1962.2" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1962" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1962</a></td><td align="right" csk="32.2" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">32</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=be050c3c" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Houston, TX">Houston Colt .45's</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=00fad1df" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">National League</a></td><td align="left" csk="10" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">MLB</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">HOU</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1962-04-13</td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1962-09-29</td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="20" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1963.21" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1963" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1963</a></td><td align="right" csk="33.21" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">33</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=823eb399" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Atlanta, GA">Atlanta Crackers</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=fd0c4653" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">International League</a></td><td align="left" csk="50" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">AAA</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">STL</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="21" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1963.22" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1963" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1963</a></td><td align="right" csk="33.22" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">33</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=3abe09d3" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Milwaukee, WI">Milwaukee Braves</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=d5fc6519" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">National League</a></td><td align="left" csk="10" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">MLB</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">MLN</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1963-08-15</td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1963-09-27</td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="22" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1963.23" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1963" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1963</a></td><td align="right" csk="33.23" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">33</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=a83b21c0" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Toronto, ON">Toronto Maple Leafs</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=fd0c4653" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">International League</a></td><td align="left" csk="50" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">AAA</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">MLN</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">2</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="23" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1964.24" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1964" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1964</a></td><td align="right" csk="34.24" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">34</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=197d4023" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Milwaukee, WI">Milwaukee Braves</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=263a6658" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">National League</a></td><td align="left" csk="10" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">MLB</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">MLN</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1964-04-15</td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1964-10-01</td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="24" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1965.25" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1965" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1965</a></td><td align="right" csk="35.25" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">35</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=7fbde12e" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Atlanta, GA">Atlanta Crackers</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=f3616085" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">International League</a></td><td align="left" csk="50" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">AAA</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">MLN</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="25" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1965.26" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1965" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1965</a></td><td align="right" csk="35.26" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">35</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=2e7fe5f7" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Milwaukee, WI">Milwaukee Braves</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=a2607cf7" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">National League</a></td><td align="left" csk="10" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">MLB</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">MLN</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1965-04-21</td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1965-05-23</td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="26" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1965.27" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1965" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1965</a></td><td align="right" csk="35.27" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">35</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=0287109c" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Toledo, OH">Toledo Mud Hens</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=f3616085" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">International League</a></td><td align="left" csk="50" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">AAA</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">NYY</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">2</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="27" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1965.28" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1965" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1965</a></td><td align="right" csk="35.28" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">35</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=f14d8146" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="New York, NY">New York Yankees</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=ec73622e" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">American League</a></td><td align="left" csk="10" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">MLB</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">NYY</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">2</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1965-06-18</td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1965-07-06</td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="28" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1965.29" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1965" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1965</a></td><td align="right" csk="35.29" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">35</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=2eb11a3e" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Cleveland, OH">Cleveland Indians</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=ec73622e" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">American League</a></td><td align="left" csk="10" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">MLB</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">CLE</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">3</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1965-08-13</td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1965-09-18</td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="29" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1966.3" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1966" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1966</a></td><td align="right" csk="36.3" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">36</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=49094bba" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Portland, OR">Portland Beavers</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=75d45fbb" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">Pacific Coast League</a></td><td align="left" csk="50" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">AAA</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">CLE</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="30" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1967.31" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1967" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1967</a></td><td align="right" csk="37.31" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">37</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=e84e7646" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Portland, OR">Portland Beavers</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=8a871c7c" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">Pacific Coast League</a></td><td align="left" csk="50" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">AAA</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">CLE</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="31" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1967.32" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1967" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1967</a></td><td align="right" csk="37.32" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">37</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=524cdc31" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Cleveland, OH">Cleveland Indians</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=d9c91b48" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">American League</a></td><td align="left" csk="10" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">MLB</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">CLE</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1967-09-10</td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1967-09-24</td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="32" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1968.33" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1968" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1968</a></td><td align="right" csk="38.33" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">38</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=36e6bcbd" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Tacoma, WA">Tacoma Cubs</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=d39e779b" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">Pacific Coast League</a></td><td align="left" csk="50" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">AAA</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">CHC</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="33" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1968.34" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1968" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1968</a></td><td align="right" csk="38.34" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">38</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=9a1a1a09" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Chicago, IL">Chicago Cubs</a></td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=785aa253" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">National League</a></td><td align="left" csk="10" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">MLB</td><td align="left" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">CHC</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1</td><td align="" style="border: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1968-04-10</td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid dotted dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">1968-09-21</td></tr>
<tr class="" data-row="34" style="vertical-align: top;"><td align="left" csk="1969.35" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted solid solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?year=1969" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">1969</a></td><td align="right" csk="39.35" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">39</td><td align="left" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=d8237b2e" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;" title="Tacoma, WA">Tacoma Cubs</a></td><td align="left" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=7f7a9aea" style="color: #551a8b; vertical-align: inherit;">Pacific Coast League</a></td><td align="left" csk="50" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">AAA</td><td align="left" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;">CHC</td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120); border-style: dotted dotted solid; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td><td align="" style="border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(116, 118, 120) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-style: dotted solid solid dotted; border-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px; white-space: nowrap !important;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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One odd detail in all this is that Tief looked to be ready to establish himself in the majors in '59 as he was coming off some very good seasons in Toronto. I can't find anything that hints at why he sat out that season after being traded to Cleveland. Since SABR doesn't have a Tief bio it remains a mystery. Perhaps he had gotten comfortable in Toronto and would have preferred to stay there.<br />
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But he did report to the Indians in 1960 and that began a 10 season odyssey of trades, sales, demotions, and promotions among several organizations. His busiest major league seasons came in 1962 when he pitched in 43 games for Houston and 1964/'65 when he had 46 and 31 appearances for the Braves (and Yankees in the second half of '65). He had 13 saves for Milwaukee in '64 which is more than half his career total.<br />
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In all he won nine games with a 3.84 ERA in 179 big league innings. In almost 850 minor league games over 19 seasons he was 162-96 with an ERA of just 2.66. He is enshrined in the International League Hall of Fame.<br />
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He last pitched in 1969 with the Cubs' AAA club and then spent nearly two decades in the Philadelphia Phillies' organization, working as a bullpen coach and a minor league pitching coach. He passed away at the age of 70 in 2000.Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-2875176777934975972014-02-24T05:30:00.000-06:002014-02-24T05:30:04.197-06:00#494 Don Pavletich<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O7wmTxjxwXs/UsH2ByzoBlI/AAAAAAAAMnI/d2OevCk4DyI/s1600/IMG_0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O7wmTxjxwXs/UsH2ByzoBlI/AAAAAAAAMnI/d2OevCk4DyI/s1600/IMG_0039.jpg" height="400" width="290" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jhEfqiJ5MbM/UsH2FZ1YHCI/AAAAAAAAMn4/1-wb3l6iNAw/s1600/IMG_0043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jhEfqiJ5MbM/UsH2FZ1YHCI/AAAAAAAAMn4/1-wb3l6iNAw/s1600/IMG_0043.jpg" height="290" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pavledo01.shtml">Don Pavletich</a> is an interesting guy on an interesting card. He was signed out of Wisconsin by the Reds for a big bonus in 1956. The card-back claims it was a 'reported $40,000' while Pavletich, in <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=Rwi1uLkJpo4C&pg=PA174&lpg=PA174&dq=Don+Pavletich&source=bl&ots=SZKdG3cQXL&sig=aZH4tTx5IphFSzJ6sIJikhq7M6w&hl=en&sa=X&ei=GQQBU4eINoHhygGyo4FI&ved=0CEQQ6AEwBDgU#v=onepage&q=Don%20Pavletich&f=false">this book excerpt</a> on Google which I referenced numerous times for this post, says it was $30,000 but reported as $20,000. Whatever it was it qualified him as a 'bonus baby' and obligated the Reds to keep him on their roster. </div>
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He began his pro career in 1957 when he reported to spring training. He was on the Reds roster as the season opened and pinch hit (he walked for Don Newcombe) in one game. Then at the urging of the Reds he joined the Army in May. The plan was that he could play service ball and get experience without taking up a valuable roster spot and sitting around. He spent the rest of that year and all of 1958 in the military. Interestingly he says that he was discharged three months before the end of his two year hitch on a hardship appeal. The hardship being that he had to be in spring training to pursue his livelihood!</div>
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When he returned in 1959 he again played in a single game but this time, instead of heading overseas, he headed for the minors. He had two solid seasons there, played with the Reds in 1962 and was used sparingly. Two seasons split between the Reds and the minors followed and finally, in 1965, he had a full year as a major league platoon catcher and he hit a career high .319. Another good year (.294 with 12 homers) followed in 1966 but by then a young Johnny Bench was on the Reds' catching horizon and Pavletich's days were numbered in Cincy.</div>
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His numbers and playing time took downward trends (he played more first than catcher in '68) and he was traded to the White Sox for 1969. A broken hand limited his playing time and he was dealt to the Red Sox where he played on a limited basis for two years. After an off season trade to the Brewers in the winter of '71/'72 he was released that March. He did not return to the majors and worked as a mortgage loan officer after baseball. </div>
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That card is pretty unique in this set. Pavletich poses in catching gear with a red cap and in what appears to me to be Connie Mack Stadium. The windows and posts in the stands seem to make it so. Check this picture of the old ballpark and see if you agree. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QCDbDamPW1A/UwFauD7PE5I/AAAAAAAANRw/NPvbCGmPTKo/s1600/conniemack.jpe" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QCDbDamPW1A/UwFauD7PE5I/AAAAAAAANRw/NPvbCGmPTKo/s1600/conniemack.jpe" height="396" width="400" /></a></div>
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But when was it taken? He was with the Reds early in 1957 and they played in Philadelphia early in April so that's a possibility. He was in Europe in the Army during 1958. They also played there early in 1959, maybe early enough to have his photo snapped in time to be included in this set. But knowing Topps that just doesn't seem likely. </div>
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But that cap. Assuming it's not 'colored' by an artist and really <u>is</u> red than that becomes an interesting clue. The Reds wore that cap in 1956 before going to the white crown version in 1957. It may be that Pavletich, after signing in '56, was brought to Philadelphia for a look at the club or to iron out details. The Reds were there in mid-September. And Pavletich himself spoke of signing in '56 but not reporting until '57 Or they team may have had him come for the actual contract signing and some publicity pics. That sort of this isn't unusual even today with big dollar prospects. </div>
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I'll never know but tracking down stuff like this keeps me interested in this set even 500+ posts into it.</div>
Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-35060401927472350382014-02-23T09:05:00.000-06:002014-02-23T10:07:38.116-06:00#523 Harry Bright<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zM7hUPslyA8/UsH2ImxiIJI/AAAAAAAAMoY/t-e1KUqF4M0/s1600/IMG_0047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zM7hUPslyA8/UsH2ImxiIJI/AAAAAAAAMoY/t-e1KUqF4M0/s1600/IMG_0047.jpg" height="400" width="290" /></a></div>
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When you are 22 years old with five years of pro experience and an organization turns over the reigns of a team to you, even a Class D minor league team, it's clear that someone sees you as a 'baseball guy'. And so it was with <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brighha01.shtml">Harry Bright</a>. In 1952, six years after signing his first contract with the Yankees (at 16!), Bright was named player/manager of the <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=60f1fd29">Janesville Cubs</a> in the <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=8c53a924">Wisconsin State League</a>. One of his opposing managers, btw, was Hall of Famer <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=jackso001tra">Travis Jackson</a> who, at 48, likely had spikes older than Bright.<br />
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Despite some impressive numbers it took Bright 12 years to make the major leagues after his signing in '46. He played some for the Pirates in the second half of 1958 and spent the whole of '59 with them playing on a limited basis.<br />
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He was traded to the Senators and in '61 was a platoon guy but in '62 he had his best big league year hitting 17 homers to go with a .273 average as the Nats' regular first baseman. He bounced around with several different clubs through 1965. That included a stint with the Yankees that got him his only post-season action, two at bats (both whiffs) in the '63 Series against the Dodgers. He was Sandy Koufax' 15th strike out in <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA196310020.shtml">Game One</a>, ending the game as a footnote to what was then a new Series single game K record. He later lamented that after waiting so long to make it to a Series the whole country was pulling for him to strike out.<br />
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Following his retirement as an active player Bright coached and managed in the minors and served as a scout for the Expos up until his death in 2000 at the age of 70.<br />
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And finally, just because it's a challenging read, here is Harry Bright's transaction log, as seen on Baseball Reference. Please take notes as a quiz will follow.<br />
<ul>
<li>Before 1946 Season: Signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent.</li>
<li>May, 1947: Released by the New York Yankees.</li>
<li>Before 1950 Season: Sent from Miami (Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri) to the Chicago Cubs in an unknown transaction.</li>
<li>December 3, 1951: Drafted by York (Interstate) from the Chicago Cubs in the 1951 minor league draft.</li>
<li>Before 1952 Season: Returned (earlier draft pick) by York (Interstate) to the Chicago Cubs.</li>
<li>Before 1953 Season: Sent from the Chicago Cubs to the Chicago White Sox in an unknown transaction.</li>
<li>November 30, 1953: Drafted by the Detroit Tigers from the Chicago White Sox in the 1953 rule 5 draft.</li>
<li>May, 1955: Purchased by Sacramento (PCL) from the Detroit Tigers.</li>
<li>July 21, 1958: Purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates from Sacramento (PCL).</li>
<li>November 30, 1959: Drafted by the Chicago Cubs from the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1959 rule 5 draft.</li>
<li>April 7, 1960: Returned (earlier draft pick) by the Chicago Cubs to the Pittsburgh Pirates.</li>
<li>December 16, 1960: Traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates with Bennie Daniels and R C Stevens to the Washington Senators for Bobby Shantz.</li>
<li>November 24, 1962: Traded by the Washington Senators to the Cincinnati Reds for Rogelio Alvarez. Rogelio Alvarez returned to original team on April 20, 1963.</li>
<li>April 21, 1963: Purchased by the New York Yankees from the Cincinnati Reds.</li>
<li>September 11, 1964: Released by the New York Yankees.</li>
<li>March 15, 1965: Signed as a Free Agent with the Chicago Cubs.</li>
</ul>
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<u>Harry Bright Transactions quiz:</u><br />
<ul>
<li>How many times was Harry 'returned' to his original team within months of a transaction?</li>
<li>How many times was Harry released by the Yankees?</li>
<li>How many times times was Harry involved in an 'unknown transaction'?</li>
<li>How many of Harry's transactions involve the Cubs?</li>
<li>How many years elapsed between Harry first being acquired by the Cubs and the first game he played for them?</li>
</ul>
<u>And finally</u>...<br />
<ul>
<li>...Which of these transaction methods did the Cubs employ in deals involving Harry?</li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>---Sent <u>to</u> the Cubs</i></div>
<i>---Sent <u>from</u> the Cubs<br />---Drafted from the Cubs<br />---Returned <u>to</u> the Cubs<br />---Returned <u>by</u> the Cubs<br />---Signed as Free Agent by the Cubs</i><br />
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Answers: 2, 2, 2, 7, 15 and All of the Above.<br />
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It's easy to see that Bright's card has escaped my 'upgrade purges' over the past few years. Condition-wise it sits right in between "I'm OK with it" and "Maybe I should I'll spring for the $3.75 to get a better one". I think I'll just keep this copy. Harry's bright-eyed 'happy-to-be-in-majors-after-eleven-years-in-the-minors' look seems fitting on a card that's much closer to "F" than it is to "G" on the Fair-to-Good scale.</div>
Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-87752230710684099732014-02-22T06:00:00.000-06:002014-02-22T08:56:24.061-06:00#520 Don Elston<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8JDTn-U5QkU/UsH2D2XBv6I/AAAAAAAAMng/rrNyPzeqJaQ/s1600/IMG_0038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8JDTn-U5QkU/UsH2D2XBv6I/AAAAAAAAMng/rrNyPzeqJaQ/s1600/IMG_0038.jpg" height="400" width="290" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r_AhG0deZw8/UsH2Efd3cjI/AAAAAAAAMnk/i1oc1AvaQwU/s1600/IMG_0042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r_AhG0deZw8/UsH2Efd3cjI/AAAAAAAAMnk/i1oc1AvaQwU/s1600/IMG_0042.jpg" height="280" width="400" /></a></div>
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Ohio native <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/elstodo01.shtml">Don Elston</a> spent eight seasons as a starting pitcher in the Cubs' farm system after he signed with them in 1948. Those years were pretty impressive as a whole and one wonders what kept him 'down on the farm', especially in an organization as mediocre as the Cubs were at the time. The answer is likely his lack of control.<br />
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He did get a brief two game look at the end of the 1953 season and was banged around pretty hard. After pitching (and going 17-6) in the tough PCL as property of the Cubs in 1955 Elston was dealt to the Dodgers. Another season in AAA followed and then he made the Brooklyn staff in 1957.<br />
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That didn't last long however and after just a single one inning appearance in Ebbets Field in May he was traded back to the Cubs. He finished out that year as a starter/reliever on Chicago's North Side and then in 1958 he emerged as one of the better relief pitchers in the NL. He led the league with 69 appearances, had 10 saves (for a club with just 72 wins) and teamed with lefty Bill Henry to form an effective left/right closing combo.<br />
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In 1959 he made the NL All Star squad, pitched an inning and got the save in the <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NLS/NLS195907070.shtml">first of the two ASGs </a>played that year. He allowed a two out single to Nellie Fox in the top of the ninth at Forbes Field but got Harvey Kuenn to pop out to end it and preserve the NL's 5-4 win. that season he had career highs in wins (10) and saves (13). The save category for pitchers was reportedly created by Chicago newspaperman <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_Holtzman">Jerome Holtzman</a> as a way to show Elston's contributions. Holtzman saw Elroy Face getting wins after blowing leads with the Pirates and thought Elston's work as a reliever was better and deserved recognition.<br />
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Elston remained the club's workhorse for several more seasons although his numbers never again matched his '58/'59 run. After spending the 1965 season pitching in the minors Elston retired as an active player although he did manage briefly in the Cubs' system. He then spent the rest of his life in sales and working on behalf of Chicago area charities including the Chicago Baseball Cancer Charities organization for which he served as co-chairperson with another Chicago pitching standout, Billy Pierce.<br />
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Elston died at the age of 65 from heart failure in 1995. He had a long history of heart problems extending back to the beginning of his playing days, a fact he never shared with his teammates.<br />
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His <a href="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-01-05/sports/9501050317_1_cub-wrigley-field-willie-mays">Chicago Tribune obit</a> has a lot of background and stories from his playing days. This big chunk of that work is worthy of being repeated here:<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Don Elston, who died Monday at the age of 65, was like many pitchers of his time. He couldn't get Willie Mays out. Having exhausted his usual repertoire, Elston tried a spitter. Mays hit it over the fence in left center. Next time he threw a knuckler. Again, Mays connected-into the center-field bleachers, a few feet below the Wrigley Field scoreboard. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I don't know what we're going to do with him," catcher Dick Bertell told Elston.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">"And Don said, `Tell him what's coming. He won't believe it, anyway.' "</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And so Bertell, when he went into his catcher's crouch, asked Mays: "What do you want to hit?"</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" src="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/images/pixel.gif" height="1" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="1" /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" src="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/images/pixel.gif" height="1" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="1" /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">As Bertell recalled Wednesday, Willie didn't reply. "He just gave me a funny look. So I said, `It's going to be a curveball.' And for the rest of that at-bat, I called every pitch."</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did Willie take Elston deep again?</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">"No," Bertell replied. "He popped up. From then on, I wouldn't say Don had Willie in his pocket but he didn't get any more big hits off him."</span></blockquote>
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<br />Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-5551731003506552752014-02-20T05:30:00.000-06:002014-02-20T05:30:02.118-06:00#521 Gary Geiger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BE_7Z3MZQIo/UsH2ArSaGTI/AAAAAAAAMnA/mFN-oOnC2Y8/s1600/IMG_0037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BE_7Z3MZQIo/UsH2ArSaGTI/AAAAAAAAMnA/mFN-oOnC2Y8/s1600/IMG_0037.jpg" height="400" width="290" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-319bQao4e-E/UsH2De9zlPI/AAAAAAAANRY/TL7kZdyg7PM/s1600/IMG_0041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-319bQao4e-E/UsH2De9zlPI/AAAAAAAANRY/TL7kZdyg7PM/s1600/IMG_0041.jpg" height="288" width="400" /></a></div>
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And we are back to some high number series cards with Gary Geiger. Black replaced green on the reverse of these high numbers. Elsewhere it has been stated that the switch was done as part of Topps' efforts to gear up for the printing of their 1959 football cards. Sounds logical to me.<br />
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Gary Geiger was a standout player for Gorham high school in rural Illinois and was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1954. He began as a pitcher and, after a rough first year, was a twenty game winner in 1955. He was having some success as a reliever in '56 when the Cards decided that given their pitching depth and Geiger's bat, speed and continued control problems as a hurler that he would help them more as an outfielder. And so he was switched.<br />
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He struggled with his hitting at the AAA level in 1957 and the Cards ended up exposing him to the Rule 5 draft that winter. In an interesting twist it was Frank Lane who, as Cardinal's GM made the decision to risk losing Geiger....and it was the same Frank Lane who, having taken the same position with the Cleveland Indians, selected Geiger in that draft in his first act with his new club.<br />
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Geiger hit .231 as the fourth outfielder with the Indians in 1958, a year during which he had to remain on the big league roster or be returned to St. Louis. In winter ball later that year he injured his neck and came home to the states over Lane's objections. He was then traded to the Red Sox where he would play next to two Hall of Fame outfielders, Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski over the course of his seven seasons in Fenway.<br />
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Geiger turned out to be injury prone and had trouble putting full seasons together. But he had speed and some power and was even able to hit over .300 in 1960 playing in nearly half the games. But much more was expected of him given the talent he flashed and in the end the Sox let him get drafted away by the Braves where he spent two seasons. Geiger finished his career with a couple of years in Houston after spending 1968 in the minors.<br />
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In 1996 Geiger died of cirrhosis of the liver at the age of just 59. He had lived the last 20 years of his life battling alcoholism. His family says his issues were a result of his fear of flying. He used drink to calm his nerves and in the end the habit caught up with him.<br />
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Gieger's <a href="http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/a2322903">SABR bio</a> is the 'go to' place for more insight on his interesting life and career. <a href="http://thesouthern.com/news/family-community-remember-baseball-player-gary-geiger/article_8acc7b50-49ae-5f4e-995d-e5ccf4a32ad4.html">This obit</a> from a local paper is a quicker but also interesting read. Lots of stories from his family and friends in that one.<br />
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This card and the other 'light green' card (the <a href="http://59toppsblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/545-tom-morgan.html">previously posted #545 Tom Morgan</a>) in the high number series have a distinct 'lime green' look about them. It's certainly a different shade of light green than that which is seen on the lower series cards. For a comparison here are the Geiger and Dale Long cards scanned side by side. The difference seems more pronounced when viewing the cards in person but it is plain enough to see in the scans.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nmrDsQWy-Dc/UwDWHJOLMwI/AAAAAAAANRc/xm00yL-Shd8/s1600/IMG_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nmrDsQWy-Dc/UwDWHJOLMwI/AAAAAAAANRc/xm00yL-Shd8/s1600/IMG_0003.jpg" height="280" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-27781338916771111602014-02-18T05:30:00.000-06:002014-02-18T07:24:20.422-06:00#474 Moe Thacker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1S28AVdEbrA/UsH184OPZ9I/AAAAAAAAMmY/kLH-kJhRBxA/s1600/IMG_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1S28AVdEbrA/UsH184OPZ9I/AAAAAAAAMmY/kLH-kJhRBxA/s1600/IMG_0032.jpg" height="400" width="280" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R_fimwFf8yI/UsH1-23EdvI/AAAAAAAAMmw/xMStzp2_HrE/s1600/IMG_0035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R_fimwFf8yI/UsH1-23EdvI/AAAAAAAAMmw/xMStzp2_HrE/s1600/IMG_0035.jpg" height="283" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Yankees signed catcher (and three sport Kentucky high school star) <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thackmo01.shtml">Moe Thacker</a> in 1952 and he moved up through their farm system despite some poor hitting numbers and a strong crew of catchers ahead of him in that organization. After six seasons they sent him to the Cubs for whom he hit .293 in AA ball in 1958. He was up with the Cubs for a brief stretch in August and he hit .250 in 11 games. He had homered in his first game at Wrigley but subsequently hurt his knee.<br />
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Unfortunately he never approached even the .200 level after that in his career. Thacker played in the minors in '59 but was the Cubs' back-up catcher for most of the next three seasons. During that time he hit .187 or less and he was traded to St. Louis for 1963.<br />
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Outside of a handful of at bats for the Cards that year he finished his career in the minors. After baseball he returned to his native Louisville, Kentucky and owned a string of fast food franchise outlets. He died in 1997.<br />
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<br />Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-14842838236362542402014-02-16T05:30:00.000-06:002014-02-16T08:59:59.587-06:00#493 Jim Landis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2JOMXJMA63k/UsH17wagzFI/AAAAAAAAMmQ/bToULrabrNc/s1600/IMG_0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2JOMXJMA63k/UsH17wagzFI/AAAAAAAAMmQ/bToULrabrNc/s1600/IMG_0031.jpg" height="400" width="280" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UJ8vLDAGxbM/UsH1_3IKTaI/AAAAAAAAMm4/fo1qpVEUbxs/s1600/IMG_0036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UJ8vLDAGxbM/UsH1_3IKTaI/AAAAAAAAMm4/fo1qpVEUbxs/s1600/IMG_0036.jpg" height="283" width="400" /></a></div>
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California native <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/landiji01.shtml">Jim Landis</a> was a five time Gold Glove winner for the White Sox and as a member of the '59 Go-Go Sox he helped that club win the American League pennant. He began his baseball career by signing with Chicago in 1952 and played two seasons of minor league ball before spending two years in the military.</div>
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Landis returned to baseball in 1956 and hit well enough to earn a spot in the Sox' outfield in 1957. He seemed over-matched by big league pitching and was sent to the minors for five weeks in late summer. In '58 he blossomed and hit .277 with 15 homers and was the everyday center fielder.</div>
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His '59 season was good enough to garner some MVP votes and in the Series against the Dodgers he hit .292 and made some crucial defensive plays in a losing effort. In 1960 he began his string of Gold Glove seasons and in 1962 he played in the All Star game. He was in the top three in many defensive categories among A.L. outfielders between 1958 and 1963.</div>
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But his offensive numbers had been sliding since his 22/85/.283 season in 1960 and he was traded to Kansas City for 1965 where his hitting had a slight uptick. But after a year there the A's dealt him to the Indians and he spent the '66 season watching his stats slide again. His last season in the game was 1967 which he split between the Astros, Tigers and Red Sox. His stay with Boston was only about a week and he wasn't able to stay around to possible play in the '67 Series with them.</div>
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He was in the sign business after retiring. <a href="http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/e6ab29ab">SABR</a> is as always the best place to read up on Landis' career and <a href="http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/jim_landis_interview.shtml">Baseball Almanac</a> has an interesting interview with him. Jim's son <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Craig_Landis">Craig Landis</a> played minor league baseball and is currently a player agent</div>
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Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-20858808378443616542014-02-14T06:30:00.000-06:002014-02-14T07:22:24.613-06:00#482 Russ Meyer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M6loYI69rOI/UsH177oq7TI/AAAAAAAAMmE/d7KFZsd1K4I/s1600/IMG_0030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M6loYI69rOI/UsH177oq7TI/AAAAAAAAMmE/d7KFZsd1K4I/s1600/IMG_0030.jpg" height="400" width="293" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0VYFm3bfzWc/UsH1-z0mTsI/AAAAAAAAMmo/gkwqpmHyLbg/s1600/IMG_0034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0VYFm3bfzWc/UsH1-z0mTsI/AAAAAAAAMmo/gkwqpmHyLbg/s1600/IMG_0034.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></div>
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Ol' <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/meyerru01.shtml">Russ Meyer</a> looks benign in this, his last Topps card. But in his heyday he had a reputation for being more than just slightly 'off the wall'. He had issues with anger and an inability to keep himself out of trouble. Not legal trouble but, well, 'baseball trouble'. I mean his nickname was the 'Mad Monk'... and he got it as a schoolboy so that should tell you a little about him.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0BU-0QjD6sI/Uve47-ZVtZI/AAAAAAAANNU/yYXYpq0SCcw/s1600/IMG_0034.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0BU-0QjD6sI/Uve47-ZVtZI/AAAAAAAANNU/yYXYpq0SCcw/s1600/IMG_0034.png" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Pitching in his hometown of Peru, Illinois Meyer attracted scouts and he signed with his 'close to home' club, the White Sox, in 1942. After a season in the minors he was called to military duty and ended up on a service baseball team. He collapsed on the mound during one outing and was diagnosed with a burst appendix. Complications kept him in the hospital for months and got him a medical discharge.<br />
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Returning to civilian ball Meyer signed with the Cubs (apparently <a href="http://www.baseballinwartime.com/player_biographies/meyer_russ.htm">the White Sox had not listed his absence</a> correctly) and moved up through their chain as a starter/reliever and got a quick big league look in 1946. That was enough to earn him a spot on the club in 1947 and he spent two years in the North Side winning 10 games in '48 after being given a spot in the rotation.<br />
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He was sold to the Phils after that and he won 47 games in four years including a 17-9 year in 1949. He pitched briefly in two games in the 1950 Series against that Yankees. He took the loss in Game Three when, after entering a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the ninth, he got two quick outs before allowing three straight hits and the Yanks' winning run.<br />
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Meyer was involved in a complicated four team deal prior to the 1953 season and found himself in Brooklyn pitching for the Dodgers. His antics no doubt amused the fun loving Brooklyn fans. From his SABR bio:<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">[Robin] <span style="background-color: white; color: #393939; line-height: 18px;">Roberts in his autobiography recalled an incident in 1953, after the Phillies traded Meyer to the Brooklyn Dodgers. Pitching against the Phillies in Connie Mack Stadium, Meyer walked Richie Ashburn with the bases loaded, forcing in the go-ahead run. Meyer charged off the mound to protest to umpire Augie Donatelli. Meyer’s language got him ejected by Donatelli. But he returned to the mound and just refused to leave until manager Charlie Dressen came out to get him. Finally Russ stomped off the mound. As he stomped off the mound he flipped the rosin bag into the air with disgust. The rosin bag flew 30 feet in the air and came down directly on Meyer’s head. White powder flew everywhere, and even Monk had to laugh a little, Roberts said.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Monk wasn’t through, however. When he got to the dugout, Roberts said, he yelled at Donatelli and grabbed his crotch. Unfortunately, the game was the television Game of the Week, and a camera in the dugout caught the whole episode and displayed it to the nation. The network switchboard lit up like a Christmas tree. For about the next ten years baseball had a “Meyer” Rule that forbade cameras in the dugout. And Meyer was fined and suspended for three days, one of at least three suspensions he received during his career.</span></i></blockquote>
With the Bums Meyer went 26-11 over his first two seasons but his other numbers don't look as impressive and the strong Brooklyn teams helped that win total. He won and lost World Series' with Brooklyn. In the '55 series he entered Game Five with the bases loaded in the third and promptly gave up a grand slam to Mickey Mantle.<br />
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Fresh off the '55 Series win he was traded to the Cubs and spent the next few seasons bouncing around the majors with three teams and had a minor league stint before leaving the game and not pitching in 1958. Meyer returned to pitch for the A's in 1959 and he is airbrushed into their cap for this card. He was released in July of that year after 18 appearances.<br />
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He went on to coach for the Yankees in their minor league system and for a season as bench coach. He retired in 1992 to operate a bowling alley.<br />
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His <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/18/sports/russ-meyer-a-fiery-pitcher-for-dodgers-in-50-s-dies-at-74.html">N. Y. Times obit</a> (he died in 1997) contains this interesting tidbit:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>In June 1981, Meyer returned to Brooklyn with his former teammates Carl Erskine and Sandy Amoros to promote a quest to bring the Dodgers back from Los Angeles. But in renewing old times, he lost his treasured rewards from his Dodger days: He was held up at gunpoint and had his 1953 and 1955 Dodger World Series rings stolen. At least it did not happen in Brooklyn -- the scene of the crime was Lexington Avenue and East 25th Street.</i></span></span></blockquote>
Meyer's <a href="http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/737ae33a">SABR bio</a> is, as you might expect, an interesting read.<br />
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Dodger history fans might enjoy <a href="http://www.brooklynvisualheritage.org/collection/Brooklyn+Dodgers">this photo archive site</a> I stumbled across while looking for Meyer facts. Here is one photo and the text that accompanies it:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f3N1THC-RLk/Uve6cJd0g8I/AAAAAAAANNg/htK-3LwNVdc/s1600/95458481f98729c77d5630afb004c39f&ext=.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f3N1THC-RLk/Uve6cJd0g8I/AAAAAAAANNg/htK-3LwNVdc/s1600/95458481f98729c77d5630afb004c39f&ext=.jpg" height="325" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; line-height: 20px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Close-up of manager and pitcher conferring, apparently on pitcher's mound, with manager pointing finger at pitcher's chest. Caption on verso: "Temper, Temper: Russ Meyer, left, newest Dodger and explosive right-handed pitcher, gets the word to straighten up and fly right from manager Charley Dresses at Vero Beach (Fla.), training camp."</span></span></blockquote>
Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-57757316093002401122014-02-12T06:00:00.000-06:002014-02-12T06:00:19.548-06:00#486 Sammy White<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yUefcGUskac/UsH17ySbbnI/AAAAAAAAMmM/Mn58nSeYknA/s1600/IMG_0029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yUefcGUskac/UsH17ySbbnI/AAAAAAAAMmM/Mn58nSeYknA/s1600/IMG_0029.jpg" height="400" width="288" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/whitesa02.shtml">Sammy White</a> made a big jump in 1952. He had been signed out of the PCL, spent three seasons in the Red Sox' system and had a four game taste of the majors when he was handed the starting catcher's job in Boston after having spent the previous season in Class A ball.<br />
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And White made the most of it. In 115 games he hit ten homers, drove in 49 runs and hit .281, just a few points below the best average of his career. To top it off he finished third in the <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1952.shtml#ALroy">Rookie of the Year balloting</a> finishing just a tick behind Philadelphia's 15 game winning hurler Harry Byrd and fellow catcher Clint Courtney of the Browns.<br />
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For an encore White made the 1953 AL All Star squad. Too bad that Casey Stengel kept him on the bench as Yogi Berra caught the whole game. White never again made it back to the ASG. But he did have a productive career as the Sox full time catcher for eight seasons through 1959 and earning a reputation as a good defensive player. He led all AL catchers in assists from 1953 through 1956.<br />
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He hit for some power and even stole a base every now and then. Coming off the '59 campaign in which he hit a career high .284 the Sox, apparently deciding to 'sell high' at that point traded White to the Indians. White, with a new bowling alley venture to run, decided to retire rather than report to the Indians. He sat out the entire 1960 season and the deal was voided.<br />
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In June of 1961 the Braves talked White into playing and purchased his contract from the Red Sox. Milwaukee was looking to fill the spot opened by an injury to Del Crandall and he spent the rest of that year backing up rookie Joe Torre. As a side note the Braves paid White $35,000 for that half year of back-up duty which was the most money he had ever made in baseball.<br />
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Released after that season White hooked on with the Phils for 1962 and then retired for good to run his business. <a href="http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/c1cca2b5">His SABR page</a> has many details of Sammy White's colorful career including his attempt to field an off-season basketball squad of Sox players that led to a mini-holdout (he had been a basketball star at the University of Washington). And it mentions the conflicting advice he got from every side on how to improve his hitting by changing his stance. He heard from two extremes, Ted Williams and Sox owner Tom Yawkey!<br />
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The <a href="http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19530719&id=gSFWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=suIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6961,4160143">article out of a Eugene paper</a> in 1953 discusses the young catcher and has glowing quotes fro notables such as Bill Dickey and Berra. Sammy White <a href="http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19910807&slug=1298739">died in 1991</a> in Hawaii where he had been living after retiring from his business ventures.Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-9548443073632528122014-02-10T05:30:00.000-06:002014-02-10T05:30:00.788-06:00#451 Jimmy Constable<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hcqWl0gRxdA/UsHilZoB1HI/AAAAAAAAMlI/MMgWDV-iPzM/s1600/IMG_0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hcqWl0gRxdA/UsHilZoB1HI/AAAAAAAAMlI/MMgWDV-iPzM/s1600/IMG_0024.jpg" height="400" width="282" /></a></div>
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<i>NOTE: I'm now down to less than twenty cards to post in this set which I've come to love so much. After Mr. Constable here I have another pink card, a black framed one, one last All Star card and a superstar Hall of Famer among those remaining. I will be checking to make sure that I haven't missed one but if not I should be wrapped up by Opening Day. </i><br />
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It took <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/constji01.shtml">Jim "Sheriff" Constable</a> five and a half years to make it to the majors after signing with the New York Giants in 1951. He was a minor league workhorse as a starter in the Giants chain winning as many as 19 games in a year. He got a call by the Giants in mid-season of 1956 and was knocked around in two of three appearances and returned to the minors.<br />
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The Tennessee native was again with the Giants in August of 1957 with better results. He split a pair of decisions and had a 2.87 ERA in 28 innings out of the bullpen. During the 1958 campaign he was waived by the Giants in June, was picked up by the Indians who waived him in July when he was signed by the Senators.<br />
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It was following that 1958 season while pitching winter ball in Cuba that Constable suffered what is described as a 'mental breakdown' that eventually caused him to be out of the game for three years. His <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Jim_Constable">Baseball Reference Bullpen page</a> quotes him in Steve Bitker's book <i><a href="http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Original_San_Francisco_Giants.html?id=ZO8mHh-wjcAC">The Original San Francisco Giants</a>:</i><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Constable said, "My father was manic depressive. It is inherited. It was through the heavy stress I was under in Cuba after the whole year I had, being with three different teams, then down there with Castro taking over and people disappearing, I had quite a breakdown."</i></blockquote>
After his layoff and recovery Constable was signed by the Braves in 1962. After pitching for their AAA club in Toronto (his other numbers are better than his 9-14 record) he was given a shot in September to return to the majors. He was given a start for the Braves against the Pirates on September 22 and rewarded the team with a <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT196209220.shtml">five hit complete game shutout</a>.<br />
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That wasn't good enough for the Braves to keep him around though and he was waived and claimed by his original team, the now-San Francisco Giants, who used him mostly in the minors for two years. He got a few innings with the Giants in 1963 but was out of baseball for good after that.<br />
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Upon retiring Constable <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">returned to East Tennessee, and he worked as a control analyst at Magnavox for 15 years. He then returned to college for an education degree and taught in the the Washington County, Tennessee schools. Second consecutive featured player who turned to teaching after baseball. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Jim Constable died in 2002. A few weeks later the local paper </span><a href="http://www.greenevillesun.com/Sports_-_Daily/article/Remembering-Jim-Constable%0D-id-264050" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">had a feature on him</a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">. They sort of skirt the metal illness issues he suffered by </span>referring<span style="font-family: inherit;"> to 'health problems' and his 'nervous condition'. He is pictured here posing in Yankee Stadium and framed in pink. Based on his timeline he was out of baseball when this card was issued. His next (and only other Topps card) came out in 1963 when he had returned. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is the '63:</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YR742__ZjPo/UugO-cOs92I/AAAAAAAANCA/7X8gy-K4eoQ/s1600/60-411Fr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YR742__ZjPo/UugO-cOs92I/AAAAAAAANCA/7X8gy-K4eoQ/s1600/60-411Fr.jpg" height="400" width="283" /></a></div>
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And I found this signed postcard for sale on eBay. He looks like a kid, doesn't he? </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-06vtFoXTbYM/UugO-ixKjiI/AAAAAAAANB8/zlMJbp0lRz4/s1600/663919268_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-06vtFoXTbYM/UugO-ixKjiI/AAAAAAAANB8/zlMJbp0lRz4/s1600/663919268_o.jpg" height="640" width="410" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-55744913793488862502014-02-08T05:30:00.000-06:002014-02-08T11:33:59.034-06:00#454 Phil Clark<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BhDcJv8bS1E/UsHijgVUjII/AAAAAAAAMk0/I7JzfbQrVSI/s1600/IMG_0023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BhDcJv8bS1E/UsHijgVUjII/AAAAAAAAMk0/I7JzfbQrVSI/s1600/IMG_0023.jpg" height="400" width="290" /></a></div>
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Pitcher Phil Clark was fortunate enough to get to play in his hometown of Albany, Georgia after being signed by The St. Louis Cardinals in 1951. He was a starter then and put together an 18-7 season with a sub-3.00 ERA. Then Uncle Sam came calling and Clark served for two years.<br />
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Returning in 1954 he climbed the Cards' ladder while switching to a bullpen job. He had some impressive years in the high minors and earned a <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=clarkph01&t=p&year=1958">spot on the Cards' staff</a> in 1958. To paraphrase Frank Sinatra Clark was 'riding high in April' (no earned runs and a save in four games) but he was 'shot down in May' (six hits and three earned runs in an inning and a third over three games).<br />
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Back in the minors Clark was solid for the rest of that season and got another early shot with the Cardinals in '59 but was <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=clarkph01&t=p&year=1959">rocked pretty hard</a> and farmed out once again. He pitched two final minor league seasons in the Dodgers' chain and then retired to get a degree in education at the University of Georgia and become a high school teacher back in Albany. He spent thirty years in the classroom, good for him.<br />
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Phil Clark had a role of author/ballplayer Jim Brosnan's 1961 book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Long-Season-Jim-Brosnan/dp/1566634180">The Long Season</a></i>. Clark and Brosnan were friends yet the contrast between the two makes for good reading: Brosnan was the cerebral, established major leaguer while Clark was a fringe player worried about he ability to stick in the big leagues. It's a 'must read' for those with a 'baseball book habit'.<br />
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There isn't much on Phil Clark to be found on the 'net. I did discover his name on the 1950 Georgia High School <a href="http://ghsfha.org/allstargames.php?gAllStarGameID=60">football all star game roster</a>.<br />
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This card features a spring training shot and the pose is very similar to that on his only other Topps card, the '58. Except that Clark is grinning on the '58.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-inCex7WiuXQ/UufSo_qr5yI/AAAAAAAANBs/17zot9jFUTE/s1600/58clark85large.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-inCex7WiuXQ/UufSo_qr5yI/AAAAAAAANBs/17zot9jFUTE/s1600/58clark85large.png" height="400" width="283" /></a></div>
<br />Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-16342309735013206062014-02-06T05:30:00.000-06:002014-02-06T07:21:15.319-06:00#473 Mike Fornieles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XHQBkqNtlXc/UsHiisX73iI/AAAAAAAAMks/rdH9iFtre0I/s1600/IMG_0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XHQBkqNtlXc/UsHiisX73iI/AAAAAAAAMks/rdH9iFtre0I/s1600/IMG_0022.jpg" height="400" width="287" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fornimi01.shtml">Mike Fornieles</a> (full name: Jose Miguel Fornieles Torres) is another in a <a href="http://espn.go.com/page2/wash/s/2002/0311/1349361.html">long line of native Cubans</a> that were signed by Senators <a href="http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1999-05-03/sports/9905030032_1_cuba-papa-joe-scout">scout Joe Cambria</a> over the course of several decades as he worked for owner Clark Griffith. Fornieles came to the U.S. after signing in 1950 and began his career as a righthanded starter in Big Spring, Texas.<br />
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Having been through Big Spring it's hard to imagine being a 19-year-old from Cuba and finding yourself in the middle of west central Texas at the beginning of the 1950s. But a look at the <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=0f7fca81">1951 Big Springs Broncs' roster</a> would lead you to believe that Fornieles had plenty of countrymen around to keep him from getting lonely. And his 17-6 season would tend to back up that theory.<br />
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After another standout campaign in 1952 (with the Nats' Havana affiliate) Forneiles got a late season call-up and he debuted in Washington on September 2. In that first game he pitched and won a one hit shutout of the Philadelphia A's. He fanned four and worked around six walks for the victory. A week later he got another start and took a loss but pitched decently enough to get a couple more looks as a reliever. In his final appearance he went eight innings in relief of Julio Moreno and allowed only three hits as the Nats rallied to get him the win.<br />
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That winter he was traded to the White Sox for Chuck Stobbs as Washington tried to pick up some left handed pitching help. He spent the next four seasons as a spot starter and reliever for the Sox and Orioles who traded him to the Red Sox in 1957. He had six seasons in Boston and in 1960, by now a full time reliever, Fornieles won 10 games and led the AL in appearances and saves.<br />
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In '61 he made his only All Star squad and was called on in the <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NLS/NLS196107110.shtml">first of two ASGs</a> that year. He allowed a homer to George Altman, the first man he faced. After getting Willie Mays to fly out he was touched for a hit by Frank Robinson and was taken out of the game in favor of Hoyt Wilhelm.<br />
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He stayed with Boston until they dealt him to the Twins in 1963 after which he retired to become a car salesman in Florida. SABR has <a href="http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/5889829b">a detailed look</a> at his career. He passed away at 66 in 1998.<br />
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That is, of course, the iconic Yankee Stadium serving as background in the pic. I appreciate those cards on which the frieze (a.k.a. 'facade') is shown.Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-67277084128717294922014-02-04T07:49:00.000-06:002014-02-04T07:49:08.229-06:00#567 Del Crandall The Sporting News All Star<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5eOpZEOqIrk/UsHijjkyA4I/AAAAAAAAMlE/8oCxL3BNCnI/s1600/IMG_0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5eOpZEOqIrk/UsHijjkyA4I/AAAAAAAAMlE/8oCxL3BNCnI/s1600/IMG_0021.jpg" height="400" width="290" /></a></div>
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This <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/crandde01.shtml">Del Crandall</a> card is the next to last All Star card to be posted here. Crandall, who was featured on his own '59 card (<a href="http://59toppsblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/425-del-crandall.html">posted here</a>), was a eight time NL All Star, a four time Gold Glove winner and 1949 Rookie of the Year runner-up.<br />
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Known for his defensive and pitcher handling abilities Crandall was a decent hitter who had a couple of .290+ seasons. He was probably ranked second only to Roy Campanella at his position during the decade of the fifties.<br />
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Crandall played in 8 All Star games and while he hit only .200 in those games (4 for 20) he did homer for the NL off the Red Sox' Bill Monbouquette at Kansas City's Municipal Stadium in the first of two All Star games in 1960.<br />
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The red railing tips us off that Crandall is posing in San Francisco's Seals Stadium in the photo on this card.<br />
<br />Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-21436046687921661292014-02-02T03:30:00.000-06:002014-02-02T03:30:00.243-06:00#446 Rocky Nelson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nelsoro01.shtml">Glenn 'Rocky' Nelson</a> had such a varied and interesting career I hardly know where to start, so let's try the beginning. Nelson signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as a 17 year-old first baseman in 1942. After a year in the minors Uncle Sam called and he spent three years in the Army during WWII. My usual sources don't provide many details but it's a good bet he was overseas during that time.<br />
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Upon re-entering baseball Nelson had three seasons in the well stocked Cardinals chain hitting over .300 in each of them. He made his big league debut with the Cards in 1949 but, in what became the story of his career, he just didn't approach his minor league numbers. He split the next season between the majors and minors (hitting over .400 at AAA in almost 50 games!) and in 1951 was traded to the Pirates for his first stint with the Buccos.<br />
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He finished the 1951 season with the White Sox after being waived and then was traded to the Dodgers after the season. That deal meant that Nelson had been the property of four different franchises within 9 months! The Dodgers won the NL pennant in 1952 and Nelson, having been recalled from the minors in August, got into the '52 Series with a handful of pinch hit opportunities.<br />
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He spent '53 and most of '54 with the Montreal Royals, the Dodgers' AA club and had a monstrous run. Particularly impressive was Nelson's 1953 season when he hit .308 with 36 homers and 131 RBIs and won the International League MVP award. The Dodgers, with Gil Hodges holding down first base, had no room at the top for the minor league slugger. They had traded him to the Indians after that remarkable '53 year but bought him back in May and watched him tear up the IL again.<br />
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Back with the Royals in 1955 Nelson won his second of three IL MVPs with impressive ease and was threatening to repeat in '56 when the Dodgers recalled him in June. He struggled for two months in Brooklyn and was traded to the Cardinals for his second run in St. Louis.<br />
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He played for Toronto, the Cards' AA club for two years and again excelled. He won the 1958 IL MVP and for that he was rewarded by being drafted away by the Pirates. Finally, at 34 years old, Nelson managed to get himself a steady big league gig. He played as a platoon first baseman for Pittsburgh for three seasons, putting together productive years in '59 and 1960. He played a part in the '60 Series against the Yanks. I'll let his <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Rocky_Nelson">Baseball Reference Bullpen</a> page recount that:<br />
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Nelson started Game 2 of the 1960 World Series and had 2 singles against the New York Yankees' Bob Turley. But Stuart, who led the Pirates in home runs that year, started games 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6. With the series tied at 3 wins apiece and Stuart struggling with just 3 singles in 20 at-bats and no RBIs, manager Danny Murtaugh started Nelson at first base in Game 7, as the Yankees again started Turley. Nelson responded with a two-run home run in the 1st inning to stake the Pirates to an early lead. But he was also involved in a strange play that allowed the Yankees to tie the game 9-9 in the top of the 9th inning of that game. With the Pirates leading 9-8, Yogi Berra at bat, Gil McDougald on third base and Mickey Mantle on first, Berra hit a hard shot at Nelson. Nelson fielded the ball inches from first base and stepped on the bag for the second out as McDougald raced for the plate with the tying run. Mantle, with a short lead off first base, hesitated when the ball was hit, possibly unsure if Nelson caught it in the air. But although the ball had not been caught in the air, Mantle was not forced to advance to second base because Nelson had already eliminated the force when he stepped on the first base bag. Nelson turned to throw to second base, expecting Mantle to be advancing. But Mantle dove back toward first base. Nelson then dove at Mantle and missed. With both players sprawled on the ground and Mantle safely back at first base, McDougald scored the tying run to make the score 9-9. However, that changed quickly when Bill Mazeroski led off the bottom of the 9th inning with a home run against Ralph Terry to win the game, 10-9, and give the Pirates the championship. Stuart, who was on deck to pinch-hit for winning pitcher Harvey Haddix, did not appear in the game. At age 35, Nelson had his finest season in the majors and finished it by homering as the cleanup hitter in a championship game. Nelson hit .333 (3 for 9) in the World Series.</blockquote>
His bat finally failed him in 1961 and in '62 he kicked around the minors with three clubs before he retired. He finished his big league career with 31 homers but in the minors he hit 234 and in 1960 he was named to the <a href="http://www.milb.com/documents/2008/01/09/337580/1/Nelson.pdf">International League Hall of Fame</a>. Given that his huge seasons came with Montreal and Toronto it's little wonder he is also a member of the <a href="http://baseballhalloffame.ca/museum/inductees/rocky-nelson/">Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame</a>. Along the way he played on four pennant winning teams, the '52 and '56 Dodgers, the '54 Indians and of course the 1960 Pirates.<br />
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Lots of interesting Nelson internet resources. The Hardball Times has a detailed and entertaining <a href="http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/rocky-nelson/">Rocky Nelson career retrospective</a>. The <a href="http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070705&content_id=270438&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp">official MiLB site</a> has a page with emphasis on his minor league exploits.<br />
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The card has one of those 'painted over' portraits that makes it difficult (ok, impossible) to determine where it was taken and what uni Nelson is actually wearing.<br />
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<br />Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3301111177105932342.post-26582936232463154222014-01-31T06:30:00.000-06:002014-01-31T07:38:44.324-06:00#436 Granny Hamner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamnegr01.shtml">Granville 'Granny' Hamner</a> was the captain of the 1950 'Whiz Kids' that won the NL pennant. He was in his third full season with the Phils at that point. As a 17 year old signee in 1944 he played in 21 big league games and held his own hitting almost .250. He struggled the following year and was in the minors for most of it and then spent most of 1947 in the military.<br />
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He took over as the teams' starting shortstop in 1948 and held down a middle infield spot for a decade usually hitting between .260 and .280 and showing some power. He held the Phils' record for homers by a shortstop (17 in 1952) until Jimmy Rollins broke it in 2006. He had over 100 career dingers. In that <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1950_WS.shtml">1950 Series</a> against the Yankees Hamner hit .429 on 6 for 14 with three extra base hits.<br />
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Hamner, who's <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamnega01.shtml">brother Garvin</a> was his teammate and sometimes DP partner in '45, was the first player to be elected as an All Star starter at two positions. He was there as a shortstop in 1952 and was selected as a second baseman the next two seasons. 1954 was arguably his best season as he hit .299 with 11 triples, 13 homers and 89 RBI.<br />
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In 1956 Hamner hurt his shoulder which limited his ability to swing a bat but he possessed a pretty good knuckleball and the Phils used him out of the bullpen a few times. That injury and a 1958 blown knee all but ended his career. He was traded to the Indians in May of 1959 but struggled at the plate and retired as an active player (or so he thought).<br />
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After moving into coaching and managing in the minors he was pressed into service as a pitcher a few times in the A's system and when injuries crippled the major league staff Hamner was activated by the big club and he got into three games in 1962. His last association with the game in an on-the-field capacity was as a minor league manager in 1988. He spent many years in the Phils' organization as an instructor and minor league supervisor.<br />
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He died in 1993. Some fun stuff (including Hamner memories from Richie Ashburn) can be found in <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=tlU0Ex8Mz6EC&pg=PT20&lpg=PT20&dq=Granny+Hamner&source=bl&ots=9so0bMKpb9&sig=eDSoiBjCvenuUYncBg0IPqZa9Ys&hl=en&sa=X&ei=WLvaUrbZJ4rhsASVp4LwDg&ved=0CEQQ6AEwBDgU#v=onepage&q=Granny%20Hamner&f=false">this Google book excerpt</a>.<br />
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In addition to having a brother who played major league ball Hamner's grandson, Chris Ambrosius was a <a href="http://www.pennathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=50514">standout college player</a> at Penn.<br />
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I'm puzzled by the text blurb on the back on the card. It implies that Hamner began his pro career as a pitcher before giving it up to play the field. I can't find any evidence that was the case. Hamner made it clear <a href="http://articles.mcall.com/1987-08-08/sports/2590682_1_robin-roberts-injuries-records">in this interview</a> that his pitching came about as the result of his injured shoulder and he certainly had no aspirations to change to a full time hurler. His <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=hamner001gra">minor league career</a> in the 40s as a Phils' farmhand was strictly as an infielder.<br />
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Red railings = Seals Stadium in San Francisco. As pointed out in a comment by Bob O. on the Billy Harrell card posted the other day, these 5th Series light blue cards have white type for player names and position, yellow lettering for team designation. Besides the Harrell and Hamner <a href="http://59toppsblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/395-elston-howard.html">the Elston Howard card</a> falls into this category. Other light blue cards in the set use black letters for name and team, white for position. I scanned the two recent light blue cards at the same time and something about them struck me as odd. But my copy of the Harrell card is so pale and washed out I chalked up my thoughts to that and only later looked into it further. Yesterday's comment got me to look back at all the cards in that series and I saw the Howard card.<br />
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Back in 2012 I did a few posts on the color distribution of the '59 set. I've <a href="http://59toppsblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/colors-of-1959-overview.html">revised one of those posts</a> to reflect the two different coloring conventions for the light blue cards.<br />
<br />Commishbobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18069472376708715755noreply@blogger.com0