#141 Joe Shipley, The Sporting News Rookie Stars

Welcome to "Joe Week" here at '59 Topps.

Well if Joe Shipley's former teammate Felipe Alou is to be believed:

....Giants manager Felipe Alou said Giants pitcher Joe Shipley once heaved a fastball that went over the screen at Seals Stadium and clobbered a fan. "I heard he was ordered to hit somebody," says Alou. Mission accomplished. (Legend has it that as a minor-leaguer Shipley hit a batter who was in the on-deck circle.)

In 1953 Tennessee native Shipley was acquired by the New York Giants from Vidalia, an independent pro team in the Georgia State League. Shipley had gone 1-9 with a 6.99 ERA and had issued over eight walks per nine innings with the two clubs he pitched for that first season as a pro. But the Giants must have seen potential.

He fought his way up the Giants' minor league ladder while showing some promise mixed in with bouts of wildness. He made one appearance with the now San Francisco Giants in July of 1958 and took a pounding. In 1959 he pitched with the big club into June making ten trips to the hill including one start. He had no decisions but the Giants lost every one of those games. That's a pretty weird stat. 

He made 15 relief appearances with the 1960 Giants, again with no decisions while the Giants went 1-14 in those games. I'm not Dick Tracy but I'm seeing a pattern here. Shipley was released prior to the 1962 season and moved through a couple of organizations before he got one final shot from the White Sox. In three games in July of 1963 he pitched a total of 4.2 innings, gave up 9 hits, seven runs and six walks. He took a loss and that was his only career decision.

The card back blurb notes that if Shipley can ..."control his wildness and cut the corners he'll be a fine major leaguer." 

Shipley pitched in the minors for a few more years and then went on to coach baseball at East Tennessee State from 1966 to 1975. His best record there came in 1972 when his club went 12-7. That's Joe in uniform at ETSU below. And below that is his 1960 Topps cards. Two cards for a guy with one decision in his career. 

#102 Felipe Alou

Felipe Alou is, of course, the oldest of the three Alou brothers to make their mark in the major leagues and is credited with being the first Dominican player in the majors. The brothers played together for the Giants late in the season in 1963. After a two and a half year successful minor league tune-up Alou made the Giants' roster in 1958. 

He steadily gained playing time and by 1961 was the Giants regular rightfielder. He had a solid if not spectacular run in San Francisco and was a prt of the Giants 1962 NL title club. He made the All Star team that season and with 25 homers, 98 RBIs and a .316 average it was his best out on the west coast.  

Alou was traded to the Braves after the 1963 season and played in Milwaukee and Atlanta through 1969. He put up some outstanding numbers there while transitioning to the 1B position. He made his second and third All Star teams with the Braves and helped guide them to the first NLCS in 1969.

He played centerfield primarily for Atlanta in his final season or two there and was sent on to Oakland for the 1970 season. He had several productive season as an outfielder and firstbaseman for the A's and Yankees before landing in Montreal and then back in Milwaukee for a very brief trial with the Brewers. 

He coached for the Expos until given the manager's slot in 1992. His club took the NL East in strike interrupted 1994 and he was named NL Manager of the Year. He was dismissed in 2001, served as bench coach for the Tigers in 2002 and re-joined the Giants as their manager in 2003. His team won the West Division that season. Alou remained at the Giants helm through 2006.

His baseball family ties are well known. Brothers Matty and Jesus had notable careers in the majors and his son, Moises did as well. Moises palyed under his father for both the Expos and Giants. It doesn't stop there, Felipe Alou's cousin Jose Sosa (briefly) as well as nephew Mel Rojas were major leaguers. 

Outside of a bit of dis-colorization this is a nice '59. I like the green frame around Alou's smiling portrait. Not sure what to make of the cartoon, though. Is that a Dominican groupie?

The Alou Brothers.