#40 Warren Spahn

Noting perks up a blogger in a rut like posting a card of a superstar, particularly one of the blogger's favorites. So I'm really happy to present the regular issue card of Warren Spahn!

A native of Buffalo, N.Y., Spahn was signed in 1940 and came to the majors with Boston in 1942. The Bees' manager at that time, Casey Stengel, questioned the young Spahn's 'guts' when he refused to throw at the Dodgers' Pee Wee Reese. After spending three years in the military serving in Europe during World War II (and receiving a Purple Heart among other decorations), Spahn returned to the majors in 1942 after Stengel had been fired. He stayed for two decades and finished a remarkable run with the Braves with a final season split between the Giants and Mets in 1965.

He became the winningest left handed pitcher in the history of baseball (and fifth over-all) with 363 victories. He could likely have had 400 had he pitched during the three years he had served but Spahn said he 'matured' in the service and it helped him in his career.

Some highlights as listed on his Baseball Reference Bullpen page:

• 14-time NL All-Star (1947, 1949-1954, 1956-1959 & 1961-1963)
• ML Cy Young Award Winner (1957)
• 3-time NL ERA Leader (1947, 1953 & 1961)
• 8-time NL Wins Leader (1949, 1950, 1953 & 1957-1961)
• NL Winning Percentage Leader (1958)
• 4-time NL Innings Pitched Leader (1947, 1949, 1958 & 1959)
• 4-time NL Strikeouts Leader (1949-1952)
• 9-time NL Complete Games Leader (1949, 1951 & 1957-1963)
• 4-time NL Shutouts Leader (1947, 1951, 1959 & 1961)
• 15 Win Seasons: 16 (1947-1951 & 1953-1963)
• 20 Win Seasons: 13 (1947, 1949-1951, 1953, 1954, 1956-1961 & 1963)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 17 (1947-1963)
• 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (1949 & 1951)
• Won a World Series with the Milwaukee Braves in 1957
• Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1973

There are many places to read about Spahn on the web including his Hall of Fame page, NY Times obit, and his SABR entry. If nothing else read this Sports Illustrated article that is an adaptation of a book which chronicles the epic 16 inning(!) pitching duel between Spahn and Juan Marichal on July 2, 1963. Great stuff!

Here is a newsreel video of Spahn's 300th win. Good Stuff!

And don't miss this commercial he did for Post Grape Nuts and his endorsed practice bat and ball offer.

And in parting I'll leave you with what has to be one of the best Sports Illustrated covers, ever!

Behold the magnificence of Warren Edward Spahn, circa 1956.

#273 Joe Jay

Two things right of the bat (no pun intended). No one, and I mean NO ONE, well besides Topps, ever called him 'Joe' Jay. It was Joey Jay. J-O-E-Y Jay. And I believe it was written into the U.S. Constitution that Curt Gowdy was required to insert 'he is the first Little Leaguer to pitch in the majors' at least twice an inning every time Jay was on a Game of the Week, even if it was a dugout cameo.

Joey Jay was a 1953 bonus signee of the Braves. That meant two things. 1) The Braves had to keep him on the major league roster for awhile and 2) he didn't get into many games so he had lots of free time to count and recount his bonus money. He made the majors in 1958 after the Braves were finally able to let him get seasons on the farm. He pitched well, too, at least for awhile. After grabbing a starting slot in June he won 7 of 11 starts for the defending Champs and them was shelled in an August start. He pitched only once more that season, a September start against St Louis in which Irv Noren wacked a ball off Jay's hand and ended his season.

After two more middling seasons with the Braves Jay was traded to the Reds and suddenly was anchoring their staff along with Jim O'Toole and Bob Purkey. He won 20 or more in both 1961 and '62. He pitched in the '61 Series and beat the Yanks in the only game the Reds won. He made his only All Star squad in 1961 but didn't pitch in either game that year.

That meteoric rise ended pretty much as soon as 1962 ended and Jay only broke 10 wins once after that. He was done with the majors after a short stint back with the Braves late in 1966.

Joey Jay's story is actually a pretty interesting one and it's nicely written up on the SABR site. Jay apparently cut all ties with baseball in retirement. Did o.k. for himself in the oil business, though.

Why Joey Jay is pictured as a better on his '59 Topps is not known to me. Maybe he was talked into it by Warren Spahn and Lew Burdette, two guys known for their sense of humor. Jay was actually a pretty lousy hitter.

#571 Warren Spahn '59 All Star Selection

This is one of the most off-center cards in my set. I doubt I'll upgrade it because 1) the All Star cards command a bit of a premium and 2) I'm not that big a fan of the design anyway.

The immortal Warren Spahn didn't pitch in either of the 1959 All Star games. But he did start the '58 game in Baltimore. The AL touched him up for 5 hits and a couple of runs but he didn't get a decision. Oddly in 1960 he wasn't selected to the NL squad but finished second in Cy Young voting. He must have been hurt.