#310 Luis Aparicio

There was a lot of debate on Luis Aparicio's Hall of Fame credentials when he came up for consideration. All I know is that I'd have voted for him but then again I'm an Oriole fan and Looie helped lead the O's to the 1966 championship.

I'll just post some numbers and let it go at that. The following paragraph comes from The Baseball Page:

In an 18 year career, Aparicio played in 2599 games, accumulating 2677 hits in 10,230 at bats for a .262 career batting average along with 394 doubles, 83 home runs, 791 runs batted in, 1335 runs and 506 stolen bases. He ended his career with a .972 fielding percentage. Aparicio led American League shortstops eight times in fielding percentage, seven times in assists, and four times in range factor and putouts. He led the American League in stolen bases in nine consecutive seasons (1956–64) and won the Gold Glove Award nine times (1958–62, 1964, 1966, 1970). Aparicio was also a ten-time All-Star (1958–64, 1970–72).

The bolding is mine. I'm impressed. And you can add in the 1956 Rookie of the Year award. Jerome Holtzman of the Chicago Tribune voted for Aparicio as part of the All Century team. 

Aparicio debuted in 1956 with the White Sox, helped them gain the '59 World Series and batted .308 in that Series. He was traded to the Orioles for the 1963 season after having led the American League in steals every year he had played in Chicago. His defensive skills played a part in the Orioles 1966 title and then following the '67 season he was back with the White Sox. He spent the last three years of his career in Boston, retiring after the '73 season.

The White Sox retired Aparicio's #11 but Omar Visquel was allowed to bring it out of mothballs when he arrived to finish out his career with the Sox. It was a tribute to Aparicio.

Seems like every White Sox card is red framed. I think it looks good with this nice, color enhanced portrait. Mine has pretty good corners and it's still shiny and bright. Go Go Looie!

#92 Dave Philley

It's Dave Philley on the Phillies! Known late in his long career as a premier pinch hitter, Philley broke in with the White Sox in 1941. After a stint in the military and some minor league work, he stuck with the Sox in 1946. He held a regular outfield slot in Chicago showing a touch of power and a bit of speed. He was traded to the Philadelphia A's as part of a three way trade also involving the Indians in 1951 and continued as an everyday there through 1953. 

In 1954 he was traded to the Indians and, after picking up a hit in the '54 Series, in 1955 he was sold to the Orioles in one of six midseason transactions between those two clubs. In just half that season in Baltimore he played well enough to be named the team's MVP.

Traded back to the White Sox in 1956 Philley began an odyssey around the majors that brought him to San Francisco, Detroit, the Orioles (again), the Phillies, Houston (signed and traded in the same day by the Colt 45s) and finally the Red Sox.

He set a record for consecutive pinch hits when he ended the 1958 season with eight straight and had another on Opening Day of 1959 for a total of nine. His 24 pinch hits with the '1961 Orioles also set a record. Philley managed for several years in the minors after his playing days.

This card boasts the black frame (cool!) and what I believe to be Connie Mack Stadium in the background (different!). Overall it's in nice shape. Best of all I learned quite a bit about a guy with a long and solid big league career. And about his place in Orioles' lore.

#562 Al Kaline '59 All Star Selection

Al Kaline, a class act (and Baltimore native), was a 15 time All Star. He homered in the first '59 game in Forbes Field. In that year's second ASG, in Los Angeles, he was 0-2 after checking in for Ted Williams.

Not my favorite design but I'll take a Kaline card any old day, even one as miscut as this one. Surely a candidate for upgrading.

#130 Lou Jackson The Sporting News Rookie Stars

Impossibly young looking Lou Jackson had three cups of coffee as an outfielder in the bigs. He debuted with the '58 Cubs with 35 at-bats including his only homer, was recalled in September of '59 and then headed back to a journey through the minor leagues. He played in the Reds and Braves organizations before he re-emerged with the Orioles in 1964. Just a handful of at-bats later Lou was out of the majors for good. 

He ended up playing in Japan following his stint with the Birds and a couple of seasons with their AAA Rochester farm club.

I can't sum up Jackson's Japanese career as well as his Bullpen page on Baseball Reference:

In '68, Jackson collapsed at home plate one day. He struggled statistically that season, hitting .219/.269/.367. The next year he died of pancreatitis. An alcoholic, he was known as a hustling, defensively-minded outfielder.

WTH? That doesn't warrant a bit more elaboration? Guess not.

Anyway, Jackson DID appear to lead a  grueling life while his career whizzed past. Want proof? Compare his visage above with this pic:

Is that the same guy? 

My scan cut off the left side of this card so it's better than it looks. One of my better Rookie Stars cards.

#551 Fred Haney '59 All Star Selection

Fred Haney began his baseball career in 1918(!) as a member of the PCIL's Portland Buckaroos. 39 years later he managed the Milwaukee Braves to a World Series title in seven games over the Yankees. In between he played quite a bit of minor league ball in Los Angeles with the Hollywood Stars and original Los Angeles Angels, played 622 major league games, mostly as an infielder for the Tigers and Red Sox, managed in the minors, managed the Browns and Pirates and broadcast games for the LA Angels of the PCL.

With the Braves he earned two world Series trips in three seasons, winning the '57 title as mentioned. His Braves, featuring Hank Aaron, Eddie Matthews, Warren Spahn, et al, returned to the Series in '58 only to lose to the Yanks. That trip earned him an All Star Game managerial gig in '59 and this terrific baseball card.

He was fired after the 1959 season for the grave mistake of tying for first place with the Dodgers in the NL and then losing in a playoff thus dropping his chance for a third consecutive World Series. Tough deal, I'd say.

Haney landed on his feet though. Hired on as the first general manager of the expansion Los Angeles Angels after a short gig broadcasting games for NBC, Haney got to work in his hometown once again. His final job was as a consultant to the Angels in the late 60s.

This is a favorite of mine from the '59 set. I don't hide my love of the Braves unis, the card is in nice condition (relative to most of the other higher numbers I own) and how can you NOT love the 'nice guys' reference on the back? 

I couldn't resist adding a couple of pictures of Fred. Call it a salute to a baseball life well lived.

First here is Fred Haney wearing the Hollywood Stars (in)famous short uni pants. This was long before the White Sox made the same mistake.

And finally a great dugout portrait of a baseball lifer:

#372 Jim Hegan

If this really is a Phils uni on Jim Hegan (and not an elaborate and really good airbrush job) than the pic was taken in 1958 after he came to Philadelphia. That would make him 37. That's not old but he sure looks younger than that, no? 

Hegan began his big league career in 1941 with the Indians and hit .319 in 18 games. He never came close to matching that. Following another partial season with the Tribe and three years serving in the Coast Guard during WWII Hegan established himself behind the plate and was known as a master behind the plate. He combined quickness and smarts to help Cleveland to two American League Championships (1948 and 1954). He helped them win a ring with a Series title over the Braves in '48. 

Even though he never was much of a hitter he was a good enough backstop to make five All Star games in the  40s/50s. And every single Hegan bio contains quotes from members of the famed Indians' pitching crew of that era praising his ability and giving him credit for much of the club's success. 

Hegan caught three no-hitters and garnered some MVP votes along the way indicating the regard he was held in despite his weak hitting.

At the end of his long career he toured for brief spans with the Tigers, Cubs, Giants and, obviously, the Phils. He's also known as Mike Hegan's dad.

My copy has some scuffing and is way off center. But the blue frame is sweet.

#46 Bill Henry

Like me, Bill Henry is a University of Houston alum. Among that elite and talented group only Doug Drabek and Woody Williams had more wins as a major league pitcher. And his 90 career saves in the majors is by far the most by any ex-Cougar. Good for him. And he lives just over the bridge from me here in east Houston's petroleum corridor. LOL

From 1952 through 1969 Henry fashioned a career with six big league clubs, made it to an All Star Game (1960) and pitched in the 1961 World Series with the Reds.

He began with the Red Sox and divided his time between a starting job, the bullpen and trips back down to the minors.

Henry hit his stride in 1959, a year after being acquired by the Cubs and settling full time in the 'pen. He won a career high 9 games that season and was the NL's busiest pitcher with 65 appearances.

That 1959 season began a stretch of five consecutive double digit saves seasons, four of them with the Reds. He had a terrific year in 1964 allowing just 31 hits in 52 innings, striking out 28 against just 12 walks and compiling an 0.87 ERA. Despite that he was dealt to the Giants early in the '65 season and began an odyssey that took him through Pittsburgh and, briefly, Houston before he hung 'em up in 1969.

An amazing story about Bill Henry was chronicled in Sports Illustrated by Rick Reilly a few years back. Seems some other 'Bill Henry' had been passing himself off as 'Bill Henry the baseball player' for years, even to his family. When the guy died the real Bill Henry's wife got condolence calls and the story came to light. Reilly is always a good read. Check it out.

The green frame is been kind of rare so far. Despite a couple of soft corners it shows off the devilishly handsome (all UH grads are devilishly handsome) in his best light. I actually upgraded this card last month at the Houston TriStar show but I'm too lazy to re-scan.