#329 - Rick Joseph I didn't know the Phillies wore gold uniforms! The odd thing is that Joseph was drafted by the Phillies from the A's in November, 1966. Topps had two years to get a picture of him in a Phillies uniform. He played in a career high 99 games in 1969 and hit .273.
#330 - Tony Conigliaro A nice look at the Red Sox slugger. Tony C didn't play at all in 1968, still recovering from a serious eye injury he got when hit by a pitch in 1967.
Though his career would never be the same, he had a nice comeback season in 1969, hitting 20 homeruns and knocking in 88 runs.
#331 - Braves Rookies The light-hitting Garrido started 74 games for the Braves in 1969. House's appeance on the card was a bit premature. He wouldn't make his MLB debut until 1971.
#332 - Fred Talbot We get a good look at the classic Yankee uniform in the original Yankee Stadium.. Talbot's 5.11 ERA with the Yankees got him traded to the Pilots in May, 1969. He was 5-8 before being sent to his third team of the season, Oakland.
#333 - Ivan Murrell Ivan says "Thank you, expansion!" After hitting only .182 in parts of four seasons with the Astros, he got new life with the Padres. He made the most of it, playing in 111 games and hitting .255
#334 - Phil Roof Roof is doing something that you don't see anymore; he is wearing his team satin jacket under his jersey. He started 83 games for the A's, but would spend most of his career as a backup catcher.
#335 - Bill Mazeroski It looks like the Pirates second baseman has some tobacco in his cheek. By 1969 Maz was 32 years old and his career was winding up. He played in only 67 games and hit .229. He retired in 1972, ending up with a .260 average and 8 gold gloves. For some unknown reason, the veterans committee elected him into the Hall of Fame in 2001. His selection was widely panned and the veterans committee was restructured. Since then, they have elected not one players to the hall. I would have to say that it is Bill Mazeroski's mediocrity that has kept Ron Santo out of the Hall of Fame.
#336 - Jim Roland Another card with the traditional pitcher's pose. Roland never pitched for the Twins in 1969, as the A's purchased him just prior to spring training. He had a nice season, going 5-1 with a 2.11 ERA, mostly out of the bullpen.
#337 - Marty Martinez When the photographer told Marty to say "Cheese," Marty said "CHEESE!!!" Marty was a back-up to Johnny Edwards in 1969 but hit a career high .308. He ended up playing in 436 games over his seven season career, but never once hit a home run.
Overall Set Totals (player cards only)
Hall of Famers - 20
Hatless - 76
Airbrush - 75
Cubs (includes past, present, or future) - 48
The Hall of Fame discussions always intrigue me -- who people think should go in and shouldn't.
ReplyDeleteI remember when Mazeroski missed Hall induction by one vote and fans flipped out. They really thought he should be in there. I also interviewed an SABR writer at the time who believed Mazeroski should be in the Hall.
It was funny, because I was doing a story on 1890s second baseman Bid McPhee who had just been elected to the Hall. Writers were screaming about how McPhee wasn't worthy and they should get somebody worthy in there. And the person they mentioned was, Mazeroski.
Jim Roland - seriously what is going on with your hat?
ReplyDeletePhil Roof looks really old school. I just can't imagine a ballplayer looking like that today. Maybe someone's dad..
My friend, you are full of crapola, Maz was the greatest fielding second baseman of all time, and hit the home run in the 1960 World Series to beat the might Yankees. Get a clue son.
ReplyDeleteThe "greatest fielding second baseman of all time" is currently ranked 60th all time. And if one important post-season home run gets you into the hall of fame, then why not put Bobby Thompson and Kirk Gibson in?
ReplyDeleteA player in the hall of fame should be a complete player, and while Maz's glove may be HOF caliber, his bat most certainly was not.